Yo-Yo Ma
born 1955
Cambridge; Tanglewood
Yo-Yo Ma began studying the cello as a young child and later attended Harvard University in Cambridge. He became known worldwide for performances of classical music, but his curiosity also led him to work with musicians from many traditions. Through the Silkroad project, he helped create opportunities for artists to exchange ideas across languages and borders. His Massachusetts connections include Harvard and performances at Tanglewood. Ma's work suggests that music can be both a skilled craft and a way to listen to other people. Collaboration, in his career, is part of learning.
You can use your device’s reading tools or read with a partner.
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?
“Yo-Yo Ma mattered because ___. A detail that supports my idea is ___.”
Grades 6–8: dig deeper
What might musicians learn when they work with instruments or traditions they have never studied before?
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: yo-yoma.com ↗Ask: Who made this source? What can it tell us? What might it leave out?