44: Discovering Liszt's Christmas Tree Suite: A Family Tradition in Music for the Holiday Season

The Music in Our Homeschool Podcast with Gena Mayo easy music education tips, strategies, and curriculum resources for homeschooling parents

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Welcome to a heartwarming holiday episode of the "Music in Our Homeschool" podcast with host Gena Mayo. Dive into the enchanting world of Franz Liszt and his delightful Christmas Tree Suite, a collection of 12 short piano pieces written as a gift for his granddaughter, Daniela. This episode offers a perfect blend of music history, theory, and festive fun, designed to bring joy and education to your homeschooling family.

Gena Mayo, a veteran music teacher and homeschooling mom of eight, takes you on a magical journey through the life and works of Franz Liszt. Learn about Liszt’s early musical prowess, his rise to fame that stirred "Lisztomania" across Europe, and his generous spirit that made him a beloved teacher and composer. You’ll discover fascinating anecdotes, including how his passionate playing would sometimes break piano strings and wear out the instruments themselves.

The episode dives deep into the Christmas Tree Suite, highlighting pieces like "O Holy Night," "Scherzoso," and "Shepherds at the Manger." Gena explains how Liszt used dynamics, major and minor tonalities, and thematic transformation to create varying moods and emotions in his music. To make this more engaging for your homeschool, she shares fun, hands-on activities, such as drawing what you hear, creating your own Christmas suite, guessing the mood of melodies, and matching dynamics.

Don’t miss the chance to make music education fun and memorable this holiday season. Be sure to check out the show notes for a link to a free worksheet pack to further explore the Christmas Tree Suite, and join Gena for a live lesson with her Music in Our Homeschool Plus members. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this festive episode with your homeschooling community. Let the music of Liszt bring a little extra joy and beauty to your holiday season!

Find all links and resources mentioned in this episode here: https://musicinourhomeschool.com/christmas-tree-suite-franz-liszt/

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