October 31, 2011

Grade 7: This week students will continue learning to read and perform music from notation. After reviewing beat and rhythm, students will learn how to name notes on the treble and bass staves and will receive a worksheet to practise naming notes.

Students will learn to play a variety of songs on Staff Song sheet 1 using the 4 practise steps: clap the rhythm at a steady beat speed, say the letter names of the notes in rhythm at a steady beat speed, do the fingering on their instrument while saying the letter names aloud, play. Students who have achieved 70% or more on their written test, have returned their signed Instrument Responsibility Form, and have demonstrated accurate playing of "Try For Three" will be permitted to sign out an instrument this week.

Make up tests and retests will be given on Tuesday, November 1 at 3:30.

Homework: Complete Treble/Bass Clef note naming worksheet; learn to play at least 4 songs on Staff Songs 1. Add letter names to their rhythm composition to create a melody. Transfer it to a piece of staff paper and give it a title.

Grade 8: This is practise week 8. Students should be practising the songs assigned and their composing to improve fluency and expression, and composing original melodies/patterns based upon the theme of WAR.

During our first class we will hear any remaining Bits and Pieces compositions. We will complete our listening in preparation for our trip to the Toronto Symphony on November 14th.

Students will continue brainstorming WAR words and select one that they can "play/compose for" on their instrument.

During the second class, we will listen to four "beats" from Youtube which use the g minor scale, and experiment with playing along. Classes will select one background to be used with their war patterns/compositions. The backgrounds are:

Emotional Beat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMx7BjElxWk&feature=related

Hip Hop Military Beat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1He8Vtrb_o&feature=related

Rap Beat Instrumental http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rv933r3M58&feature=related

War Cry Dark Angry Epic Orchestral http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgVzdAk_2k4&feature=relmfu

Students will form groups and begin planning how to organize each player's 2 measure ostinato (repeated pattern) into a WAR composition. (Their group's composition will eventually be recorded and used as a background for one a photo-story on war.)

Homework: Compose an original 2 measure ostinato or melody or ostinato for a WAR word.