Sound can also play a role in what people choose to buy. Take, for example, cars. Manufacturers believe that customers (whether they know it or not) expect certain sounds—like a smooth engine in an expensive car or that zoom-zoom sound in a sporty car. So engineers design and build cars to create specific sounds that they hope will be music to customers’ ears.
During the performance, listen for the difference between music played on an inexpensive instrument and on a more expensive, finely crafted one.
Think about… What are some ways music and sound can make you smarter, healthier, and happier? Share your ideas with your friends and family.
For Web links related to the topics covered in the performance, see www.yvonnecaruthers.com and click on “Connections”
Music to Your Ears At the performance, you will hear: “Lullaby” by Johannes Brahms (yoh-HAH-nuhs brahmz) “Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (NICK-o-leye Rim-skee KOR-suh-koff)
David M. Rubenstein Chairman
PERFORMANCE GUIDE
Ever notice that most stores at the mall have music playing? And that different stores play different types of music? For example, stores that sell clothes for young people often play current hits at a relatively high volume. The thinking goes: If the music makes you happy, you’ll stay in the store longer and buy more clothes!
Of course, musicians and instrument makers know a lot about building something—instruments, of course! —to create a good-quality sound.
Connections:
Michael M. Kaiser President Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education
Christoph Eschenbach Music Director National Symphony Orchestra Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided by Adobe Foundation, The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Macy's Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; Washington Gas; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.
Cuesheet
Sounds for Happy Customers
Music Matters
Developed and hosted by Yvonne Caruthers
Performed by National Symphony Orchestra members Natasha Bogachek, violin Yvonne Caruthers, cello Stephen Dumaine, tuba Eric Shin, percussion
At the performance, join National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) cellist Yvonne Caruthers and three of her musician friends to learn some surprising connections between music and the world around us—and how music matters by making us smarter, healthier, and happier.
Education and related artistic programs are made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.
Listen closely! Musical sounds are everywhere.
“American Souvenir: Variations on Yankee Doodle” by Henri Vieuxtemps (ahn-REE vyuh-TAHN) www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge
“Habanera” from the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet (Bee-ZAY) “Music for Pieces of Wood” by Steve Reich
Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center. Learn more about education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education
A Good Audience… ■ ■ ■ ■
Stays seated Stays quiet Watches and listens carefully Claps at the end
The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2014 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO.
Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by
Let’s Talk About Some Ways Music Matters What Is Sound?
Nature’s Symphony
Before we can talk about music, it helps to understand sound—which is created when an object vibrates (moves back and forth quickly). For example, when your finger plucks a string, the string vibrates and disturbs the air around it, making an invisible sound wave. You hear the sound when the wave travels through the air to your ear. Sound waves vary in speed (also known as the frequency) and are measured in units called Hertz (waves per second).
Think about a volcano. It’s loud when it explodes, but otherwise it’s quiet…or is it? Surprise! In volcanoes, there can be a whole symphony going on—you just can’t hear it. That’s because the sounds fall below or above the range of human hearing. Scientists have begun to discover that these sounds are worth listening to. Thanks to advanced technology, researchers now can hear the inner workings of volcanoes, which make sounds like pops and buzzes, and even “screams.” Scientists hope to determine whether changes in the musical aspects of the sounds—like tempo and pitch—can tell us something important.
Humans can hear from about 20 to 20,000 Hertz. Lower-frequency sounds have a low pitch, like thunder. Higher-frequency sounds have a high pitch, like bird chirps. Instruments also have different pitches, and the smaller the instrument, the higher the sound it makes. Guess which instrument from the performance— marimba, violin, tuba, and cello—will sound the highest and which will sound the lowest?
During the performance, learn more about volcanic and other natural sounds…and how musical know-how makes us smarter when it comes to understanding our world.
Music and sound can help improve your health. For example, by analyzing the sounds of cells, scientists hope that one day they will be able to tell whether disease cells are present before a person shows any sign of illness. Music also works like medicine. Live music helps calm and soothe babies born prematurely (too early). Researchers believe music comforts these infants and helps them get stronger faster. Some doctors find that music can also distract older kids from the pain of certain medical procedures, like shots. And finally, older people suffering from illnesses that cause them to lose their memory can better recall past events when they hear music from their younger days—improving their happiness and well being.
REMEMBER IT
cello marimba
Tune in to the exploration of sound and pitch by using your own musical instrument—your vocal cords. Place your fingers gently on the middle of your throat. Hum quietly. Feel that? You can feel vibrations coming from your vocal cords as you hum. Now hum at a high pitch (like a bird) and then at a low pitch (like a foghorn). In music, the shorter or tighter the string on a musical instrument, the higher the sound. Discuss with friends how this idea works with your vocal cords.
“Doctor Music” Will See You Now
During the performance, learn more about music and health.
violin tuba
PITCH IT
Think of your favorite song from a couple of years ago. Replay it in your head or on a music player. What do you remember about the time when you first heard and liked that song? What were you doing and who was with you? Share your memories with friends. Some people describe songs as soundtracks to a little movie in their minds. What do you think?
Let’s Talk About Some Ways Music Matters What Is Sound?
Nature’s Symphony
Before we can talk about music, it helps to understand sound—which is created when an object vibrates (moves back and forth quickly). For example, when your finger plucks a string, the string vibrates and disturbs the air around it, making an invisible sound wave. You hear the sound when the wave travels through the air to your ear. Sound waves vary in speed (also known as the frequency) and are measured in units called Hertz (waves per second).
Think about a volcano. It’s loud when it explodes, but otherwise it’s quiet…or is it? Surprise! In volcanoes, there can be a whole symphony going on—you just can’t hear it. That’s because the sounds fall below or above the range of human hearing. Scientists have begun to discover that these sounds are worth listening to. Thanks to advanced technology, researchers now can hear the inner workings of volcanoes, which make sounds like pops and buzzes, and even “screams.” Scientists hope to determine whether changes in the musical aspects of the sounds—like tempo and pitch—can tell us something important.
Humans can hear from about 20 to 20,000 Hertz. Lower-frequency sounds have a low pitch, like thunder. Higher-frequency sounds have a high pitch, like bird chirps. Instruments also have different pitches, and the smaller the instrument, the higher the sound it makes. Guess which instrument from the performance— marimba, violin, tuba, and cello—will sound the highest and which will sound the lowest?
During the performance, learn more about volcanic and other natural sounds…and how musical know-how makes us smarter when it comes to understanding our world.
Music and sound can help improve your health. For example, by analyzing the sounds of cells, scientists hope that one day they will be able to tell whether disease cells are present before a person shows any sign of illness. Music also works like medicine. Live music helps calm and soothe babies born prematurely (too early). Researchers believe music comforts these infants and helps them get stronger faster. Some doctors find that music can also distract older kids from the pain of certain medical procedures, like shots. And finally, older people suffering from illnesses that cause them to lose their memory can better recall past events when they hear music from their younger days—improving their happiness and well being.
REMEMBER IT
cello marimba
Tune in to the exploration of sound and pitch by using your own musical instrument—your vocal cords. Place your fingers gently on the middle of your throat. Hum quietly. Feel that? You can feel vibrations coming from your vocal cords as you hum. Now hum at a high pitch (like a bird) and then at a low pitch (like a foghorn). In music, the shorter or tighter the string on a musical instrument, the higher the sound. Discuss with friends how this idea works with your vocal cords.
“Doctor Music” Will See You Now
During the performance, learn more about music and health.
violin tuba
PITCH IT
Think of your favorite song from a couple of years ago. Replay it in your head or on a music player. What do you remember about the time when you first heard and liked that song? What were you doing and who was with you? Share your memories with friends. Some people describe songs as soundtracks to a little movie in their minds. What do you think?
Sound can also play a role in what people choose to buy. Take, for example, cars. Manufacturers believe that customers (whether they know it or not) expect certain sounds—like a smooth engine in an expensive car or that zoom-zoom sound in a sporty car. So engineers design and build cars to create specific sounds that they hope will be music to customers’ ears.
During the performance, listen for the difference between music played on an inexpensive instrument and on a more expensive, finely crafted one.
Think about… What are some ways music and sound can make you smarter, healthier, and happier? Share your ideas with your friends and family.
For Web links related to the topics covered in the performance, see www.yvonnecaruthers.com and click on “Connections”
Music to Your Ears At the performance, you will hear: “Lullaby” by Johannes Brahms (yoh-HAH-nuhs brahmz) “Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (NICK-o-leye Rim-skee KOR-suh-koff)
David M. Rubenstein Chairman
PERFORMANCE GUIDE
Ever notice that most stores at the mall have music playing? And that different stores play different types of music? For example, stores that sell clothes for young people often play current hits at a relatively high volume. The thinking goes: If the music makes you happy, you’ll stay in the store longer and buy more clothes!
Of course, musicians and instrument makers know a lot about building something—instruments, of course! —to create a good-quality sound.
Connections:
Michael M. Kaiser President Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education
Christoph Eschenbach Music Director National Symphony Orchestra Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided by Adobe Foundation, The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Macy's Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; Washington Gas; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.
Cuesheet
Sounds for Happy Customers
Music Matters
Developed and hosted by Yvonne Caruthers
Performed by National Symphony Orchestra members Natasha Bogachek, violin Yvonne Caruthers, cello Stephen Dumaine, tuba Eric Shin, percussion
At the performance, join National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) cellist Yvonne Caruthers and three of her musician friends to learn some surprising connections between music and the world around us—and how music matters by making us smarter, healthier, and happier.
Education and related artistic programs are made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.
Listen closely! Musical sounds are everywhere.
“American Souvenir: Variations on Yankee Doodle” by Henri Vieuxtemps (ahn-REE vyuh-TAHN) www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge
“Habanera” from the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet (Bee-ZAY) “Music for Pieces of Wood” by Steve Reich
Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center. Learn more about education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education
A Good Audience… ■ ■ ■ ■
Stays seated Stays quiet Watches and listens carefully Claps at the end
The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2014 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO.
Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by