On Wednesday, February 25th, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic continued its mission of musical discovery. Specifically, we visited two third-grade classes at Monterey Elementary School in Harrison District 2. These students had recently attended the Philharmonic Kids performance of Peter and the Wolf. Consequently, our Principal Bassoon, JJ Sechan, led a lively post-concert debrief to help them process the experience.
JJ guided the students through a deep dive into Prokofiev’s classic during two 50-minute sessions. First, the classes revisited the music to identify the tempo, dynamics, and pitch that define each character. Furthermore, JJ encouraged the students to get up and move. By physically embodying the music, they quickly learned how a composer’s choices bring a story to life.
The highlight of the afternoon included several interactive moments:
The “Jabberwocky Jam”: JJ performed a solo piece for the room. Subsequently, students visualized and drew their own versions of the legendary creature.
Creative Character Building: Students then invented a new character to join Peter’s world. They chose specific instruments and musical elements to match their creation’s personality.
Musical Immersion: To wrap up the activity, students acted out their original characters through movement. This exercise helped them connect sounds to specific emotions.
Finally, JJ played one last solo before saying goodbye. He left the students with a better understanding of orchestral music and a spark of musical imagination. We are proud to see the next generation of listeners engaging so deeply with our artistry.
