Music Appreciation and History

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and The Nutcracker Ballet

If you are using the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany curriculum, you probably have been singing Tip Toe of the Sugar Plum Fairy.  Be sure to follow the directions in your Songbook or Manual to engage your young, developing children in the discernment activities.
 

Since the discernment exercise will require listening to The Nutcracker Ballet quite a bit, here are resources for learning more as well as a few different versions of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy for further discernment exercises as explained in the curriculum.  Scroll down to explore.

 

 

 

LINKS for TCHAIKOVSKY

►Classics for Kids for a radio show about Tchaikovsky with an online quiz.         

►Dallas Symphony Orchestra for a brief bio and great audio samples on the composer.

 

 

 

LINKS for THE NUTCRACKER

►Classics for Kids for a radio show about the Nutcracker.

►New York City Ballet for an online storybook of the Nutcracker illustrated with photos of the Ballet.  A great way to prepare for watching the ballet on DVD or attending a local production.

►Birmingham Royal Ballet for a fun online ballerina dress-up game.

►Seiskaya Ballet for a lovely coloring page depicting the Nutcracker.

►First School for a great Nutcracker coloring page which also makes a good pattern for other crafts.

►How Stuff Works for a fun "Where's Waldo?"-like printable filled with Nutcracker Ballet images.

►Nick Jr for a cute activity book about the Wonderpets Save the Nutcracker episode.

►Nick Jr to print a Mouse King Crown craft for your aspiring ballet dancers.

►Nick Jr for a fun online game making cookies for the Mouse King.  For children 3-5.

 

 

 

 

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy was orignally written for the Glass Armonica invented by Benjamin Franklin.

►The Franklin Institute to learn more about the Glass Armonica.