School Concert/Residency/Outreach
The Russian Duo is available for educational concerts, workshops, residencies, and lecture-demonstrations. Terry been teaching children and adults since 1977. She is a Teaching Artist with the Ohio Arts Council and has been on the Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio roster for 13 years. She is a licensed Dalcroze Eurhythmics teacher and has certification in Orff Schulwerk. She was in the first group of Ohio artists to be trained by the Kennedy Center for the Arts “Artists as Educators” program. Oleg has toured in 45 of the United States and has taught workshops in conjunction with his concerts.
Russia & Beyond Performance
Discover teamwork in action. Experience how performers, composers and audiences work together. Students will be captivated by exuberant music, energized by dynamic rhythms, moved by beautiful melodies. Learn how the balalaika came onto the modern concert stage from humble peasant origins in Old Russia. The audience becomes an essential part of the concert, joining Oleg and Terry on stage using Russian percussion instruments.
Workshops
Workshops are designed for grades K-6. Study guides available upon request for the following four workshops:
Workshop 1: Kalinka (the Viburnum Tree)
This integrated workshop uses a beloved Russian folk song to teach music and mathematics. In the process of learning “Kalinka” students understand measure, form, structure, pattern, and timing. Musical concepts of steady beat, meter, accelerando, fermata, ostinato and melodic line are learned by singing and body percussion. We use the Russian percussion instruments treschyotki, lozhki, buben, wood block and whistle.
Workshop 2: Troika!
There is nothing more quintessentially Russian than the three-horse-drawn carriage known as the troika. This workshop centers around the era in Russia when troikas were used. Students will understand the context and significance of the troika. We learn the famous dance “Troika” and perform it with recorded or live music.
Workshop 3: Haul Away!
Comparison of the River System in Russia and Canal System in Upstate New York. Students learn the famous song “Volga Boatmen” (a new translation by the Russian Duo), understand the symbolism of the words, the historical context, and study a famous painting of the burlaki (Volga boatmen). We compare this phenomenon to how boats were hauled on the Erie Canal, look at paintings of, and sing the “Erie Canal.”
Workshop 4: Korobushka - the Peddler
With stories about the door-to-door salesman pulling fabric and haberdashery out of his little basket to sell to the villagers, this charming folk song and dance teaches children about the lifestyles of Old Russia and early America.
Extended Residency Options:
We are available to teach Russian Folk Dances such as Korobushka, Katya, Troika, and the Russian Two-Step to larger groups. We include beloved folk songs, such as Kalinka, Kalina, Volga Boatmen. For younger children we teach children’s singing games. We enjoy sharing our folk instruments with participants. We demonstrate how to play the treshyotka, lozhky, buben, wood block, and birch bark whistle. We offer a workshop to make and learn to play treschyotki, and practice rhythms to accompany ourselves in song.