How the Gimquat Found Her Song

Several weeks ago, I took the opportunity to attend a children's performance presented by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.  The presentation, titled "How the Gimquat Found Her Song", was a beautiful blend of dramatic and musical elements suited for a young audience.  When I watched the show, there were hundreds of elementary-aged students in attendance and it was obvious that they were delighted to be there.  The energy in the concert hall was very evident as the children sang along, reacted to the special effects and lighting, and applauded loudly at the conclusion of the show.

There were only 2 actors in the show, but the animation of these characters and the intensity that they brought to the stage made you think you were observing a full cast of actors!  The Gimquat was trying to find her song (as a bird), and with the help of the wizard, they traveled through time to see which genre of music best suited her voice.  As the characters arrived in various eras of time, the symphony orchestra accompanied and set the mood for the show exquisitely. We explored Gregorian chant, medieval songs from the 1300s, Bach, Mozart with opera, Berlioz and Brahms in a scary forest, jazz and rap, and finally the bird found her song in nature - the most organic form of music.

While the majority of the audience were under the age of 12, there was a section devoted to teachers and future teachers (like me!). Sitting in my seat before the show began, a woman approached us to show us the Study Guide that is meant to go along with the show.  She offered me a free copy and I have thoroughly enjoyed looking through and exploring this wonderful resource.  Along with a DVD and a CD, the booklet is complete with lesson plans for grades K-5, big ideas, strategies, and information on the music. A portion of a full orchestral score and flash cards suitable for the classroom are also included.  It has been a fantastic resource and I cannot wait to use it more in my classroom.