Performing Magic
with the
New York Philharmonic

The theme for this week is: Magic

In this video the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Kurt Masur, plays music written by Paul Dukas. This song is called “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.”

The music is based on a poem about an apprentice to a wizard who wants to try magic for himself, even though he’s still just learning.

Today we will create our own magic trick and amaze our family and friends.

Step 1:
I will watch this video

As I watch, these are some keywords I should know...

Magic

Magic is creating a wonderful or exciting experience. A magic trick is an illusion that makes it seem like I am doing something impossible, but I am just pretending.

Sorcerer

A person who does magic. They can also be called a magician.

Emoji of a wizard with a blue floppy hat, blue robe, and wooden wand with blue rounded top

Apprentice

A person who is still learning something and has a teacher to help. A sorcerer's apprentice is someone who is learning magic.

Emoji of a large smiling face holding open a green book

Conductor

A person who directs the performance of an orchestra. They tell the musicians how fast or slow to play and when to start or stop.

Kurt Masur conducting members of the New York Philharmonic, hands gesturing and elevated to his waist.

As I watch, I will think about:

What do I notice about the conductor?
How does his expression change with the music?
How does he move his hands to the music?

Warm up

It can look like magic to see how conductors work with so many different instruments and musicians to make beautiful music.

Let’s see how Kurt Masur does this by watching the video closely.

Then I can practice moving to the music by being the conductor.

Close-up of Kurt Masur as he conducts the New York Philharmonic, eyes wide and hands elevated to his chest.

Step 1

I can try moving my body slowly in the beginning of the video, when the musicians play slowly.

Step 2

I can try moving my body faster, when the musicians play faster in the middle of the video. I can change the look on my face to match the music.

Step 3

I can try copying some of the movements that the conductor, Kurt Masur, does in this performance.

Pointing

Close-up of Kurt Masur conducting the New York Philharmonic, hand elevated to his face

Waving

Smiling

Step 2:
Plan My Magic Trick

For my magic trick, I will pretend to make a piece of tissue paper appear from nowhere.

For this trick I will need...

Two identical pieces of white paper side-by-side on a brown table

Two pieces of identical
blank paper

Tape

Kleenex Tissue box next to red tissue paper in a plastic bag, and a small piece of red tissue paper beside the bag.

One small piece of tissue paper
(or I can use a tissue, like Kleenex, if I don’t have tissue paper)

Look at my audience

When I am looking at my audience, they won’t look too closely at my paper, so they won’t see the hidden tissue.

This helps make the magic trick look real.

Emoji of two large eyeballs with brown pupils

Practice

It could take a few times before I get my trick to look like magic. I can try and try again to make sure I’m ready before showing my family and friends.

Sometimes it takes professional magicians a long time to get a trick right. Repetition and practice is helpful for them too!

Steps to preparing my trick...

Step 1: I will prepare my pieces of blank paper.

Tube #1: The first piece, I will roll and tape evenly so it creates a tube.

Close-up of hands rolling the white paper into a long tube. Green Scotch tape dispenser on the upper left.

Close-up of hands holding the rolled white paper pointing out the flat edge.

Close-up of hands rolling the white paper into a long tube and taping it. Green Scotch tape dispenser on the upper left.

Tube #2: The second piece, I will roll and tape evenly on one end but uneven on the other end. This will help make sure it will fit inside the first tube I created.

Close-up of hands holding the rolled white paper pointing out the uneven edge.

Step 2: I will wrap the tissue paper around the outside of Tube #2 (the uneven tube), then slip it inside Tube #1.

This will hide the tissue paper between the tubes.

Close-up of hand pushing the roll with red tissue paper into the other white paper roll. White arrow indicates the direction of pushing

Close-up of hand holding the white roll with red tissue paper stuffed inside. White arrow indicates the direction of pushing

Close-up of hand holding the rolled paper, angled towards camera to see through the inside of the roll.

Step 3: I can practice pulling out the tissue from between the tubes.

I can prepare something to say when my family and friends are surprised at my trick.

Ta da!

Close-up of hand pulling the red tissue paper out of the white rolled paper. White arrow indicates the direction of pulling.

Emoji of a grinning face with stars in place of eyes

Step 3: Perform my Magic Trick!

When I have all my materials prepared, I can perform my magic trick for family and friends.

First

I will show everyone the tube. It will look like nothing is inside. They don’t know that I am hiding the tissue paper.

Emoji hand raising index and middle finger in the "#2" gesture

Then

I will I will pull the tissue paper out from between the tubes. It will look like I am making the tissue paper appear from nowhere!

If I want, I can tell my friends and family the secret to the trick.

If I want, I can also act out my trip instead of drawing or writing.

Last

I can watch the video again and try doing a different magic trick inspired by the music.

Explore More

Extension Activity:

This music tells the story of an apprentice who tries magic for the first time on his own and gets into trouble. Draw or write what happens to him as you listen.

Extension Questions:

How does the music make me feel when it gets faster?
How does the music make me feel when it gets quieter?
What other magic would I like to do?
Would I like to be a sorcerer’s apprentice?

Additional Links:

To learn more about Kurt Masur, visit the New York Philharmonic website: https://nyphil.org/about-us/artists/kurt-masur-1
Check out Lincoln Center at Home for additional performances and activities: http://lincolncenter.org/lincoln-center-at-home
To learn more about Lincoln Center Passport programs, click here.

Tell us what you think! Email us at access@lincolncenter.org to share your thoughts on the activities and website. Post photos of your story or art projects using the hashtag #LincolnCenterAtHome.

Click below for a printable copy of these activities

Lincoln Center - Passport Program - Sorcerer's Apprentice [Magic]

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Performing Magicwith theNew York Philharmonic