March 22, 2010

Grade 7:

This is week 4 of term three. Students should have practised 8 times outside of class by the end of this week.

During this week, students will review the counting and playing of the melody section from"Star Wars". They will also learn about dotted half notes, and the difference between slurs and ties as we play through songs 64 and 95 in Essential Elements 2000.

Homework: songs 64, 95 and Star Wars.

Grade 8:

This is week 4 of term three. Students should have practised 8 times outside of class by the end of this week.

During the week, students will listen to some examples of latin music and begin playing the band piece "Tequila" in class.

Classes will work on developing a "Checklist for Musical Greatness" with which they will measure a number of songs in familiar and unfamiliar genres.

Homework: practise "Tequila".

March 8, 2010

Grade 7: This is week 3 of term three. Students should have practised six times outside of class by the end of this week.

Harmonizing assignments are due this week, and we will warm up with the major scale from memory (including high B and C for clarinet players). Students should be able to play song 57 in Essential Elements and will receive the first piece of band music, "Star Wars".

During testing on song 53, students will receive their first piece of band music "The Theme from Star Wars" and will add counting and other markings as they begin the learning process. Homework: Students should review song 53, 57 and practise the measures from "Star Wars" assigned in class.

Grade 8: This is week 3 of term three. Students should have practised six times outside of class by the end of this week. Two new band arrangements will be handed out this week which are in different styles. Students should begin practising "Tequila".

In class, students will continue sharing examples of "great songs" from their listening libraries and discussing which musical elements make them great. Students will participate in a listening survey indicating their musical preferences, and then examine the musical preferences of other members of the grade 8 class.

Homework: Students will research a musical genre (selected at random) and hand in the following information (point form) during the week of March 22nd:

genre name

country of origin

time period for that genre

simple description of musical elements

predictable/unpredictable features

historical/social context reflected in the song

a website address to connect use with a "great" song in this style

March 1, 2010

Grade 7: This is week two of term 3 and students should have practised six times outside of class this week. During our two classes this week, we will be using our knowledge of consonant and dissonant note pairs to harmonize a simple melody. Students will work with their partners once more before being marked on song 53 (duet). Homework: song #57 and completing the harmonizing assignment begun in class.

Grade 8: This is week two of term 3 and students should have practised six times outside of class this week. During our two classes, we will begin exploring the music of our world by listing the many genres of music with which we are familiar. Students will share a favourite song from one or more of these genres and we will try to identify what makes each one a "great" song. Homework: students may begin exploring the many musical genres for a short report on style which will be assigned next class. The report, submitted in point form, should include: one genre, it's geographic origin, a "great" song title, description of musical elements, explanation of what it reflects about the world.