November 25, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: This week our goals are to he creative process to compose an original melody. Students will study the elements of good song writing, and use their knowledge to compose and perform an 8-measure "Question and Answer" melody.

During our first class of the week, students will review the elements of a question and answer song and, through discussion, discover the components of good song writing (melodic and rhythmic patterns, musical punctuation, a variety of durations and pitches, bar lines, key signatures, time signatures, clefs, etc.). They will brainstorm a list of success criteria for good melody-writing, and begin planning their own melodies by composing the rhythmic patterns.

During the second class, students will add pitch to their melodies by exploring different combinations of notes and select the pitches which they like best to complete their melodies. They will add all required components listed on the success criteria provided.

Homework: Complete the writing of your melody and begin to practise it.

Grade 8 Goals: This week our goals are to learn about the elements of music that create a peaceful, calm mood. In particular, we will learn about hymns, harmony and chords.

During the first class of the week, students will receive feedback on their war compositions, and listen to the recordings of many groups, analyzing the elements which made some more successful than others.

Then, we will move on from music of war to music of peace, as we enter the holiday season. Students will learn about hymns and listen to a few in class such as "Amazing Grace" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78IJzRK6gYc and "Hogwarts Hymn" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcj6IHCtodU  They will play a simple hymn; chord notes and decorative/passing notes will be introduced.

During the second class of the week, students will review the hymn and learn how to build and name chords using the notes of the major scale. Using their understanding of chords and harmony, they will  create and perform an original "whole note hymn" as a class.


Homework: continue to practise "Swingle Bells" 1-23 and add the remaining measures.