- Open-Book quiz today (Wednesday if you will be absent)
- Keep working on Real-World Research Project for Monday May 3


Next up for Music History: The Classical Era
- see this link: Classical Era Information
- see handouts for more

Your task for the Classical Era:
NOT a Factsheet! Write a 1 page handout of your own creation about the Classical Era - like a Factsheet, but without the guidelines from me. You can use point-form, bullets, boxes, pictures, whatever you like, but be sure to cover:
- Musical Features of Classical Era
- Social Role of music/composers
- Important Composers/Compositions
- Instruments
DUE: FRIDAY, APRIL 30

Classical Era: Enrichment (Bonus/Bumper) Composition
- see handout from Ms. Simmons

...you might have to do homework! so do it!

lang lang playing flight of the bumblebee...on an iPad

Check out this pretty cool video - famous pianist plays the piano on the iPad...

- Baroque Factsheet due today

- keep working Real-World Research Project - Ms. Simmons will meet with each of you next week to see where you are at

- remember to do a BAROQUE composer for Monday's Listening Journal


PS- Blog exclusive: Open Book Quiz on Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras will be Monday, Apr 26 - you heard it here first!

Welcome to another mid-week update!

Because I know you love them, there's a new Baroque Factsheet to work on, due Friday April 23. I'll be giving some handouts, and teaching some stuff, but if you miss it, check out the Baroque Music History website.

Next week's Listening Journal, please find a piece by a BAROQUE composer such as Handel, Bach, Vivaldi, Monteverdi, etc. See me for CDs or source. Don't forget Listening Journals are due every Monday!

Reminder of the field trips coming up from 10 AM - 3 PM on FRIDAY APRIL 30 for Per 2 class and FRIDAY MAY 14th for Per 5. You will need TTC tickets and a lunch.

Lastly, you should be working on any piece you have not completed and your research projects when not working on the above factsheet. The Real-World Research Projects are due Monday May 3.

Hey kiddos - you're famous.

CBC Spark Piece on the DRM Assignment

Scroll to about 19 minutes in. (edit: nah, listen to the whole thing.)

Not Music Related...

But if you like Glee and/or Madonna: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ACwi2HHbO0

Amazing. Happy Friday!

1. Work on Renaissance Factsheet that will be handed out. Visit the Renaissance Music History Website for resources.

2. Continue work on .... everything else.

Next Composition Task: Playing with Medieval Modes

As you will learn in completing your Medieval Factsheet (due Fri April 9), composers in the early years (we're talking pre 1500s) of music didn't use conventional notation and scales like we do today. Oh no. They used MODES.

Modes are set of groovy sounding scales that don't follow the rules of major or minor. Ms. Simmons will introduce these and talk about them a little, but you can also find more information here:
Wikipedia entry on Modes
Detailed profile of modes with musical examples
A neat lesson from Berklee College of Music if you're really interested

Your task will be to create a Medieval-esque chant using the mode of your choice. We will listen to some examples so you can get a sense for what this might sound like.

Here are some guidelines for writing your chant:
- use a vocal effect in Garage Band
- use a steady rhythm of only quarter notes with some stopping points on half or whole notes
- pick a mode and only use the notes from that mode
- be sure to start and stop on the first and fifth note of your mode only
- your chant should be at least 12 bars long
If you complete these, you'll earn a minimum mark of 15/20 or 3 or 75%.

Guidelines for enrichment:
- add parralel vocal lines underneath your original chant
- the notes you add should mostly move in the same directions as your melody
- the notes you add should be seperated from your chant by a 4th or 5th - Ms Simmons will explain this further
- you should have at least 12 bars from your original chant, plus the new added parts underneath, for a total of 24 or more
If you complete these, you can earn up to a ful 20/20 or 4++ or 100%

Here are some examples (do a YouTube search for parallel organum):
Guillaume de Machaut
Alleluia
Leonin

This composition will be shared in class on TUESDAY APRIL 13.

Once you complete today's test, you should keep working on your Texture Composition and/or the Finale Bonus version.

If you complete this, you should begin work on the Medieval Factsheet (yes, even if you did it last year). The handout is on the front table and the project link is here: MEDIEVAL ERA INFORMATION.

The Medieval Factsheet is due Friday April 9 - keep in mind there is no school Thursday.