Introduction

What’s inside

Dear Educator, As you make plans for your students to attend an upcoming presentation of the Arts for Youth program at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, we invite you to prepare your students by using this guide to assure that from beginning to end; the experience is both memorable and educationally enriching. The material in this guide is for you the teacher, and will assist you in preparing your students before the day of the event, and extending the educational value to beyond the walls of the theatre. We provide activity and/or discussion ideas, and other resources that will help to prepare your students to better understand and enjoy what they are about to see, and to help them connect what they see on stage to their studies. We also encourage you to discuss important aspects of the artistic experience, including audience etiquette. We hope that your students find their imagination comes alive as lights shine, curtains open, and applause rings through Lancaster Performing Arts Center. As importantly, we hope that this Curriculum Guide helps you to bring the arts alive in your classroom! Thank you for helping us to make a difference in the lives of our Antelope Valley youth. Arts for Youth Program Lancaster Performing Arts Center, City of Lancaster

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 Overview of the California Content Standards for Public Schools .................................................................... 3 Theatre Etiquette .............................................................................................................................................. 4 About the Show……………………........................................................................................................................... 5 What’s Important to Know?............................................................................................................................... 6 Development through Cultural Arts................................................................................................................... 8

Patriotic Songs: God Bless America…………………….………………….......................................................................... 9 Resources .......................................................................................................................................................... 13

Overview of the California Content Standards for Public Schools

Curriculum Connections

Visual and Performing Arts: Music, History, Music History, Creativity, Math.

Applicable California Content Standards Samples

Visual and Performing Arts, Music:

Grade K-12

3.0 Understanding the historical contributions and cultural dimensions of music.

3.1 Role of Music, Identify the sources of musical genres of the United States, trace the evolution of those

genres, and cite well-known musicians associated with them.

Grade 1

4.2 Describe how ideas or moods are communicated through music.

Grade 6-12

4.0 Students critically assess and derive meaning from works of music and the performance of musicians in a

cultural context according to the elements of music, aesthetic qualities, and human responses.

Grade 8

3.3 Diversity of Music, Describe the differences between styles in traditional folk genres within the U.S.

Derive Meaning: 4.3 Explain how and why people use and respond to specific music from different musical

cultures found in the United States.

4.4 Compare the means used to create images or evoke feelings and emotions in musical works from two

different musical cultures found in the United States.

History:

Grade K

K.1, 2. Learn examples of honesty, courage, determination, individual responsibility, and patriotism in

American and world history from stories and folklore.

Grade 11

11.8 Discuss forms of popular culture, with emphasis on their origins and geographic diffusion (e.g., jazz and

other forms of popular music).

LESSON PLAN IDEA:

Students research and report on traditions and/or cultures in America, including a focus on music.

Content standards adopted by the California State Board of Education. For more information, visit:

http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/

Theatre Etiquette

• Arrive on time

• Plan for possible delays in travel and parking. Please arrive a minimum of 30 minutes prior to show

time.

• Students: Leave recording devices of any kind at home or in your backpack at school

• Video or audio recording and photography, including camera phones, are often prohibited by law and

may disrupt the performance. They are not permitted and are considered very rude to the others

around you.

• Teachers: Turn off or silence all personal electronics

• Beeps, clicks, tones and buzzes and light pollution emanated by personal electronics such as watches,

pagers, Bluetooth devices, cell phones, etc. interrupt the performance and spoil the theatre

experience.

• Observe the instructions of ushers

The ushers are present to offer assistance, ensure rules are observed and provide guidance in the case

of an emergency evacuation. Please show them consideration. You will be asked to exit to the right of

the theatre at the end of the performance.

• Be respectful

While entering and exiting the theatre: Put your hands in your pockets or behind your back. Talk very

quietly. Once seated: Do not talk. Keep your feet on the ground. Put your hands in your lap or fold

your arms.

• Abstain from eating or drinking inside the theatre

Crackling wrappers and containers and food messes in the auditorium are unwelcome. Food, candy,

gum and drinks should never be brought inside the theatre.

• Avoid talking, waving and shouting during the performance

Laughing and applauding are encouraged at appropriate times. Shouting to actors/friends is

disrespectful to others. Save personal conversation for after the show. If you must talk, please whisper

very quietly.

• Do not exit the auditorium during the performance except in the case of emergency

If you must leave, please wait for an appropriate break in the performance. Teachers, please arrive

early enough to escort students to the restroom prior to the start of the show.

Do not get onto the stage or place items on the edge of the stage

To ensure the safety and security of performers and audiences, this behavior is strictly prohibited unless

expressly permitted by a performer or staff member.

• Dispose of garbage in proper receptacles

Help preserve a pleasant environment by depositing all debris in appropriate receptacles.

Extend common courtesy and respect to your fellow audience members

Civility creates a comfortable and welcoming theatre experience for all.

• Bring very small children only to age-appropriate performances

Small children easily become restless at programs intended for older children, and may cause distractions.

About the Show

The All-American Boys Chorus

Recommended for Grades K-12

Internationally acclaimed ALL-AMERICAN BOYS CHORUS is an enthusiastic professionally trained troupe of

young singers presenting a concert at Lancaster Performing Arts Center featuring their exciting SALUTE TO

AMERICA’S MUSIC! The 32-voice ensemble, whose members range from 8 to 15 years old, will present

audience favorites from America’s musical history. Best of Broadway tunes, medleys featuring the California

sounds of The Beach Boys, toe-tapping tunes from the Roaring Twenties, swinging songs from the Big Band

era, dynamic Dixieland melodies and jazz classics. A patriotic tribute will also include a stirring salute to past

and present members of the USA’s Armed Forces.

What’s important to know

Biography:

The All-American Boys Chorus . . . happy youngsters from more than thirty cities in Southern California.

Fifty concert tours to Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, and throughout the USA make The All-American Boys

Chorus one of the most widely traveled boy’s choirs in the world.

More than one million people have been included in the boys’ live audiences—in addition to the millions who

have seen and heard them on television and radio. The boys have performed before a Pope, and dignitaries

of many ranks. They’ve been made honorary citizens of a Canadian provincial capital and commended by its

mayor for their kindness to that city’s handicapped children. The boys have performed with glittering

celebrities, such as John Williams, Josh Groban, Bob Hope, Victor Borge, Steve Allen, Della Reese, Melissa

Manchester, and John Schneider.

Such adventures speak for themselves, but a boy’s life in the AABC’s acclaimed program also furnishes him

with unparalleled training in self-discipline, a spirit of responsibility, unselfish cooperation, and personal

poise, coupled with the taste of successes—all of these producing not merely a professionally trained boy

singer, but also a leader who understands the real work that is the road to accomplishment.

The All-American Boys Chorus makes a difference—one boy at a time.

Serving boys age 8 to 15; the AABC engages, challenges, and inspires boys with a unique and innovative opportunity to maximize their potential. They become outstanding musicians and responsible leaders in our

community through multi-faceted training, mentoring, choral programs and concerts.

The All-American Boys Chorus mission: To provide each member with the training, motivation and opportunity to develop and exercise qualities of leadership within an exceptional program of choral music conducted in an environment of the highest moral

standards.

http://taabc.org/Mission_Vision.html

What’s important to know, continued

VISION:

To make a positive difference in the world community by way of its philosophy and principles and through the leadership and example of its members and alumni

CORE VALUES:

High Moral Standards and Responsibility Happy, Motivated Self-Discipline

Leadership by Example; Kindness to One Another Promote and Enhance Family Life

Love of Country Seek and Trust Divine Guidance

STRATEGIC GOALS: To develop morally responsible, self-confident, skilled, dedicated leaders who, whatever their field of

endeavor, will serve unselfishly and successfully. To develop the preeminent program of choral music for boys in the United States of America. To help preserve America's musical heritage.

Development through Cultural Arts

The All-American Boys Chorus program directly benefits boys by increasing their appreciation of and participation in cultural arts. Boys in the program represent all races, faiths, nationalities and ethnic origins, and truly reflect a rich diversity of cultures; thereby instilling ethnic harmony and cultural respect.

Utilizing music as the medium, the AABC teaches and develops:

Leadership

Responsibility

Good citizenship

Public speaking

Good study habits

Time management

Their leadership training focuses on individual growth and development. Mentoring is a key facet of their curriculum. Older boys eagerly vie to be selected to mentor and befriend the new “recruits.”

Since their inception, the AABC has been forming a new generation of leaders. These new leaders—nearly 1,000 alumni to date—are already at work helping shape the future of our nation.

The AABC benefits EACH boy in its program through its rich music education, social diversity, leadership training and mentoring, development of life skills, and incredible travel opportunities.

SUGGESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:

1. How do you think studying and learning Music can help develop responsibility, good study habits, and

time management?

2. Discuss how goal-based programming can improve self-esteem, learning skills, communication,

creativity, teamwork, discipline, cultural awareness and respect for others through personal

accomplishment, persistence and self-expression.

Patriotic Songs: God Bless America

"God Bless America" is an American patriotic song written by Irving Berlin in 1918 and revised by him in 1938.

The later version has notably been recorded by Kate Smith, becoming her signature song.

"God Bless America" takes the form of a prayer (intro lyrics "as we raise our voices, in a solemn prayer") for

God's blessing and peace for the nation ("...stand beside her and guide her through the night...").

History: Berlin, born Israel Baline, wrote the song in 1918 while serving the U.S. Army at Camp Upton in

Yaphank, New York, but decided that it did not fit in a revue called Yip Yip Yaphank, so he set it aside. The

lyrics at that time included the line, "Make her victorious on land and foam, God bless America..." as well as

"Stand beside her and guide her, to the right with the light from above."

In 1938, with the rise of Hitler, Berlin, being Jewish and a first-generation European immigrant, felt it was

time to revive it as a "peace song", and it was introduced on an Armistice Day broadcast in 1938 sung by Kate

Smith, on her radio show. Berlin had made some minor changes; by this time, "to the right" might have been

considered a call to the political right, so he substituted "through the night" instead. He also provided an

introduction that is now rarely heard but which Smith always used: "While the storm clouds gather far across

the sea / Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free / Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, / As we raise our

voices in a solemn prayer."

In 1943, Smith's rendition was featured in the patriotic musical "This is the Army" along with other Berlin

songs. The manuscripts in the Library of Congress reveal the evolution of the song from victory to peace.

Berlin gave the royalties of the song to the God Bless America Fund for Redistribution to the Boy Scouts of

America and the Girl Scouts of the USA. She performed the song on her two NBC television series in the 1950s

and in her short-lived The Kate Smith Show on CBS, which aired on CBS from January 25 to July 18, 1960.

"God Bless America" also spawned another of Irving Berlin's tunes, "Heaven Watch The Philippines", during

the end of World War II, after he heard the Filipinos sang a slightly revised version of the song replacing

"America" with "The Philippines".

Woody Guthrie disliked the song, which he considered unrealistic and complacent, and in 1940 wrote "This Land Is Your Land", originally titled "God Blessed America For Me", as a response to "God Bless America".

Later, from December 11, 1969, through the early 1970s, the playing of Smith singing the song before many home games for the National Hockey League's Philadelphia Flyers brought it renewed popularity, as well as a reputation for being a "good luck charm" to the Flyers, long before it became a staple of nationwide sporting events. The Flyers even brought Smith in to perform live before Game 6 of the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals on May 19, 1974, and the Flyers won the Cup that day.

Patriotic Songs: God Bless America, continued

To honor the start of the United States Bicentennial, Kate Smith sang "God Bless America" for a national television audience, accompanied by the UCLA Band at the 1976 Rose Bowl.

On August 26, 2008, a fan at a Boston Red Sox game at Yankee Stadium, who had attempted to leave for the restroom during the playing of the song, was restrained and ejected by NYPD officers. As part of the settlement of a subsequent lawsuit, the New York Yankees announced that they would no longer restrict the movement of fans during the playing of the song.

At Chicago's Wrigley Field, during the Vietnam War, the song was often played by the organist as part of his post-game playlist, while fans filed out of the stadium.

On September 15, 2009, three high school teens filed a lawsuit against New Jersey's minor league Newark Bears for being ejected from Eagles Riverfront Stadium over their refusal to stand during the playing of "God Bless America" on June 29, 2009. Before being ejected, they were asked to leave the stadium by Bears' president and co-owner Thomas Cetnar.

On July 21, 2011, Smith's version of the song was played as NASA's final wake up call for the space shuttle Atlantis (STS-135), capping the 30-year shuttle program.

Traditional lyrics

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. God bless America, Land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her Through the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam God bless America, My home sweet home God bless America, My home sweet home.

Originally, the final two lines of the song were, God bless America my own sweet home, my home sweet home.

Many renditions of the song omit the first stanza, beginning with "God bless America..."

Patriotic Songs: God Bless America, continued

NOTABLE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES:

September 11, 2001: During a live television broadcast on the evening of the September 11, 2001 terrorist

attacks, following addresses by then-House and Senate leaders Dennis Hastert and Tom Daschle, members of

the United States Congress broke out into an apparently spontaneous verse of "God Bless America" on the

steps of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Sports events:

NHL: "God Bless America" has been performed at home games of the National Hockey League's Philadelphia

Flyers and those of the Ottawa Senators in which the visiting team is from the United States. (The NHL

requires arenas in both the U.S. and Canada to perform both "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "O Canada",

the Canadian national anthem, at games that involve teams from both countries.

At some Flyers' home games, especially during big games and the playoffs, their main anthem singer, Lauren

Hart has sung "God Bless America" alternating lyrics with Kate Smith on a video screen. Kate Smith actually

appeared in person to sing at select Flyers games, including their 1974 Stanley Cup clinching game against the

Boston Bruins, to which she received a thunderous ovation from the passionate Philadelphia fans. Before

games, whenever God Bless America is performed, Lou Nolan, the PA announcer for the Flyers at the Wells

Fargo Center would say: "Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, we ask that you please rise and remove your

hats and salute to our flags and welcome the number 1 ranked anthemist in the NHL, Lauren Hart, as she

sings (if the visiting team is from Canada, O Canada, followed by) God Bless America, accompanied by the

great Kate Smith."

At some Senators' home games since 2000–01, if the visiting team is from the U.S., their main anthem singer,

Ontario Provincial Police Constable Lyndon Slewidge, has sung "God Bless America" and "O Canada." An

example of this came during the Senators' home opener during the 2002-03 season, when they were home

against the New Jersey Devils.

On special occasions, the Buffalo Sabres will substitute "The Star Spangled Banner" with "God Bless America."

When this happens, Ronan Tynan is brought in to sing the song, while usual anthem singer Doug Allen sings

"O Canada" as he usually does.

Major League Baseball: Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, "God Bless America" is commonly

sung during the seventh-inning stretch in Major League Baseball games, most often on Sundays, Opening Day,

Memorial Day, Independence Day, All-Star Game, Labor Day, September 11, and all post-season Major League

Baseball games. Following the attacks, John Dever, then the Assistant Media Relations Director with the San

Diego Padres, suggested the song replace "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", the more traditional 7th inning

anthem.

Patriotic Songs: God Bless America, continued

NOTABLE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, CONTINUED:

MLB quickly followed the Padres lead and instituted it league-wide for the rest of the season; presently,

teams decide individually when to play the song. Yankee Stadium, Dodger Stadium, Safeco Field, and Turner

Field are currently the only Major League ballparks to play "God Bless America" in every game during the

seventh-inning stretch. The Yankees' YES Network and the Dodgers' telecast on Fox Sports West televises its

performance during some games before going to a commercial. During major games (playoff contests,

Opening Day, national holidays, or games against Boston or the Mets), the Yankees will often have Irish tenor

Ronan Tynan perform the song.

Indianapolis 500: The Indianapolis 500 is traditionally run at the end of the month of May, and has sung "God

Bless America" since 2003. The song "America the Beautiful" was sung before, but it was switched to "God

Bless America" in the post-9/11 era. The song has traditionally been performed by Florence Henderson, a

native Hoosier, and is a friend of the track's owners the Hulman-George family. Her performance, often not

televised, immediately precedes the national anthem. Henderson routinely sings the entire song, including

the prologue, and in some years, sings the chorus a second time.

History of other patriotic songs:

1814 "The Star Spangled Banner" was written by Francis Scott Key and set to the tune of "Anacreon in

Heaven." The original title of the poem by Key was "The Defense of Fort McHenry" and it was first published

in several Baltimore newspapers a short time after it was written on September 16, 1814.

1831 "My Country 'Tis of Thee" (also known as: "America") was first sung at Park Street Church in Boston. The

words were written by Samuel Francis Smith and set to the tune of "God Save the King."

1862 "Battle Hymn of the Republic" published with words by Julia Ward Howe and set to the tune: "Glory, Hallelujah." One year earlier, the same tune had been used for "John Brown," a song written in jest about Sgt. John Brown at Fort Warren in Boston. Both tunes were reportedly based on an old camp meeting hymn, "Say, Brothers Will You Meet Us?", usually credited to William Steffe, but no proof of his authorship has been located.

Study guide created by: Lancaster Performing Arts Center Staff

Other Resources:

taabc.org

http://lpac.org/event.php?id=78

http://www.americanmusicpres

ervation.com/home.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go

d_Bless_America

http://rawkstars.org