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Black Violin TEACHER STUDY GUIDE 2018/2019 SEASON School Shows: November 1 & 2, 2018 10:30 AM Atwood Concert Hall Public Show: November 1 & 2, 2018 7:30 PM Atwood Concert Hall n Curriculum Connections Promotional support provided by n Learning Resources n Performance Background n Activities for the Classroom n Theatre Etiquette Alaska Junior Theater n 430 W 7th Ave, Suite 30 n Anchorage, AK 99501 P 907-272-7546 n F 907-272-3035 n www.akjt.org Curriculum Standards laska Junior Theater is a private, nonprofit organization that has been bringing the best in professional theatre from around the world to Alaska’s Ayoung audiences since 1981. Each year, more than 40,000 students attend a variety of live performances at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. For many students, our school show presentations are their only exposure to live performing arts. Each show we present has a strong educational component, and are linked to Alaska Content Standards. Alaska Junior Theater also offers teacher and student workshops, study guides and classroom transportation to our performances. We are committed to keeping ticket prices low, allowing children of all financial levels to experience live professional theatre. Our low educational ticket price of Discovery Theatre, ACPA $8 covers only half our costs of presenting shows. To subsidize the remaining $8 of each ticket, we actively fundraise and rely on the support of corporations, foundations and individuals. In addition, we fundraise to offer full scholarships to students with financial need. Alaska Junior Theater asked area teachers to review our 2018/2019 performances for direct connections to Alaska Content Standards. The direct connections for Black Violin are listed below, which will assist in lesson planning and will assure teachers that Alaska Junior Theater programs help classes meet curriculum connections. To get a complete copy of the Alaska Content Standards, visit: https://www.asdk12.org/commoncore/. Additional information about these standards can be found at the National Association for Music Education via https://nafme.org/my-classroom/standards/. Common Core State Standards CCR Anchor Standard 4:2 CCR Anchor Standard 6 CCR Anchor Standard 8 Writing Standard 1 Speaking and Listening 1 National Standards for Music Education MUSIC ED: Re7.1.3a - MUSIC ED: Re7.1.5a Carr Gottstein Lobby MUSIC ED: Re7.2.2a - MUSIC ED: Re7.2.5a MUSIC ED: Re8.1.2a - MUSIC ED: Re8.1.7a MUSIC ED: Re9.1.PKa - MUSIC ED: Re9.1.8a MUSIC ED: Cn10.0.Ka - MUSIC ED: Cn10.0.8a Special thanks to Deanna James, Brian Singleton and Michael Jereu for their help in this effort. Alaska Junior Theater Page 1 Resources Related to Black Violin L Music, Instraments, and Composers Ada’s Violin : the story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay E 784.206 HOOD I What in the World is a Violin? E 787.219 SALZMAN I See the Rhythm by Michele Wood and Toyomi Igus J 780.8996073 WOOD B Pop Star by Lisa Regan J 781.64023 REGAN Music by Neil Ardley J 784.19 ARDLEY R The Story of the Orchestra by Robert Levine J 784.2 LEVINE Is the Violin for You? By Elaine Landau J 787.219 LANDAU A Johann Sebastian Bach and the Art of Baroque Music by Donna Getzinger J-B BACK J GETZING R Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow: a Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio J-B HENDR J GOLIO Y Musical Stories Valentine and his Violin by Philip Hopman E HOPMAN A Violin for Elva by Mary Lyn Ray E RAY R The Composer is Dead by Lemony Snickett E SNICKETT Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin by Chieri Uegaki E UEGAKI E Notes from an Accidental Band Geek by Erin Dionne J DIONNE Audtion & Subtraction by Amy Fellner Dominy J DOMINY S Moxy Maxwell Does not Love Practicing the Piano by Peggy Gifford J GIFFORD Victoria the Violin Fairy by Daisy Meadows J MEADOWS O Anna Maria’s Gift by Janice Shefelman J SHEFELM U Four Seasons by Jane Breskin Zalben J ZALBEN R Music, Movies and More Brandenburg Concertos 1-6 by Johann Sebastian Bach CD EC BACH BC M20 C Double Violin Concerto by Mark O’Connor CD GV OCON DV 085 Violin & Viola Concertos by William Walton CD EC WALT VN K24 E Beethoven Lives Upstairs DVD J BEETHOV Zin! Zin! Zin!: a Violin DVD J READING S Music Comes Alive! DVD J MUSIC-C Black Violin Official Website http://blackviolin.net/ Check out ebooks and audio books by these authors and many more at the ListenAlaska and hoopla and download music at Freegal on the Anchorage Public Library Website: www.anchoragelibrary.org Alaska Junior Theater Page 2 The name ‘Black Violin’ is derived from the influence of a famous Jazz violinist, Stuff Smith, who changed Wil-B and Kev Marcus’ perspectives on the capabilities of the violin. Six months before Smith’s death, he recorded his most soulful solo album entitled Black Violin. His life’s work was so moving that the duo decided to name their group after the most inspiring violinist they had ever heard. These two gentlemen, Kev Marcus and Wil-B have created the ultimate synergy between Classical and Hip-Hop music, and with it an incredible opportunity to reach young people. Black Violin’s notoriety rose with their amazing performance accompanying Alicia Keys at the 2004 Billboard Awards, and by performing on the same bill with some of the industry’s biggest artists. They have been voted one of the Top 5 News Bands at SXSW and performed at the 2013 Inauguration Ball Performance President Barak Obama. With Stereotypes, Black Violin set out to achieve something more than just selling some records or gaining notoriety as a curiosity. “We want to really be something that young musicians aspire to,” says Kev. “For us, the violin is the vehicle for a bigger message, which is not to be afraid to be different.” They have been given an Award by the Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts for their Outstanding Contributions to Middle & High School Performing Arts Students. Kev Marcus and Wil B, graduates of Dillard Performing Arts High School, used their musical talents to earn full scholarships to college. Now, Black Violin wants to make sure that America’s young people get the same exposure to the arts, and therefore, the same opportunity that they did. Wil-B ‘Simply Sick,’ attended Dillard High School of Performing Arts, and attempted to join the school band in an effort to play the saxophone. At the age of 13, he was mistakenly put into the string program instead of the band; but as luck would have it, he learned the viola and grew to love it. He has participated with local pop orchestras such as the Young Artist Contemporary Orchestra in Palm Beach, Florida. He attended Florida State University. Not only is this young man talented on the Wil-B violin but he also can sing, play the piano, drums, trumpet and the bass guitar. His influences include some well known musical artists such as Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Curtis Mayfield, Chaka Khan, Victor Wooten, Common, AZ, Jill Scott and Talib Kweli. The second master of this unique duo, Kev Marcus, also attended Dillard High School of Performing Arts. He was encouraged by his mother and teachers at the age of nine to begin playing the violin. From there, he grew so intrigued by it that he couldn’t let it go. He also began to participate with the local pop orchestras and was also a semi-finalist in the Sphinx National Competition for Blacks and Latino’s in 2000. He went to college at Florida International University, where he met their manager Sam G. His musical artist influences are past great pioneers of the music Kev Marcus world such as Herbie Hancock, Stuff Smith, Mozart, Bach, Brahms and Nat King Cole. Kev Marcus also has been influenced by some of today’s artists such as Mos Def, Notorious BIG, Dr. Dre, The Roots, and Nas. Alaska Junior Theater Page 3 DJ SPS is an american turntablist/dj/producer who was raised abroad and now calls Orlando home. He is known for his intricate fast cuts, stylish juggles and complex beat manipulation on wax. Never afraid to show his skills, SPS has entered numerous DJ battles where he has gained notoriety as a fierce competitor who shows no mercy. With a variety of titles under his belt including the 2008 DMC USA Supremacy Championship DJ SPS title, he has gone on multiple tours across the United States and Europe showcasing his live skill set to wow audiences and fans alike. With extensive knowledge of years of music, it only seems logical that he would produce multiple albums and remixes. Black Violin Albums Ringtones 2007 For our debut album, we felt strongly about telling our story through our own words on one special track. Recording a vocal contribution was a step outside our artistic comfort zone. With the beat playing on repeat for inspiration, we both wrote our verses in silence. Kev’s verse represents his proud upbringing and the good people that have influenced his life. DJ TK then cuts the lyric “This is my story” into the track as the chorus. Wil’s verse represents the struggles endured throughout his life and the many lessons he learned throughout his journey while overcoming these adversities. Classical Trained 2012 Amidst mixtape releases, they issued their eponymous debut album in 2008 and Classically Trained in 2012, earning support spots on tours for, among others, Wu-Tang Clan, Ciara, Aerosmith, and Kanye West along the way.
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