November 25, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: This week our goals are to he creative process to compose an original melody. Students will study the elements of good song writing, and use their knowledge to compose and perform an 8-measure "Question and Answer" melody.

During our first class of the week, students will review the elements of a question and answer song and, through discussion, discover the components of good song writing (melodic and rhythmic patterns, musical punctuation, a variety of durations and pitches, bar lines, key signatures, time signatures, clefs, etc.). They will brainstorm a list of success criteria for good melody-writing, and begin planning their own melodies by composing the rhythmic patterns.

During the second class, students will add pitch to their melodies by exploring different combinations of notes and select the pitches which they like best to complete their melodies. They will add all required components listed on the success criteria provided.

Homework: Complete the writing of your melody and begin to practise it.

Grade 8 Goals: This week our goals are to learn about the elements of music that create a peaceful, calm mood. In particular, we will learn about hymns, harmony and chords.

During the first class of the week, students will receive feedback on their war compositions, and listen to the recordings of many groups, analyzing the elements which made some more successful than others.

Then, we will move on from music of war to music of peace, as we enter the holiday season. Students will learn about hymns and listen to a few in class such as "Amazing Grace" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78IJzRK6gYc and "Hogwarts Hymn" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcj6IHCtodU  They will play a simple hymn; chord notes and decorative/passing notes will be introduced.

During the second class of the week, students will review the hymn and learn how to build and name chords using the notes of the major scale. Using their understanding of chords and harmony, they will  create and perform an original "whole note hymn" as a class.


Homework: continue to practise "Swingle Bells" 1-23 and add the remaining measures.

November 18, 2013

November 18, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: This week we will be focusing on reading and playing using 4 tones in the concert Bb scale, and demonstrate our understanding by performing a Question and Answer song from Staff Songs 4.

During our first class of the week, we will review our scale warm-up using the 4 tones on our scale fingering chart. We will review Staff Songs 3 and Question and Answer form, identifying this song form in examples from Staff Songs 4. Students will be asked to prepare one of the Question and Answer songs from Staff Songs 4 for a test during their second class of the week. Success criteria will be discussed.

During our second class of the week, students will perform, alone or in small groups, one of the Question and Answer songs assigned for a mark. Feedback will be provided during class.

Homework: Learn Staff Songs 4 and prepare one of the Question and Answer songs for a test.


Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for thus week are to demonstrate our understanding of the elements of music and the creative process by performing our group compositions about war. We will also continue our work with rhythm by counting and performing a  section of "Swingle Bells".

During our first class of the week, students will revisit the success criteria for their war composition, and discuss the weighting for each part of the self-evaluation process. They will perform their compositions and then reflect on their performance by completing a self-evaluation.

During our second class of the week, students will complete the remaining performances, and then review the "Liberty March" measures 1-32, and  "Swingle Bells" measures 7-14. Students will begin "Swingle Bells" by clapping, then fingering in time and finally, playing. Measures 14-23 will be assigned for homework.

Howework: "Swingle Bells" 7-23.

November 11, 2013

November 11, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: Our goals for this week are to continue improving our reading and playing skills and identifying patterns in the music we play.  Using website drills, scale warm-up charts, and Staff Songs sheets, we will search for repeating patterns and learn about "questions and answer" form.

During our first class of the week, we will begin with our fractured-scale warm-up and then review all of the songs on Staff Songs sheet 1. We will look for repeating melodic and rhythmic patterns and learn about the "question and answer" form pattern used in "Skip it". We will review Staff Songs 2 focusing on performing the long, 2 and 3 beat notes accurately.

During our second class of the week, we will warm-up and review Staff Songs 2. Students will receive Staff Songs 3 and 4, and will look for "question and answer" songs. Students will add the new note used in Staff Songs 4 to their scale chart, and are expected to learn most/all of staff songs 3.

Homework: Learn Staff Song 3 (or more).



Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for this week are to complete our "War" compositions including the graphic score and legend, and perform the pieces. Students will self-evaluate, and receive an individual and a group mark.

During our first class of the week, students will review "Liberty March" and some students will be asked to perform the assigned section: measures 1-32. Most classes will complete their compositions, graphic scores and rehearse for the final performance.

During the second class of the week, many students will perform their compositions. During the performances or for homework, students will be asked to write counting under all notes of "Swingle Bells". This should be practised for homework.

Homework: Practise "Swingle Bells" and prepare your part of the composition for a mark.