December 17, 2012

Grade 6:

This week our goals are again to work on "Shalom" and "Alleluia". We will also continue reading and playing patterns of do-mi-sol on the staff and learn new pitch "la".
During our first class of the week, we will work on the ending of "Shalom". If ready, we will record ourselves and reflect on our performance, identifying the elements at which we are successful and the elements which we need to improve.
During our second class of the week, we will review do-mi-sol patterns using movable do and add "la"  to the patterns we read and sing. We will continue to practise our choir music and record ourselves again if ready.

Grade 7:

This is week 6 in term 1. Students should be practising twice this week and should have 12 practise record sheet signatures by the end of the week.
Our goals for this week are to complete Jingle Bells playing tests and learn to read and play songs 15-20 from our book. 
During our first class of the week, we will begin with note and rhythm reading drills and review Staff Songs 4. We will complete remaining Jingle Bells tests. Then students will learn new fingerings which are required for songs 15-20 and add them to their scale fingering charts. We will read and play songs 15-18.
During the second class of the week, we will begin with a scale warm up to review the new notes learned last class and review songs 15-18. When ready, we will begin songs 19 and 20.
Homework: Learn songs 15-20 in book 1 Tradition of Excellence.

To use the Tradition of Excellence interactive practise studio (online activities from your method book) go to www.kjos.com/ips  and follow the instructions for downloading the software. The licence code is inside the back cover of the book below the CD. Pull back the flap that says "IPS USER LICENCE" and copy the authorization code. Follow the remaining steps for downloading the software and using the online resources.

Grade 8:

This is week 14 in term 1. Students should be practising twice this week and should have 28 practise signatures by the end of the week.
Our goals for this week are to complete "Jingle Bell Rock" and to complete our Peace Song Poster Projects.
During our first class of the week, students will present their poster projects which demonstrate an understanding of how the elements of music are used in music they hear and an the context/history for the peace song they chose.

Homework:Complete any remaining research for your peace song poster and prepare to present it to the class. Practise "Jingle Bell Rock".

December 10, 2012

Grade 6:
This week our goals are to complete "Shalom" and "Alleluia" and record them for our website. We will also continue reading and playing patterns of do-mi-sol on the staff and learn new pitch "la".
During our first class of the week, we will review "Alleluia" and finish "Shalom". If ready, we will record ourselves and reflect on our performance, identifying the elements at which we are successful and the elements which we need to improve.
During our second class of the week, we will review do-mi-sol patterns using movable do and add "la"  to the patterns we read and sing. We will continue to practise our choir music and re-record if ready.
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Grade 7:
This is week 5 in term 1. Students should be practising twice this week and should have 10 practise record sheet signatures by the end of the week.
Our goals for this week are to demonstrate an understanding of performance success criteria and use those criteria to achieve a level 3 or higher of their Jingle Bells playing test this week.
During our first class of the week, we will begin with note and rhythm reading drills. Then students will co-create the success criteria for performers, set performance goals for themselves, and learn about some practise strategies which will help them to reach their goals.  They will have time in class to apply these strategies. If time permits, we will review the scale and Staff Songs 4.
During the second class of the week, students will demonstrate their reading and playing ability by performing "Jingle Bells" with a partner and reflecting on the performances they hear, and their own practise and performance.
Homework: complete goal-setting sheet and prepare for the "Jingle Bells" playing test.

Grade 8:
This is week 13 in term 1. Students should be practising twice this week and should have 26 practise signatures by the end of the week.
Our goals for this week are to complete "Jingle Bell Rock" and to complete our Peace Song Poster Projects.
During our first class of the week, students will form groups of 4 and share the peace songs they wrote about for homework. As a group, they will select their favourite peace song. Using the Poster Project handout, groups will agree upon tasks/roles for each member and complete/print their portion of the poster project for homework. This poster will be finished in class and presented orally at the end of class or during the following period. (One member will be printing and analyzing the message(s) communicated by the lyrics and sharing that information, one member will be researching the history and context of the song and sharing that information, one member will be analyzing the musical elements which create a song of peace and sharing that information, and the last member will find and print a graphic which represents the mood/moral of the song and analyze how the visual elements (shape, line, rhythm, etc.) relate to the lyrics and the message of the song to present to the class.
Homework:Complete the research for your peace song poster and prepare to present it to the class. Practise "Jingle Bell Rock".

December 3, 2012

Grade 6
This week we will continue our work on reading and performing from written notation using choir songs Shalom and Alleluia, and our original compositions using do-mi-sol.
During our first class of the week, we will continue learning the ending of Shalom. We will review tones do-mi-sol and perform our own patterns using these tones.
During our second class we will continue our choir work and will explore moving do-mi-sol to new places on the staff.

Grade 7
Our goals for this week are to demonstrate expressing, fluid, reading and playing skills using 4 or more pitches and a variety of durations. Using "Jingle Bells, students will co-create success criteria for their first performance test and prepare to perform.
During the first class of the week we will begin with Mad Minute and Carmen Sandiego reading drills and then a scale warmup. We will review Staff Songs 4 and hear some student performances.
During our second class of the week, we will explore success criteria for a performance of Jingle bells and learn about how to use dynamics (volume) to add expression to a performance.
Homework: learn all of Staff songs 4 and prepare a version of Jingle Bells for a performance test.

Grade 8
Our goals for this week are to complete "Tempest" and play "Jingle Bell Rock" fluidly. We will form groups to begin our project on the Music of Peace.
During our first class of the week, we will review the songs which will be recorded for our website. We will discuss the peace project,  and will be asked to select a Peace Song on the internet to share during our second class.
During the second class of the week, students will be working in groups to share Peace Song information and select one song to study in depth and present to the class.
Homework: Peace song project