Ask any of the fourth graders at Katonah Elementary about Mozart’s life and greatest works, and chances are – they'll know.
Their April 3 performance of “Of Mice and Mozart” was the entertaining tip of the iceberg, built on a solid base of biographical information and musical knowledge about who many consider to be the greatest composer of all time.
“The melodies of the seven songs in the musical are each based on one of Mozart’s most well-known compositions,” said music teacher Brian Cuzzi. “As we learned the songs in music class, we discussed the pieces they came from.”
Learning about Mozart was only one facet of growth folded into the process of preparing the musical performance. Cuzzi said that students learned how to memorize lines through “chunking”—breaking their part into small manageable sections. They also gained an introduction to stage presence.
On performance night, with all the preparations in place, students enjoyed the fun of being mice.
Most took their places on stage wearing pink-lined ears and soft gray tails. Others wore powdered wigs, tailcoats and frocks, reflecting the time in which Mozart lived and worked.
We’re the musical descendants of every little mouse
Who lived hidden in the woodwork of Wolfgang Mozart’s house.
And from the opening theme, based on Mozart's Symphony No. 40, to the final number, a rap infused with the familiar Piano Sonata, Katonah Elementary’s fourth graders delighted the audience with the story of one of the world’s most amazing “mouse-icians!”
Congratulations to all!