New December Store Update - Educational & Fun Additions

Happy December! This festive season, step into a winter wonderland with the Practice Space store, showcasing avatars of beloved composers whose music lights up the holidays. From jazz interpretations of classic ballets to orchestral pieces that have become synonymous with winter celebrations, these composers have created soundtracks that define the holiday experience.

Each avatar in our store can be redeemed using Practice Gems, earned by students as they meet their daily practice goals—combining musical progress with festive fun. Encourage your students not only to practice but to explore the magical stories behind the music they learn and perform.

We've crafted a PDF handout filled with fun, educational activities tailored to each composer's holiday works. This packet includes quizzes, intriguing facts, and biographies to transport students into the musical worlds of these seasonal favorites. It's an excellent resource for enriching music lessons and sparking students' curiosity about the origins and traditions of holiday music.

Don't miss the YouTube links provided for each composer's notable pieces; immerse yourself in the sounds of the season and discover why these works have become holiday staples. Each avatar comes with unique quotes, giving these composers a voice to share their festive insights and the inspiration behind

Duke Ellington (April 29, 1899 - May 24, 1974) was an American jazz legend, famous for my sophisticated orchestral jazz and big band leadership.

Facts in app:

1. I led my famous orchestra at the Cotton Club in Harlem, making jazz popular worldwide.

2. My piece 'It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing' helped define the swing era.

3. I composed over 1,000 pieces throughout my career, including jazz, blues, gospel, and classical music.

4. I received 13 Grammy Awards and was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969.

5. My 'Nutcracker Suite' is a jazzy take on Tchaikovsky's classic, loved during the holiday season.

6. Check out this performance of The Nutcracker Suite!:
   Ellington/Strayhorn: Nutcracker Suite (Overture) - YouTube

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Joan Tower (born: September 6, 1938) is an American composer and pianist, renowned for my striking and dynamic compositions.

Facts in app:

1. I was the first woman to receive the prestigious Grawemeyer Award for Composition in 1990.

2. My piece 'Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman' is inspired by Copland’s fanfare and dedicated to adventurous women everywhere.

3. I often draw inspiration from landscapes, as heard in my piece 'Sequoia,' which majestically portrays the towering trees.

4. I've been a piano soloist and the founding member of the Da Capo Chamber Players, premiering many new works.

5. My compositions are celebrated for their colorful orchestration and rhythmic complexity.

6. Check out this performance of Snow Dreams:
   Snow Dreams by Joan Tower - YouTube

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John Rutter (born: September 24, 1945) is a British composer, mainly of choral music, known for my carols and children's choirs.

Facts in app:

1. I founded the Cambridge Singers, a professional chamber choir that performs many of my compositions.

2. My 'Requiem,' composed in 1985, is performed around the world and is one of my best-known works.

3. I specialize in Christmas carols and have composed many holiday favorites that are performed globally.

4. I was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to music in 2007.

5. My music is described as warm and accessible, often filled with lush melodies and harmonies.

6. Check out this performance of The Colors of Christmas:
   The Colors of Christmas ~ by John Rutter (lyrics in CC) - YouTube

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William L. Dawson (September 26, 1899 - May 2, 1990) was a composer and professor known for my arrangements of African-American spirituals.

Facts in app:

1. I directed the Tuskegee Institute Choir for over 25 years, raising its national and international profile.

2. My arrangement of the spiritual 'Ezekiel Saw the Wheel' is performed by choirs all over the world.

3. I composed the 'Negro Folk Symphony,' which premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1934 and was highly acclaimed.

4. I worked to preserve and elevate the art of spirituals, ensuring their place in American musical heritage.

5. My music combines traditional African-American melodies with classical music forms.

6. Check out this performance of Mary Had a Baby:
   23. Mary Had a Baby - arr. William Dawson - YouTube

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Leroy Anderson (June 29, 1908 - May 18, 1975) was celebrated for creating light concert music, including the perennial favorite, 'Sleigh Ride.'

Facts in app:

1. I wrote 'Sleigh Ride' during a heat wave in July 1946, and it quickly became a Christmas classic.

2. Apart from composing, I served as a chief arranger for the Boston Pops Orchestra under Arthur Fiedler.

3. My works often feature creative use of sound effects like the typewriter in 'The Typewriter' piece.

4. I was fluent in nine languages, which influenced the broad appeal of my music internationally.

5. Many of my compositions, including 'The Syncopated Clock' and 'Blue Tango,' became hits on the pop charts.

6. Check out this performance of Sleigh Ride:
   Sleigh Ride (Anderson)

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Background Update

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Some other fun additions
These all cheer the student on but also talk about tempo and other musical terms!