March 18, 2013

Grade 6:
Our goals for this week are to review and improve our singing of measures 1-33 in unison and parts using our understanding of the terms and symbols of music notation learned before March break.
During our first class of the week, we will begin with a warm-up to prepare for singing. Then, we will review the terms and symbols found in our score and listen critically to examples of measures, focusing on what might be improved for a more musical performance. We will review singing all parts and perform.
During our second class of the week, we will review and perform again, thinking critically about how well we have interpreted the score. We will make revisions and perform again.
If time permits, we will begin learning the melody and the text for "Shining Moon".

Grade 7:
This is practise week 7 in term 2. Students should be practising "Anasazi" or other pieces twice this week outside of class. Our goals for this week are to begin performing "Anasazi" using our knowledge of the context of the score, the composers instructions and our knowledge of playing techniques on our instrument. We will begin by clapping the rhythm of our parts (which are all different), fingering at the correct tempo, and then performing the measures we have learned.We will discuss how we might use the elements of music to create mood effectively. Our goal is to perform measures 1-25 or further as a "band".

During the second class of the week, we will learn 2 additional musical elements: tonality and metre. We will listen to a variety of examples such as:
   Major Tonality (uses major scale and sounds peaceful, proud, happy):
Minuet in G, O Canada, Home, Concerto D'Aranjuez first movement
   Minor: Tonality (uses minor scale and sounds sad, scary) :
Skyfall, Moonlight Sonata, Concerto D'Aranjuez Adagio
   Triple Metre (music is in groups of 3 beats per bar, feels like swaying):
Waltz of the Flowers, Mario Underwater Theme,  Elephants
   Duple Metre: any pop or rock song, (music is in groups of 2 or 4 beats per bar; feels like marching or walking)
 March from the Nutcracker, Fireworks

For homework, students will need to answer Journal Question #3:
      As you listen to "Danse Macabre" what story do you imagine is being told with this music?  
      Describe how do the musical elements bring the story to life (tonality, metre, dynamics, 
      texture, tempo, tone colours)
We will continue with "Anasazi" and learn to measure 43.

Homework: Practise measures 1-43 of Anasazi.

Grade 8:
This is practise week 7 in term 2. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.
Our goals for this week are to develop an understanding of how to count eighth notes and eighth rests in music we play or read.
During our first class of the week, students will review, rehearse and begin performing their music for film for a mark.
During our second class, of the week, we will learn how to clap/count a variety of rhythms and then apply that knowledge to "I feel Good". They will be expected write counting under 8 bars and learn to play them proficiently.

Homework: practise "I feel Good" - 8 bars