February 25, 2013

Grade 6
Our goals for this week are to record our arrangement of "J'entends Le Moulin" using our rhythmic ostinati on pitched and non-pitched percussion instruments and voices. We will also begin to learn "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel" a spiritual arranged for choir.
During our first class of the week, students will review the instrumental and vocal parts for the song which was learned last week. Students will elect classmates who were most successful at improvising on their instruments as the final performers during the recording. The other students will form the unison choir and will sing during the recording.If time permits we will discuss the context of our new choir song "Didn't My Lord" and listen to a recording of it on youtube.
During our second class of the week, we will listen to our recording and discuss what the elements of the recording which were most successful and what might be improved. We will spend the remainder of the period beginning to learn vocal parts for the new choir piece.

Grade 7

This is week 5 in term 2. Students are reminded to practise twice this week. Our goals for this week are to learn how to use the creative process and Finale software to create a composition for two instruments.
During the first class of the week, we will take up our journal and check that all students have completed this assignment. Students will complete any outstanding performance tests and then will be introduced to Finale software. They will learn how to input notes and rests on the staff using a computer, and expressive markings such as articulation.
Once in the lab, students will receive a sheet indicating the success criteria for a composing assignment which will require students to create a duet using their Question and Answer composition.
During the second class, students will complete note entry and edit their work. Students will receive a copy of the new band piece "Anasazi" and should begin learning 8 or more measures.
Homework: practise Anasazi

Grade 8

This is week 5 in term 2. Students are reminded to practise twice this week.  Our goals for this week are to complete all preliminary activities which demonstrate an understanding of how the elements of incidental music are related to a film's action and composer's point of view. Students will receive instructions for a group composition for film.
During our first class, students will receive their Planet Earth assignments and performance test rubrics; the results of these two assessments will be discussed. Students will review what has been learned about background music and listen to some examples of movie themes which incorporate the 3 roles discussed (rhythmic, melodic and harmonic).
Students will watch 3 different versions of "Giraffe" in which each musical background communicates a different point of view. After receiving a composing worksheet and success criteria, students will view the 3 film clip choices for their composing project, consider which one they would like to compose, the message/point of view they want to share, and how their instrument might be used most effectively. If time permits, students will form groups and begin planning their composition.
Homework: complete composing 16 bars for your film clip and practise your melody.