Conversational Solfege is a dynamic and captivating first-through-eighth grade general music program that enables students to become independent musical thinkers with the help of a rich variety of folk and classical music. It is organized around increasingly complex rhythmic and melodic content. Each new rhythmic or melodic element is discovered first in patterns and then reinforced with folk songs, rhymes, and classical examples.

Central to the Conversational Solfege program is the use of music harvested from our rich and diverse American musical history. This variety of music serves as a common thread that spans and bonds generations. Each book contains varied song material so the teacher can select appropriate music for the lower grades or older beginners. This 12-step teaching method carefully brings students from readiness to, ultimately, creating music through inner hearing and then transferring their musical thoughts into notation—in other words, to compose music!

This CD provides 14 classical selections referenced in Conversational Solfege Level 2.

These examples provide reinforcement for emerging literacy skills, and they also enable students to listen to wonderful classical examples with greater attention.

Listening to classical music can be challenging for elementary students. With nothing to hang onto, the many notes can be too much to comprehend and attention soon wanes. But with minimal literacy skills, students will have enough musical information to discover that classical music can be accessible and appealing.

In the included booklet, timings are given for each selection and the portions of the music that are readable by the students are reproduced.

Whether using this CD with Conversational Solfege instructional materials or simply as a resource of classical music with simple to read rhythmic and melodic material, both teachers and students will delight in discovering this wonderful music through literacy.

This series is a complete, innovative approach to teaching music that will stay fresh year after year.

CONTENTS

Conversational Solfege Unit 5: 1. Antonin Dvorak • New World Theme

Conversational Solfege Unit 6: 2. Franz Joseph Haydn • Theme from  the "Surprise Symphony"; 3. Camille Saint-Sans • Turtles from Carnival of the Animals; 4. Ludwig van Beethoven • Symphony No. 7, 2nd Movement; 5. Josef Strauss • Feuerfest (Fireproof) Polka, Op. 269

Conversational Solfege Unit 7: 6. Jacques Offenbach • Can-Can; 7. Dmitry Kabalevsky • Pantomime from the Comedians; 8. Edvard Grieg • In the Hall of the Mountain King

Conversational Solfege Unit 9 and Unit 11: 9. Jacques Offenbach • Barcarolle

Conversational Solfege Unit 10: 10. Edvard Grieg • Morning

Conversational Solfege Unit 11: 11. Ottorino Respighi • Ground in G

Conversational Solfege Unit 12: 12. Johann Sebastian Bach • Jesu, Joy of Men's Desiring; 13. Jean Sibelius • Finlandia

Conversational Solfege Unit 13: 14. Ludwig Van Beethoven • Symphony No. 6, Movement 5 

John M. Feierabend is Professor Emeritus and former Director of Music Education at The Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford, Connecticut.