Friday, December 18
Make your debut with the Omaha Symphony from your living room!
The Omaha Symphony holiday concert is Omaha’s favorite tradition, and part of that tradition is "Sleigh Ride"! Normally, Resident and Principal Pops Conductor Ernest Richardson would invite two lucky kiddos onstage to make their debut with the orchestra, playing the jingle bells and the whip during this crowd-favorite number – but since our holiday celebration will take place from home this year, everyone can play along with the orchestra from wherever you are!
Director of Education and Community Engagement Liz Kendall Weisser recruited her own helpers to show you how you can play along with our percussionists from home!
Make like Baby Shark, and get ready to play along when the Maestro cues Principal Percussion Rob O’Brien who plays the whipcrack! You can even change the dynamics, or how loud, your whipcrack sounds. To be a soft, gentle whipcrack, clap your hands like Baby Shark. To be loud and bold, use your whole arms like Daddy Shark. Notice how the sound changes when you try both just your hands and your whole arms. Which way is your favorite?
Percussion instruments make sound by shaking, scraping, or striking. The whipcrack makes noise by striking, and the sleigh bells are shaken to create sound. Looking closely, we observe that each bell makes sound when a teeny ball bounces around inside the bell.
Grab your grown up and head on a scavenger hunt for materials to make your very own shaker!
Here, we poured just a few lentils into a small container. Make sure to screw the lid on tight! Experiment with different vessels and filler to create all sorts of different tones for your sleigh bell shaker. Need some more ideas? Check out this video of Kitchen Percussion created this summer by Principal Percussionist Rob O’Brien.
With a little creativity and a lot of practice, we can all be musicians right alongside our friends in the orchestra. Thanks for playing with us and helping us on our sleigh ride!
November 3, 2023
Before he leads singers from six local high schools in a performance of Brahms' German Requiem on November 12, Maestro Ernest Richardson talked us through the remarkable Choral Collaborative program, which gathers hundreds of choral students on stage to perform with the Omaha Symphony every year.
February 23, 2023
Visionary interdisciplinary composer talks to us about his musical background, his influences, and the upcoming world premiere of his new work honoring Ree and Jun Kaneko. The Pulitzer- and Grammy-nominated Akiho is challenging himself to learn and grow at every opportunity.
February 7, 2023
The Omaha Symphony's 56th Annual Debutante Ball was a smashing success earning over $310,000 for the orchestra's education and community engagement programs.Love the Omaha Symphony?
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