Monday, May 2, 2011

Romantic Era Reading Assignment


Read through, and note the important points.

Send Ms Simmons an email (lauren.simmons@tdsb.on.ca) listing the following:

5 Most Important Points from the Website
5 Things You Didn't Know Before you Read it
5 Facts EACH about Vocal Music, Instrumental Music and Composers of the Era
5 Things You'd Like to Know More About

Due Friday May 6

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Our next composition assignment will continue to focus on Theory concepts through composing.

  1. We will learn about the C, F, G, G7, a- and d7 triads. Ms Simmons will teach from the board.
  2. You're going to learn to PLAY A TYPICAL CHORD PROGRESSION and PLAY IT FOR MS SIMMONS BY FRIDAY APRIL 15.
  3. You're going to learn how to write music using these chords.
  4. You're going to make YOUR OWN CHORD PROGRESSION BY MONDAY APRIL 18.
  5. You're going to add a melody to your chord progression and have the MELODY PLUS CHORDS FOR THURSDAY APRIL 21.
  6. You're going to add anything you wish and have the whole thing ready for TUESDAY APRIL 26.
You will be handing in a written copy.

Consult the following web resources:

- Four Part Harmony

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Let's get serious, shall we?

REMINDERS:

REAL WORLD PROJECT:
--> tell Ms. Simmons your "product" choice ASAP
--> progress check on MONDAY APRIL 11 on research sources (at least 5)
--> products due FRIDAY APRIL 15

FIELD TRIP: FRIDAY APRIL 8
--> We are going to: The Audio Recording Academy
--> DIRECTIONS:
Take bus to subway, subway to QUEEN STATION, Queen streetcar eastbound to TARA.
--> ARRIVE BY 11 AM.


OVERDUE:
--> reading assignments on all eras up to Classical
--> Texture Compositions, Blues Compositions

Monday, April 4, 2011

Monday Music:

New Things:
- see Handout for "Music in the Real World" Research Assignment
- due dates to be discussed in class

Fun Things:
- CBC's new site about teen digital culture: http://www.cbc.ca/wstlnd/
- says they are accepting submissions but not sure what yet, will keep you posted

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

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

Your task for the Classical Era:
NOT READING NOTES! 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 1.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Article from Rolling Stone about Rebecca Black: here
Here's how to make a song in 8 hours....

Friday, March 11, 2011

Here are some striking images from Japan to give you some perspective this morning. Makes our rainy days seem inconsequential doesn't it?


Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Surprise! Read this website on THE BAROQUE ERA and send me an email detailing:

- 5 things you didn't know before you read
- 5 things you'd like to learn more about
- 5 most important facts about Baroque vocal music
- 5 most important facts about Baroque instrumental music
- 5 interesting facts about Baroque composers

Keep working on the items past-due and the items due this week.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Today is International Women's Day. Here's an awesome video by Canadian hip-hop artist Shad that might get you thinking.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Friday, February 25, 2011

For Monday, Feb. 28

Continuing Work On...
- Practice C-G7-C chord and/or "When the Saints Go Marching In" for next piano playing test
- Complete any outstanding Listening Journals and/or Reading Assignments
- Work on Modal Compositions
- practicing theory using Music Ace 2 on your computers

NEW ASSIGNMENT - DUE BY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2nd

1. Visit the following website on the THE RENAISSANCE ERA

2. Type an email or document answering the following:
- Five Things You Didn't Know Before Visiting This Website
- Five Things You'd Like to Know More About
- Five Most Important Facts about Vocal Music
- Five Most Important Facts about Instrumental Music
- Five Facts about Composers

3. Email your summary to Ms. Simmons when completed

Please use class time wisely!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Please email your "Jingle Bells" transcriptions to lauren.simmons@tdsb.on.ca by the end of class today.

New Work for Today - Music Theory
- Ms. Simmons will give out some basic handouts and go over some basic concepts
- for review, you can use the programs on the computer...

Intro to Music Ace
- go to My Applications --> click on Music Ace
- start a new group called "AMM Per 2" or "AMM Per 5"
- Theory Beginners: try Lessons 1-6
- Theory Experienced: try Lessons 9-12 and up.

Continuing Tasks
- practice "Jingle Bells" for performance - let Ms. Simmons know when you are ready to play
- finish your Rhythm Compositions in Garage Band for Friday Feb 11
* review concepts on rhythm for theory quiz "soon"

And if you're ready to move on
- start on Listening Journal due Monday Feb 14
- read the following websites about Skips, Steps and Repeats
- listen to the following Podcast about Melody and Contour

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Hi there - Hope you are all working on task and being good for the guest star teachers.

CONTINUING WORK:

- Simple Entry on Finale emailed by tomorrow
- practicing "Jingle Bells" for playing by Friday
- creating rhythm in Garage Band by Friday

LATE WORK:
- MIDI/DRM Reading Assignments
- Listening Journal #1

Monday, February 7, 2011

Today's New Work:

  • Discussion on rhythm.
  • Lesson on rhythm.

Websites for Practicing Rhythm:

FIRST CREATION ASSIGNMENT:

  • Create a rhythm using Garage Band.

Minimum Requirements:

  • 16 bars long
  • using rhythmic values as small as eighth notes
  • using at least one percussion instrument track

You may go beyond these requirements as you wish.

These pieces will be shared in class on FRIDAY FEB 11

CONTINUING:
- Simple Entry on Finale emailed by Wed Feb 9
- practicing "Jingle Bells" for playing Fri Feb 11

LATE WORK:
- DRM Reading Assignments
- Listening Journal #1


Welcome to your first full week of new classes!

TODAY:
- Listening Journal due
- Digital Rights Reflection due
* Please hand in any outstanding Theory Assessments, Student Info sheets as well as Contracts and Course Fees

CONTINUING WORK:
- Keep working on your Simply Entry in Finale of "Jingle Bells" - email files due Wed Feb 9
- Work on playing "Jingle Bells" with two hands - play for Ms. Simmons when ready

NEW WORK:
- For tomorrow: Bring in an example of a piece you think has a great BEAT or RHYTHM. It could be something with a unique rhythm, or a great drive, or whatever really you think makes it interesting from a rhythmic perspective. Bring it on CD, iPod, mp3 or YouTube so we can share.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Continuing Work
- THEORY CHECK-UP DUE TODAY.
- PLEASE ALSO HAND IN YOUR STUDENT INFO FORMS, FEE of $10 and PARENT CONTRACT.
- complete the
DRM Reading Assignment. see links below. - due Mon. Feb. 7

New Work:
Today we are going to start making music in Finale

Finale Tutorial Videos

Located in File menu --> Launch window -->bottom left corner: Quick Start Videos.
Take a look at the BASIC SKILLS and GETTING STARTED.

Steps to Writing Your First Piece on Finale

You are going to familiarize yourself with the Finale software by copying in a piece of music - "Jingle Bells".

1. File menu --> Launch Window --> Default Document
You should now have one staff in treble clef in front of you.

2. View --> Page View
This allows you to see your whole piece.

3. Tools --> Staff --> Staff menu appears at top --> New Staves...
Make sure boxes both say "1". Click OK. New stave appears, but it is treble clef.

4. Tools --> Clef --> Double click in first measure.
You can now change clef to bass clef.

5. Check to make sure your piece has a "C" or 4/4 time signature at the start.

6. Start entering notes. You can do this two ways: by placing them with your mouse or by playing them on the piano.

7. Using mouse: Select the rhythm value you want from the Simple Entry Palette and drag the note on the staff. Continue. You will need to change the rhythm value in the Simple Entry Palette everytime the rhythm value changes.

8. Using piano: Select the rhythm value you want from the Simple Entry Palette and play the notes as you want them. You will need to change the rhythm value in the Simple Entry Palette everytime the rhythm value changes.

9. Do this for "Jingle Bells". Give it a title and a composer, and save your work as jingle_yourlastname on your USB or in your student number folder.

I will be asking you email these to me by Wed. Feb. 9.



Thursday, February 3, 2011

New Work for Today:

- Read the following website about Digital Right Management

Write a response (minimum one-page, double spaced) explaining why DRM might be relevant to Music and Computers students. Explore issues both as composers and consumers of music.

Due: Monday, February 7, 2011

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

A few links to get you started exploring and creating:

What is the CREATIVE PROCESS? It's a set of steps that artists go through when, wait for it, creating. You might discover that you know about this process already. But hey, why not play this puzzle game to find out. just how much you know. When you've finished the game let Ms. Simmons know.

So...What are our tools for Creating?Poke around in these tutorials a bit and see what you can learn. Have fun!
Welcome 2011 AMM Grade 11 Students!

If you've found your way here, you are in the right place. This blog is where Ms. Simmons wil share links, files, and fun stuff related to our course explorations. Stay tuned for more :)