The overall mission of The Children’s Education Program is to help develop students’ creative potential and ensure that the performing arts are a fundamental part of their education. This season we are proud to present the following programs:

First Grade

Seussical

March 2010

Seussical, the popular musical built on the stories of Dr. Seuss, is a zany romp through adventures of the Cat in the Hat, Horton and Mayzie. This production is scheduled for selected first graders. Connections: language arts and reading comprehension, musical elements

David Holt, Folklorist and Folk Singer

April 2011

Folklorist David Holt and partner Josh Goforth will perform the old traditional ballads, fiddle tunes and stories which early settlers shared with each other in their new home in America. “The Cat Came Back,” “Black-eyed Susie” and “I Got a Bullfrog” are timeless songs that children love and will sing for years to come. Mr. Holt has won four Grammy Awards for his recordings, and his collection of songs and tales are now part of the permanent collection of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. This performance will reinforce the joy of singing, folk instruments such as banjo, guitar, harmonica and spoons, as well as the art of storytelling.
Connections: language arts and singing

Second Grade

Peter and the Wolf
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and
Metropolitan Classical Ballet

January 2011

Peter and the Wolf is a story of an adventurous boy and the bravery he demonstrates in trapping a wily wolf. In this performance the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Metropolitan Classical Ballet masterfully assist in telling the classic tale which is narrated in English and Spanish. Prior to attending the program, students will read Peter and the Wolf and learn to identify instruments of the orchestra both aurally and visually.
Connections: language arts and reading, music and theater

Third Grade

The Nutcracker
Texas Ballet Theater

December 2010

Texas Ballet Theater's production of this popular classic ballet is a delight.  Students follow young Clara on a fantastic journey to a magical world where Christmas trees grow taller before their eyes, mice battle toy soldiers, and snowflakes dance.  Students increase perception, understand historical and cultural heritage, develop new ways to evaluate artistic experiences, and look at dance as storytelling through this presentation.  First Act only.
Connections: language arts and reading, music and theater

Fifth Grade

Copland and the Common Man: Abraham Lincoln
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

September 2010

This program illustrates the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War and the expansion of the transcontinental railroad through music and art. The spirit of events found in Aaron Copland’s music are reinforced by historic photographs projected above the stage, while a narrator relates the John Henry folktale and narrates The Lincoln Portrait. The combination of visual arts, music and related narrative provides an engaging, comprehensive program, offering students greater insight into the rich history of our country.
Connections: American historical and cultural heritage, evaluation of musical elements

Middle and High School

TCU Percussion Ensemble

September 2010

The Percussion Ensemble at Texas Christian University conducted by Dr. Brian West, will present a wide variety of pitched and un-pitched percussion instruments, in many compositions written specifically for them.  They will demonstrate standard band and orchestra instruments, as well as steel pan drums in the concert. This performance is designed to introduce students of all ages to this large and interesting family of instruments.
Connections: musical elements

Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

October 2010

Concert Master Michael Shih is featured as soloist in this important landmark Romantic composition in the violin repertoire.  The elegant, lyric composition is one of the most popular violin concertos of all time.  Also on the program will be Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio espagnole. The concert will be conducted by Maestro Miguel Harth-Bedoya.

 Connections: musical elements

U. S. Marine Band in Concert

October 2010

The Crucible, Stage West

October 2010

This milestone play, which deals with the Salem Witch Trials in early colonial America and relates to forms of paranoia and persecution throughout history, is performed onstage at Bass Performance Hall in abbreviated form. Director Jerry Russell and his small but talented cast bring a new understanding to this American classic by Arthur Miller, cutting away all but the most salient moments to make a riveting theatrical experience for students with varied levels of sophistication.
Connections: language arts and reading comprehension, American history

Music of Ravel
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

November 2010

Ravel was a master orchestrator and had a special affinity for the music of Spain. Three of his most popular “Spanish” compositions, Rapsodie espagnole, Alborada del gracioso and audience favorite Boléro will be performed in this concert.  It will be conducted by guest conductor Maestro Enrique Diemecke.
 Connections: musical elements

Ellis Island:  The Dream of America
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Guest Narrators

March 2011

This composition was written by contemporary composer Peter Boyer as an homage to the immigrants who have made the United States what it is today. The combination of archival photos of the period, music and related narrative by a group of costumed actors provides an engaging, comprehensive program, offering students greater insight into the rich history of our country.
 Connections:  American history, musical elements

For more information about programming...

please submit a Request Form (Adobe Acrobat .PDF format) or contact Clint Dawley,
Assistant Director of Education, at cdawley@basshall.com.

To view study guides for these programs, click HERE.