Hey Kids, Meet Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) Russian Romantic Era Composer
1) What instrument/type of group is performing Flight of the Bumblebee? (Brass quintet.)2) What is the tempo of this performance of Flight of the Bumblebee: Adagio (Slow), Andante (Walking Speed), Moderato (Moderate), Allegro (Fast), or Vivace (Lively/Faster than Allegro). (Allegro or Vivace are acceptable answers.)
3) What dynamic levels are heard in this performance of Flight of the Bumblebee: Piano (Soft), Mezzo Piano (Medium Soft), Mezzo Forte (Medium Loud), or Forte (Loud). (All of them is an acceptable answer.)
4) Is Flight of the Bumblebee absolute or programmatic music? Absolute music is non-representational. It doesn't paint a picture anything in particular. Programmatic music wants us to think of specific images. Examples of absolute music are Symphony No.1 and Sonata - which simply means played. Examples of programmatic music include Dvorak's Symphony No. 9: New World Symphony and Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring. (Flight of the Bumblebee is programatic music, as Rimsky-Korsakov sought to write music that would represent the sound of a bumblebee.)
Flight of the Bumblebee - Canadian Brass
"Meet the Composer" Job Application | Worksheet
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov | Word Search Worksheet
Scheherezade (Theme) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 3
Flight of the Bumblebee for Easy Flute Solo by Rimsky -Korsakov
Flight of the Bumblebee for Easy Clarinet Solo by Rimsky -Korsakov
Flight of the Bumblebee for Easy Trumpet Solo by Rimsky -Korsakov
Flight of the Bumblebee for Easy Violin Solo by Rimsky -Korsakov
Materials
1) Masking Tape (if small group)
2) Flight of the Bumblebee Recording - Download it from iTunes to play the game and enjoy it in the car as well.
Small Group (2-12)
Create a tape line on the floor in the shape of a circle. This will serve as the bee hive. The children are the bumblebees. When the music starts the bumblebees run in and out of the hive. When the music stops the children caught inside the "hive" are out. Repeat the process until only one bumblebee remains. This bumblebee is the winner of the game.
Large group (13-24)
Ask half of the children to stand in a circle facing into the center. This group will be the hive. The other half of the children are the bumblebees. When the music starts the bumblebees run in and out of the hive. When the music stops the hive members take the hands of the other hive members and trap bumblebees inside the hive. The trapped bumblebees now become members of the hive. Repeat the process until only one bumblebee remains. This bumblebee is the winner of the game.
Ask the children about the things they learned about Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov or his music during breaks in game play.