Week of January 31, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week 8 in term 1. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, we will begin with Listening Journal example #4, "01- Xi Qing (Joyous Celebration)". For homework, students will answer the following question: This music is meant for celebration. Describe the musical elements you hear that make you think of celebration. (Listen for tonality, tone colour, metre and how they make the music feel celebratory.) We will review song 30 in our book and begin song #45, "William Tell" which includes a pick-up. To improve rhythm reading skills, students will learn how to count eighth notes (1+2+3+4+) as they play.

During the second class, there will be a journal check and a review of counting eighth notes and song 45.

Homework: Journal question 4 and song #45.

Grade 8: This is practise week 18 in term 1. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will complete their score study for "Jai Ho" and research information to complete their understanding of the score. With their instrument section or small group, they will work on a section from measures 1-23.

During the second class of the week, students will continue their work on "Jai Ho" and will be expected to demonstrate their progress in instrument groups and as a whole class.

Homework: Practise measures 1-23 of "Jai Ho".

Week of Jan. 24, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week 7 in term 1. Students are expected to practise two times or more outside of class.

During our first class this week, we will begin with listening example #3, "Flatbush Waltz". (Klezmer is a musical style which began in Jewish communities in Eastern Europe, and consists of dance tunes and pieces for celebrations. Flatbush is the area in New York City where many Jewish immigrants settled in the 1900s.)

Journal question #3 is: What did "Flatbush Waltz" remind you of, and in order of importance, describe the 4 musical elements which were most important in creating that connection for you.

Many students will perform their Tortoise and Hare composition for a mark, while other classmates work in pairs on "London Bridge Duet" from Essential Elements 2000. For the duet, the goal is to develop independence when playing in parts.

After our Mad Minute drill in class two, we will continue our performances of "London Bridge Duet" and Tortoise and Hare compositions. If time permits, will begin "The Theme from William Tell", song # 45; students will learn about pick-ups and counting with "ands" where they see eighth notes.

Homework: Students should practise "The Theme From William Tell" in Essential Elements 2000, and complete journal question #3 above.

Grade 8: This is practise week 17 in term 1. Students are expected to practise two times or more outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will perform their Peace Hymns. After performing, they will hand in their written composition and their completed self-evaluation form. Students will receive a copy of the band piece "Jai Ho", the theme song from the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" which brings us into our new unit for term 2: Music of the World.

Homework: Practise measures 1-31 of Jai Ho.

Week of Jan. 17, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week 6 in term 1. For homework, students should practise twice outside of class this week.

During class one, we will begin by listening to In The Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRpzxKsSEZg

For homework, finish answering listening log question #2:

If this music was a scene from a movie, what do you think is happening and why? (Support your answer by describing at least 3 elements of music.)

We will review the two assigned songs from Staff Songs 6 and hear each instrument group perform at least one of these songs. If time permits, students will practise their Tortoise and Hare composing which is due next class.

During the second class of the week, we will discuss the listening example for the week and learn more about the story Peer Gynt. Students will explore ways to perform songs from Staffsongs # 6 to communicate different moods. Tortoise and Hare compositions will be collected today.

Homework: Complete Listening Journal #2 and practise London Bridge duet part A.

Grade 8: This is practise week 15 in term 1. For homework, students should practise twice outside of class this week.

During the first class of the week, students will work with their partners to complete their Hymn For Peace Duet or Trio. They will practise their arrangement in preparation for performing it during their next class.

During the second class of the week, students will perform their duets/trios and complete the rubrics for composing and performing which were handed out last week. Rubrics and written compositions are to be handed in.

Homework: Students should begin their new band piece.

January 10, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week 5 in term 1. Students are expected to practise twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, students will receive a copy of the Listening Web Guide which will help them identify and focus on the elements of music as we listen to selected pieces of music each week. The listening selection for this week is "Les Toreadors " by the French composer Georges Bizet. Following our listening, we will review Question and Answer phrases and play songs 1-3 in Staff Songs #5. For homework, students will respond to the following question in their music journal: Using many elements of music, describe how Bizet communicated his thoughts and feelings in Les Toreadors.

During the second class of the week, we will begin with Mad Minute note reading drill and then work on songs from Staff Songs #6. Students will receive their final composing assignment for term 1, "The Tortoise and the Hare".

Homework: Practise Staff Songs 5 and 6, Music Journal Question #1; The Tortoise and the Hare composing (due in one week).

Grade 8:

This is practise week 14 in term 1. Students should be practising twice outside of class this week.

During the first class of the week, students will listen to "Canon" by Pachelbel to get ideas about how composers organize melodies in a polyphonic composition. They will then construct a rubric for their final composing assignment, Peace Hymn. The remainder of the period will be used to form composing groups and begin composing the simple harmonic structure of their Hymn with their partners.

During the second class of the week, students will complete the more complex version of their melody and begin to rehears with their partner(s). They will consider how to organize the melodies they have composed into a longer composition. Hymns should be ready to be performed during the second class of next week.

Homework: Complete Hymn composing and practise it in preparation for a performance next week.

January 3, 2011

Happy New Year! This week we will be learning the following:

Grade 7: This is practise week 5 in term 1. Students are expected to practise at least 2 times outside of class this week.

During the first class of the week, we will review instrument maintenance, warm-up routines (scale warm-up) and practise strategies (clap, say, finger, play). We will review some songs on Staff Songs #3 and #4. Homework: be prepared to perform one song from #3 and one from #4 for the class.

During the second class of the week, we will begin with Mad Minute reading#3 and #4. Students will receive Staff Songs #5 and #6, and will learn about question and answer phrases and look for melodic patterns. For Homework: students should be able to play the first 3 songs on Staff Songs 5 for next week.

Grade 8: This is practise week 13 in term 1. Students are expected to practise at least 2 times outside of class this week.

During our first class, music journals will be returned and reviewed. We will watch the video "The Singing Revolution" which shows the role of music during the 50 year occupation of Estonia.

During our second class, we will review how to create harmony in music. A chord progression in Bb will be studied; choosing decorative notes/passing notes to create a melody will be demonstrated. Students will learn how to create different harmony styles (backgrounds). If time permits, students will co-construct a rubric for the final composition, "Hymn for Peace".

Homework: Begin composing "Hymn for Peace". Any revised or late Music Journals are due by the end of the week.

December 6, 2010

Grade 7: This is practise week 3 in term 1. Students should be practising two times or more outside of class this week.

The first class of the week will review songs 1,3,and 5 on Staff Songs #3, and introduce the songs on Staff Song #4. All performance self-evaluation sheets are due from the playing test on Staff Songs 1 and 2. Students will use the 4 practise steps to continue building readying and playing notes on the staff.

During the second class of the week, we will begin with Mad Minute note reading drill. Then students will learn the first three notes of the scale from Essential Elements Book 2000 (book 1) and add them to their scale chart. Using these new notes, students will begin Jingle Bells from Essential Elements 2000.

Homework: Students should learn all of Staff Songs 3 and 4. They may begin to practise Jingle Bells once Staff Songs are learned.

Grace 8: This practise week 12 in term 1. Students should be practising two times or more outside of class this week.

During the first class of the week, students will hand in their Learning Contracts and some students will be asked to perform the section of Thunderer for the class that they learned. We will continue on the topic of peace; related to the Hymn played in class last week, we will learn how to create harmony in music. Students will receive a harmony worksheet and learn how to build chords - groups of notes which work well together and sound beautiful.

During the second class of the week, students will play and create chord progressions based upon the scale's power chords: I, IV, and V. Journal #10 will be assigned.

Homework: Continue practising Thunderer and Journal #10: People all over the world wish for peace. Imagine that there is a lasting peace in every land. What impact might that have on the sound of music?

Journals #1-10 must be handed in next class. Journals should be typed. If no printer is available, they must be printed neatly and stapled together before handing in.

November 29, 2010

Grade 7: This is practise week 2 in term one. Students should practise two times outside of class time this week and have their practise record sheet signed by a parent or guardian.

During the first class of the week, we will warm up using long tones and tonguing exercises on each of the 4 notes of the scale learned in class. Then students will complete tests and hand in their self-evaluation form. They will try to improvise simple patterns using the song "Try For Three" and then perform songs from Staff Songs #3 together.

The second class of the week will focus on Staff Songs #4 using the new fourth note of the scale.

Homework: Students should be familiar with all songs on Staff Songs #3 and #4.

Grade 8:This is practise week 11 in term one. Students should practise two times outside of class time this week and have their practise record sheet signed by a parent or guardian.

During the first class of the week, students will be sharing journal #9 selections with the class. They should be prepared to read their journal entry and provide a listening link for the song they selected about war. They will listen to a few war songs and find common elements. All self-evaluations for war are due.

The second class of the week will focus on the second half of our unit, "Peace". We will brainstorm peace words, predict the use of elements in peaceful music, and then listen to Nimrod from The Enigma Variations by Elgar. We will create our own wish for peace inspired by the music. Finally, working with the 8 measure Hymn "Abide With Me", we will work on creating peace in our performance.

Learning contracts should be completed for The Thunderer this week and sections performed.

Homework: Students should practise The Thunderer and complete their Learning Contract reflection(s).

Homework: