October 15, 2012

Grade 6
Our goals for this week are to continue our work on "Alleluia" and begin "Agnus Dei" for Remembrance Day. and continue our Great-Song List assignments.
During our first class of the week, students will be asked to submit the written portion of their Great-Song List assignments. Students will co-create the success criteria for the performance part of the assignment and some students will be asked to perform during the second class of the week. We will review " the 2 parts of Alleluia and begin Agnus Dei.
During the second class of the week, we will continue working with our choral scores and share some Great-Song List presentations. Student who perform will complete a self-evaluation based upon the success criteria determined in class one.


Grade 7
Our goals for this week are to determine each student's final instrument based upon interest, ability, availability and teacher recommendation.

During our first class, students will complete instrument 4 and if invited, may have the opportunity to try an additional instrument(s) before selecting their first, second and third choice of instrument. A brief review for the test will complete our exploration period. Final instrument assignments should be completed by the end of the week.
    Saxophone tryouts will be on Wednesday (7A,7B,) and Thursday (7C,7D,7E) mornings from 8:15-8:45  
         by invitation.
    Percussion tryouts are on Wednesday(7A, 7B) and Thursday (7C,7D, 7E) after school from 3:15-3:45
         by invitation.
    French Horn tryouts are on Wednesday at 11:50 by invitation.
    Tuba tryouts are on Thursday at 11:50 by invitation.
Students will have a unit test on the 4 instruments studied this far during the second class of the week.
During our second class, students will perform one last time on their first (or other) instrument to finalize instrument assignments.  Letters will go home to parents indicating final choices and our Instrument Rental Night date.
Homework: prepare for the test on flute, clarinet, trumpet and trombone.


Grade 8
This is week 4 in term 1.  Students should have 8 signatures by the end of this week for practise outside of class. Our goals for this week are to learn the B section of Sousa Times Twosa with appropriate articulation, and continue our study of music of war and peace by composing for non-traditional notation.

During our first class of the week, we will review the A section of Sousa Times Twosa and play through the B section, focusing on articulation. Students should be prepared to demonstrate their knowledge of the B section on their instrument.

During our second class of the week, we will explore "sounds of war" using language, vocal sounds and found sounds. Using a graphic score, students will create simple compositions based upon the theme of war.
Homework: prepare the C section of Sousa.