February 11, 2013

Grade 6: Our goals for this week are to perform our pentatonic melodies as a solo for the class and add an ostinato to the performances. We will begin a group of new reading songs which will build on our understanding of do, re, mi, sol and la, and add low sol. These include "On the Banks of The Don", "John Kanaka", and "J'Entends Le Moulin".

During our first class we will perform our pentatonic solos. We will read and sing one of our new reading songs and add a pentatonic ostinato as an accompaniment.

During our second class we will complete any remaining pentatonic solos and begin a new choral score.


Grade 7: This is practise week 3 in term 2. Students should have 6 signatures for practise outside of class. Our goals for this week are to begin learning the minor scale and complete our Lunar New Year presentations (using the pentatonic scale) for a mark. Most grade 7 classes will only meet one time this week because of the PA day on Friday.

During our first class of the week we will begin with a scale warms up using the major and pentatonic scales. We will begin building a minor scale on the back of our major scale sheet, using our new note from song 37. Students will review song 39 (faster) and will then get into groups to perform their duets and Lunar New Year pentatonic rounds.
During our second class of the week we will continue our group performances and read through song 38 if time permits.
Homework: practise songs 38 and 39 (both parts) for speed, and prepare to play your pentatonic round.


Grade 8: This is practise week 3 in term 2. Our goals for this week are to perform all measures of "Crusade" accurately and expressively (with dynamics and articulation), and use our knowledge of the elements of music to select incidental music for a film.

During our first class of the week we will perform from measure 50 to the end completing the entire pieces. Some students will be asked to demonstrate their playing ability. We will finish the presentation on the history of incidental music in film.
During our second class of the week students will view a youtube video from the movie "Good Morning Vietnam" and predicting what the incidental music might be. They will then listen and discuss the impact of the actual music. The we will watch "Earth - the one video you need to see" without the incidental music. In partners, they will discuss some of the different messages it might  convey and the way elements would be used..  For homework, students will be asked to complete the worksheet which asks them to select appropriate music for the background of this video and explain/support their choice.
Homework: practise measures 1-end of Crusade with articulation and dynamics. Complete the "Earth" worksheet.