Performance Today in the Classroom: Sterling Elliott
Target age range: K-8
Meet Sterling! Sterling is a PT Young Artist and he plays the cello.
Write down or tell someone three things you learned from Sterling’s introduction.
In the next video, listen and watch Sterling play J.S. Bach’s “Courante” from Cello Suite No. 6.
Listen to Sterling explain why he loves playing the cello.
Do you remember some of Sterling’s favorite things about playing the cello?
The next piece is called “Julie-O” by Mark Summer. First, watch and listen.
Follow-up questions for discussion or journaling:
What are the different ways Sterling made sound on his cello while playing the piece you just heard?
What makes music contemporary?
How would you describe the music you just heard?
Listen as Sterling describes his next piece of music.
Questions for reflection, discussion, or journaling:
What can you remember about the composer Gabriel Fauré?
What does the word “berceuse” mean?
What instruments were this piece originally written for?
Now, listen and watch as Sterling plays “Berceuse” by Gabriel Fauré.
Finally, Sterling will review a few key ideas from his PT in the Classroom Concert.
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."
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.