June 2, 2014

June 2, 2014

Grade 7 Goals: This week's goals are to have students use their knowledge of pitch (fingering), rhythm (counting), and other music symbols (accidentals, dynamics, etc.) to learn a section of "Spiderman" accurately.

During our first class of the week, students will receive their final journal marks and will have an opportunity to discuss this final listening assessment. With a partner, students will review the 4 bars of "Spiderman" they selected. Once the counting has been written underneath these bars, they will check each other's counting, practise clapping it and then play it for each other. At the end of the class, students will perform their bars in order. They will set a goal of 4 more bars for next class.

During the second class of the week, students will use the same step to decode/learn at least 4 more bars. At the end of class, they will work to incorporate them in a performance of a section(s) of the piece.  

Homework: practise and be able to perform at least 8 measures of "Spiderman" accurately 

Grade 8 Goals: This week's goals are to begin developing the form, movement and dramatic elements for the polyphonic section of a STOMP performance.

During the first class of the week, students will review their rhythms for the polyphonic section of their STOMP routine. They will finalize the form, rehearse it and then experiment with tonal qualities of their instruments to select tone colours for each line of rhythm. Once the group has performed their piece on their "instruments", they will consider apply of the following movement elements to their performance:

     space (what shape(s) they will form on stage from a bird-eye view)

     relationships (groups, pairs/partners, rows, individuals, etc.)

     tempo (how quickly to move from one place to another)

     direction (where they are heading)

     shape (what type of movement they will use - skip, slide, crawl, etc)

     height (high, med, or low)

During the second class of the week, students will complete the first draft of the choreography of this section of their work and rehearse it with the members of their group.

  

Homework: practise the rhythms and choreography for your polyphonic STOMP routine. 

    

May 26, 2014

May 26, 2014

Grade 7 Goals: This week our goal is to demonstrate an understanding of musical time (counting of notes and rests using "1+2+3+4+") through performance.  

During the first class of the week, students will review patterns of notes and rests, practising clapping and counting aloud using proper counting techniques: "1+2+3+4+". We will apply this counting to songs 68 (playing this duet in 2 parts) and song 91 (following rules for accidentals  #   b   and  lq properly).

During the second class of the week, students will perform song 116 using proper counting for the dotted quarter - eighth note pattern. (think "Deck - the -halls") If time permits, we will begin our final journal by learning about the great gates of Kiev. The final journal question must be completed during class, and students may use their listening web sheet, glossaries and other reference materials to answer the question:

The Russian composer Modest Mussourgsky used music to describe the great gates of Kiev. What elements of music does he use and what do they tell you about the gates?

Homework: practise songs 68, 91 and 116.



Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for this week are to demonstrate an understanding of sixteenth note rhythms/durations and polyphony by creating and performing an effective 4-part group composition. 

During our first class of the week, students will be forming groups of 10-12 and choosing roles which will define their responsibilities within their group. In teams of 2, they will compose their parts and practise them. Then as a group, they will plan the form/organization of sections, and practise performing all their piece from memory.

During the second class of the week, groups will take turns selecting their performance "instruments" once they have mastered their music. All groups should be prepared with required materials next week so they can begin working on choreography and movement.

Homework: memorize and be able to perform your 8 beat pattern steadily while others are performing other parts

May 19, 2014

May 19, 2014

Grade 7:  Our goal for this week is to count and perform patterns of notes and rests accurately using "1+2+3+4+" counting in at least 4 bars of "Spiderman".

During our first class of the week, students may be given the opportunity to complete any blues writing/performing which was begun before trips to Mono Cliffs.  They will then receive their final listening journal rubric, which will be discussed. 

During the second class of the week, students will learn to count using "1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +" to accurately perform patterns of whole, half, quarter, eighth notes and rests. They will receive a copy of "Spiderman" and will apply their understanding by writing the counting under at least 4 bars of their choice. They will practise clapping it, fingering in time and then play it.

Homework: Practise clapping and playing the 4 bars selected from "Spiderman". Prepare for and open-book final journal next week. 

Grade 8: Our goal for this week  is to demonstrate an understanding of quarter, eighth, and sixteenth patterns through composition and performance.

During our first class of the week, students will receive feedback on the writing and performance of their 8 beat monophonic (one voice at a time) rhythm composition. They will get into groups and choose an object with which to perform one of the rhythms. When ready, the class will create a polyphonic (many voices at a time) performance by organizing and overlapping many rhythm patterns at once. 

During the second class of the week, students will work on forming STOMP groups of 8 performers. In these groups students will choose roles and compose one of the lines of rhythm which will be the basis of their own polyphonic composition.

Homework: Practise counting and clapping their own rhythm pattern for their STOMP routine.

May 12, 2014

May 12, 2014

Grade 7: Our goal for this week is to use language to demonstrate our understanding of the elements of music and the elements of the blues.

During our first class of the week, students may be given the opportunity to complete any blues writing/performing which was begun last class.  They will then receive their final listening journal rubric, which will be discussed. 

During the second class of the week, the final listening journal will be completed. Students will have the opportunity to listen to the piece 3-4 times. (This is an "open book" journal so students will be permitted to refer to THEIR OWN handouts, listening notes, and previous journals.) Work will be collected at the end of the period.  

Homework: none

Grade 8: Our goal for this week is to analyze the essential skills and components of a STOMP performance.

During the first class of the week, students will watch the video "STOMP OUT LOUD". In groups, they will focus on one question related to the video, and share their reflections with the class during the last 10 minutes of the class.

During the second class of the week, students will learn to read, count and perform many complex rhythm patterns similar to the ones in STOMP using quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes. An anchor chart/worksheet will be provided and students will be asked to compose and perform an original 8 beat pattern using these durations.

Homework: complete your own 8 beat composition and be prepared to perform it

May 5, 2014

May 5, 2014

Grade 7 Goals: Our goals for this week are to demonstrate an understanding of all of the elements of the blues (improvising a blues solo and playing a blues harmony/walking bass) through group performance.

During the first class of the week, students will begin by listening to examples of blues solos:

Blues for Harry

Mario Perrett Saxophone Solo

They will receive and discuss the rubric for their final performance evaluation on the blues. In groups of 3-4, they will practise taking turns playing a 12 bar solo and a 12 bar harmony and/or walking bass part. Some students may be asked to perform for a mark.

During the second class of the week, students will be marked on their performances. While groups are performing, others will be expected to write an original verse of the blues which shows their understanding of the context of the blues; how the lyrics reflect the thoughts and feelings of an individual at a given moment in history. Work will be collected at the end of the period.

Homework: Prepare for final blues tests and concert.

Grade 8 Goals: 

Our goals for this week are to complete our incidental music unit - demonstrating an understanding of how the elements of music communicate with the listener, and how to use the creative process - by performing our compositions for film.

During the first class of the week, remaining incidental music groups will perform their group compositions, students will perform for the class and receive feedback on their compositions. 

Any students who have not performed "Voyage of Queen Anne's Revenge" will be tested.

During the second class of the week, students will perform "Home", Wonderful 

World" and "Voyage of Queen Anne's Revenge" as a class once more. After reflecting upon their use of balance, dynamics, tempo, tone, phrasing and other musical elements, students will perform one last time aiming for their 'personal best' performance of each piece. 

Homework: Performers, please prepare for the concert.