November 28, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week 4 in term 1. Students should practise twice outside of class this week and have 4 practise record sheet signatures by the end of the week.

During classes this week, we will be reviewing our scale warm up and songs from Staff Songs sheet #4. We will add notes to our scale so that we can play an 8 note scale and use it as a warm up. In our Staff Songs sheets, we will be looking for patterns and discovering ways in which composers use patterns to create melodies. For homework, students will be asked to begin practising song #14 from our song book Essential Elements 2000.

During the second class of the week, we will be learning about "phrases" which are musical sentences. We will identify the things that make some melodies "question phrases" and others "answer phrases" such as the pitch and length of ending notes.

Homework, students will be asked to learn song 14 from Essential Elements 2000 and create their own "question and answer song" which incorporates a musical pattern and punctuation. No Journal question this week, but remember to focus your practise time and use special strategies for things you wished to improve.

Grade 8: This is practise week 12 in term 1. You should be practising twice outside of class this week.

During our first class, we will perform the 8 or more measures of Jingle Bell Rock assigned last week and set a new practising goal for next class. We will listen to the recordings of our war compositions and reflect on whether we were successful by responding to the following questions in class and in our journals:

1. What things do you think you and your group did well?

2. What made some people's melodies particularly effective? Explain.

3. As you listen to your group's performance, do you believe that you communicated your ideas/feeling(s) about war effectively? Why or why not?

4. Evaluate your own performance. Were you accurate, on time, in time with the beat, did your pattern match your war word, and did it demonstrate some skill and creativity, and did you perform it expressively (with your war word in mind)? Explain.

5. What could you do to make your performance more successful and what are your next steps?

Students will receive feedback based upon their written presentation and performance. They may re-record their war composition for a higher mark within one week.

During the second class of the week, we will begin the music of Peace by performing a Hymn two different ways. First, we will perform a simple version with whole and half note chords, focusing on creating a peaceful mood. Later we will add the decorative passing notes to make it more complex, but still focusing on mood and style.

Homework: practise a new section of "Jingle Bell Rock" so that we can perform it together next week.

Nov. 21, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week 3 in term 1. All students should have 6 signatures on their practise record sheet by the end of the week.

During our first class this week, students will be introduced to the concept of the major scale. They will learn a new note/fingering and use the 4 notes they play in a scale warm-up. They will review the assigned songs from Staff Songs sheet 3, and be assigned new songs from Staff Songs sheet 4.

During the second class, students will review songs from Staff Songs 4 and be introduced to 3 new notes/fingerings for the scale warm-up. Journal 6: Last week you listed 2 things you would like to improve as a musician. For each of these things, describe 3 or more ways that you can practise at school and/or at home to improve these weaknesses.

Homework: practise Staff Songs 3 and 4 and the scale warm-up.

Grade 8: This is week 11 in term 1. Students should be practising their new piece twice outside of class this week.

During the first class of the week, students will be working on completing their War performances. Students are expected to be able to support their musical choices by describing the mood they want to create, the elements used and how they used the creative process to complete their composition. They will perform as a group and be marked on their own part of the assignment.

During the second class of the week, students will begin a new band/ensemble piece. They will decode it and select a section of 8 measures or more to learn.

Homework: practise the section you chose from the new piece. Special note:

Auditions for "Do You Hear What I Hear" will be held on Wednesday before school at 8:15.

Nov. 14, 2011

Grade 7:

This is practise week 2 in term 2. Students should have practised 4 times outside of class by the end of the week and have 4 Practise Record Sheet signatures.

During the first class of the week, we will review Staff Songs 2 and continue hearing student compositions. During class, each student will act as a "performer" and a "listener". The listener will be providing supportive feedback on one or more success criteria (posture, tone, tonguing, rhythm, pitch/fingering, tempo, written elements, etc.) for another student.

During the second class of the week, students will begin Staff Songs 3. They will be assigned songs for practise for a playing test next week and a journal question for homework.

Homework: Staff Songs #3 - prepare for a test next week. Journal Question 5: When playing your instrument, list 2 things you are doing well and 2 things you would like to improve.

Grade 8:

This is practise week 10 in term 1. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During our classes this week, students will be completing their composition on war and presenting them to the class. They should be prepared to share:

the words and feelings they hope to share through their music, and their score

how they used the elements of music to create mood

how the creative process was used to complete this project

a photo on the topic of war which matches their music and why

Students will also be asked to reflect on the music we heard at the TSO on Monday.

Homework: Students should be preparing/completing their presentations on war.

NOTE: Students not attending the performance also need to hand in a written essay comparing the use of elements to create mood in the two contrasting pieces from the concert listed below (listen to them on Youtube).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mIiABCDFB8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2jKeYuPvjM&feature=related

November 7, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week one in term 2. Students are expected to practise twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, we will review the 4 practise steps and learn Staff Songs sheet 1. Students will learn how to sign out and instrument from the school for home practise. Some students will perform their original melodies and receive feedback on their performance. During the second class of the week we will work on Staff Songs sheet 2 and continue performances.

Homework: learn all songs on Staff Songs 1 and 2 using the 4 practise steps.

NO letter names may be written on the music.

Grade 8: This is week 9 in term one. Students should be practising twice this week to prepare their Music of War project.

During class this week, students will form groups and perform their 8 or 16 beat war patterns for each other. Then they will experiment with different ways to combine their war ostinati to create a composition. After determining the most meaningful organization for their patterns, they will consider how they might use additional creative elements to enhance the impact and meaning of their melody. Their composition will be written using standard, alpha or graphic notation on their worksheet.

During the second class, students will rehearse again and complete the remaining parts of their war compositions for the class. Each member of the group will be responsible for preparing one part of the Music For War final written/oral presentation:

1. a description of how the elements of music are used to represent their war words, and how the elements are used to communicate a message with the audience

2. the internet address of a photograph which matches their music, and a short explanation of why the photo was selected

3. how the creative process was used to create the composition

4. a completed worksheet/score

Presentations will take place next week. Students are expected to hand in/present their written work and perform their composition for the class.

Homework: prepare for presentations on war.