April 30, 2012

Grade 7: This is week 13 in term 2.  Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will hand in their final journal question for a mark.  We will complete our exploration of music in the pentatonic by performing our short compositions for the class. We will learn the blues scale.

During the second class of the week, students will begin our unit on THE BLUES by listening to a variety of pieces to determine whether they are in a blues style. Discussion will focus on why each selection is, or is not, the blues. A definition of the blues and an overview of the unit will be shared. If time permits, we will begin watching the youtube video "The Blues - Feel Like Going Home".

Homework:
Review the blues scale and begin improvising with it at home.


Grade 8: This is week 13 in term 2.  Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.


During the classes this week we will discuss the music and dance elements used in STOMP. We will review clapping durations and rhythms introduced last week.  Using some of the patterns they composed, students will use words and counting numbers to label the sound patterns and practise performing them for a partner. In groups, they will explore sound options around the room, describe them, and select one sound to use when performing their pattern(s).

During the second class of the week, students will work in small groups to organize and combine their 16 beat patterns into a pentatonic performance pieces.  They will perform their 3 part polyphonic composition for the class to demonstrate a steady beat, rhythmic accuracy and independence.


Homework: Practise performing your 16 beat pattern from your worksheet to perform with your group.

April 23, 2012

Grade 7: 
This is week 12 in term 12.  Students should be practising twice this week.
Our goals for this week are to complete our final journal which will be marked and to create and perform a pentatonic composition using the 8 beat patterns composed last week.

During our first class of the week, we will listen to "The Great Gate of Kiev" by Modest Moussorgsky.  We will use class time to begin our reponse, which requires you to list elements used, and analyze how these elements help you to imagine the gates at the entrance to the city.

During the second class of the week, we will listen to "The Great Gates of Kiev" again and complete our journals. Then, we will form groups of 2, 3 or 4, and create and perform a pentatonic composition which has 2 or more sections (A and B) and uses the 8 beat patterns composed last week.  The compositions can include improvisation and may have homophonic, polyphonic and monophonic textures.

Homework: practise playing your 8 measure pentatonic pattern as a loop and complete your final journal by typing and spell-checking it at home.

Grade 8:This week's goals are to complete any remaining video presentations and to begin STOMP with a review/study of rhythm (durations).

We will begin by viewing portions of the video STOMP OUT LOUD, and review whole, half, quarter, eighth, and sixteenth durations. Using the chart provided, students will relate the written notation to word rhythms and brainstorm other patterns that can be created using these durations/rests.

Students will create a variety of 4 measure rhythm patterns using information from the Rhythm Chart.  If time permits, students will perform them for a partner and choose one to perform in a group polyphonic composition.

Homework: practise clapping patterns using a variety of durations; compose 5 measures of rhythm on your Rhythm Sheet.

April 16, 2012

Grade 7: This is week 11 in term two. Students are expected to practise twice outside of class.

Our goals for this week include finishing "Guantanamera", reviewing the elements of music in preparation for our final marked journal, and learning to perform and create patterns using the pentatonic scale.

During our first class of the week, we will take up the journal entry for "My Favourite Things", and review "Guantanamera", focusing on accuracy in measures 17-25 and 33-46. We will learn to play the pentatonic scale and use these notes to make up (improvise) patterns.

During our second class, we will continue improvisation using the pentatonic and create a 2 or 4 measure ostinato which can be performed alone or in a group.

Homework: Finish learning Guantamera. Compose a pentatonic ostinato.

Grade 8: This is week 11 in term two. Students are expected to practise twice outside of class.

Our goals for this week are to complete "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic and view the remaining incidental music videos.

During the first class of the week, we will continue to perfect measures 33-52 of the Titanic theme. Then we will view some more Incidental Music Projects.

During the second class of the week, we will work on the final section of Titanic, and complete remaining projects.

Homework: Learn to play all of "My Heart Will Go On" with accurate rhythms and pitches. (WATCH OUT for the change in key signature at measure 45!!!)

April 9, 2012

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

Our goals for this week are to be able to identify the use of rhythm and texture in music we listen to and perform, and to perform "Guantanamera" accurately from measure 17-46.

During our first class of the week, we will discuss last week's listening and the journal question. We will work on Guantanamera measures 17-46 to ensure that the rhythms and articulations are accurately performed.

During the second class of the week, we will listen for our final 2 musical elements - texture (the way melodies and harmonies are organized) and rhythms (the duration or length of the notes).

Rhythms:

O Pastor Animanum

Blue Danube Waltz

Sandunga

Syncopation

The Lazy Song

Texture:

The Climb

O Pastor Animanum

Homework: Journal Question - Describe how John Coltrane uses the elements of music in "My Favourite Things" and how it makes you feel. Practise Guantanamera measures 17-46.

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

Our goals this week are to have students present as many of their Incidental Music Projects as possible and learn measures 33-45 of "My Heart Will Go On".

During the first class of the week, we will review measures 1-33 in the Titanic theme, and explain the change of key signature at measure 45 and play 41-53. We will hear at least 2 or 3 group presentations. During our second class, we will finish presentations.

Homework: Practise measures 1-33 and 41-53 in "My Heart Will Go On".

April 2, 2012

Grade 7: This is week 9 in term 2. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

Our goals for this week are to understand the musical elements metre and form through listening and performance.

We will begin by listening to a variety of pieces related to metre (how the beats are grouped - twos or threes) and form (how long sections that repeat or contrast are organized during a piece):

Duple Metre: Prelude from "Carmen" by Georges Bizet

Triple Metre: "Elephants" by Camille Saint Saens

"Morning" by Edvard Grieg

Form: "Somebody That I Used To Know" Gotye

"Sabre Dance" by Aram Khachaturian

We will perform some examples of these elements in songs from Essential Elements and our band pieces.

Homework: Journal Question - As you listen to Chopin's "Waltz in C Sharp Minor":

How does Frederic Chopin use the elements of music (Form, Metre, Tone Colour, Dynamics, Tonality, Tempo) in "Waltz in C sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2" to create a feeling of dancing.

Practise "Morning" from Essential Elements in triple metre and measures 1-25 in Guantanamera.

Grade 8: This is week 9 in term 2. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

Our goals for this week are to begin watching and evaluating the success of some of the Incidental Music projects, and be able to accurately perform the notes and rhythms in "Titanic" measures 1-33.

Incidental Music Assignment Artist Statements will be collected, and we will begin viewing Incidental Music Projects.

For Titanic, we will begin by completing a decode of the score and identify/perform the scale(S) used to compose the piece. We will also complete a rhythm study of measures from "Titanic" to prepare for the challenging measures in this piece. Students will write counting under these measures, clap them and then practise playing them apart from the rest of the score.

Homework: Practise measures 1-33 of "Titanic" focusing on the challenging rhythmic sections.