December 9, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: This week's goals are to finish performing our compositions, and use Finale software to professionally print our compositions. We will also expand our reading and playing skills performing songs which have notes "do" and "re"  from our method book. 

During our first class of the week, students will learn new notes "do" and "re" and add them to their scale chart. After a warm up, students will practise songs 19, 23 and 24 in the method book as testing is completed. A short demonstration of Finale software will be presented.

The second class of the week will be spent in the computer lab.  Students will use Finale software to print their compositions and compile a class song-book.

Homework:  practise songs 19, 23, and 24


Grade 8 Goals: This week's goals are to complete composing a Hymn by adding passing/decorative notes to their individual parts and perform it with the group. Students will also have time to practise Swingle Bells in preparation for a test next week.

During our first class of the week, students will learn how/where to add decorative notes to their hymn melodies. Each student will be expected to add passing notes in 2-3 places using the following rules:
     there may only be 4 beats of music in every bar
     chord tones must remain on beats 1 and 3 in every bar
     passing notes should lead to (connect) one chord note to another chord note, filling missing letter                names
     passing notes should occur at different places than other players
     passing notes should be playable
Students should practise their new melodies being careful to perform the rhythm of the passing notes accurately. When ready, they may perform their melodies together to create polyphony .  (A polyphonic texture means that the piece of music has many equally important melodies played at one time.)

During the second class of the week, students may pracitse their compositions in preparation for playing test next week. They may also work performing their hymn in their groups.

Homework: complete writing and learning to play your part of the Hymn. Practise "Swingle Bells" for a playing test.

December 2, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: This week's goals are to complete and perform our compositions using the creative process, and learn songs from Traditions of Excellence which use note "mi" of our scale (concert D).

During the first class of the week, students will begin with a warm up and will be introduced to the book "Traditions of Excellence". They will learn a new note and can then practise songs 7-12.  Time will be given to revise and edit their Question and Answer compositions and practise them in preparation for a composing and performing mark. Some students will be asked to perform their composition.

During the second class of the week, students will continue to perform for a mark. They will use the book to learn additional songs and notes at their own pace.

Homework: practise your composition to perform for a mark and songs 7-12 in the book.

Grade 8 Goals: This week's goals are to review rules for creating harmony by forming chords (harmonious sounding groups of notes) on every step of the scale. We will also work on the ending section of "Swingle Bells"

During our first class of the week, we will review the rules for forming chords. and will play  I, 4 and 5 chords using our chord sheet from last week. We will also learn to harmonize using other chords. We will review our hymn Abide With Me" using chord and non-chord notes. Finally, we will have spot tests on the first 39 bars of "Swingle Bells" and learn the final section of this song.

During the second class of the week, we will review all of "Swingle Bells" and spot test. We will form groups of 3 or 4 students, and plan the chords for original hymns using what we have learned about harmony and the following rules:
     1. each member of the group MUST use the same chord plan
     2. the hymn should be 8 or more bars long
     3. the hymn must begin on a 1 chord and end on a 1 chord
     4. the hymn must use mostly 1, 4 and 5 chords
     5. all measures must contain a harmonizing whole note

Homework: practise counting and clapping/playing all of "Swingle Bells"