Monday, October 31, 2011

October 31 - November 4

Seventh Grade - We only have two days left in the marking period. We will be listening to the remainder of the song choices from the students as well as finishing up our sing off duet round.

Eighth Grade - We will be finishing our sing off solo style. I was truly impressed with the singers in round 1!!!! I can't wait to see how our performers dazzle us today and tomorrow.

Chorus - We will be working on choreography for our swing piece as well as working on our feature.

I have had a wonderful first marking period with my classes! I wish them well as they continue this school year.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Week 9 October 24 - 28, 2011

Seventh Grade - Students are participating in the NS Music Class Sing Off!!! Students elected to be either a judge or a singer for this activity. Singers sang their first song on Monday. Judges listened to them and judged them on a set criteria. Two were eliminated from the morning class and six moved to round two. The afternoon class will follow the same procedure.

Tues. We will follow some of the same criteria and eliminate more students. If you are a singer you must be prepared each day with a new song.

Wed. Final elimination. We will write a 5x5 on our experience as judges or as singers.

Thursday - Students will play a piece of music using the boomwackers. They will use the skills they already developed reading music.

Friday - We will be singing a piece of two part harmony music.

Goal - To develop our listening skills and singing ability using skills we have already been using.

Eighth Grade - Eighth grade students are continuing the rock and roll unit.
Monday - solo artist
Tues - Hard Rock
Wed. - Pop Artists
Thurs - Grunge
Friday - Dance Music

Goal - To expand our understanding and knowledge of Rock and Roll music!

Chorus Class - We will do vocal warm-ups. Work on our feature. Begin our Power Point presentation for the concert.

HW - Each member of Chorus Class will sing the feature piece as a solo on Thursday - this will be a note and word accuracy grade.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Week 8 - October 17-21

SEVENTH GRADE - We are starting a unit on American Musical Theater.
Monday - Overview of the History of Theater in the United States - Vocab to Study
Tuesday - Discuss and Analyze two songs from Showboat
Wednesday - Listen to and Discuss Porgy and Bess selections
Thursday - We will be featuring Oklahoma
Friday - Guys and Dolls - if time permits this may get pushed to next Monday.

Goal - to gain a greater understanding of musical theater. To broaden our listening skills and reinforce the knowledge of the elements of music.

We will have a quiz on the vocab next week - Tues. or Wednesday.

EIGHTH GRADE - We are continuing our Rock and Roll Unit
Monday - W will be discussing Surf Music including the Beach Boys and The Mama's and The Papa's
Tuesday - We will discuss Woodstock and Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who
Wednesday - We will look into punk bands and particularly talk about The Ramones
Thursday - Disco Music will be a feature and we will talk about The Village People and ABBA
Friday - If time permits we will discuss Solo Artist - Specifically Billy Joel, Elton John, Eric Clapton, and Janet Jackson.

Goal - To broaden our knowldege of rock and roll music.

CHORUS - Chorus Class will be onstage working on our feature. We will rehearse without music. We will go over our movements for the group piece on Monday in class.

SPEAKING PARTS FOR THE CONCERT SHOW ARE DUE ON FRIDAY!!!!

After school chorus is canceled for Monday - good luck at District Auditions.
UNIFORM FITTING IS TUESDAY!!!!
Pick up of Fundraiser is on WEDNESDAY!

Monday, October 10, 2011

October 10-14

Seventh Grade - Students will finish their verse to the Freedom song "We shall overcome." Students will perform their verse in little groups for the class.

We will begin our daily listening to their chosen songs - we will listen to the music while evaluating what we hear.

Students will do an activity the combines multicultural music and rock and roll.

We will start Friday with the beginning of an American Musical Theater Introduction.

Eighth Grade - We are starting a 15 day unit on Rock and Roll. We will begin with how Rock and Roll started, Elvis, The day the Music Died, The British Invasion, and Soul Music. We will speak about each topic for one day. The goal is to broaden the students background knowledge of Rock and Roll Music.

****HOMEWORK DUE FOR EIGHTH GRADE ON WEDNESDAY!!!! Their rock and roll or country music hall of fame project. They have the sheet with all of the directions. If you need additional information please email me at bkline@northschuylkill.net

Chorus Class - We will continue staging our piece of music. We will continue memorizing our feature piece.

******HOMEWORK - Students will have to write a brief synopsis on two of the pieces being sung at the Holiday show. They will be used to introduce the songs at the concert.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Week 6 - October 3-7

Seventh Grade - We will create a sound map using Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King." We will add instruments to accompany the song while we follow our sound map. We will pick rhythms for each instrument to add to the piece we are hearing. We will take turns playing different instruments.

We will do a mini - 3 day unit on freedom riders and the song "We Shall Overcome." The students will learn about different freedom riders. They will share what they learn with their classmates. We will work on singing the Freedom Song "We Shall Overcome." We will write an additional verse to this song, keeping in the them of what we have learned.

Eighth Grade - We will be finishing our Jazz Unit this week. We will learn about Ella, The Duke, and Dizzy. The students will finish performing their blues pieces. We will try our hand at improvising.

EIGHTH GRADE HOMEWORK ASSIGNED ON WEDNESDAY - They will have one week to write a 5x5 on their favorite band or artist from the rock and roll hall of fame or the country music hall of fame. They will be given a sheet with specifics as to how the assignment is to be completed. They are due next Wednesday!

Chorus Class - We will complete our choreography of the Irving Berlin Piece. The class will help the after school chorus students learn the choreography. We will get back to working on our feature piece and brainstorm some picture taking opportunities for the power point.