Leonard Bernstein
1918–1990
Lawrence; Boston; Cambridge; Tanglewood
Leonard Bernstein was born in Lawrence and grew up in the Boston area. He studied at Harvard and developed lasting ties to Tanglewood in the Berkshires. As a conductor, composer, pianist, and teacher, he wanted many kinds of audiences to experience music. His compositions included concert works and the musical West Side Story. His televised Young People's Concerts explained musical ideas to families in an inviting way. Bernstein returned to Tanglewood to teach and conduct throughout his career. His work connected local music education with stages and television screens around the world.
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Find a detail. Build an idea.
- What did this person or group do? Point to a detail in the reading.
- How can making art, teaching, or caring for others change a community?
- What would you like to find out next? Which kind of source could help?
“Leonard Bernstein mattered because ___. A detail that supports my idea is ___.”
Grades 6–8: dig deeper
How might explaining music on television reach a different audience from performing in a concert hall?
Follow the evidence.
This short reading is an original classroom summary. Open the source with your teacher to check details and learn more.
Read the source: leonardbernstein.com ↗Ask: Who made this source? What can it tell us? What might it leave out?