Music Video Series 001

From time to time I come across some fantastic videos for use in the classroom.
This will be a regular feature on my blog from now on and research now suggests that beginning a class with something engaging that leads directly into your lessons/learning activities helps students to focus and be more creative in their work.  Not to mention you (as the teacher) get to show how tech savvy you are :)

Let’s start with a fantastic LEGO Orchestra conducted by Darth Vader himself.  This could be used to introduce Film Music, Character Motif writing or even begin a unit on the Instruments of the Orchestra.

Now lets say you wanted to introduce Opera, or a unit on Verdi or even Romantic Music.  This claymation video will have your students minds/ears/eyes instantly and the music fits wonderfully with the imaginative claymation!

Now for this last one I have again chosen a claymation video, this time set to Grieg’s Programmatic “Hall of the Mountain King.”  I use this piece to teach students about tempo, dynamics, instruments etc.  But I would never have imagined this piece being set to a Chess game!