April 1, 2013

Grade 7:

This is practise week 8 in term 2. Students should have practised at least 16 times this term outside of class.

Our goals for this week are to complete "Anasazi" using correct dynamics (mp, mf and crescendo) and articulation (slurs and fermata), and be able to perform measures 1-25 of "Guantanamera". 

During our first class of the week, students will receive their final reed of the year and will take up journal #3. Then we will warm up with our scale(s) and review "Anasazi" focusing on appropriate expressive qualities such as dynamics and articulation. We listen to a recording of "Guantanamera" and will play through measures 5-12 or more.

During our second class of the week, we will review what was covered last class and learn to clap/play measures 12-25 of "Guantanamera" which includes a conversation between groups of instruments - sometimes instruments must listen for a question from another instrument, and sometimes they answer the question..

Homework: Listen to "Guantanamera". Practise playing measures 5-12 or more of Guantanamera, and after clapping and counting aloud, learn to play 13-25. 

Grade 8:

This is practise week 8 in term 2. Our goals for this week are to continue hearing incidental music performances and to be able to play measures 1-28 of "I Feel Good"

During our first class of the week, students will receive their final reed for the year. Then we will hear group performances of incidental music. We will review focus on counting accurately and performing measures 5-12 accurately alone and with other instruments.

During our second class of the week, we will review measures 5-13 and continue to measure 28 alone and with other groups. Additional group performances of incidental music will be shared.

Homework:

Listen to, and try playing along with this recording of "I Got You" for the section we have studied. 

March 18, 2013

Grade 6:
Our goals for this week are to review and improve our singing of measures 1-33 in unison and parts using our understanding of the terms and symbols of music notation learned before March break.
During our first class of the week, we will begin with a warm-up to prepare for singing. Then, we will review the terms and symbols found in our score and listen critically to examples of measures, focusing on what might be improved for a more musical performance. We will review singing all parts and perform.
During our second class of the week, we will review and perform again, thinking critically about how well we have interpreted the score. We will make revisions and perform again.
If time permits, we will begin learning the melody and the text for "Shining Moon".

Grade 7:
This is practise week 7 in term 2. Students should be practising "Anasazi" or other pieces twice this week outside of class. Our goals for this week are to begin performing "Anasazi" using our knowledge of the context of the score, the composers instructions and our knowledge of playing techniques on our instrument. We will begin by clapping the rhythm of our parts (which are all different), fingering at the correct tempo, and then performing the measures we have learned.We will discuss how we might use the elements of music to create mood effectively. Our goal is to perform measures 1-25 or further as a "band".

During the second class of the week, we will learn 2 additional musical elements: tonality and metre. We will listen to a variety of examples such as:
   Major Tonality (uses major scale and sounds peaceful, proud, happy):
Minuet in G, O Canada, Home, Concerto D'Aranjuez first movement
   Minor: Tonality (uses minor scale and sounds sad, scary) :
Skyfall, Moonlight Sonata, Concerto D'Aranjuez Adagio
   Triple Metre (music is in groups of 3 beats per bar, feels like swaying):
Waltz of the Flowers, Mario Underwater Theme,  Elephants
   Duple Metre: any pop or rock song, (music is in groups of 2 or 4 beats per bar; feels like marching or walking)
 March from the Nutcracker, Fireworks

For homework, students will need to answer Journal Question #3:
      As you listen to "Danse Macabre" what story do you imagine is being told with this music?  
      Describe how do the musical elements bring the story to life (tonality, metre, dynamics, 
      texture, tempo, tone colours)
We will continue with "Anasazi" and learn to measure 43.

Homework: Practise measures 1-43 of Anasazi.

Grade 8:
This is practise week 7 in term 2. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.
Our goals for this week are to develop an understanding of how to count eighth notes and eighth rests in music we play or read.
During our first class of the week, students will review, rehearse and begin performing their music for film for a mark.
During our second class, of the week, we will learn how to clap/count a variety of rhythms and then apply that knowledge to "I feel Good". They will be expected write counting under 8 bars and learn to play them proficiently.

Homework: practise "I feel Good" - 8 bars

March 4, 2013

Grade 6: Our goal for this week is to learn measures 1-33 of "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel", focusing on pronunciation, tone, and in-tune singing. Students will add the following terms and symbols found in the music to their glossaries: tenuto, cresc., rit, fermata, mp, mf; syncopation. If time permits, we will work on the phrasing using stagger breathing on "oo" for ms 3-18


Grade 7: This is practise week 6 in term 2. Students should be practising twice outside of class. Our goals for this week are to complete our Finale duets and print them for our composition book, and to begin learning "Anasazi" for band.

During our first class of the week, we will review the steps in the creative process and the success criteria for the project. We will learn how to select notes that will be harmonious with the notes of our melody, and they apply that learning to our own composition in the computer lab.

During our final class of the week, we will listen to a variety of musical examples to identify two additional musical elements -  tonality and metre. Students will complete journal #3 focusing upon the elements studied (dynamics, tempo, texture, tone colours, tonality and metre).
Students will then complete compositions (melody, harmony, dynamics and articulation) and share our work with others in the class. All compositions will be printed and marked based upon the success criteria provided.

Homework; practise and learn at least 16 measures of  "Anasazi". Journal #3.


Grade 8:This is practise week 6 in term 2. Students should be practising twice outside of class. Our goals for this week are to complete the creation of our music for film, and practise performing it with our group.

During our first class of the week, we will review the success criteria and steps in the creative process which will support student success. Students will work in groups to compose an additional 8 or more measures. (at least 12 bars should be complete before the final class)
During our final class of the week, students will complete all measures and rehearse in groups while watching the film. They will make adjustments/revisions, add articulation and dynamics, and prepare to present their music for a mark.

Homework: complete composing for film and learn to perform your part alone an in a group