April 29, 2013

Grade 7:
This is week 11 in term 2. Students should practise twice outside of class this week and have 22 practise signatures on their practise record sheet.
Our goals for this week are to demonstrate an understanding of the lyrics and the melody of the blues through performance, and to demonstrate their understanding of the elements of music using musical terms.
During our first class of the week, students will continue to chant their blues lyric verses in "blues time" and be assessed. They will echo/improvise patterns using the blues scale notes and then perform their individual (composed) two bar blues melody for an assessment. Students will also complete their score study of Blues Rock by learning all of the new notes/concepts used in the first section, or more, of this piece.
During the second class of the week, students will complete assessments on blues lyrics and blues melodies. They will receive their final journal question and will be given class time to complete it. This journal question will be marked and used to evaluate their understanding of the elements of music and the terminology covered this term.

Homework: Practse the first section of "Blues Rock" and be prepared to perform it in class next week.


Grade 8:
This is week 11 in term 2. Students should be practising twice outside of class this week.
Our goals for this week are to secure our understanding of 16th note rhythms and understand how they can be used to create monophonic, homophonic and polyphonic compositions. 

During our first class of the week, we will review 16th note durations. We will take up the homework and use the examples created by students to create short monophonic, homophonic and polyphonic pieces. We will discuss the musical importance of each part, and then will discuss the roles needed in each stomp group to ensure success.
During the second class of the week, students will form groups and will begin composing the polyphonic section of their "STOMP" routine.

Homework: Practise your rhythmic pattern - be sure to memorize it.

April 22, 2013

Grade 7:
This is week 11 in term one. Students should practise twice outside of class this week and have 22 signatures on their Practise Record Sheet.

Our goals for this week are to begin our Blues unit, during which we will learn about the history, context, and musical elements of the 12-bar blues, and learn to create and performs  blues melodies, lyrics and harmonies. This week we will listen and identify some examples of the blues and learn about the structure of blues lyrics. Students will receive a blues lyric worksheet and blues scale fingering sheet, and will learn to play the blues scale. If time permits, we will watch some of the video "Going Home".

Homework: Begin learning "Blues Rock" and composing blues verses. Practise the blues scale.

Grade 8:


This is week 11 in term one. Students should practise twice outside of class this week.




Our goals for this week are to become aware of the types and sounds of modern music through listening and performance.
After completing any remaining tests and receiving feedback, students will listen and respond to a variety of recordings modern music, and discuss what they have in common. They will ultimately agree upon a definition for "Music" which includes all of these unusual forms.
Students will listen to and watch some video examples from "STOMP!" and create a simple piece of "Music" based upon their definition.
During our second class of the week, students work on the refrain section of "Somebody That I Used To Know, and will learn to read, play and perform a variety of durations which are needed to perform compositions such as "STOMP!".


Homework: Practise "Someboedy That I Used To Know" refrain section, and practise clapping the durations learned in class.

APRIL 15

Grade 7: 
This is practise week 10 in term 2. Students should be practising twice outside of class this week. Our goals for this week are to complete our study of the elements of music and our band pieces in preparation for a final assessment.
During the first class of the week, students will take up journal #4 and will begin assessments on both Anasazi and Guantanamera..
During the second class of the week, students will complete their written tests on Anasazi and Guantanamera.
If time permits, they will receive copies of a new band piece "Blues Rock" as we begin our final unit on the Blues.

Homework: prepare for the tests on Anasazi and Guantanamera and begin practising "Blues Rock"

Grade 8:

This is practise week 10 in term 2. Students should be practising twice outside of class this week. Our goals for this week are to demonstrate an understanding of coning using eighth notes through writing and performance.
During our first class of the week students will complete a written and clapping test.
During the second class of the week, students will complete any remaining incidental music performances, and if time permits, will begin learning to play our new band piece, "Somebody That I Used To Know".

Homework: practise "Somebody That I Used To Know"

April 8, 2013

Grade 7:
This is practise week 9 in term 2; students should practise twice this week and have a total of 18 signatures on their Practise Record Sheet.
Our goals for this week are to finish learning all notes for "Guantanamera" and assess performances.
During the first class of the week, students will warm up and review measures 17-28 of "Guantanamera" which use 2 groups of instruments in the band to create a conversation. The remaining new section of the piece from measures 35-45 will be taught and the entire piece performed.
During the second class of the week we will review "Guantanamera" from beginning to end focusing on articulation (staccatto and tenuto) and dynamics in preparation for a playing text next week.. Students will learn about the final 3 musical elements: pitch, metre and form through listening. Students will complete journal question #4: As you listen to "Overture from William Tell" by Rossini, explain how the elements of music create a triumphant (victorious) mood.

Pitch:  (high like the sound of a bird, or low like the sound of a bear - NOT loud or quiet)
     high: Jazz Sujite for Flute, Flight of the Bumblebee (flute), Yanni's violins,
     low: Elephants, Flight of the Bumblebee (tuba) Sonic Boom, Tommy The Cat
Rhythm: the length of the notes (mostly long notes or short notes)
     long: Air on a G String
     short: Trepak
Form: the arrangement of long musical sections in a piece
     ABA - ternary form Fantasie Impromptu
     ABACA - rondo form   Guantanamera
     pop song form - verse, refrain, bridge (any pop song)

Homework: practise all measures of "Guantanamera" for a playing test next week and complete journal #4.

Grade 8:

This is practise week 9 in term 2; students should practise twice this week and have a total of 18 signatures on their Practise Record Sheet.

Our goals for this week are to improve our ability to read and perform music using proper counting of eighth notes (1+2+3+4+) and review the first (A) section of "I Feel Good". We will learn the remaining new measures - the second (B) section from measures 31-41. If time permits, we will begin Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know".

During our first class of the week, students will review counting in eighth notes and clap a variety of rhythmic patterns. They will apply this to measures 1-29 of "I Feel Good" in preparation for a test, and learn the next 12 measures of "I Feel Good". Incidental Music performances will continue.

During the second class of the week, students will be marked on the measures taught in "I Feel Good" and complete remaining Incidental Music performances. If time permits, we will begin "Somebody That I Used To Know".

Homework:   prepare for a playing test on "I Feel Good" and a clapping/written text next week on counting in eighths.