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WE SHALL OVERCOME
Freedom Song
RHYTHM WARMUP:
Clap, sing, or play along with the rhythm cards!
Can Can Rhythm Warm Up
CONNECTING:
LISTENING
Listen to this orchestral performance of "Can Can" written by Jacques Offenbach.
How would you describe this song?
Connecting: Can Can Listening video
CONNECTING:
Composer JACQUES OFFENBACH
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Connecting: Can Can Composer Info
Jacques Offenbach was born in Germany in 1819 to a musical family. His father taught him the violin as a young boy, and he played the cello as he grew older. He studied music further in France and performed throughout Europe as a cellist. He wrote many operettas (light comic operas) and eventually wrote the famous "Can Can" for his opera "Orpheus in the Underworld." As an older man in his 50's, Offenbach had money problems and toured in the United States to help pay off his debts. Before he died in 1880, he had written more than 100 stage works.
Connecting: Can Can Dance Video
CONNECTING:
CANCAN DANCE
Audiences have enjoyed the Cancan dance for many years. It has French or Algerian origins, and features women wearing petticoats (layers of skirts) while doing a lively dance with high kicks, flips and splits. It was considered shocking in the 1830s when it became popular, because it was new for women to be so acrobatic in a dance. Watch this movie clip of the Cancan dance!
Listening Collection:
"CAN CAN"
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How would you describe the different sound of our Listening Collection recording of "Can Can?"
Listen for the lyrics or words being sung describing the Cancan dance.
Can Can Listening Collection Audio
Can Can Song Analysis
SONG ANALYSIS
(Think, track, and sing along!)
What does the rhythm sound like?
00:00 / 01:03
What does the melody sound like?
00:00 / 01:05
Which fingers play this song?
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The sharp symbol (#) tells us the pitch or sound is going to be slighly higher. In this song, there is an F# so finger number 4 in the right hand will playing the black key for F#
There is a 1st and 2nd ending in this song. When you reach the repeat sign, go back to the beginning and play the first system (line of music) then skip to the 2nd ending to play the last 2 measures (2.)
Can Can Keyboard Practice
PRACTICING:
Play along using the keyboard image with the video, or download your own keyboard card:
HAND POSITION WITH BOTH THUMBS ON MIDDLE C, RH 4 on F#.
BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE 1ST AND 2ND ENDINGS!
F#
Can Can Keyboard Performing
PERFORMING:
Play along with and without the video using the interactive keyboard below!
PLACE BOTH THUMBS ON MIDDLE C AND THE (RH) FINGER 4 ON F#.
BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE 1ST AND 2ND ENDING!
5 4 3 2 1 2 3 4# 5
PRACTICE TRACKER:
How many times did you practice the song?
0
Can Can Connecting - Performance Videos
CONNECTING:
Check out these different versions of "Can Can" with different instruments. Which one do you like most? Why?
Can Can Composition Exercise
CREATING:
Can you write your own lyrics to Can Can that describe the Cancan dance?
Download the PDF here:
Can Can Responding Box
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