Building Background Activity

Activity One: Exploring the World of Street Musician
The purpose of this activity is to help students gain an understanding of the different places music is performed.

1. Ask the students to share what they think the difference is between each pair listed below:

• Eating dinner in a restaurant/Having a picnic in the park
• Learning information in a classroom/Doing homework with your friends
• Watching a movie in a theater/Watching a DVD on television in your home
• Going to a concert to hear music/Listening to a person playing an instrument on the street

Lead a class discussion focusing on how an experience is different in an informal vs. a formal setting.

2. Ask the students if they have ever seen street performances. For example, this might include clowns, musicians, actors, mimes, etc. Encourage students to share any experiences with their classmates. Tell the students that Mozart performed in many different settings that ranged from luxurious palaces to crowded plazas.

3. Show the students the famous painting entitled “Street Musicians” by Harlem Renaissance painter William Henry Johnson.

Read aloud the following storybook about street musicians who performed during the Harlem Renaissance to the class:
• “Sweet Music in Harlem” by Debbie A. Taylor. Illustrated by Frank Morrison. Lee and Low Books Inc., 2004

Teacher Note:
This book features the adventures of a young boy as he chases through Harlem looking for his uncle who is a famous jazz musician. You may also choose to select a different book that focuses on street music performances. You may wish to research and listen to street musicians in your local area.

4. As a class, view the Wunderkind Little Amadeus episode “Street Musicians.” Have the students complete the Comprehension Checker questions. When they are finished, review their answers to ensure they understand what happened in the story.
Ask the students to discuss how they imagine Little Amadeus might have felt as he performed in a street setting. Have the students compare how they think he felt with information they learned from the book “Sweet Music in Harlem.”

5. As a class, create a list of different places that Little Amadeus performed. As you watch additional episodes, add information the list.