Exploring "Timbre" using Prokofiev's 'Peter and the Wolf'
Introduction
In our music lessons this term we are exploring ‘Timbre’ which describes the individual sounds instruments can make, in particular looking at the character of a sound. We are using the musical piece ‘Peter and the Wolf’ by Prokofiev to do this.
It is important to remember that the focus of the lesson is for your child to work on their target. As such when exploring the resources they need to be presented in a way which will help support this. So a student working towards STEP4 would be supported (physically or verbally) to explore a sensory stimuli, a student working towards STEP 5 should be encouraged to explore an item independently even if it is only for a few seconds and a student working toward STEP 6 should be demonstrating a sustained interest – so motivating items may be placed slightly out of reach, for example, to encourage interaction
Each animal in Peter and the Wolf is played by a different instrument. We are using a version perfomred by the London Mozart Players which is narrated by Alexander Armstrong – the full video is below. During the lesson we use the introductory sections to support exploration of the different instruments, the full story can be utilised at home for further exploration or used at the end of the lesson to support targets, or even just as a nice story telling activity.
Targets
Students currently within the P-Group would be working toward one of these targets, these are taken from the Tor View Steps documents.
- I can move my fingers/hand when presented with musical stimuli, cooperating when given a physical prompt (S4)
- I can anticipate repetitively presented musical stimuli (visual or auditory) (S4)
- I can explore materials in increasingly complex ways (S5)
- I can actively explore musical objects and events associated, for more extended periods (at least 30s-1min) (S6)
- If you are unsure which Step your child should be working toward please ask and I will provide you with that information (you should be able to get an indication from their Annual Review paperwork).
Lesson outline
W.A.L.T, To explore musical instruments and their tone.
For our music lesson we are using a exerpt from Peter and the Wolf as our cue song – it is played on the piano so as not to use any of the instruments featured within the lesson, but will familarise students with the piece and prepare them for the lesson.
The part of the bird is played by the flute
Listen/watch to the introduction of the bird/flute on the video
Support the student to mimic playing the instrument – The flute is a wind instrument made from a tube (wooden or metal) with holes covered by keys. A flute is held horizontally, fingers rest on the keys which are to the right of the mouthpiece, it is played by blowing air across the mouthpiece as you would to get a sound from a bottle
Listen again to the sound of the flute – the video below plays a short section of the flute part (Additional ideas are provided on the lesson outine download) images created by E.W.Thompson https://www.behance.net/gallery/23724319/Peter-the-Wolf
The cat is played by the clarinet
Listen/watch the introduction of the cat/clarinet on the video
Support the student to mimic playing the instrument – A clarinet is a woodwind instrument shaped like a cylindrical tube with a flared end, it is held vertically, fingers rest on the keys which are below mouthpiece, it is played by blowing air into the mouthpiece and hitting the reed with your tongue
Listen again to the sound of the clarinet – the video below plays a short section of the clarinet part (Additional ideas are provided on thelesson outline download) images created by E.W.Thompson https://www.behance.net/gallery/23724319/Peter-the-Wolf
The part of the Grandfather is played by the Bassoon
Listen/watch the introduction of the Grandfather/bassoon
Support the student to mimic playing the instrument – A bassoon is held diagonally with the bottom resting against right leg, it is a large heavy instrument, it is played by blowing air into the mouthpiece which is on the pipe
Listen again to the sound of the bassoon – the video below plays a short section of the bassoon part (Additional ideas/activities can be found on the lesson outline download) images created by E.W.Thompson https://www.behance.net/gallery/23724319/Peter-the-Wolf
The wolf is played by the french horn
Listen/watch the introduction of the wolf/french horn
Support the student to mimic playing the instrument – The French horn is held by putting right hand into the wide end and resting the left on the keys which are in line with the mouthpiece. It is played by blowing ‘raspberries’ into the mouthpiece
Listen again to the sound of the french horn – the video below plays a short section of the french horn part (Additional ideas/activities can be found on the lesson outline download) images created by E.W.Thompson https://www.behance.net/gallery/23724319/Peter-the-Wolf
Peter is played by the strings these include violins, violas, cellos and double bass
Listen/watch the introduction of Peter/the strings
Support the student to mimic playing – a cello is held in front of the body, it is a large instrument, the left hand is used to hold the strings down by the neck. A bow is used to make sounds on the strings – the bow moves horizontally across the vertical strings.
Strings can also be ‘plucked’ by fingers of the right hand.
Listen again to the sound of the strings – the video below plays a short section of the strings part (Additional ideas/activities can be found on the lesson outline download) images created by E.W.Thompson https://www.behance.net/gallery/23724319/Peter-the-Wolf
The Hunters are played by the kettle drum or timpani
Listen/watch the introduction of the hunters/timpani
Support the student to mimic playing the instrument – A kettle drum is supported by a stand. It is played using batons or drumsticks, hands can also be used to dampen the sounds made
Listen again to the sound of the timpani – the video below plays a short section of the timpani part (Additional ideas/activities can be found on the lesson outline download) images created by E.W.Thompson https://www.behance.net/gallery/23724319/Peter-the-Wolf
The oboe plays the part of the duck
Listen/watch the introduction of the oboe/duck
Support the student to mimic playing the instrument – An oboe t is held vertically, fingers rest on the keys which are below mouthpiece, it is played by blowing air into the mouthpiece which is held tightly between the lips
Listen again to the sound of the oboe – the video below plays a short section of the oboe part (Additional ideas/activities can be found on the lesson outline download) images created by E.W.Thompson https://www.behance.net/gallery/23724319/Peter-the-Wolf
Development
Congratulate your student on what they have done well during the lesson. Revisit anything you feel was motivating your student and use it to work towards their target. Give them choices of what they would like to explore further.
Ending the lesson
End the lesson using the cue music (‘Peter and the Wolf on piano)