Grade 6: Our goals for this week are to continue building our reading skill using our sol-fa syllables by creating and performing a simple song using the major pentatonic scale, and performing ostinati to accompany our melodies. (The pentatonic scale is often associated with Oriental melodies.)
During our first class of the week, we will take up our test. Then will work on echoing and reading patterns using do, re, mi, sol and la. Students will listen to the story "Mei Ming and the Dragon's Daughter" and as the story is told, imagine how the pentatonic melody in this story might sound. Students will have an opportunity create a melody with a partner/group.
During our second class of the week, students will learn more about penatonic music in China. They will complete their pentatonic compositions, rehearse them, and to perform these melodies using voice and pitched percussion instruments.
If time permits, we will begin an authentic Chinese percussion ostinato for Chinese New Year called "Hsehuo Gudien" or Festival Parade.

Grade 7: This is practise week 9 in term 1. Students are expected to practise twice this week outside of class. Our goals for this week are to demonstrate our composing, reading and playing skills on our instrument by performing our Question and Answer composition as a solo. We will also begin our journals in which we will record our thoughts and feelings about the music we hear and play.
During our first class of the week most students will perform their solo compositions. Students  will answer the first journal question in response to performances by other members of our class. (see last week's blog for question #1).
During our second class of the week students will continue to perform and journal to complete this assignment. We will also begin to read and play in more than one part focusing on method book songs #25, 26, 31, and 33.
Homework: practise songs #25, 26, 31, and 33

Grade 8: This is practise week 15 in term 1. Students are expected to practise twice this week outside of class. Our goals for this week are to
During our first class of the week most students will perform their Peace Hymn for a mark. (This assessment was delayed to provide an extra practise period for many students who were unprepared.)
During our second class of the week students will decode their copy of "Crusade" (* for new fingerings, ? for things that you don't understand/need to look up, ( ) around difficult sections which need extra practise, and ! or circle around things that you need to look out for. Students should be able to play 16 bars or more for next class.

Homework: practise 16 bars or more of Crusade.