EQ: How to prepare music for ajudication?

Monday:  Students will listen and critique their compositions using a rubric. All students will be graded on evidence of Form, Vertical Structure, Timbre, and Content. Students will also record all festival pieces so that we can reflect on Tuesday.

Tuesday: Students will listen to the recording from yesterday and reflect on where we need to go. Our primary focus will be on creating extreme dynamic contrasts in Avatar and Dramatic Essay. We will also work on balance within Time---making sense of the chaos and getting rid of the "Bees" at measure 20.

Wednesday:  Students will continue working on dynamics along with uniform articulations.

Thursday:  Students will play through their pieces in preparation for tonights festival at Lovinggood Middle School.


Friday:  Students will use the rubric used by judges to critique themselves. Students will also listen to judges comments about their performance.

Learning Goal

Students will learn how to assess compositions using appropriate terminology.
Students will learn how to perform under pressure of ajudication
Students will learn how to critique performances using appropriate terminology.

EQ: How do you create emotion in music using dynamic and articulation

Monday:  Students will be working on Dramatic Essay, the Andante sections with special emphasis on dynamics and balance. Students need to listen to the recording on the blog regularly and try to imitate the tone/ sound of the professional orchestra.  We will also work on dynamics and uniform articulations in Avatar especially from the first eight measures and the last eight measures.  Students will also play through Space with emphasis on creating a sci-fi feeling within Space and understanding percussive parts.  Lastly students will perform measures 20 to the end to clean up the "bees".

Tuesday:  All classes will focus on sight-reading techniques along with Space and Time

Wednesday and Thursday:  All classes will be in the theatre working on Festival music in preparation for the Pre-Festival concert Thursday at 7pm in the Awtrey Theatre.  

Friday:  Students will listen and reflect on Thursdays concert.  We will also continue working on sight-reading techniques.

Learning Goals

1. Students will play with perfect intonation
2. Students will apply sight-reading techniques to Grade II music and perform with good intonation and rhythm
3. Students will use dynamics and articulation as a means of expression within their music

There are 14 people who are currently FAILING Orchestra right now because they did not take their scales test at the beginning of the nine weeks.  You are responsible for making this assignment up no later than Monday, March 5th by the end of the day.  You must play the C, G, D, A, F, and B-flat Scales two octaves going up and down.  Please use the methods below to complete the assignment.

Methods to Make-up this assignment.

1. You can email a video of yourself
2. Have someone during class video tape you
3. Schedule a time for me to listen to you

Festival Season

Festival season is approaching very soon.  All 7th and 8th grade students will have their Pre-Festival Concert Thursday, February 25th at 7pm in the Theatre.  The purpose of this performance is to provide students with a sneak peek of what the real Large Group Performance Evaluation will be like.  Festival is basically like the CRCT of the music world and students will be judged on many different levels to determine if we are Superior (I), Excellent (II), Good (III), Fair (IV), or Poor (V).

All students must participate in Festival and permission slips are due Thursday, February 25th.  The cost for food and registration is $5, which needs to be paid by the 25th as well.  Parents are welcome to attend the event and/ or chaperone the event.  I have sent home information letters and permission slips with all details but just in case you may find them on the right side of the Main Blog.  I have also provided basic information below as well.

Students may bring electronics on this field trip because we will leave Awtrey at 5:30 and not return until 9:30pm.    Any student wishing to leave after their performance/ sight-reading from Lovinggood must see MC (with their parent) prior to their leaving.

Thursday, March 11th (Lovinggood Middle School)

8th Grade Orchestra:  6:40 performance time

Full Symphony:         8:20 performance time

Thursday, March 18th  (Lovinggood Middle School)

7th Grade (4th period) Orchestra:  6:40 performance time

7th Grade (5th period) Orchestra:  8:00 performance time

If you are a parent who would like to ride the bus as a chaperone or drive large instruments either turn in the forms with your child or send me an email.

EQ: What is necessary to take the notes off the page and crete music?

This week we will be working on balance and ensemble techniques within Avatar and Dramatic Essay. Thursday you will begin your two part composition with a partner who plays a different instrument than you.  If you have no one to work with one then you You will have your seating arrangements by Wednesday so make sure you check the blog or the wall outside the door.

Friday we will record Time for a test grade.


Learning Goals

1. Students will understand how to apply dynamic and ensemble techniques to their music.

Terms

The terms are now on the blog however if you have you any trouble viewing or downloading them please email me.  You will also have to complete the circle of fifths on your terms test as well, so make sure you study your warm-up.  Your terms test will be Tuesday, February 16th.

Terms Test Answers

Monday:  Unit 3- Lesson 5 and begin working on Time.  Extra credit:  bring in a copy of one of Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

Tuesday:  Unit 3-Lesson 6, a minor scale with dynamic contrast, Rhythmic Dictation, continue working on dynamics in Dramatic Essay.  Focus on making extreme changes in your dynamics via bow speed, weight, and placement.  Students will work in small sectionals on Time---all parts must be marked for accidentals and dynamics.

Wednesday:  Unit 3-Lesson 7, listening log, a minor scale two octaves with dynamic contrast and continue working on dynamics in Dramatic Essay. Students will begin continue working on Time in sectionals.

Thursday: Unit 3-Lesson Spring, theory (Circle of Fifths and How To Composition Rules), students will play the a minor scale two octaves with dynamic contrasts as a section for a grade.  They must move their body and breath while playing to convey emotion and expression---espressivo.

Friday:  Students will play Dramatic Essay---the Andante section---for a grade.

Learning Goals:

1.  Students will learn how to breathe and play together unassisted

2.  Students will learn how to create extreme dynamic contrasts and apply it to their music

3.  Students will apply the Circle of Fifths to identify key signatures

4.  Students will perform Dramatic Essay with proper tone, shifting techniques, articulations, and dynamics.