May 25, 2011

Grade 7: This is week 15 in term 2. Students should be practising twice outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will finish performing and/or listening to individual blues compositions. They will have an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the blues by assessing another student based upon the success criteria for a blues melody, harmony or lyrics.

During the second class of the week, students will work on song 45, "William Tell" and performing all of "Big Raven" as a class band.

Homework: practise William Tell and Big Raven.

Grade 8: This is week 15 in term 2. Students should be practising twice outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will complete the monophonic section of their Stomp routine and answer questions 14-23 in their booklet. They will begin the homophonic section and answer questions 23-35, ensuring that there is a variety of elements of dance included.

In some classes, students will listen to "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson and analyze how the elements of music contribute to the overt and implied messages of the song. (This lesson was designed to support students work media literacy and Language Arts.)

Homework: brainstorm ideas for the homophonic section and movement ideas to enhance the dance component of STOMP.

May 16, 2011

Grade 7: This is week 14 in term 2. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will perform their blues compositions and complete a peer evaluation of another students' blues performance. Each student will receive 3 different marks: one for their written composition, one for their performance and one for their analysis of another students' work.

During the second class of the week blues performances will be completed and students will review all measures of "Big Raven" in preparation for a final assessment on this piece next week.

Homework: prepare for the blues performance and continue practising "Big Raven"

Grade 8: This is week 14 in term 2. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students should have completed their polyphonic rhythm quiz and questions 1-10 in their STOMP booklet. They will begin working on the monophonic section of their STOMP performance. Students will be asked to include a variety of elements of dance and "tricks" in this section. Questions 14-23 should be completed in the STOMP booklet.

During the second class of the week, students will receive their marked "Music In Your World" projects. They will complete the monophonic section of their routine and the written work associated with this section in their booklet.

Homework: Students should practise their STOMP patterns and plan the next section of their group work.

May 9, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week 13 in term 2. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will finish any remaining Frere Jaques tests. Then we will play measures 52- end of Big Raven, and then the entire piece. The remaining class time will be for students to work on their blues compositions which are due in one week.

The second class of the week will be used for completing blues compositions and theory worksheets which review 1st and 2nd endings, key signatures and ties.

Homework: Students should be practising all of Big Raven and be perfecting the transitions from one section to another. Students should be completing their composing and their theory sheets.

Grade 8: This is practise week 13 in term 2. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will have a polyphonic clapping quiz. They will complete questions 5-10 and the polyphonic section of their STOMP projects which should include 3 separate sections/movements.

During the second class of the week, students will begin their monophonic section. All students are expected to memorize and practise their STOMP patterns for homework. Students should come with ideas for the next sections.

Homework: Practise and memorize stomp patterns. Plan/think about patterns for the next class similar to those in the original STOMP performances.

May 2, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week 12 in term 2. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will review the newly revised major scale and song 76. We will take up the blues lyrics worksheets and continue Frere Jaques tests. Students will receive information about their culminating project on the blues, where they will be expected to perform an original blues composition with other classmates. A rubric and example will be shared with the class.

During the second class of the week, students will review Big Raven measure 52 to the end. Then students will begin composing their blues melody/harmony/lyrics on the back of their lyric worksheet.

Homework: continue to practise the revised major scale and begin your blues composition.

Grade 8:This is practise week 12 in term 2. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will have a quiz on reading and performing sixteen note rhythm patterns, and then will discuss the success criteria for their STOMP project. They will have time to rehearse their polyphonic sections with their "instruments".

During the second class of the week, students will learn about the elements of dance and receive a copy of the rubric for STOMP. They will begin working on adding movement to their polyphonic section.

Homework: students should continue to practise clapping/playing patterns of sixteenth notes and memorize their patterns for the group's polyphonic section. They should begin planning the music/movement for additional sections.

April 25, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week 11 in term 2. Students should practise twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, we will continue blues duet tests. Students will learn three new concepts which are included in song 76: triple metre, key signatures and 1st/2nd endings. They will use this information to perform song 76, "High Flying".

During the second class of the week, students will receive a worksheet reviewing the concepts covered. This worksheet will be begun in class and may be finished for homework.

Homework: Complete the worksheet and practise song 76.

Grade 8: This is practise week 11 in term 2. Students should practise twice this week outside of class.

Any students who have not handed in their "Music In My World" project should do so on Tuesday. This week students will be working in their STOMP groups to complete the rhythm patterns for their polyphonic section and begin creating the movement for this section. They will need to decide upon the "instrument" that their group will use and will need to bring it to school for use during music classes.

Homework: Bring your "instrument" to school and be prepared to perform your composed rhythm pattern on it.

April 18, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week 10 in term 2. Students should practise twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will hand in their listening journals. They will have a test on the elements of the blues. Information from the study sheet such as the history/context of the blues, blues melody, blues harmony, blues lyrics and blues rhythms will be included on this test.

During the second class of the week, students will review measures 52-60 of "Big Raven" and add measures 60 to the end. Playing tests on Frere Jaques will be continued.

Homework: Students should prepare for their tests, complete their journal and practise "Big Raven" measures 52 to the end.

Grade 8: This is practise week 10 in term 2. Students should practise twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will review the one-beat rhythm patterns which will be used in STOMP. The worksheet provided should be finished in class or for homework.

During the second class of the week, "Music In My World" projects are due for most classes. During the period, students will be identifying students who possess strengths in the areas of music, movement, leadership, organization and cooperation. These strengths will be considered as we form our STOMP groups of 8-9 students. Then we will begin defining roles within the group and begin composing the polyphonic section (many equally important musical ideas which are performed at one time) of our performance.

Homework: Students should complete their "Music in My World" project and hand it in. They should practise clapping and counting one beat patterns using their worksheet.

Week of April 11, 2011

Grade 7: This is week 9 in term 2. Students should practise at least 2 times outside of class this week.

During the first class of the week, students will continue to be evaluated on Frere Jaques Blues Duets (melody from song 54 and harmony from their 12 bar blues sheet). They will also continue applying riffs (jazzy rhythm patterns) to their 12 bar blues. They will review measures 1-35 of Big Raven. Listening Journals are due next class!

During the second class of the week, students will receive a blues lyrics worksheet, and learn about the topics and structure of blues song words. They will begin measures 52-60 in Big Raven. Listening Journals are due today!

Homework: Practise measures 1-35 and 52-60 of Big Raven.

Complete the Blues Lyrics worksheet.

Grade 8:This is week 9 in term 2. Students should practise at least 2 times outside of class this week.

During our first class of the week, students will watch the video "Stomp Out Loud" which introduces our new Stomp! unit, and allows students to consider how the elements of music and movement are used to create artistic performances.

During the second class of the week, students will have a rhythm lesson which introduces a variety of one-beat rhythm patterns using quarter, eighth and sixteenth patterns. In groups, they will compose an 8 beat pattern using these patterns, select an original object to "play" this pattern on, and perform it with other patterns to create a polyphonic composition.

Homework: continue work on "Music in Your World" project due by April 21, 2011.