October 21, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: Our goals for this week are to demonstrate an understanding of beat and rhythm through performance and composition.

During our first class of the week, students will receive copies of their written test for review. Students who receive less than a level 3 will need to retest before they are able to continue on their instrument. Students will learn to count beats (musical time) and fill these beats with a variety of notes/rests using music manipulatives. Students should become familiar with whole, half, quarter, and eighth note durations. Using their beat and rhythm composing sheet, students will compose 4 measures (16 beats) of rhythm using all of the durations studied and practise clapping it accurately.

During the second class of the week, students will be marked on the writing and performance of their compositions. They will also have the opportunity to perform their pattern as part of a duet.  They will receive an Instrument Responsibility Sheet which should be returned next class.

Homework: complete the Beat/Rhythm Composing sheet and prepare to perform the rhythm pattern in class for a mark. Be prepared for next class with a mouthpiece and your signed Instrument Responsibility Sheet.

Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for this week are to explore the topic of war, and use the creative process to create a composition which communicates the sounds,thoughts, and feelings of war.

During our first class of the week, students will receive feedback on their compositions and complete clapping/counting performances. They will watch a presentation which introduces musical forms related to war (the requiem, the protest song, the patriotic song, the propaganda song, etc.) They will begin to think about the messages and elements used to communicate messages about war through music.

During the second class of the week, students will interpret a piece of graphic notation about war and perform it for classmates. Using the worksheet provided, they will compose their own collection of war sounds/melodies, with a message/mood in mind. If time permits, we will begin a march.

Homework: complete your war sound collection so that you can contribute to a group war story next class.