The Hawaiian Islands were once inhabited by over a hundred endemic birds. Today, few residents of the Hawaiian Islands have even seen a native forest bird. Hawai‘i’s native birds continue to face a number of threats through diseases, loss of habitat, and competition with non-native species. Because our surviving endemic forest bird species represent a considerable value to both the integrity of Hawai‘i’s natural ecosystems as well as cultural and intrinsic value, it is important to educate people on how to protect them.
Learn about Hawaiian Birds!
Prior to attending the concert with the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra on May 9, 2018, we will be asking schools that are involved in the project to participate in an interdisciplinary lesson plan that will teach students about Hawaiian birds through science, music, art, social studies, and other means.
Music Education
For the music education component of this project, students will:
Learn a hula chant about Hawaiian birds, which they will have a chance to sing along to at the concert.
Listen to various Hawaiian bird songs and calls to identify the different musical characteristics about them.
Learn the names and the sounds of the different instruments of the orchestra (through video and live demonstrations).
Learn how different instruments can be used to imitate the different bird songs, calls, and even their personalities.
Create a short collective composition about birds in Hawai‘i.
Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra Educational Concert
Date: May 9, 2018 Time: 9:30-10:15 and 10:45-11:30 Location: Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall Program: Six brand new compositions and animations/videos about Hawaiian birds created by local composers and artists.
All bird photography on this site courtesy of Randy Bartlett unless otherwise noted