How I See Music
Classroom Kit

Use the How I See Music Classroom Kit as a resource to complement and enhance your students’ learning through the in-class How I See Music Workshop. 

About the Program


How I See Music began in 2019 as a free interactive hands, ears, and eyes–on arts education learning activity provided by Festival Napa Valley. The program proudly serves 800+ elementary students throughout Napa County each year. 

Led by Festival Napa Valley education staff, the How I See Music Workshop is designed to explore ideas of creativity, abstraction, spontaneity, and emotions through music and the practice of the visual arts. It combines a deep listening exercise with the creation of original works of art (small format paintings) by workshop participants in response to listening to a specific piece of symphonic (classical) music. This year’s composition is the American classic, "Hoedown" from the ballet, Rodeo by Aaron Copland.

The Workshop also includes background information about the conductors and the creation of the piece. How I See Music’s delivery and content at the elementary school level is tailored for 3rd to 5th graders.

Experience the Exhibition & Performance


A selection of the artworks created during How I See Music will be exhibited as large scale projections on the onstage LED screens during the full orchestra performance of the same piece of music shared in class during the Festival’s Summer Season on July 19, 2026 at Charles Krug. 

Festival Napa Valley Education Staff will notify the classroom teachers of students whose artworks have been selected for the exhibition, and participating classroom teachers will be invited to attend the July 19 concert as complimentary guests of the Festival.

Make the Most of How I See Music


Follow the checklist to extend and enhance the concepts delivered through the How I See Music Workshop.

Before the Workshop

  • Familiarize yourself with How I See Music Terms (5 minutes)

    Orchestra — A large group of classical musicians, including string, woodwind, brass, and percussion sections. A symphony orchestra performs symphonies and other orchestral pieces under the direction of a conductor.

    Symphony — A musical piece for an orchestra that has three or four movements.

    Deep Listening — First developed by American composer Pauline Oliveros, deep listening invites the participant to take an active role in what they hear.
     
  • Preview the Mini Lessons (10 minutes)
    The mini lessons are fun and interactive ways to learn about the orchestra. Each lesson is designed to take no more than fifteen minutes of class time and requires minimal preparation and materials.
     
  • Teach Pre-Visit Mini Lesson 1 (15 minutes)
     
  • Teach Pre-Visit Mini Lesson 2 (15 minutes)


After the Workshop

  • Practice deep listening with music in the classroom and talk with your students. Ask your students to describe what colors they hear, what shapes they see, and what emotions they feel.
     
  • Create a classical music playlist for your classroom. Invite students to select their favorite songs and describe why. If possible, share the playlist with your students’ families.
     
  • Incorporate writing into your deep listening practice. What stories come to mind when your students hear certain songs?
     
  • The Workshop asks students to create a visual interpretation of a piece of music. Explore the opposite with your students, and ask them to select a piece of music to go with a work of art. How is this different or similar?
     
  • Learn more about classical music with your students through the Classics for Kids website.


Books to Add to Your Classroom Library