November 28, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week 4 in term 1. Students should practise twice outside of class this week and have 4 practise record sheet signatures by the end of the week.

During classes this week, we will be reviewing our scale warm up and songs from Staff Songs sheet #4. We will add notes to our scale so that we can play an 8 note scale and use it as a warm up. In our Staff Songs sheets, we will be looking for patterns and discovering ways in which composers use patterns to create melodies. For homework, students will be asked to begin practising song #14 from our song book Essential Elements 2000.

During the second class of the week, we will be learning about "phrases" which are musical sentences. We will identify the things that make some melodies "question phrases" and others "answer phrases" such as the pitch and length of ending notes.

Homework, students will be asked to learn song 14 from Essential Elements 2000 and create their own "question and answer song" which incorporates a musical pattern and punctuation. No Journal question this week, but remember to focus your practise time and use special strategies for things you wished to improve.

Grade 8: This is practise week 12 in term 1. You should be practising twice outside of class this week.

During our first class, we will perform the 8 or more measures of Jingle Bell Rock assigned last week and set a new practising goal for next class. We will listen to the recordings of our war compositions and reflect on whether we were successful by responding to the following questions in class and in our journals:

1. What things do you think you and your group did well?

2. What made some people's melodies particularly effective? Explain.

3. As you listen to your group's performance, do you believe that you communicated your ideas/feeling(s) about war effectively? Why or why not?

4. Evaluate your own performance. Were you accurate, on time, in time with the beat, did your pattern match your war word, and did it demonstrate some skill and creativity, and did you perform it expressively (with your war word in mind)? Explain.

5. What could you do to make your performance more successful and what are your next steps?

Students will receive feedback based upon their written presentation and performance. They may re-record their war composition for a higher mark within one week.

During the second class of the week, we will begin the music of Peace by performing a Hymn two different ways. First, we will perform a simple version with whole and half note chords, focusing on creating a peaceful mood. Later we will add the decorative passing notes to make it more complex, but still focusing on mood and style.

Homework: practise a new section of "Jingle Bell Rock" so that we can perform it together next week.

Nov. 21, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week 3 in term 1. All students should have 6 signatures on their practise record sheet by the end of the week.

During our first class this week, students will be introduced to the concept of the major scale. They will learn a new note/fingering and use the 4 notes they play in a scale warm-up. They will review the assigned songs from Staff Songs sheet 3, and be assigned new songs from Staff Songs sheet 4.

During the second class, students will review songs from Staff Songs 4 and be introduced to 3 new notes/fingerings for the scale warm-up. Journal 6: Last week you listed 2 things you would like to improve as a musician. For each of these things, describe 3 or more ways that you can practise at school and/or at home to improve these weaknesses.

Homework: practise Staff Songs 3 and 4 and the scale warm-up.

Grade 8: This is week 11 in term 1. Students should be practising their new piece twice outside of class this week.

During the first class of the week, students will be working on completing their War performances. Students are expected to be able to support their musical choices by describing the mood they want to create, the elements used and how they used the creative process to complete their composition. They will perform as a group and be marked on their own part of the assignment.

During the second class of the week, students will begin a new band/ensemble piece. They will decode it and select a section of 8 measures or more to learn.

Homework: practise the section you chose from the new piece. Special note:

Auditions for "Do You Hear What I Hear" will be held on Wednesday before school at 8:15.

Nov. 14, 2011

Grade 7:

This is practise week 2 in term 2. Students should have practised 4 times outside of class by the end of the week and have 4 Practise Record Sheet signatures.

During the first class of the week, we will review Staff Songs 2 and continue hearing student compositions. During class, each student will act as a "performer" and a "listener". The listener will be providing supportive feedback on one or more success criteria (posture, tone, tonguing, rhythm, pitch/fingering, tempo, written elements, etc.) for another student.

During the second class of the week, students will begin Staff Songs 3. They will be assigned songs for practise for a playing test next week and a journal question for homework.

Homework: Staff Songs #3 - prepare for a test next week. Journal Question 5: When playing your instrument, list 2 things you are doing well and 2 things you would like to improve.

Grade 8:

This is practise week 10 in term 1. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During our classes this week, students will be completing their composition on war and presenting them to the class. They should be prepared to share:

the words and feelings they hope to share through their music, and their score

how they used the elements of music to create mood

how the creative process was used to complete this project

a photo on the topic of war which matches their music and why

Students will also be asked to reflect on the music we heard at the TSO on Monday.

Homework: Students should be preparing/completing their presentations on war.

NOTE: Students not attending the performance also need to hand in a written essay comparing the use of elements to create mood in the two contrasting pieces from the concert listed below (listen to them on Youtube).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mIiABCDFB8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2jKeYuPvjM&feature=related

November 7, 2011

Grade 7: This is practise week one in term 2. Students are expected to practise twice this week outside of class.

During the first class of the week, we will review the 4 practise steps and learn Staff Songs sheet 1. Students will learn how to sign out and instrument from the school for home practise. Some students will perform their original melodies and receive feedback on their performance. During the second class of the week we will work on Staff Songs sheet 2 and continue performances.

Homework: learn all songs on Staff Songs 1 and 2 using the 4 practise steps.

NO letter names may be written on the music.

Grade 8: This is week 9 in term one. Students should be practising twice this week to prepare their Music of War project.

During class this week, students will form groups and perform their 8 or 16 beat war patterns for each other. Then they will experiment with different ways to combine their war ostinati to create a composition. After determining the most meaningful organization for their patterns, they will consider how they might use additional creative elements to enhance the impact and meaning of their melody. Their composition will be written using standard, alpha or graphic notation on their worksheet.

During the second class, students will rehearse again and complete the remaining parts of their war compositions for the class. Each member of the group will be responsible for preparing one part of the Music For War final written/oral presentation:

1. a description of how the elements of music are used to represent their war words, and how the elements are used to communicate a message with the audience

2. the internet address of a photograph which matches their music, and a short explanation of why the photo was selected

3. how the creative process was used to create the composition

4. a completed worksheet/score

Presentations will take place next week. Students are expected to hand in/present their written work and perform their composition for the class.

Homework: prepare for presentations on war.

October 31, 2011

Grade 7: This week students will continue learning to read and perform music from notation. After reviewing beat and rhythm, students will learn how to name notes on the treble and bass staves and will receive a worksheet to practise naming notes.

Students will learn to play a variety of songs on Staff Song sheet 1 using the 4 practise steps: clap the rhythm at a steady beat speed, say the letter names of the notes in rhythm at a steady beat speed, do the fingering on their instrument while saying the letter names aloud, play. Students who have achieved 70% or more on their written test, have returned their signed Instrument Responsibility Form, and have demonstrated accurate playing of "Try For Three" will be permitted to sign out an instrument this week.

Make up tests and retests will be given on Tuesday, November 1 at 3:30.

Homework: Complete Treble/Bass Clef note naming worksheet; learn to play at least 4 songs on Staff Songs 1. Add letter names to their rhythm composition to create a melody. Transfer it to a piece of staff paper and give it a title.

Grade 8: This is practise week 8. Students should be practising the songs assigned and their composing to improve fluency and expression, and composing original melodies/patterns based upon the theme of WAR.

During our first class we will hear any remaining Bits and Pieces compositions. We will complete our listening in preparation for our trip to the Toronto Symphony on November 14th.

Students will continue brainstorming WAR words and select one that they can "play/compose for" on their instrument.

During the second class, we will listen to four "beats" from Youtube which use the g minor scale, and experiment with playing along. Classes will select one background to be used with their war patterns/compositions. The backgrounds are:

Emotional Beat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMx7BjElxWk&feature=related

Hip Hop Military Beat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1He8Vtrb_o&feature=related

Rap Beat Instrumental http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rv933r3M58&feature=related

War Cry Dark Angry Epic Orchestral http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgVzdAk_2k4&feature=relmfu

Students will form groups and begin planning how to organize each player's 2 measure ostinato (repeated pattern) into a WAR composition. (Their group's composition will eventually be recorded and used as a background for one a photo-story on war.)

Homework: Compose an original 2 measure ostinato or melody or ostinato for a WAR word.

October 24, 2011

Grade 7:

We will begin our first class by looking over returned tests. All students should be approved on their permanent instrument by Tuesday. Students who have not been approved should come before or after school for assistance. Instrument Assignment forms must be signed and returned. This week our goal will be to begin reading and playing notes on our assigned instrument using standard notation.

We will begin by learning about beat and rhythm, and compose a simple 16 beat pattern using standard notation. Students will be expected to add pitches to their rhythm pattern that make "musical sense" to create a melody, and perform it for the class.

Students will receive a copy of Staffsongs Sheet 1 and Staffsongs Sheet 2. As a class, students will learn how to practise (4 practise steps: clap, say, finger, play) and apply those strategies to the songs on Staffsongs 1.

Homework: Complete the Rhythm Composing assignment.

Grade 8:

This is week 7 in term 1. Toronto Symphony trip forms are due by November 3, 2011. Continuing out WAR AND PEACE unit, our goal is to play expressively for Alpha Squadron (war) and Gentle Winds(peace), and begin considering how we might compose and perform our own melodies expressively.

During our first class this week, we will present our Bits and Pieces compositions, aiming to play expressively using dynamics and articulation. For our first composition on WAR, we will brainstorm words about war and choose one or two words that can be "played by our instrument" to create a sentence. Example: (Flutes) The Bombs whistle down.

During the second class of the week, we will complete Bits and Pieces performances. Students will listen to a presentation about the performers and music for our trip to the Toronto Symphony on Nov. 14th.

Homework: Bring in permission forms for the Symphony Trip. Practise Gentle Winds and Bits and pieces using appropriate expression.

October 10, 2011

Grade 7: During this week, students will explore the fourth and final instrument, and receive feedback on their efforts. Some students will be invited to try additional instruments such as saxophone, drums, baritone horn, tuba, french horn, percussion, and oboe. Students will be required to attend an after school or before school meeting to explore these instruments; dates and times will be announced in advance.

Final instrument selection will take place next week. Information will be sent home indicating final instrument assignments, and details about Instrument Rental Night Oct. 25th at 7:00 p.m..

Homework: students will complete their 4th self evaluation and will study for a written test on their favourite instrument next week.

Journal Question 4: Now that you have tried at least 4 instruments, which one do you believe you will be most successful at playing? Support your answer by describing a variety of tasks at which you were successful in class.

Grade 8: This is practise week 5 in term 1. Students should be practising twice this week outside of class.

During class this week, all quizzes on measures 1-60 Alpha Squadron will be completed. Students will receive feedback on their "Bits and Pieces" written assignment, and learn to play their compositions. They will also listen to "Gentle Winds" and work on legato phrasing, reading/playing 3/4 metre, and breath control. To play along with the recording, copy the following web address into your header bar:

www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/mp3player.jsp?song_url=http://rockstar.jwpepper.com/mp3/10070378.mp3&song_title=GENTLE%20WINDS&filename=B_10070378

Homework: Students should practise all measures of "Alpha Squadron" and their goal section of "Gentle Winds" using a variety of practise techniques from "40 Fabulous Ways to Practise". Journal Question 4: What were your practise goals for this week? Describe how you practised and which of the "40 Fabulous Ways to Practise" helped you most in achieving your goal?