January 27, 201

January 27, 2014

Grade 7 Goals: This week's goals are to demonstrate an understanding of our part for "Big Raven" through discussion and performance.

During our first class of the week, students will receive a fingering chart for their instrument. Some students will perform song 39 as a duet. We will warm up with the major and minor scales, and then review all notes and symbols on their "Big Raven" score. We will "show-and-tell" the part we practised in pairs or instrument teams, and receive feedback. Measures 27-36 will be assigned for homework.

During the second class of the week, students will clap, say, finger and play measures 27-36 or more of "Big Raven" in preparation for our first Junior Band rehearsal on Friday at lunch. All grade 7s are welcome! Students may want to listen to or play along with the following recordings:

The Tempest

http://www.alfred.com/Products/The-Tempest--00-BD9561.aspx

 

Big Raven

http://www.jwpepper.com/Big-Raven/10068520.item#.UuFDkRAo7Mp

Homework:: know measures 27-36 or more of "Big Raven"  

Grade 8 Goals: This week we will be to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the elements of music and it's message. We will continue work on improving out performance of Wonderful World and the first 40 bars of "Home".

During our first class of the week, students will review the use of time and key signature in "Wonderful World" and learn the related scale (concert E flat major) in the method book. Then we will work on measures 1-40 of Home. Students will focus on the challenging rhythmic elements in these measures.

During our second class of the week, we will review the work done in our first class. We will watch a short video clip about the Vietnam War and discuss/predict what the message and mood might be. We will then discuss what elements of music might be used. Finally we will listen to the actual music which was selected and consider it's effectiveness. If time permits, students will receive the worksheet "Earth" which should be completed for homework.

Homwork: practise Wonderful World, Home 1-40, complete "Earth"

January 20, 2014

January 20, 2014

Grade 7 Goals:We will continue to work on performing independently on our instrument in more than one part, using the notes of the Concert Bb Major and Concert G Minor scales.

During our first class of the week, we will begin by completing our scale chart for the concert G minor scale and use this scale as a warm up.  We will review songs 33, 34 and 39 as a whole class and hear performances of these songs by pairs of students in class. Practise record sheets will be collected.

Students will receive a 4 page music glossary and their copy of the band songs "Big Raven" and "Tempest". Students will analyze their part for "Big Raven" (decode) and add marking their score as needed to indicate new fingerings, difficult rhythms, new terms and symbols, etc. They will select a section of "Big Raven" for practise at home.

During the second class of the week, (many classes only meet once this week) students will work with their stand partner and instrument team to perform the selected section of "Big Raven" together. When ready, students will perform their section(s) together for the class and then all of the instruments will perform their parts together. 

Homework: Begin 8 measures of "Big Raven"

Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for this week are to continue our introduction to music in media, focusing of how music adds mood and intensity. We will try to improve performance of "What A Wonderful World" by focusing on listening for balance and blend in the ensemble so that we can communicated mood effectively. We will begin "Home".

During the first class of the week, students will watch the remaining Incidental Music presentation which traces the history of background music in film. We will review "Wonderful World" and work on balance/blend and expressive qualities which communicate feeling. If time permits, we will  listen to the original recording of "Home" by Philip Philips and a recording of the band arrangement they will be learning before performing "Home" measures 23-40.

During the second class of the week, we will focus on "Home" up to measure 40. If time permits, we will watch a move clip without sound and discuss the message of the movie, how music might be used to add intensity to the mood and then hear the director's choice. Discussion regarding the effectiveness will continue.

Homework: Practise "Home" measures 1-40.

January 13, 2014

January 13, 2014

Grade 7: This week's goal is to continue to develop an ability to perform in parts. This will require that we develop an internal feeling of beat and count carefully as we perform individual parts.

During our first class of the week, we will review the scale warm-up on page 40 and revise our fingering chart to match the pitches of this major scale. We will review song 33 and try to perform both the A and B parts with slurs in class. We will review song 34 and perform it as a round or canon.

During the second class of the week, we will review our scale and songs 33 and 34. Some students will be spot-tested on these assigned pieces. We will learn new note concert B (low) which we will add to a new scale chart (for the concert B flat minor scale). We will learn song 39 Russian Folk Song Duet, and try song 56 if time permits.

Homework: practise both parts of song 33, 34, 39 and 56.

Grade 8: Our goals for this week are to learn measures 1-27 of Wonderful World and to begin developing an understanding of how the elements of music communicate with the listener to create mood.

During our first class, we will review measures 1-19 of Wonderful World and then begin measures 19-27 where the low instruments have the melody. If possible, we will read through the entire piece. Students should learn all notes for next week. Classes 8A and 8B will also continue their work on composing with hyperscore.

During the second class of the week, we will review the elements of music which created mood for our war and peace compositions and consider how composers might use these elements in film. We will watch a film clip without music, discuss what message the composer might want to communicate, and  predict how the elements were used. We will then watch the movie clip again and discuss the music selected, the elements, and the message communicated by the film.

Homework: practise all of "Wonderful World"

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January 6, 2014

Grade 7 Goals: This week's goals are to print our Finale compositions and begin learning to play in more than one part. 

During our first class of the week, woodwind players will receive a new reed and begin with a scale warm-up. They will review songs 19, 23 and 24, and then learn songs 33 and 34 which require students to play in parts.

During the second class of the week, students will go to the lab to complete the creating and printing of their Question and Answer compositions.

Homework: Learn to play songs 33 and 34 in Tradition of Excellence book 1.


Grade 8 Goals: This week's goals are to demonstrate our reading and playing skills by performing "Swingle Bells" for a test mark. Students will be marked on pitch accuracy, rhythmic accuracy and expressive elements. Those students who have completed their test will work on expanding their pitch range with the Concert Eb major scale.

During our first class of the week, woodwind students will receive a new (second) reed and have time to review "Swingle Bells" in preparation for their playing test. Those students who have completed their test will be working on expanding their playing range with the concert Eb major scale (pg 41 of the the Tradition of Excellence book).

During the second class of the week, students will perform their tests and/or scales in class.

Homework - learn the concert Eb major scale !