Digital Field Trip:
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Teach your students about the Walt Disney Concert Hall by learning about features of the venue and its resident orchestra the Los Angeles Philharmonic, along with an in-depth explanation of what to expect during the concert.
This lesson plan includes...
Exploration:
Students get an inside look of the Walt Disney Concert Hall while gaining knowledge on its significance and enjoying performances of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Key Objectives:
Students will:
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Discover the distinct features of the Walt Disney Concert Hall through virtual tours of the Hall, the stage, and the organ
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Learn about the Los Angeles Philharmonic through performances
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Go through the step-by-step expectations of attending a concert
Materials: Elementary Guide and Middle/High School Guide, What to Expect: Concert Guide, video links
Grades: Appropriate for all grades
Lesson plan length: Approximately 30 minutes
Questions? Contact us: learning@laphil.org
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Learn About Walt Disney Concert Hall
Walt Disney Concert Hall is the breathtaking home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, also known as the LA Phil. This amazing orchestra plays all types of music—from famous classical pieces to new and creative sounds that incorporate different styles and cultures. Walt Disney Concert Hall isn’t just a place for music—it’s a place where creativity, connection, and community come alive!
Walt Disney Concert Hall got its name from Walt Disney (yes, THAT Walt Disney), because his wife Lillian donated money toward building a new concert hall that honored her husband’s love of music. This love was famously captured in the 1940 film, Fantasia, which combined classical music with the magic of animation.
While you will not see Mickey Mouse ears on your visit, there is much more to look and listen for while you are here.
Watch These Videos
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Walt Disney Concert Hall Virtual Tour (Part 1)
Topics: Location and architectural elements
video
Walt Disney Concert Hall Virtual Tour (Part 2)
Topics: Interior elements and main auditorium
video
The History of Walt Disney Concert Hall
Topics: The story behind how the Hall was built, community vision, design innovations, and cultural impact.
Learn about the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Led by the world-famous conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the Los Angeles Philharmonic inspires people with live concerts, music programs, and fun learning activities. The musicians in the LA Phil are some of the best in the world, and they love sharing their music with everyone who comes to hear them at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The LA Phil works hard to make a difference in the community by offering special programs to help more people experience the joy of music, from students learning their first notes to audiences enjoying concerts together.
Practice reflecting on performance. Use the following prompts to think about the videos below:
What did you hear and see? Did you recognize anything? What was unfamiliar to you? What was unexpected?
Watch These Videos
video
LA Phil & Gustavo Dudamel Perform the Theme from “Jurassic Park”
video
Swan Lake with Misty Copeland, Gustavo Dudamel & the LA Phil
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Gustavo Dudamel rehearses "The Firebird" suite with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
What You Will See Inside Walt Disney Concert Hall
There are several unique features that you will notice when you enter the concert hall. As you take your seat, keep your eyes peeled for the following:
Theater-in-the-Round Seating
The audience sits “in the round,” meaning that the main performance happens in the center of the auditorium and concertgoers enjoy the performance from all different angles. The best part of this seating is that no one has a bad seat, and it gives a sense of community between the performers onstage and the audience members.
Prompts: What are some other good reasons for theater in the round seating? What do you think could be some downsides?
Go deeper: Read Where Should I Sit at Walt Disney Concert Hall?
“Hurricane Mama,” the Walt Disney Concert Hall Organ
Behind the orchestra, you will notice a beautiful piece of art. These are the pipes of a pipe organ, which is an unusual instrument. While many musicians’ instruments travel with them, pipe organs are stationary and built into the buildings that they call home. Walt Disney Concert Hall’s organ has a few nicknames: “Hurricane Mama” and, more casually, “The French Fries.” It has a whopping 6,134 pipes with the ability to play the lowest of lows to the highest of highs during performances.
Prompts: Why do you think the organ earned these nicknames? What other ideas can you come up with?
Go deeper: Read The Walt Disney Concert Hall Organ
What to Expect When You Are Going to a Concert
In learning about an orchestral concert—what features you will notice and what kind of performance you will hear—we are missing one last thing: YOU! No performance is complete without an audience, and we want to make sure you are ready to enjoy your concert with enthusiasm.
As a part of the audience, you are a part of a community, so it is your job to put your best foot forward. Just because you are watching and listening does not mean that you aren’t a part of the performance on stage. Go through the “dos” of concert etiquette by following the linked guide sheet.
Here, you will find a step-by-step guide of what to expect when seeing a concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall, from the moment you enter the building to the final round of applause:
⬇ Step-by Step Concert Guide Slides
Prompts: Have you been to a concert hall before? What did you already know? Is there anything new that you learned?
After the Concert
Reflect on your visit.
What did you notice about the performers?
How would you describe the concert to your friends?
What were some things that surprised you?
How did you feel during the performance?
Visit the LA Phil Store.
Take a piece of the LA Phil home like a souvenir for yourself or a gift to bring back to your family or friends.
Book recommendation for teachers:
- Changing Lives, Gustavo Dudamel, El Sistema, and the Transformative Power of Music, by Tricia Tunstall
- What to Listen for in Music, by Aaron Copeland
- How to Listen to Great Music, by Robert Greenberg
Book recommendation for the elementary classroom:
- Listen to the Birds, by Ana Gerhard
- The Story Orchestra: Carnival of Animals, by Katy Flint
- Welcome to the Symphony, by Carolyn Sloan
Book recommendation for secondary and college level students:
- Natural History of the Piano, by Stuart Isacoff
- Elementary Training for Musicians, by Paul Hindemith
Plan your next visit.
Continue your learning journey.
Got the music bug now? We have many music learning resources available for free.