4The New VICTORY® TheATeR / NewVICTORYSChOOLTOOLS.ORG © The New 42Nd STReeT, INC.

EN ROUTE AFTERBEFORE BEYOND

INSIDE provides teachers and students a behind-the-curtain look at the artists, the company and the art form of this production. Utilize this resource to learn more about the artists on the New Victory stage, how far they’ve traveled and their inspiration for creating this show. In addition to information that will enrich your students’ experience at the theater, you will find a Creativity Page as a handout to build student anticipation around their trip to The New Victory.

MAKING CONNECTIONS TO LEARNING STANDARDS New Victory School tool Resource Guides align with the Common Core State Standards, New York State Learning Standards and New York City Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts. We believe that these standards support both the high quality instruction and deep engagement that The New Victory Theater strives to achieve in its arts education practice.

WHAT IS “INSIDE” BLACK VIOLIN?

INSIDE

inside | black violin

®

COMMON CORESpeaking and Listening Standards: 1

NEW YORK STATE STANDARDSArts Standards: Standard 4English Language Arts Standards: Standard 1; Standard 4

This section is part of a full New Victory® School toolTM Resource Guide. For the complete guide, including information about the New Victory Education

Department check out: NEWVICTORySCHOOLTOOLS.ORG

Photos: Colin Brennen

INSIDE THE SHOW/COMPANy • CLOSER LOOK • WHERE IN THE WORLD

INSIDE THE ART FORM • WHAT DO yOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW?

CREATIVITy PAGE: CHARTING THE CHARTS

BLUEPRINT FOR THE ARTSMusic Standards: Developing Music Literacy; Making Connections

5The New VICTORY® TheATeR / NewVICTORYSChOOLTOOLS.ORG © The New 42Nd STReeT, INC.

INSIDEBEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER

CLOSER LOOK AT BLACK VIOLIN

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS BLACK VIOLIN FROM?

Here are a few facts about BLACK VIOLIN to familiarize you with the show and build excitement around your upcoming visit:

• BLACK VIOLIN is returning to the New Victory after playing sold out houses in 2009.

• The group name BLACK VIOLIN is derived from the influence of a famous jazz violinist, Stuff Smith; six months before Smith’s death, he recorded a solo album entitled Black Violin. The duo decided to name their group after the music of the most inspiring violinist they had ever heard.

• Neither Kev nor Wil B wanted to play the violin when they first started–Kev’s mother put him in a music class to keep him out of trouble, and Wil wound up in an orchestra class at school by mistake.

• In 2005, BLACK VIOLIN won Showtime at the Apollo. In the same year they opened for and performed with Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park), The Eagles, Stevie Nicks, Nas, 50 Cent, T-Pain, P Diddy, and Alicia Keys.

• BLACK VIOLIN recently played at the 2012 US Open in Flushing, Queens.

Virtuoso violinists Kev and Wil B are back on the New Victory stage once again to raise the roof sky-high with their funky fusion of classical, jazz, hip-hop, blues and R&B. With DJ TK on the turntables, Beatdown on the drums and David Gotay on cello, they create a unique fusion of classical music and contemporary hip-hop which defies genres and gets the audience dancing in their seats through booming new beats, classic favorites and surprising pop covers. The musicians of BLACK VIOLIN smash musical stereotypes and enthrall lovers of Bach, Beyoncé, and everything in between. They inspire kids across the country to get fired up about classical music—proving that their hearts are as big and soulful as their sound.

“A raucous, rousing, genre-busting performancethat dares the audience to get up and dance” –Time Out New York Kids

• Kev Marcus and Wil B currently hail from Miami, Florida.

• Miami has served as an inspiration to countless musicians, from U2 to Will Smith.

• South Florida has been the starting place for many famous rappers including Rick Ross, Ace Hood, Plies, Trina, Cool & Dre, Flo Rida, Jacki-O, and Stack$.

Miami, FL

BEYOND

[ ]BLACK VIOLIN = Classical Music + Jazz + Hip-Hop + R&B + Funk + Violin Virtuosity

inside | black violin

NORTHAMERICA

SOUTHAMERICA

ATLANTICOCEAN

PACIFICOCEAN

X

XMIAMI

FLORIDA

INSIDE THE SHOW/COMPANy • CLOSER LOOK • WHERE IN THE WORLD

INSIDE THE ART FORM • WHAT DO yOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW?

CREATIVITy PAGE: CHARTING THE CHARTS

6The New VICTORY® TheATeR / NewVICTORYSChOOLTOOLS.ORG © The New 42Nd STReeT, INC.

INSIDEBEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER

VIOLINThe violin is a four-stringed instrument traditionally held in place between the chin and the shoulder and played with a bow.

The violin derived from Arabic string instruments centuries ago, however, the name “violin” was first developed in the 1500s in Europe. Since that time, the instrument has undergone many aesthetic transformations. By the 19th century, it settled into the shape and design we recognize today, although the quality of sound produced from each new model is ever-changing.

To most people, classical, jazz and hip-hop are mere musical genres. But to the revolutionary BLACK VIOLIN, they are ingredients for their signature sound.

Here is a bit more background about the musical genres that inspire BLACK VIOLIN.

Prior to exploring BLACK VIOLIN with your students, find out how much they already know about different genres of music.

Use the Prior Knowledge questions below, and the Creativity Page handout (next page) to get a sense of your students’ understanding of the art forms and themes in the show. You may be surprised by how much they know already, and in the process of exploring these areas, you’ll spark their curiosity to see the show and enhance their anticipation for the trip.

• Do you play an instrument? If you could play an instrument which one would it be?

• What is your favorite kind of music?

Does music inspire you? How does it make you feel?

• What comes to mind when you hear the word: violin? Concert?

• Have you ever been to a live music concert?

Who was playing? How did the audience react during the concert?

BEYOND

INSIDE THE ART FORM WHAT DO yOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW?

inside | black violin

INSIDE THE SHOW/COMPANy • CLOSER LOOK • WHERE IN THE WORLD

INSIDE THE ART FORM • WHAT DO yOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW?

CREATIVITy PAGE: CHARTING THE CHARTS

CLASSICAL

ORIGIN

FACTS

PROMINENTMUSICIANS

ESSENCE

1750An art form that has its roots in Christian liturgical music and Ancient Greek tones

and scales. It was documented with

musical notation so that it could be remembered

and preserved.

Classical music has been noted for its

development of highly sophisticated forms of

instrumental music. These include the

concerto, the symphony, and the sonata.

Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig Van

Beethoven.

A hybrid art form of music that fuses African rhythms, American blues, European

chamber music and the more complex

elements of pop music, such as shifting time

signatures and melodies.

Improvisation is a major component of jazz, more so than in any other form

of popular music, and musicians often start a

tune with only a key and time signature from the

bandleader.

Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker,

and Miles Davis.

An art form that originated in the Bronx as a means of self-expression. The Sugar Hill Gang released the first

ever commercial rap recording in 1979, “Rapper’s

Delight.” Until this time, hip-hop was never recorded

or sold commercially.

Rhythmic vocal style of rap and a mixture

of backing beats.

Run DMC, DJ Kool Herc, OutKast, Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z,

Missy Elliot, Kanye West

1920’s 1970’s

JAZZ HIP-HOP

Photo: Colin Brennen

®

CHARTING THE CHARTS

© The New 42Nd STreeT, INc.

Interview 3 different people who are older than you are (older siblings, parents, grandparents, teachers and friends). Try to choose 3 people of completely different ages.

Ask them this set of questions, and record the interviews:

Investigate the history of music, through the people you know. What has changed? What has stayed the same? See how much information you can gather with your ears.

BONUS: Try to listen to all of the favorite artists or songs that were mentioned in the interviews. Do you like any of them, too? How are they different from popular music today? What is the same?

1. What was your favorite musical artist or song when you were my age?

2. What was the first concert you saw live?

3. What kind of device did you use to listen to music with when you were my age?

4. If you had to think of a song that inspires you the most, what would it be?

Name:

Age:

1. What was your favorite musical artist or song when you were my age?

2. What was the first concert you saw live?

3. What kind of device did you use to listen to music with when you were my age?

4. If you had to think of a song that inspires you the most, what would it be?

Name:

Age:

1. What was your favorite musical artist or song when you were my age?

2. What was the first concert you saw live?

3. What kind of device did you use to listen to music with when you were my age?

4. If you had to think of a song that inspires you the most, what would it be?

Name:

Age: