February 27, 2012

Grade 7: This is week 5 in term 2. Students are expected to practice twice this week outside of class.

During our classes this week, we will be discussing the ways that the elements of music can be used to communicate mood in different scenes from the legend of William Tell (danger, fear, anger, sadness). Using Finale software in the computer lab, we will then begin composing an 8 measure melody for a specific scene from the legend, and using the musical elements to communicate the mood effectively. Two additional classes will be provided for students to enter notes, listen to and edit their melody, and print a final version which they will perform next week.

Homework: Continue to practise "Star Wars" focusing on difficult sections to improve accuracy and expression. Compose a melody for the legend of "William Tell" which expresses a very different mood than the original theme. Practise your melody. Ensure that you have included all of the required items in the checklist in your composition, and that you have used elements of music which will help you express the mood of the scene effectively.

Grade 8: This is week 5 in term 2. Students are expected to practice twice this week outside of class.

This week we will continue our study of music used in film. We will read a brief overview of the history of incidental music, and view film examples from the silent era throughout the 1900s up to modern times. We will identify how musical elements are used to create a variety of moods, and the how the music affects the movie scene.

Using their "Analyzing A Movie Theme" handout, students will be asked to answer questions about a movie theme of their choice. This short assignment is due at their first class next week.

Homework: Continue to practise "Mission Impossible" focusing on difficult sections. Complete "Analyzing A Movie Theme".

February 20, 2012

Grade 7: This is week 4 in term 2. Students are expected to practise twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, we will take up journal question 2 which was assigned last week. Students will share responses and receive feedback to improve their journal content.

We will review measures 1-39 and begin measures 39-the end which should be perfected through home practise for next week.

During the second class of the week, students will review song 47, "Theme from William Tell" in Essential Elements 2000 and listen to the original by Gioachino Rossini, to analyze the musical elements used in this piece. They will receive a copy of the "William Tell" composing assignment which includes a synopsis of the legend, a list of scenes, and suggestions for composing music in ABA form (a piece with three sections where the middle section is different) based upon this story. We will use the the original theme from our books as the A section and will compose a B section.

Homework: select a scene and plan the B section for "William Tell" - decide upon how you will use the elements of music in your composition to communicate the action your chosen scene. Complete at least 4 measures.

Continue practising Star Wars measures 39 to the end.

Grade 8: This is week 4 in term 2. Students are expected to practise twice this week outside of class.

This week, our goals are to finish learning notes for Mission Impossible and begin our unit on Music in Media. During our first class, students will review Mission Impossible measures 21-41 and begin to learn the ending section. We will begin our study of music in media (film) by watching a short film clip and predicting what the music for the scene might sound like. After hearing the music which is actually used in the scene, student will discuss the message and impact of the music.

During the second class of the week, we will listen to a variety of movie theme songs. In groups, students will be asked to decide which of 8 films the music is from based upon how the musical elements are used, and the mood/feeling created.

Homework: Practise Mission Impossible measure 41- the end.

February 12, 2012

Grade 7: This is week 3 in term 2. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will have a Mad Minute reading drill and take up the homework (their journal responses using the three elements covered last week - tempo, dynamics and tone colours). We will review Star Wars measures 1-20 and learn 21-28.

During the second class of the week, we will explore the elements of pitch, melody and tonality through a variety of listening examples such as Eine Kleine Nacht Music, Winter, Dance of the Mirlitons, Fanfare for the Common Man, and Chinese Music-Along The Silk Road.

Students will complete Journal Question #2 for homework:How does the composer of "Night on Bald Mountain", Modest Mussorgsky, use the elements of music (tempo, dynamic, tone colour, pitch, melody and tonality) to suggest a particular mood, a feeling or tell a story through music?

Homework: Practise "Star Wars" measures 21-39 and complete journal #2. Note reading drills on the web:

http://www.vicfirth.com/education/keyboard/speednotereading.html

http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/musictheory/trainers/html/id82_en.html

Grade 8: This is week 3 in term 2. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will review counting in 5/4 time and playing measures 46-51 and 21-31 in "Mission Impossible". They will focus on learning measures 31-39 (and 40-46 if possible) by writing the counting under all notes and rests and clapping the rhythm with a partner. Low brasses and woodwinds will look up the fingerings for any new notes required for this section.

During the second class of the week, our goal will be to consolidate the sections learned and perform measures 21-51 smoothly and accurately.

Homework: Practise "Mission Impossible" measures 21-51.

February 6, 2012

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

During classes this week our goals will be to understand the difference between the major and chromatic scale through performance, and to be able to read and perform measures 1-20 of "Star Wars".

We will begin our first class by comparing our new fingering chart to our scale fingering chart, and then will learn to play the 4 notes needed to perform the chromatic scale.

Then we will listen to and study our parts for "Star Wars" to be sure that we understand all of the symbols in measures 1-20. We will clap the rhythm and then finger and play our parts. Finally, we will perform all of the parts together.

During our second class, we will receive a three-page listening guide and begin to learn about the elements of music and how they are used to communicate with the listener. We will focus on dynamics, tempo and instrument tone colours as we will listen to Air on a G String, Carmina Burana. We will listen to Beethoven's 5th Symphony (first movement) or Troika by Prokofiev and answer journal question #1 for homework.

Homework: Journal #1 "Describe the use of dynamics, tempo and tone colours in Beethoven's 5th Symphony or Prokofiev's "Troika". How do you feel when you listen to the music, and how do the music elements contribute to that feeling?" Practise Star Wars measures 1-20 for this week, and 21-37 for next week.

Grade 8: This is week 2 in term 2. Students are expected to practise twice this week outside of class.

Our goals for this week include applying our understanding of counting to "Mission Impossible" and be able to perform measures 46-51.

We will begin with a clapping exercise to develop the feeling of 5/4 time. Once the feeling of counting 5 beats per measure is mastered, we will move on to learning the high notes for woodwinds in measures 21-25 (the similar section for low brasses at 31-35). If time permits we will also work on measures 27 and 28 for all instruments.

Homework: Write the counting under measures 46-51, and 21-21 of Mission Impossible and practise them for rhythmic accuracy.