November 4, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: This week our goal is to build our reading and playing skills on our instrument.

ALL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE A MOUTHPIECE OF THEIR OWN BY THIS POINT IN THE YEAR UNLESS THEY HAVE COME TO DISCUSS SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

During our first class of the week, students will learn how to maintain their instruments (brass valves and slides, woodwind corks and mouthpieces). Then students will review rhythm and pitch on the staff. They will recieve a scale sheet which they will use to record the notes they have learned and play a "fractured scale" warm up. They will use the 4 practise steps to review songs 1-3 on Staff Songs Sheet #1 and continue on to learn the rest. In each song, they will be looking for musical patterns which are similar or repeat.

During our second class of the week, we will begin by reviewing note reading using websites discussed last week (see last week's post).We will review some songs on Staff Songs Sheet 1 and go on to learn longer durations on Staff Songs Sheet 2. We will continue looking for patterns and identify the "Question and Answer" song form.

Homework: Students are expected to practise Staff Songs sheets 1 and 2 2 -5 times this week outside of class. This is practise week 1 on their practise record sheet.

Grade 8 Goals: This week our goal is to communicate our message/ideas about war as we complete our War Compositions using graphic notation.

During the first class of the week, students will have an opportunity to hear a selection of modern music examples which illustrate the use of unusual timbres and graphic scores. They will continue using the Creative Process to select and organize melodies and sound effects into a meaningful composition.

During the last class of the week, students will rehearse their compositions and begin a new band piece on the topic of war: "Liberty March". They will be asked to write the counting under the first 24 bars and practise this section for homework.

Homework: Practise their melodies and sound effects and measures 1-24 of Liberty March.

October 28, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: Our goal for this week are to continue our study of beat and rhythm, and learn to identify pitch on the music staff used by our instrument.

During our first class of the week, students will continue/complete their rhythm compositions and then will learn about pitch notation on the staff. They will apply what they learn to their copy of Staff Songs 1/2. For homework they will receive a pitch worksheet, an Instrument Responsibility Sheet, and a practise record sheet.

Homework. students should have their responsibility sheet signed and complete the pitch worksheet.

During our second class of the week, students will review pitch and rhythm notation, and will begin reading and playing music from Staff Songs 1using the four practise steps:
     CLAP the rhythm
     SAY the letter names of the notes on the staff
     FINGER the notes in time
     PLAT the notes in time
They will reflect on their success and do focused practise on the difficult measures.

Homework: practise naming the notes on the staff at the following sites:

http://www.vicfirth.com/education/keyboard/speednotereading.html
http://courses.wcupa.edu/frichmon/usetech/musicalflashcards/tcnotes.html

Students who have:
     1. returned their Instrument Responsibility Sheet
     2. performed Try for Three successfully
     3. achieved at least a 75% on their written test 

may sign out an instrument for at home practise one night at a time. Their practise record sheet should be signed by a parent.


Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for his week are to use the creative process to successfully compose and perform war music which communicates a particular idea or message.

During the first class of the week, students will go over their homework and prepare to share their 2 melodies and 3 (or more) sound effects with others. A Success Criteria checklist will be handed out once students are in groups of 4-6 players. Students will share their war sounds/melodies with each other and begin selecting/planning their sound story composition.

Homework: practise performing melodies or finding additional sounds as required to complete the group's sound story.

During the second class of the week, students will again work with their groups to make decisions and create a graphic score which represents the sounds in their composition. Students will rehearse and prepare to present their composition for the class next time. If time permits, we will begin to read and perform a traditional march.

Homework: practise your part of the presentation.

October 21, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: Our goals for this week are to demonstrate an understanding of beat and rhythm through performance and composition.

During our first class of the week, students will receive copies of their written test for review. Students who receive less than a level 3 will need to retest before they are able to continue on their instrument. Students will learn to count beats (musical time) and fill these beats with a variety of notes/rests using music manipulatives. Students should become familiar with whole, half, quarter, and eighth note durations. Using their beat and rhythm composing sheet, students will compose 4 measures (16 beats) of rhythm using all of the durations studied and practise clapping it accurately.

During the second class of the week, students will be marked on the writing and performance of their compositions. They will also have the opportunity to perform their pattern as part of a duet.  They will receive an Instrument Responsibility Sheet which should be returned next class.

Homework: complete the Beat/Rhythm Composing sheet and prepare to perform the rhythm pattern in class for a mark. Be prepared for next class with a mouthpiece and your signed Instrument Responsibility Sheet.

Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for this week are to explore the topic of war, and use the creative process to create a composition which communicates the sounds,thoughts, and feelings of war.

During our first class of the week, students will receive feedback on their compositions and complete clapping/counting performances. They will watch a presentation which introduces musical forms related to war (the requiem, the protest song, the patriotic song, the propaganda song, etc.) They will begin to think about the messages and elements used to communicate messages about war through music.

During the second class of the week, students will interpret a piece of graphic notation about war and perform it for classmates. Using the worksheet provided, they will compose their own collection of war sounds/melodies, with a message/mood in mind. If time permits, we will begin a march.

Homework: complete your war sound collection so that you can contribute to a group war story next class.

October 14, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: This week our goals are to assign an instrument to each student, complete a written and performance assessment on that instrument, and to be sure that students know their strengths and next steps as players.

During our first class of the week, students will consider their strengths and weaknesses on each of the instruments they have tried, and will complete the assignment process which considers their strengths, balance, and the instruments available. Once they are on their final instrument, they will perform the 3 note song for a mark and receive feedback. Students will receive a letter indicating their instrument which should be shared with parents. There will be a quick review for the written text next class. (Any students who have not been assigned an instrument should be coming for help before or after school.)

During the second class of the week, students will have a written test about the instrument to which they have been assigned. Some classes will finish viewing youtube videos of performers playing the flute and clarinet.
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Homework: study for the written test and complete a short reflective paragraph describing your strengths as a musician and the skills you would like to improve (assembly, tone, tonguing, fingering, breath control, air speed, buzz, care and cleaning, etc.)

Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for this week are to demonstrate an understanding of rhythmic accuracy by using proper counting as they clap or play in class.

During our first class of the week, students will review measures 1-17 of "Jupiter" and play through the remaining measures using their understanding of rhythm. They will make note of measures for practise at home. Some students will demonstrate their rhythmic accuracy by performing a section of "Jupiter", or clapping a group of measures from other sources.

During the second class of the week, students will replay all measures of "Jupiter" with a focus on improving the measures which were incorrect previously. Students who did not have a clapping or playing assessment will be marked during this class.

Homework: practise "Jupiter" and clapping worksheet

October 7, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: Our goals for this week are to complete our exploration of the basic band instruments by learning a simple melody on the flute, and prepare for a written test on the band instruments studied.

During the first class of the week, students will view examples of clarinet and flute performance on youtube and discuss how/where these instruments are commonly used. They learn to name the parts, assemble, produce a tone, tongue, hold in playing and rest positions, play three tones, clean and care for the flute. Information about the dates and after school auditions for saxophone, tuba, percussion (drums) and French horn will be shared. Students should complete the flute section of their instrument worksheet. Try-outs for special instruments will be held as follows for students showing potential on our first 4 instruments:

Tuba (must have a level 3 on trombone or an invitation)
     Wed. Oct. 9th at 8:30 a.m.

French Horn (must have a level 4 on trumpet)
     Wed. Oct.9th at 8:30 a.m.

Percussion (snare drum, bass drum, tympani, auxiliary percussion, xylophone) Only students who have previous drum or piano experience, or an invitation may attend.
     Thurs. Oct. 17th at 8:30 a.m. for 7A, 7B, 7E
     Thurs. Oct. 17th at 3:05 p.m. for 7C, 7D

Alto and Tenor Sax (must have a level 4 on clarinet)
     Wednesday Oct. 16th at 8:30 a.m. for 7A, 7B, 7E
     Wednesday Oct. 16th at 3:05 p.m. for 7C, 7D


Most classes do not have a second music period this week. Those who do have an additional class will begin to analyze which instruments were the easiest for them and will perform the three note song learned for a mark. A review of information covered this far will follow in preparation for the written test next week.

Homework: Begin to prepare for the written test on the instruments studied.

Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for this week are to improve our rhythmic accuracy and our understanding of musical elements by composing and performing an original 8-bar melody.

During our first class of the week, students will receive a rhythm worksheet and review how to count a variety of durations using proper counting "1+2+3+4+". They will work in pairs or groups to clap and count rhythms on their rhythm worksheet. During practise, many students will be asked to perform their "Bits and Pieces" composition, and will receive a mark for writing and performing.

Testing will continue during our second class of the week, and some students will be asked to demonstrate their understanding of rhythm and musical time by demonstrating accurate performance of rhythms from the worksheet.

Homework: Prepare all measures of "Alpha Squadron" for written or performance assessment. Prepare to perform rhythm from the worksheet provided and to be marked on the writing/performance of your "Bits and Pieces" composition.