Week of: October 11, 2010

Grade 7:

During the first class of the week, students will begin learning about ther fourth and final band instrument. They will learn about assembly, tone production, holding position and how to play a two-tone song using notation. They will learn how to care for the instrument and disassemble it properly.

During the second class of the week, students will assemble it independently and learn a 3-note melody.

Homework: Students should complete their self-evaluation for instrument #4 on the sheet provided. They will need to rank the four instruments in order of preference and playing success.

IMPORTANT DATES:

MUSIC MATERIALS/RENTAL NIGHT - THURSDAY, OCT. 21, 2010 7:30 P.M. (music room)

Saxophone tryouts - Friday, Oct. 15, 2010 3:05-4:00 (for the best students in clarinet)

French Horn tryouts - Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010 3:05-4:00 (for the best trumpet players)

Drums/Percussion tryouts - Monday, Oct. 18, 2010 3:05-4:00 (by invitation of the teacher)

Tuba tryouts - Monday, Oct. 18, 2010 8:15-8:45

Grade 8:

This is practise week 4 in your practise record sheet. Students should be practising two times outside of class this week.

During our first class, students will discuss responses to the 4th journal question which was assigned last week. "Bits and Pieces" (the first composition for the term) will be returned and feedback provided. Students are expected to know/perform the B section of Chorale Elegant together.

During the second class of the week students may participate in the chromatic scale race, and may begin to work on the range race as a warm-up. We will listen to "Mars" in preparation for our trip to the Toronto Symphony on Nov. 4th and discuss how the composer uses the elements of music to depict war. The final A section will be started and should be continued for homework.

Homework: Journal question #5: Imagine that you are composing a piece of music about war. What feelings and impressions would you want to share about war, and how would you use the elements of music to be successful? Practise: chromatic challenge, range challenge, Chorale - B section and the last A section