Category: Lessons

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Habanera

Introduction

Portrait of Georges Bizet

This is an aria from an comic opera called Carmen, by Georges Bizet.

Habanera is the popular name for “L’amour est un oiseau rebelled” which are the words for the first line of the song.  That’s how arias are titled in an opera.

Maria Callas as Carmen“Habanera” means “woman from Havana” which is in Cuba.  The same country where our last song, Guantanamera is from.  Remember that “Guantanamera” means “woman from Guantanamo” so the titles are built the same way.

Video

The Lesson

Sheet Music

Piano
Ukulele
Guitar
Recorder
Xylophone or On-Screen Piano

Don’t Forget!

You can look up the ukulele chords and guitar chords and get help with reading tablature,
playing the recorder or rhythm (percussion) instruments right here on my website!

Enrichment

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Guantanamera

Introduction

Cuban Musicians

This is a very important song from Cuba.  The title means “The woman from Guantánamo” which is a part of Cuba.  Guantanamo is a city on the southeast tip of Cuba.  The poem is about a girl from Guantanamo and was written from the point of view of a Cuban revolutionary.

José_MartíThe lyrics were written by a man named Jose Marti, who was a Cuban patriot, freedom fighter, and poet. Although he never lived to see Cuba free, he is considered the national hero.

Video

Poem by Jose Marti

Spanish

Yo soy un hombre sincero
De donde crece la palma,
Y antes de morirme quiero
Echar mis versos del alma.

Mi verso es de un verde claro
Y de un carmín encendido:
Mi verso es un ciervo herido
Que busca en el monte amparo.

Cultivo una rosa blanca
En julio como en enero,
Para el amigo sincero
Que me da su mano franca.

Con los pobres de la tierra
Quiero yo mi suerte echar:
El arroyo de la sierra
Me complace más que el mar.

English

I’m an honest man
From where the palm trees grow
And before I die I want
to let my verses out of my soul
 
My verse is clear green
And burning red
My verse is a wounded deer
That seeks refuge in the mountain.
 
I cultivate a white rose
In June as in January
For a true friend
Who gives me his honest hand
 
With the poor people of the earth
I want to make my destiny
The mountain stream
Pleases me more than the ocean

The Lesson

Sheet Music

Piano
Ukulele
Guitar
Recorder
Xylophone or On-Screen Piano

Don’t Forget!

You can look up the ukulele chords and guitar chords and get help with reading tablature,
playing the recorder or rhythm (percussion) instruments right here on my website!

Enrichment

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Für Elise

Introduction

Portrait of Ludwig Van Beethoven
Ludwig Van Beethoven

Even though this is definitely one of Ludwig Van Beethoven‘s most famous pieces of music, would you believe that it was only found about 40 years after he died?  It was discovered in one of Beethoven’s notebooks.

Is this Elise?The actual name of the piece is Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor for solo piano and nobody knows for sure who it is written for.  Most people think Beethoven wrote it for a woman named Therese Malfatti, because they think Beethoven’s handwriting was copied over incorrectly as “Elise” when it was translated.  The story is kind of sad, because Beethoven wanted to marry Therese, but she didn’t want to marry him.

Video

The Lesson

Sheet Music

Piano
Ukulele
Guitar
No Recorder This Time!
Xylophone or On-Screen Piano

Don’t Forget!

You can look up the ukulele chords and guitar chords and get help with reading tablature,
playing the recorder or rhythm (percussion) instruments right here on my website!

Enrichment

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Everybody Loves Saturday Night

Introduction

everybody loves saturday night

This is a folk song from Nigeria.  It’s a fun one and it makes me want to dance around and party!

It’s true.  Everybody does love Saturday night!

The ukulele and guitar arrangements for this tune also include a small new challenge.  Harmony!  You’ll be adding a note in harmony with the melody you’re playing.  Use your thumb to play that note and your 1st finger, (pointer) to pluck the melody note.  This is what the left hand notes do on the piano.

Exciting, like a Saturday night!

Video

The Lesson

Sheet Music

Piano
Ukulele
Guitar
Recorder
Xylophone or On-Screen Piano

Don’t Forget!

You can look up the ukulele chords and guitar chords and get help with reading tablature,
playing the recorder or rhythm (percussion) instruments right here on my website!

Enrichment

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The Entertainer

Introduction

Scott Joplin

This piece was written by Scott Joplin, who was an American ragtime musician and composer. He is widely considered the greatest ragtime composer of all time.  He was born in Texas around 1868 and grew up in Texarkana, Texas. His relatives were railroad workers. His father wanted him to find work that would pay. His mother said he should learn music. Even though he was from Texas, most of his pieces were written when he was in Missouri and New York City. 

Video

The Lesson

Sheet Music

Piano
Ukulele
Guitar

 

 

Sorry!  No recorder for this one!

Recorder
On-Screen Piano (No Xylophone)

Don’t Forget!

You can look up the ukulele chords and guitar chords and get help with reading tablature,
playing the recorder or rhythm (percussion) instruments right here on my website!

Enrichment

Music from the Jungle Book in Rag Style

More Rags by Scott Joplin