Listening Lesson: 'Saturday Night Waltz'

Cowboy and horses in golden light · Daniil Vnoutchkov/Unsplash

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Age Range: All Ages

Learning Objective: Students will follow along with a listening map and use movement to respond to part of Aaron Copland’s ballet, "Rodeo."

Composer Aaron Copland wrote music for a ballet about cowboys and cowgirls, called Rodeo ("Ro-DAY-oh").

In this lesson, you will focus on one movement, or section, called "Saturday Night Waltz."

1. During this part of the ballet, a bunch of cowgirls and cowboys are at a barn dance.

2. Listen to the piece and follow the listening map to help you notice details and form in the music, then dance along! Notice what instruments you hear. Think about what might be happening at the barn dance during each part of the piece.

3. Feel like dancing? Re-enact the barn dance and dance along.

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

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