This section is part of a full New Victory® School ToolTM Resource Guide. For the complete guide, including information about the New Victory Education Department check out: newvictoryschooltools.org
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inside | black violin
BEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER BEYOND INSIDE
INSIDE THE SHOW/COMPANY • closer look • where in the world
INSIDE THE ART FORM • WHAT DO YOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW?
CREATIVITY PAGE: Charting the Charts
WHAT IS “INSIDE” BLACK VIOLIN? INSIDE provides teachers and students a behind-the-curtain look at the artists, the company and the art form of this production. Utilize this resource to learn more about the artists on the New Victory stage, how far they’ve traveled and their inspiration for creating this show. In addition to information that will enrich your students’ experience at the theater, you will find a Creativity Page as a handout to build student anticipation around their trip to The New Victory.
Photos: Colin Brennen
MAKING CONNECTIONS TO LEARNING STANDARDS
New Victory School Tool Resource Guides align with the Common Core State Standards, New York State Learning Standards and New York City Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts. We believe that these standards support both the high quality instruction and deep engagement that The New Victory Theater strives to achieve in its arts education practice.
COMMON CORE NEW YORK STATE STANDARDS BLUEPRINT FOR THE ARTS Speaking and Listening Standards: 1 Arts Standards: Standard 4 Music Standards: Developing Music English Language Arts Standards: Literacy; Making Connections Standard 1; Standard 4
The New VICTORY® THEATER / NEWVICTORYSCHOOLTOOLS.ORG © The New 42nd Street, Inc. 4 inside | black violin
BEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER BEYOND INSIDE
INSIDE THE SHOW/COMPANY • closer look • where in the world
INSIDE THE ART FORM • WHAT DO YOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW?
CREATIVITY PAGE: Charting the Charts
where in the world BLACK VIOLIN = is BLACK VIOLIN from? Classical Music + Jazz + Hip-Hop NORTH AMERICA + R&B + Funk + Violin Virtuosity X ATLANTIC [ ] OCEAN PACIFIC Virtuoso violinists Kev and Wil B are back on the New Victory stage OCEAN SOUTH once again to raise the roof sky-high with their funky fusion of classical, jazz, AMERICA hip-hop, blues and R&B. With DJ TK on the turntables, Beatdown on the drums and David Gotay on cello, they create a unique fusion of classical music and contemporary hip-hop which defies genres and gets the audience dancing in their seats through booming new beats, classic favorites and surprising pop covers. The musicians of BLACK VIOLIN smash musical stereotypes and enthrall lovers of Bach, Beyoncé, and everything in between. They inspire kids across the country to get fired up about classical music—proving that their hearts are as big and soulful as their sound. FLORIDA
“A raucous, rousing, genre-busting performance that dares the audience to get up and dance” –Time Out New York Kids
MIAMI X
closer look at BLACK VIOLIN Miami, FL Here are a few facts about BLACK VIOLIN to familiarize you with the • Kev Marcus and Wil B currently hail show and build excitement around your upcoming visit: from Miami, Florida.
• BLACK VIOLIN is returning to the New Victory after playing sold out • Miami has served as an inspiration houses in 2009. to countless musicians, from U2 to • The group name BLACK VIOLIN is derived from the influence of a famous Will Smith. jazz violinist, Stuff Smith; six months before Smith’s death, he recorded a solo album entitled Black Violin. The duo decided to name their group after • South Florida has been the starting place the music of the most inspiring violinist they had ever heard. for many famous rappers including Rick • Neither Kev nor Wil B wanted to play the violin when they first started– Ross, Ace Hood, Plies, Trina, Cool & Dre, Kev’s mother put him in a music class to keep him out of trouble, and Wil Flo Rida, Jacki-O, and Stack$. wound up in an orchestra class at school by mistake. • In 2005, BLACK VIOLIN won Showtime at the Apollo. In the same year they opened for and performed with Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park), The Eagles, Stevie Nicks, Nas, 50 Cent, T-Pain, P Diddy, and Alicia Keys. • BLACK VIOLIN recently played at the 2012 US Open in Flushing, Queens.
The New VICTORY® THEATER / NEWVICTORYSCHOOLTOOLS.ORG © The New 42nd Street, Inc. 5 inside | black violin
BEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER BEYOND INSIDE
INSIDE THE SHOW/COMPANY • closer look • where in the world
INSIDE THE ART FORM • WHAT DO YOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW?
CREATIVITY PAGE: Charting the Charts
WHAT DO YOUR INSIDE THE ART FORM STUDENTS KNOW NOW? VIOLIN Prior to exploring BLACK VIOLIN with your The violin is a four-stringed instrument traditionally held in place between students, find out how much they already know the chin and the shoulder and played with a bow. about different genres of music. The violin derived from Arabic string instruments centuries ago, however, Use the Prior Knowledge questions below, and the name “violin” was first developed in the 1500s in Europe. Since that the Creativity Page handout (next page) to get time, the instrument has undergone many aesthetic transformations. a sense of your students’ understanding of the By the 19th century, it settled into the shape and design we recognize art forms and themes in the show. You may be today, although the quality of sound produced from each new model surprised by how much they know already, and in is ever-changing. the process of exploring these areas, you’ll spark their curiosity to see the show and enhance their To most people, classical, jazz and hip-hop are mere musical genres. anticipation for the trip. But to the revolutionary BLACK VIOLIN, they are ingredients for their signature sound. • Do you play an instrument? If you could play an instrument which one would it be? Here is a bit more background about the musical genres that inspire BLACK VIOLIN. • What is your favorite kind of music? Does music inspire you? How does it make you feel? CLASSICAL JAZZ HIP-HOP • What comes to mind when you hear the word: violin? Concert? ORIGIN 1750 1920’s 1970’s • Have you ever been to a live music concert? An art form that has A hybrid art form of music An art form that originated Who was playing? How did the audience its roots in Christian that fuses African rhythms, in the Bronx as a means of react during the concert? liturgical music and American blues, European self-expression. The Sugar Ancient Greek tones chamber music and the Hill Gang released the first and scales. It was more complex ever commercial rap FACTS documented with elements of pop music, recording in 1979, “Rapper’s musical notation so that such as shifting time Delight.” Until this time, it could be remembered signatures and melodies. hip-hop was never recorded and preserved. or sold commercially.
Classical music has Improvisation is a major been noted for its component of jazz, more development of highly so than in any other form Rhythmic vocal style sophisticated forms of of popular music, and of rap and a mixture ESSENCE instrumental music. musicians often start a of backing beats. These include the tune with only a key and concerto, the symphony, time signature from the and the sonata. bandleader.
Franz Joseph Haydn, Louis Armstrong, Duke Run DMC, DJ Kool Herc, Wolfgang Amadeus Ellington, Charlie Parker, PROMINENT OutKast, Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, Mozart, Ludwig Van and Miles Davis. Missy Elliot, Kanye West MUSICIANS Beethoven. Photo: Colin Brennen
The New VICTORY® THEATER / NEWVICTORYSCHOOLTOOLS.ORG © The New 42nd Street, Inc. 6 © The New 42nd Street, Inc.
® CHARTING THE CHARTS Investigate the history of music, through the people you know. What has changed? What has stayed the same? See how much information you can gather with your ears. Interview 3 different people who are older than you are (older siblings, parents, grandparents, teachers and friends). Try to choose 3 people of completely different ages.
Ask them this set of questions, and record the interviews:
1. What was your favorite musical artist or song when you were my age?
Name: 2. What was the first concert you saw live?
Age: 3. What kind of device did you use to listen to music with when you were my age?
4. If you had to think of a song that inspires you the most, what would it be?
1. What was your favorite musical artist or song when you were my age?
Name: 2. What was the first concert you saw live?
Age: 3. What kind of device did you use to listen to music with when you were my age?
4. If you had to think of a song that inspires you the most, what would it be?
1. What was your favorite musical artist or song when you were my age?
Name: 2. What was the first concert you saw live?
Age: 3. What kind of device did you use to listen to music with when you were my age?
4. If you had to think of a song that inspires you the most, what would it be?
BONUS: Try to listen to all of the favorite artists or songs that were mentioned in the interviews. Do you like any of them, too? How are they different from popular music today? What is the same?