Each year, Performance Today serves local schools across the Twin Cities with its Young Artist in Residence Program. This program sends PT Young Artists into schools to present live concerts. Designed to engage and inspire elementary and junior high students through live musical performance, these concerts help cultivate active listening skills and allow students to experience the joy of classical music.

Due to current circumstances, Performance Today has adapted the concert content to provide virtual learning experiences in their new series "Performance Today in the Classroom." Today's PT in the Classroom Music Lesson features PT Young Artist in Residence Randall Goosby.

Target age range: K-8

1. Meet Randall! Randall is a PT Young Artist and he plays the violin.

Write down or tell someone three things you learned from Randall’s introduction.

2. In the next video, listen and watch Randall and Zhu play Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Cavatina.

Do you remember a few facts about the music you just listened to? Write down your answer or tell someone.

3. Listen to Randall explain why he loves playing the violin.

Do you remember some of Randall’s favorite things about playing the violin?

4. The next piece is called Elfentanz by Florence Price. First, watch and listen.

5. The next piece is a piece called “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” by George Gershwin.

Follow-up questions for reflection, discussion, journaling:

• What is the difference between a play and an opera?

• What is an orchestra pit?

• What is Porgy and Bess about?

• What was Porgy and Bess based on?

6. In the next video, listen and watch Randall and Zhu play “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” by George Gershwin.

Can you remember any other facts about the piece of music you just heard?

What did this music make you think about while you were listening?

7. Finally, Randall will review a few key ideas from his PT in the Classroom Concert.

Have a question or suggestion? Contact Katie Condon, music education specialist.

More: View all of our YourClassical Music Lessons

This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment‘s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.