Chasing Chopin - Reading Together - Chapter 1

Welcome to the first post discussing Chasing Chopin by Annik LaFarge. Given that our last book was on Bach’s cello suites, I was delighted by the (previously unbeknownst to me) tie-in to those suites in the introduction.

In the introduction and first chapter, LaFarge brilliantly dismantles the romanticized trope of a frail, tragic composer, presenting Frédéric Chopin instead as a fierce, modern innovator. By focusing on the creation of his Sonata No. 2 and its iconic "Funeral March," LaFarge frames his artistic genius through the lens of political exile. This opening section masterfully anchors Chopin’s identity in the cultural trauma of his fractured Polish homeland, weaving history with musical analysis. It is a compelling, vibrant look at how permanent displacement shaped his music, making this a refreshing, deeply engaging read for both musicians and history enthusiasts alike.

Annik LaFarge has an extensive website that includes links and resources for each chapter. I highly encourage you to check it out, especially if you are looking for ideas on how to connect this book to teaching ideas for your studio or classroom.

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The Cello Suites - Reading Together - Suite No. 6

Welcome to the final post discussing The Cello Suites by Eric Siblin. The Sixth Suite in D major, BWV 1012, is the virtuosic climax of Bach’s solo cello cycle. Originally composed for a five-stringed instrument, likely the violoncello piccolo, its expanded range allows for a radiant, soprano register. This provides a triumphant contrast to the darker Fifth Suite. The opening prelude is a masterclass in momentum, using rapid-fire bariolage and compound meters to create a sense of boundless, joyful energy that defines the D major tonality.

Following traditional Baroque dance structures, the suite pushes every movement to its expressive limit. The allemande is notably ornate, while the sarabande uses dense double-stops to create a rich, organ-like texture. By the final gigue, Bach fully transforms the cello from a supportive continuo role into a powerful solo voice. The work remains a technical summit, demanding both orchestral grandeur and intimate prayer from the performer across its expansive, sophisticated emotional landscape.

If you want to dive deeper into Suite No. 6 with your students, here are some lesson plans to do that.

- D Major: The "Triumphant" Key
Objective: Explore "Affekt" (the Baroque idea that specific keys represent specific emotions). Activity: Listen to the 6th Suite (D Major) and the 5th Suite (C Minor). Have students create a "color palette" for each key based on the emotions they feel.

- Baroque Dance: The Gavotte
Objective: Connect musical suites to historical social dances. Activity: The Gavotte is famous for starting on the "half-measure" (upbeat). Have students clap on beats 3 and 4 while listening to Gavotte I to find the "step." Fast-forward to 21:31 to see/hear the Gavottes on a period instrument.

- Ornamentation: The Allemande "Swirl"
Objective: See how Baroque composers "decorated" a simple melody. Activity: Show students a "bare bones" scale, then play the Allemande. Have them draw "curlicues" on paper every time they hear a melodic flourish.

- Binary Form (A-A-B-B)
Objective: Identify the structural "blueprint" of Baroque dance movements. Activity: Use the Courante. Give students "A" and "B" cards. Have them hold up "A" during the first half and "B" when the music shifts to the second half.

- Modern Remix: From Cello to Marimba
Objective: Explore how music changes when the instrument changes (timbre). Activity: Listen to a movement played on a cello, then on a marimba or electric guitar. Discuss which version feels more "modern."

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The Cello Suites - Reading Together - Suite No. 5

Welcome to the fifth post discussing The Cello Suites by Eric Siblin. The 5th Cello Suite is widely considered the most somber and profound of the six suites, characterized by its intense emotional weight. Unique among the set, Bach originally composed the work using scordatura, instructing the cellist to tune the top string down a whole step to G to create a darker, more resonant tonal quality. This technical choice allows for complex chords that would otherwise be impossible, lending the piece a haunting, lute-like texture.

The Prelude is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture, beginning with a slow, regal introduction before erupting into a rigorous and complex four-voice fugue. At the suite's heart lies the Sarabande, a famously minimalist movement that consists of a single melodic line devoid of any chords, evoking a sense of profound solitude. Together, these elements make the Fifth Suite a stark departure from the brightness of the earlier works, offering instead a deeply introspective exploration of grief and transcendence.

If you want to dive deeper into Suite No. 5 with your students, here are some lesson plans to do that.

- The Challenges of Scordatura
This lesson explores how the "mismatch" of tuning (A string down to G) affects a cellist's muscle memory and the instrument's physics. It is ideal for discussing adaptability and the science of string tension.

- The Anna Magdalena Manuscript
A primary source study focusing on the only surviving manuscript for the suites. This is a great exercise in historical literacy and handwriting analysis.

- The French Style and "Over-Dotting"
This lesson focuses on the cultural exchange between Germany and France, specifically how the "dotted" rhythms in the 5th Suite emulate the royal French Overture.

- Comparative Transcription (Cello vs. Lute)
Compare Bach’s own version for cello with his transcription for lute (BWV 995). This helps students understand how a composer adapts the same "idea" for different instruments.

- Scordatura vs. Standard Tuning
A debate-style lesson where students weigh the pros and cons of using Bach's original "mistuning" versus modern standard tuning.

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The Cello Suites - Reading Together - Suite No. 4

Welcome to the fourth post discussing The Cello Suites by Eric Siblin. The suite is defined by a majestic, architectural quality that challenges even the most seasoned performers. Because E-flat Major offers few opportunities for open strings to resonate, the music possesses a "closed," darker, and more opaque tone color than the other suites. This requires the cellist to navigate cramped hand positions while maintaining the sprawling arpeggios that characterize the opening Prelude.

The Fourth Suite is distinguished by its intellectual depth and the almost architectural scale of its six movements. Unlike the more melodic preceding suites, its Prelude is built on massive, descending broken chords that create a sense of vast, open space. The emotional core is found in the Sarabande, which is unusually long and harmonically dense, offering a more serious and introspective atmosphere than the dance movements found elsewhere in the set. Even the more lighthearted Bourrées and the final Gigue maintain a level of technical complexity and rhythmic rigor that sets this work apart. The suite concludes with a virtuosic, hunt-like finale in 12/8 time that demands incredible physical stamina from the performer. This combination of structural grandeur and tonal difficulty makes the Fourth Suite a unique "mountain" in the Baroque repertoire.

If you want to dive deeper into Suite No. 4 with your students, here are some lesson plans to do that.

- Harmonic Pillars
This advanced lesson treats the Prelude as an architectural feat. Students use harmonic reduction to see how Bach outlines complex chord progressions through a single melodic line.

- The Anatomy of a Sarabande
This lesson focuses on the 4th Suite's Sarabande, which is unique for its rhythmic ambiguity. Students identify how Bach subverts the traditional "stressed second beat" of the Baroque dance.

- Mathematical Meter and the 12/8 Gigue
Using the final movement, students study compound meter. The lesson explores how Bach maintains a driving, virtuosic pulse while managing complex subdivisions.

- Interpretive Critical Listening
Students listen to three distinct recordings (e.g., the early recordings of Casals, the Baroque-style of Bylsma, and a modern interpretation like Yo-Yo Ma) to compare tempo and phrasing.

- Transcription and Adaptation
This lesson explores why the 4th Suite is frequently transcribed for other instruments like the viola, lute, or guitar, and how changing the instrument changes the "feel" of the E-flat key.

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The Cello Suites - Reading Together - Suite No. 3

Welcome to the third post discussing The Cello Suites by Eric Siblin. Composed around 1720 in the secular court of Köthen, the third suite captures Bach at a moment of rare creative freedom, unburdened by church duties.

Musically, it is distinguished by its resonant, "open" architecture. Because it is set in C Major, the cello's lowest string (the C string) acts as a powerful tonic drone, allowing for a sonorous, bell-like clarity that the darker, minor-key suites lack. The Prelude is a masterpiece of pedal points and cascading scales that showcase the instrument's physical range.

Historically, the suite's "distinctness" was misunderstood for centuries. It was long dismissed as a dry, mechanical exercise for building finger strength. Its transformation from a dusty pedagogical tool to a celebrated concert staple highlights a shift in musical values: we moved from seeing Bach’s work as mere "math" to recognizing it as the height of solo expression.

If you want to dive deeper into Suite No. 3 with your students, here are some lesson plans to do that.

- The Physics of the "C": Acoustics & Resonance
Objective: Understand how the C-major key utilizes the cello’s physical properties.
Activity: Use a visualizer to show how the open C-string creates sympathetic vibrations in the other strings.
Science Link: Discuss frequency and the "harmonic series."

- The Anatomy of the Prelude: The Power of the Scale
Objective: Identify the structural "bones" of the opening movement.
Activity: Map the opening downward scale. Have students draw the "shape" of the melody as they listen.

- Dance Forms of the Baroque
Objective: Distinguish between the Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Bourrée, and Gigue.
Activity: Watch videos of period-accurate Baroque dance. How does the rhythm of the music dictate the movement of the body?

- The Bourrée: Symmetry and Rhythmical "Hooks"
Objective: Focus on the most famous movement of Suite No. 3.
Activity: Identify the "AABB" binary form. Have students clap the syncopated rhythm of the Bourrée I.

- The Sarabande: The Emotional Core
Objective: Analyze the shift in tempo and "weight" in the suite's slowest movement.
Activity: Discuss the history of the Sarabande (once banned for being "indecent") and how Bach transformed it into a meditative prayer.

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The Cello Suites - Reading Together - Suite No. 2

Welcome to the second post discussing The Cello Suites by Eric Siblin. I found it interesting how Siblin contrasts the "sunshine" of the First Suite with the "shadows" of the Second, and that he suggests that the D minor key of Suite No. 2 acts as a musical tomb for Bach's first wife, Maria Barbara.

Another point that I found intriguing was that by writing these suites, Bach was essentially a pioneer, treating the cello like a "baritone master" capable of carrying a melody and a harmony simultaneously. This "elevation" of the instrument mirrors Casals’ own lifelong mission to prove the cello’s worth to the world.

If you want to dive deeper into Suite No. 2 with your students, here are some resources to do that.

- The Historical "Tobacco-Colored" Sound: Pablo Casals: Siblin focuses heavily on the "aura" of this specific recording. It sounds "crackly" and old, which adds to the sense of historical mystery. Play the Sarabande. Ask students to describe the "weight" of the sound. Does it sound like someone mourning? Compare this to a modern, cleaner version to discuss how technology and time change our perception of art.
- Comparing the "Second Hand" Manuscript: IMSLP: This is the primary source Siblin mentions. Since Bach’s original is lost, this copy by his wife is the closest we have. Show the PDF on the board. Point out the lack of "road signs"—there are no instructions for how fast or loud to play. Ask students: "If you were the cellist, how would you know where the 'sad' parts are if the author didn't tell you?"
- Yo-Yo Ma: "We live in a time that feels fractured, and Bach is a unifying factor": Yo-Yo Ma explains the physical demands of the suites and how Bach treated the cello as a "multi-voiced" instrument.
- The "Benjamin Zander" Interpretive Masterclass: Ben Zander is a world-renowned conductor known for his "TED-talk style" breakdowns of music. In this video lesson, he explains the "architecture" of the D Minor Prelude.
- "Fugue for Thought" Narrative Guide: This blog provides a "layman’s" narrative of the entire suite. It avoids overly dense jargon and uses evocative language like "stormy," "melancholy," and "shadowy." Have students read the description of the Courante (the "angry, stormier affair"). Ask students to find three adjectives the author uses to describe the music and compare them to the adjectives Siblin uses in Chapter 2.

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The Cello Suites - Reading Together - Suite No. 1

Welcome to the first post discussing The Cello Suites by Eric Siblin. I’m intrigued by the structure that Siblin employs to explore Bach’s cello suites. Siblin weaves together three centuries: Bach’s experience in the 1700s, Pablo Casals’ 1890 discovery of the "tobacco-colored" scores in Barcelona, and Siblin’s own modern-day obsession. By mirroring the six-movement structure of a classical suite, the prose actually "performs" the music it describes.

Through the lens of a fan's "magnificent obsession," Chapter 1 transforms the cello from a lowly background instrument into a vessel for universal human emotion. It’s a detective story, a biography, and a memoir all tuned to the vibrant, optimistic key of G Major.

If you want to dive deeper into Suite No. 1 with your students, here are some resources to do that.

- All of Bach - Suite No. 1: It includes a "behind the music" video where the musician discusses the "apparent inconsistency" of the manuscripts and the emotional transparency of the G major key. It’s perfect for visual learners and for showing the "detective work" involved in interpreting old texts.
- Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance Teaching Plan: While designed for music students, its sections on "Expression" and "Analysis" are excellent for cross-curricular teaching. It discusses how Bach uses "compositional secrets" to create tension and release, very similar to how you might analyze narrative tension in a novel.
- The Strad: "Four Insights on the Prelude": It provides high-level "literary" descriptions of the music. For instance, Antoine Tamestit describes the G-Major tonality as the color blue, suggesting "hope" and "fluidity." This is a great resource for a creative writing exercise or a lesson on mood and tone.
- "The Bach Cello Suite No. 1 Study Book" by Cassia Harvey: It breaks the piece down into "digestible exercises." In a classroom setting, you can use these excerpts to show how a complex masterpiece is actually a collection of small, repeating patterns, much like motifs in a poem.
- Inbal Segev’s Masterclass Series (YouTube): Her "Musings with Inbal" series treats the music as a conversation. She discusses the harmonic structure and the history of the manuscripts (including Anna Magdalena Bach). These videos are short and "snackable," making them ideal for bell-ringer activities or 15-minute lesson segments.

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Autumn Music Activities

Looking for some autumn activities for your music studio? Here are some ideas:

🍁 Fall-Themed Music Lesson Ideas
🍁 Fall-Themed Music Resources and Activities
🍁 Fall Listening Lessons for Elementary Music
🍁 Fall Music Lesson Activities
🍁 Favorite Fall Music Lessons for Loads of Autumn Fun
🍁 Halloween Music Lesson Ideas
🍁 Halloween Music Lesson Ideas - Part 2
🍁 Lesson Plans and Sheet Music for the Fall
🍁 Pumpkin-Themed Music Lesson Ideas
🍁 Thanksgiving Sheet Music Crafts
🍁 Thanksgiving Music Lesson Ideas
🍁 Themed Lesson: Autumn

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More Valentine’s Day Resources

Looking for some Valentine’s activities for your music studio?
Celebrate Valentine's Day with These Fun, Creative Music Games
Valentine Fun
Valentine’s Day Activities for Elementary Music Class
Valentine’s Day Music Activities You’ll Love
Valentine’s Day Resources

Looking for some Valentine’s-themed sheet music?
Check out the pieces below.
Sheet Music - My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose (for beginner piano)
Sheet Music - When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (for beginner piano)
Sheet Music - Pachelbel's Canon for Guitar (intermediate)

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Lesson Resources on Fanny Mendelssohn

Introduce your students to Fanny Mendelssohn and her music with these resources.

Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn

Fanny Mendelssohn: An Unsung Romantic

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s Das Jahr

Fanny Mendelssohn Piano Trio Op. 11

Meet the Composer: Fanny Mendelssohn

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More Autumn Music Activities

Looking for some autumn activities for your music studio? Here are some ideas:

🍁 Fall-Themed Music Lesson Ideas
🍁 Fall-Themed Music Resources and Activities
🍁 Fall Listening Lessons for Elementary Music
🍁 Fall Music Lesson Activities
🍁 Favorite Fall Music Lessons for Loads of Autumn Fun
🍁 Halloween Music Lesson Ideas
🍁 Halloween Music Lesson Ideas - Part 2
🍁 Lesson Plans and Sheet Music for the Fall
🍁 Pumpkin-Themed Music Lesson Ideas
🍁 Thanksgiving Sheet Music Crafts
🍁 Thanksgiving Music Lesson Ideas
🍁 Themed Lesson: Autumn

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More Spring Music Resources and Activities

Bring spring and nature into your music lessons these next couple of weeks!
🌳 5 Little Bunnies: Finger Rhyme
🌳 Lesson Resources on Nature-Themed Classical Music
🌳 Music Activities for St. Patrick's Day
🌳 Old Mister Rabbit for the Elementary Music Classroom
🌳 Springtime Music
🌳 Spring Music Resources and Activities
🌳 Teaching Frog in the Meadow for Rest or Sol Mi

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Valentine’s Day Resources

Bring some Valentine fun into your music lessons this month!

Making Music with Manipulatives

Musical Games For Valentines Day

Valentine Fun

Valentine’s Day Circle of Fifths Challenge

Valentine’s Day Songs and Activities for Music Class

Sheet Music - My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose

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Winter Music Resources

Looking for some winter activities for your music studio?
Here are some ideas:
Snowman Music Flash Cards
Vivaldi’s Winter
The Winter Fairy Song
Winter Games to Play in the Elementary Music Room
Winter Music Lesson Ideas for Elementary Music
Winter: Music, Literacy, and More!
Wizards in Winter Rhythm Activity

Looking for some winter-themed sheet music? Check out the pieces below.
Sheet Music - Snowfall (for late elementary piano)
Sheet Music - Apples in Winter (for early intermediate piano)
Sheet Music - Vivaldi's Winter Largo (for early intermediate piano)

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Competitions and Performance Opportunities - Winter and Spring 2024

MusicLink Playathon
Minnesota students will again be given the opportunity to show off their musical talents by participating in a MusicLink Playathon at the Mall of America. This is a fundraising event sponsored by MMTA & Schmitt Music to benefit the MusicLink Foundation. It has been very successful in raising much-needed funds for the Foundation and is also an exciting experience for students, teachers & parents while providing a convincing public face to the value of music education.
Date: February 3-4, 2024
Registration fee: no fee
Ages: any age

https://www.musiclinkfoundation.org/events.html
Registration deadline: January 24, 2024

Piano Fun MN Competition
PianoFun Minnesota is an inspirational musical event for young pianists who love music and want to share their love of music with others. This competitive but friendly event provides young musicians with the opportunity to perform in a wonderful venue, and receive a valuable experience playing for a large audience. The competition is held at the Landmark Center in St. Paul.
Dates: February 2024 (exact date TBA)
Registration fee: $30 or $38
Ages: younger than 14
http://www.pianofunmn.com

Piano Solo Festival
Students who would like to, have the opportunity to participate in the Piano Solo Festival at Northwestern University.
Date: March 2024 (exact date TBA)
Registration fee: $20
Ages: 4th grade and up

Thursday Musical - Young Artist Scholarship Competition
Scholarships are awarded in each age division and instrument category. First place awards for college are $1,300; high school, $800; and junior high, $550. Second place and honorable mention awards are also granted. First place winners are recognized with a featured concert performance at MacPhail Center for Music, Minneapolis. Additional performance opportunities are also offered to winners.
Date: video due by February 16, 2024 // winners concert on April 20, 2024
Registration fee: $50
Ages: 7th grade and up
https://thursdaymusical.org/young-artist-scholarship-competition/
Registration deadline: January 26, 2024

The Schubert Club Student Scholarship Competition
The Schubert Club Student Scholarship Competition is open to junior high and senior high students. Two cash prizes in each age and instrument category are awarded – $2000 and $1500 – to be used for further musical education.
Date: video due by January 28, 2024 // in-person finals on March 10, 2024
Registration fee: none
Ages: 7th grade and up
Registration deadline: January 8, 2024


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Fall-Themed Music Resources and Activities

Bring fall into your music lessons these next couple of weeks!
🍁 Fall Music Class Lesson Ideas
🍁 Fall-Themed Music Lesson Ideas
🍁 Halloween Music Lesson Ideas
🍁 Pumpkin-Themed Music Lesson Ideas
🍁 Thanksgiving Music Lesson Ideas
🍁 Thanksgiving Sheet Music Crafts

Sheet Music
🍁 Autumn Waltz
🍁 Dancing Leaves
🍁 Now Thank We All Our God
🍁 Rain Drops
🍁 Rainy Day
🍁 Stormy Sky

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Laura's Music Studio Newsletter

Sign up for my free monthly newsletter! Here's what you can expect from this newsletter: links and ideas to improve your musicianship and your teaching abilities. Plus, the occasional discounts on a variety of e-guides and online courses. Sign up here.

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Summer Music Resources and Activities

Bring summer into your music lessons these next couple of weeks!
☀️ 3 Tips to Beat the Summer Lesson Blues
☀️ 7 Reasons for Teachers to Learn Some New Music
☀️ Fun Music Activities and Lesson Plans
☀️ Sheet Music - Bonny Kate
☀️ Sheet Music - Morning Has Broken
☀️ Sheet Music - Summer Memories
☀️ Summer Music Camp Ideas

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Laura's Music Studio Newsletter

Sign up for my free monthly newsletter! Here's what you can expect from this newsletter: links and ideas to improve your musicianship and your teaching abilities. Plus, the occasional discounts on a variety of e-guides and online courses. Sign up here.

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Spring Music Resources and Activities

Bring spring and nature into your music lessons these next couple of weeks!
🌸 Five Great Pieces: Springtime
🌸 Lesson Resources on Nature-Themed Classical Music
🌸 Music Activities for St. Patrick's Day
🌸 Spring Manipulatives
🌸 Springtime Music
🌸 Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring
🌸 Thoughts of Spring

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