First Steps with The Nutcracker DVD

The ultimate goal of Movement Exploration, one of the eight parts of the First Steps in Music curriculum, is to use the body to appropriately demonstrate the expressiveness of the music. Experiencing various movements with accompanying music helps children develop lifelong sensitivities toward the expressiveness - the "art part" - of music. There is no better vehicle for this than Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. The music and the story come alive when children are invited to actively participate, to become each character, and to respond expressively to their signature music. At the same time, each theme offers an opportunity to expand students' creative movement vocabulary. This video joins Lillie Feierabend as she guides first-, second-, and third-grade students in dancing each character and discovering the delight of moving expressively and musically to the themes. Also included on this DVD: a voiceover track discussing each component of Movement Exploration with the complete storyline, themes, and implementation ideas.