College Lesson Plan

Class: Piano Interpretation for piano majors

Period: 40 minutes

Putting the Dance Back Into Mazurka

Objective

Students will be able to learn basic steps of mazurka and dance with the music of Chopin Mazurkas.

Purpose

Ä To discover three types of mazurkas: mazur, berek and kujawiak.

Ä To feel the mazurka rhythm: strong accents are irregularly placed on the second or third beat of the measure.

Ä To experience the mazurka dance

Ä To help students how to interpret the music of mazurka.

Materials

Ä One class computer with a LCD projector

Ä Piano

Ä CD player

Ä blackboard with staffs

Ä Powerpoint presentation, including the following:

http://www.fiu.edu~kneskij/mazurka/

http://www.homepages.kdsi.net/~sherman/wasowski.html

http://www.buy-scores.com/cd-sheet/piano.php

http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3mazurka.html

Ä A recording of a Chopin Mazurka (Arthur Rubinstein)

Ä History of Dance CD Training Courseware

Ä Concord Concerto CCD-42036, 51 Chopin Mazurkas performed by

Andrzej Wasowski

Ä Space to dance

Anticipatory Set

Play the recording of Rubinstein as students enter the room.

Ask students to move their body or dance to the music.

Procedure

1. Ask the class what kind of movement students observed as they were asked to dance with the music.

2. Ask the class how much they know about the music of Mazurka.

3. Show students the Powerpoint presentation which contains history, styles and the rhythm of mazurka.

4. Ask students to clap the rhythm. Add an accent to the rhythm.

5. Ask one student to notate the rhythm on the board.

6. Show students steps of glide mazurka in the History of Dance CD.

7. Ask students to stand up and try these steps with the music in the spacious part of the classroom. Teacher plays a Chopin Mazurka on the piano.

8. Students will return to their seats and listen to the recording of Wasowski.

Check for Student Understanding

Teacher will check for accuracy of the rhythm and the appropriate accent placement when students are asked to clap the rhythm and dance with the music.

Closure

Students will discuss what they heard on the Wasowski recording;

a. how the pianist is treating the Mazurka rhythm.

b. similarities and differences from Rubinsteinπs performance they heard at the beginning of the class.

Extensions

Ä Listen and compare the performances of Wasowski, Marjan Kiepura and Ignaz Friedman.

Ä Investigation of Chopin Mazurkas; how does Chopin incorporate folk, urban and salon types of mazurka dances?

Ä Conduct a Mazurka Performance Class.

Ä Find mazurka in countries other than Poland.

Ä Compose their own mazurka by using a notation software.

Use the first 6 notes of Lydian mode with a raised 4th.

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