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.

November 4, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: This week our goal is to build our reading and playing skills on our instrument.

ALL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE A MOUTHPIECE OF THEIR OWN BY THIS POINT IN THE YEAR UNLESS THEY HAVE COME TO DISCUSS SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

During our first class of the week, students will learn how to maintain their instruments (brass valves and slides, woodwind corks and mouthpieces). Then students will review rhythm and pitch on the staff. They will recieve a scale sheet which they will use to record the notes they have learned and play a "fractured scale" warm up. They will use the 4 practise steps to review songs 1-3 on Staff Songs Sheet #1 and continue on to learn the rest. In each song, they will be looking for musical patterns which are similar or repeat.

During our second class of the week, we will begin by reviewing note reading using websites discussed last week (see last week's post).We will review some songs on Staff Songs Sheet 1 and go on to learn longer durations on Staff Songs Sheet 2. We will continue looking for patterns and identify the "Question and Answer" song form.

Homework: Students are expected to practise Staff Songs sheets 1 and 2 2 -5 times this week outside of class. This is practise week 1 on their practise record sheet.

Grade 8 Goals: This week our goal is to communicate our message/ideas about war as we complete our War Compositions using graphic notation.

During the first class of the week, students will have an opportunity to hear a selection of modern music examples which illustrate the use of unusual timbres and graphic scores. They will continue using the Creative Process to select and organize melodies and sound effects into a meaningful composition.

During the last class of the week, students will rehearse their compositions and begin a new band piece on the topic of war: "Liberty March". They will be asked to write the counting under the first 24 bars and practise this section for homework.

Homework: Practise their melodies and sound effects and measures 1-24 of Liberty March.

October 28, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: Our goal for this week are to continue our study of beat and rhythm, and learn to identify pitch on the music staff used by our instrument.

During our first class of the week, students will continue/complete their rhythm compositions and then will learn about pitch notation on the staff. They will apply what they learn to their copy of Staff Songs 1/2. For homework they will receive a pitch worksheet, an Instrument Responsibility Sheet, and a practise record sheet.

Homework. students should have their responsibility sheet signed and complete the pitch worksheet.

During our second class of the week, students will review pitch and rhythm notation, and will begin reading and playing music from Staff Songs 1using the four practise steps:
     CLAP the rhythm
     SAY the letter names of the notes on the staff
     FINGER the notes in time
     PLAT the notes in time
They will reflect on their success and do focused practise on the difficult measures.

Homework: practise naming the notes on the staff at the following sites:

http://www.vicfirth.com/education/keyboard/speednotereading.html
http://courses.wcupa.edu/frichmon/usetech/musicalflashcards/tcnotes.html

Students who have:
     1. returned their Instrument Responsibility Sheet
     2. performed Try for Three successfully
     3. achieved at least a 75% on their written test 

may sign out an instrument for at home practise one night at a time. Their practise record sheet should be signed by a parent.


Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for his week are to use the creative process to successfully compose and perform war music which communicates a particular idea or message.

During the first class of the week, students will go over their homework and prepare to share their 2 melodies and 3 (or more) sound effects with others. A Success Criteria checklist will be handed out once students are in groups of 4-6 players. Students will share their war sounds/melodies with each other and begin selecting/planning their sound story composition.

Homework: practise performing melodies or finding additional sounds as required to complete the group's sound story.

During the second class of the week, students will again work with their groups to make decisions and create a graphic score which represents the sounds in their composition. Students will rehearse and prepare to present their composition for the class next time. If time permits, we will begin to read and perform a traditional march.

Homework: practise your part of the presentation.

October 21, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: Our goals for this week are to demonstrate an understanding of beat and rhythm through performance and composition.

During our first class of the week, students will receive copies of their written test for review. Students who receive less than a level 3 will need to retest before they are able to continue on their instrument. Students will learn to count beats (musical time) and fill these beats with a variety of notes/rests using music manipulatives. Students should become familiar with whole, half, quarter, and eighth note durations. Using their beat and rhythm composing sheet, students will compose 4 measures (16 beats) of rhythm using all of the durations studied and practise clapping it accurately.

During the second class of the week, students will be marked on the writing and performance of their compositions. They will also have the opportunity to perform their pattern as part of a duet.  They will receive an Instrument Responsibility Sheet which should be returned next class.

Homework: complete the Beat/Rhythm Composing sheet and prepare to perform the rhythm pattern in class for a mark. Be prepared for next class with a mouthpiece and your signed Instrument Responsibility Sheet.

Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for this week are to explore the topic of war, and use the creative process to create a composition which communicates the sounds,thoughts, and feelings of war.

During our first class of the week, students will receive feedback on their compositions and complete clapping/counting performances. They will watch a presentation which introduces musical forms related to war (the requiem, the protest song, the patriotic song, the propaganda song, etc.) They will begin to think about the messages and elements used to communicate messages about war through music.

During the second class of the week, students will interpret a piece of graphic notation about war and perform it for classmates. Using the worksheet provided, they will compose their own collection of war sounds/melodies, with a message/mood in mind. If time permits, we will begin a march.

Homework: complete your war sound collection so that you can contribute to a group war story next class.

October 14, 2013

Grade 7 Goals: This week our goals are to assign an instrument to each student, complete a written and performance assessment on that instrument, and to be sure that students know their strengths and next steps as players.

During our first class of the week, students will consider their strengths and weaknesses on each of the instruments they have tried, and will complete the assignment process which considers their strengths, balance, and the instruments available. Once they are on their final instrument, they will perform the 3 note song for a mark and receive feedback. Students will receive a letter indicating their instrument which should be shared with parents. There will be a quick review for the written text next class. (Any students who have not been assigned an instrument should be coming for help before or after school.)

During the second class of the week, students will have a written test about the instrument to which they have been assigned. Some classes will finish viewing youtube videos of performers playing the flute and clarinet.
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Homework: study for the written test and complete a short reflective paragraph describing your strengths as a musician and the skills you would like to improve (assembly, tone, tonguing, fingering, breath control, air speed, buzz, care and cleaning, etc.)

Grade 8 Goals: Our goals for this week are to demonstrate an understanding of rhythmic accuracy by using proper counting as they clap or play in class.

During our first class of the week, students will review measures 1-17 of "Jupiter" and play through the remaining measures using their understanding of rhythm. They will make note of measures for practise at home. Some students will demonstrate their rhythmic accuracy by performing a section of "Jupiter", or clapping a group of measures from other sources.

During the second class of the week, students will replay all measures of "Jupiter" with a focus on improving the measures which were incorrect previously. Students who did not have a clapping or playing assessment will be marked during this class.

Homework: practise "Jupiter" and clapping worksheet