Deep Dive with Yo-Yo Ma May 1, 2020

Columbus School for Girls

Taking a Deep Dive with Yo-Yo Ma during COVID-19

Week of April 24 , 2020 Betsy Gugle, Lower School Director Agnes Becker, Director of Strings

This Week’s Deep Dive: Yo-Yo Ma

Music, like all of culture, helps us to understand our environment, each other, and ourselves.

Culture helps us to imagine a better future.

Culture helps turn "them" into "us." And these things have never been more important.

ImageSource: Todd Rosenberg

Yo-Yo Ma

Step 1: Listen to Yo-Yo Ma’s Songs of Comfort Currently, Yo-Yo Ma is releasing a series of videos to help provide comfort to healthcare workers during this pandemic.

Click Here

Step 2: Talk Time 1. In Yo-Yo Ma’s twitter message he says to the healthcare works, “your ability to balance human connection and scientific truth in service of us all gives me hope.” What do you think he means--human connection and scientific truth?

2. What part of the Bach Cello Suite No. 3 connected with you the most? Where did you feel it in your heart?

3. Why does Yo-Yo Ma use music as his way to thank the health care works? What passion do you have that you can use to share your gratitude for others?

Step 3: Snorkeling--Fact Find Click below to read about Yo-Yo Ma’s life.

PDF-text only

Website with photos

What 5 facts are most interesting to you about Yo-Yo Ma’s life and career?

Yo-Yo Ma at Trent School in 1962. https://www.yo-yoma.com/about-2/

What are 3-5 questions that you would like to ask him if you were in a conversation with him?

Step 4: Scuba Diving--Dig deeper 1. Musicians around the world have been creating musical performances to share virtually during COVID-19. How does music, “help us imagine a better future?”

2. What music or song most deeply connects with you and gives you hope and happiness during difficult times?

3. Click here to learn more from PBS about Yo-Yo Ma’s initiative #songsforcomfort. Create your own group of musicians you would add to the performances.

Step 4: Scuba Diving--Dig Deeper Other COVID-19 Concerts and Performances…

Hamilton Cast performs for 9-Year Old Girl on Zoom We are All in this Together Disney Sing-a-Long Ode to Joy by Beethoven Symphony No. 9 performed by Social Symphony Andrea Boccelli “Amazing Grace” in Milan, Italy “We are the World” by Channel Aid and Other You Tube Artists Extension project: Research how these virtual performances are made--how many people are behind the scenes, what are the steps that are needed, etc.

Step 5: Share what you’ve learned

If you want to share your thoughts and project work on Taking a Deep Dive Padlet, click here.

Share a video or written message to Yo-Yo Ma, an illustration, a summary, list of facts...the possibilities are endless!