January 13, 2014

January 13, 2014

Grade 7: This week's goal is to continue to develop an ability to perform in parts. This will require that we develop an internal feeling of beat and count carefully as we perform individual parts.

During our first class of the week, we will review the scale warm-up on page 40 and revise our fingering chart to match the pitches of this major scale. We will review song 33 and try to perform both the A and B parts with slurs in class. We will review song 34 and perform it as a round or canon.

During the second class of the week, we will review our scale and songs 33 and 34. Some students will be spot-tested on these assigned pieces. We will learn new note concert B (low) which we will add to a new scale chart (for the concert B flat minor scale). We will learn song 39 Russian Folk Song Duet, and try song 56 if time permits.

Homework: practise both parts of song 33, 34, 39 and 56.

Grade 8: Our goals for this week are to learn measures 1-27 of Wonderful World and to begin developing an understanding of how the elements of music communicate with the listener to create mood.

During our first class, we will review measures 1-19 of Wonderful World and then begin measures 19-27 where the low instruments have the melody. If possible, we will read through the entire piece. Students should learn all notes for next week. Classes 8A and 8B will also continue their work on composing with hyperscore.

During the second class of the week, we will review the elements of music which created mood for our war and peace compositions and consider how composers might use these elements in film. We will watch a film clip without music, discuss what message the composer might want to communicate, and  predict how the elements were used. We will then watch the movie clip again and discuss the music selected, the elements, and the message communicated by the film.

Homework: practise all of "Wonderful World"

.

January 6, 2014

Grade 7 Goals: This week's goals are to print our Finale compositions and begin learning to play in more than one part. 

During our first class of the week, woodwind players will receive a new reed and begin with a scale warm-up. They will review songs 19, 23 and 24, and then learn songs 33 and 34 which require students to play in parts.

During the second class of the week, students will go to the lab to complete the creating and printing of their Question and Answer compositions.

Homework: Learn to play songs 33 and 34 in Tradition of Excellence book 1.


Grade 8 Goals: This week's goals are to demonstrate our reading and playing skills by performing "Swingle Bells" for a test mark. Students will be marked on pitch accuracy, rhythmic accuracy and expressive elements. Those students who have completed their test will work on expanding their pitch range with the Concert Eb major scale.

During our first class of the week, woodwind students will receive a new (second) reed and have time to review "Swingle Bells" in preparation for their playing test. Those students who have completed their test will be working on expanding their playing range with the concert Eb major scale (pg 41 of the the Tradition of Excellence book).

During the second class of the week, students will perform their tests and/or scales in class.

Homework - learn the concert Eb major scale !

December 9, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: This week's goals are to finish performing our compositions, and use Finale software to professionally print our compositions. We will also expand our reading and playing skills performing songs which have notes "do" and "re"  from our method book. 

During our first class of the week, students will learn new notes "do" and "re" and add them to their scale chart. After a warm up, students will practise songs 19, 23 and 24 in the method book as testing is completed. A short demonstration of Finale software will be presented.

The second class of the week will be spent in the computer lab.  Students will use Finale software to print their compositions and compile a class song-book.

Homework:  practise songs 19, 23, and 24


Grade 8 Goals: This week's goals are to complete composing a Hymn by adding passing/decorative notes to their individual parts and perform it with the group. Students will also have time to practise Swingle Bells in preparation for a test next week.

During our first class of the week, students will learn how/where to add decorative notes to their hymn melodies. Each student will be expected to add passing notes in 2-3 places using the following rules:
     there may only be 4 beats of music in every bar
     chord tones must remain on beats 1 and 3 in every bar
     passing notes should lead to (connect) one chord note to another chord note, filling missing letter                names
     passing notes should occur at different places than other players
     passing notes should be playable
Students should practise their new melodies being careful to perform the rhythm of the passing notes accurately. When ready, they may perform their melodies together to create polyphony .  (A polyphonic texture means that the piece of music has many equally important melodies played at one time.)

During the second class of the week, students may pracitse their compositions in preparation for playing test next week. They may also work performing their hymn in their groups.

Homework: complete writing and learning to play your part of the Hymn. Practise "Swingle Bells" for a playing test.

December 2, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: This week's goals are to complete and perform our compositions using the creative process, and learn songs from Traditions of Excellence which use note "mi" of our scale (concert D).

During the first class of the week, students will begin with a warm up and will be introduced to the book "Traditions of Excellence". They will learn a new note and can then practise songs 7-12.  Time will be given to revise and edit their Question and Answer compositions and practise them in preparation for a composing and performing mark. Some students will be asked to perform their composition.

During the second class of the week, students will continue to perform for a mark. They will use the book to learn additional songs and notes at their own pace.

Homework: practise your composition to perform for a mark and songs 7-12 in the book.

Grade 8 Goals: This week's goals are to review rules for creating harmony by forming chords (harmonious sounding groups of notes) on every step of the scale. We will also work on the ending section of "Swingle Bells"

During our first class of the week, we will review the rules for forming chords. and will play  I, 4 and 5 chords using our chord sheet from last week. We will also learn to harmonize using other chords. We will review our hymn Abide With Me" using chord and non-chord notes. Finally, we will have spot tests on the first 39 bars of "Swingle Bells" and learn the final section of this song.

During the second class of the week, we will review all of "Swingle Bells" and spot test. We will form groups of 3 or 4 students, and plan the chords for original hymns using what we have learned about harmony and the following rules:
     1. each member of the group MUST use the same chord plan
     2. the hymn should be 8 or more bars long
     3. the hymn must begin on a 1 chord and end on a 1 chord
     4. the hymn must use mostly 1, 4 and 5 chords
     5. all measures must contain a harmonizing whole note

Homework: practise counting and clapping/playing all of "Swingle Bells"

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.

November 18, 2013

November 18, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: This week we will be focusing on reading and playing using 4 tones in the concert Bb scale, and demonstrate our understanding by performing a Question and Answer song from Staff Songs 4.

During our first class of the week, we will review our scale warm-up using the 4 tones on our scale fingering chart. We will review Staff Songs 3 and Question and Answer form, identifying this song form in examples from Staff Songs 4. Students will be asked to prepare one of the Question and Answer songs from Staff Songs 4 for a test during their second class of the week. Success criteria will be discussed.

During our second class of the week, students will perform, alone or in small groups, one of the Question and Answer songs assigned for a mark. Feedback will be provided during class.

Homework: Learn Staff Songs 4 and prepare one of the Question and Answer songs for a test.


Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for thus week are to demonstrate our understanding of the elements of music and the creative process by performing our group compositions about war. We will also continue our work with rhythm by counting and performing a  section of "Swingle Bells".

During our first class of the week, students will revisit the success criteria for their war composition, and discuss the weighting for each part of the self-evaluation process. They will perform their compositions and then reflect on their performance by completing a self-evaluation.

During our second class of the week, students will complete the remaining performances, and then review the "Liberty March" measures 1-32, and  "Swingle Bells" measures 7-14. Students will begin "Swingle Bells" by clapping, then fingering in time and finally, playing. Measures 14-23 will be assigned for homework.

Howework: "Swingle Bells" 7-23.

November 11, 2013

November 11, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: Our goals for this week are to continue improving our reading and playing skills and identifying patterns in the music we play.  Using website drills, scale warm-up charts, and Staff Songs sheets, we will search for repeating patterns and learn about "questions and answer" form.

During our first class of the week, we will begin with our fractured-scale warm-up and then review all of the songs on Staff Songs sheet 1. We will look for repeating melodic and rhythmic patterns and learn about the "question and answer" form pattern used in "Skip it". We will review Staff Songs 2 focusing on performing the long, 2 and 3 beat notes accurately.

During our second class of the week, we will warm-up and review Staff Songs 2. Students will receive Staff Songs 3 and 4, and will look for "question and answer" songs. Students will add the new note used in Staff Songs 4 to their scale chart, and are expected to learn most/all of staff songs 3.

Homework: Learn Staff Song 3 (or more).



Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for this week are to complete our "War" compositions including the graphic score and legend, and perform the pieces. Students will self-evaluate, and receive an individual and a group mark.

During our first class of the week, students will review "Liberty March" and some students will be asked to perform the assigned section: measures 1-32. Most classes will complete their compositions, graphic scores and rehearse for the final performance.

During the second class of the week, many students will perform their compositions. During the performances or for homework, students will be asked to write counting under all notes of "Swingle Bells". This should be practised for homework.

Homework: Practise "Swingle Bells" and prepare your part of the composition for a mark.