Presentations for K-12 Students
***During the COVID-19 Pandemic, all presentations are available via Zoom or Google Meet.***
Dr. Ball uses multiple camera angles, professional microphones, and screen shares to create the best possible substitute for an in-person presentation.
Dr. Erica Ball’s assemblies and class presentations for K-12 students are designed to get your students excited about today’s classical music. All assemblies and presentations incorporate repertoire from living composers, showcase innovations in contemporary performance techniques, and highlight the diversity of music being presented in today’s concert halls.
Presentations are tailored to the grade level(s) of the students and the length of the class period.
It is recommended that presentations be scheduled for at minimum 45 minutes in length.
Contact Dr. Erica Ball to schedule a presentation at your school
+ Meet a Composer - all grade levels
Composer presentations are typically made in conjunction with a commission or planned performance of one of Dr. Ball's works, but can also be tailored for a career day event. The compositional process is explained in detail with relation to the piece being performed. Dr. Ball then gives a summary of her path to becoming a composer, and leaves ample time at the end for student questions.
+ Adventures Inside the Piano - Elementary School
Meet the inside of the piano - where 88 keys become 230 strings! We will explore the basic mechanics of the piano and learn about contemporary piano performance techniques. Drawing inspiration from John Cage's prepared piano works, students will place common household items, such as paper clips and ping pong balls, inside the piano and craft a graphic score to notate their musical creation.
- Please note this presentation requires a grand piano.
+ Whale Songs - Middle School / High School
Together we will explore the landmark piece written by Philadelphia composer George Crumb, entitled Vox Balaenae. Crumb was inspired by the first recordings of humpback whale-songs, and invented new performance techniques to mimic the vocalizations of whales. Students will use available technology (iPads, H2N Zoom recorders, etc.) to take our own field recordings of sounds in our daily lives. We will then reconvene to invent our own new performance techniques to mimic the sounds of our field recordings.
+ Mozart with a Mohawk - Middle School / High School
Mozart goes punk! We will explore the mixing of classical and popular musics by listening to composers and bands who were influenced by combinations of these two musical genres. Students will be introduced to minimalism through the work of composers such as Philip Glass and Terry Riley, as well as listen with a fresh ear to perennnial favorites such as The Beatles and Velvet Underground. Through this presentation students gain an understanding of the frequent cross pollination between musical genres.