Work for Friday, February 27

1. Work on Renaissance Factsheet that will be handed out. Visit the Renaissance Music History Website for some resources, or consult your previous class handouts. You may work with a neighbour on this if you wish.

2. Continue practicing Blues Progression and Blues Scale for keyboard test on Monday, Mar. 2. Make these in to a backing track in GarageBand. I will do this test first thing Monday morning.

3. Finish up your Listening Logs for Monday, Mar. 2.

4. Work or your 36-bar Blues Improvisation over the progression you recorded, to be played in class on Friday Mar. 5.

A FRIENDLY NOTE: Some of you still owe my Melody Variations and the Theory Quiz from Thursday. AND some of you have not handed in your MIDI Reading Assignment, Medieval Factsheet and/or Listening Log #1. Interim reports are coming up, and I wouldn't want to have to identify anyone as being at-risk...

1. Finish performances of Melody and Variations.

2. Theory/scales Review

Reminder: Theory Re-quiz Thurs Feb. 26

Next Listening Log Due Mon Mar 2

Today:

1. Performance of Melody and Variation assignments
- Please also drag and rop these into the 1013-OSX-drop-off file

2. Introduction to Modes and Scales

3. Homework: Google "Renaissance Music", pick a word or composer name you see a lot, and bring in a definition.

Reminder:
Next Listening Log due Monday March 2nd.
Theory Re-Quiz Thursday Feb. 26.

Next Creation Assignment: Improvisation on the 12-bar Blues Progression

1. Ms. Simmons will teach a lesson on the 12-bar blue and hand out some stuff.

2. On your own, visit the Blues Progressions website and read all about the standard blues progressions and their deviations.

2. By Friday, Feb. 27, you must play "live" for Ms. Simmons the basic RH chord progression of the 12 bar blues, and the LH bass line. You can play these hands separately. Once you can play them live, make a new song with them in GarageBand, each one in its own track (see example in the AMM 4M1 folder).

3.  By Monday, March 2 you must play "live" for Ms. Simmons the Blues Scale. This is easy.

4. By Friday, March 6 you must create an improvisation over the 12-bar blues you recorded. You may choose one or more different instruments to perform your solo improvisation, but you must use the upright bass/piano as back-up.  The improvisation must be at least 36 bars long (eg, 3 times through the progression) (see example in the AMM 4M1 folder).  You may add percussion, change tempo, and have more than 36 bars, but you cannot change the chord progression given. We will perform these on Friday March 6.

MELODY ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS REMINDER:

- You will take a given melody of 8-12 bars from the choices given to you
- You will write at least THREE VARIATIONS on the given melody
- Remind yourself of some of the techniques:

• changing registers
  
• changing instrumentation
  
• adding parts or notes
  
• changing key
  
• diminuition
  
• augmentation
  
• inversion
  
• retrograde

- You must be able to explain to the class what the variations were that you used following the guidelines of the Elements of Music Handout on Melody.

WHERE TO FIND THE MELODIES:
- open the 1013- Stu Share folder called AMM 4M1 or AMM 301
- there are 3 melodies there: "Twinkle", "Simple Gifts" and "Childhood Hymn"
- pick the one you like best!

WHERE TO FIND EXAMPLES OF VARIATIONS:
- visit Youtube.com and find the user name "leasidesimmons" - that's me
- find the PLAYLIST called "Melody Variations"
- check out the different versions that these composers have written using these melodies

YOUR MELODY AND VARIATIONS WILL BE WRITTEN OUT IN MUSIC NOTATION AND PRINTED, AS WELL AS PLAYED FOR THE CLASS on MONDAY FEBRUARY 23rd.

Playing With Modes - An Enrichment (BONUS MARKS) Project

A lot of musicians in jazz and/or rock use MODAL scales to inform their soloing. If this interests you, the following project might be something you want to try.

Visit the Introduction to Scales and Modes Website. Here you'll find info about the different modes/scales and how they related to the major scales we have studied. Listen to the modes and the example pieces and find one you like.

Next, start a new piece in Garage Band. Play yourself 8 bars of a simple 1-3-5 chord beat (every 2 beats say) based on the first note of your mode. See "doriansample" in the AMM folder for an example of this. So for Dorian mode, your chord is D-F-A, for Phrygian it's E-G-B etc.

Then, play an eight-bar improvisation over these chords. Use the full range of the keyboard (or other instrument sound if you like). Start simple and get more intricate - just Eddie Van Halen would do!

If you think you've done a good job, tell Ms. Simmons and then drop it in the 1013- Drop-Off-OSX folder and make sure Ms. Simmons gets it. You can get up to 10 Bonus Marks which means 1 bonus mark on your final mark for this project.

For an additional 5 bonus marks (or 0.5 on your final), email Ms. Simmons the name of a popular piece of music that uses modes.

Happy modal explorations!

Work for Wednesday

1. Medieval Music Factsheet due by end of the period

2. Review for Key Signature Quiz on Thursday Feb. 19

3. Review for Keyboard Playing Task on C--> G chord progression for Thursday Feb. 19

4. Continue work on Melody Variations for Monday, Feb. 23

PS - Listening Logs are LATE!

Work for Today

1. Listening Log due today

2. Explanation of next keyboard performance task - C-G7-C chord progression for Thurs. Feb. 19

3. Work time on Medieval Factsheet for Wed. Feb. 18 and/or Melody Variations for Fri. Feb. 20

4. Breathe!

Work for Today (Thursday)

1. MEDIEVAL MUSIC ERA FACTSHEET

- handed out by supply teacher

- due Wed. Feb. 18

2. Listening Log

- handed out last week, extra located at the front in the shelf thing

- using files from 1013 - Stu/SIMMONS AMM files

- due Tues. Feb. 17

3. Next Keyboard Task: C-G7-C chord progression

- to be played Thurs. Feb. 19

4. Melody and Variations Piece

- see Wednesday's blog for requirements

- played for class Fri. Feb. 20

KNOW YOUR GOALS, KNOW YOUR ROLE!

Today:

1. Last chance to play me "Jingle Bells".

2. RHYTHM PIECE PERFORMANCES

3. Introduction to Melody and Variations Assignment

- You will take a given melody of 8-12 bars from the choices given to you
- You will write at least THREE VARIATIONS on the given melody
- Remind yourself of some of the techniques:

• changing registers
• changing instrumentation
• adding parts or notes
• changing key
• diminuition
• augmentation
• inversion
• retrograde
  

WHERE TO FIND THE MELODIES:
- open the 1013- Stu Share folder called AMM 4M1 or AMM 301
- there are 3 melodies there: "Twinkle", "Simple Gifts" and "Childhood Hymn"
- pick the one you like best!

WHERE TO FIND EXAMPLES OF VARIATIONS:
- visit Youtube.com and find the user name "leasidesimmons" - that's me
- find the PLAYLIST called "Melody Variations"
- check out the different versions that these composers have written using these melodies

YOUR MELODY AND VARIATIONS WILL BE WRITTEN OUT IN MUSIC NOTATION AND PRINTED, AS WELL AS PLAYED FOR THE CLASS on FRIDAY FEBRUARY 20th.

Today:

1. Finish your perfect versions of "Jingle Bells" by tomorrow, Wed. Feb. 11.
2. Work on Rhythm Piece for tomorrow, Wed. Feb. 11.
3. Intro to Medieval Era of Music History.
4. Work on Listening Logs due Tues. Feb. 17.
5. Be nice to Ms. Simmons cause her head hurts. Just kidding.

Happy short week everyone! Here's what we are up to...

Today
- introduction to basic keyboard technique and first piano playing task: "Jingle Bells" 
- continue work on RHYTHM PIECE for Wed. Feb. 11
- continue work on Listening Log due Tues. Feb 17

Tues. Feb. 10
- exploration of Medieval Music with lesson and Medieval Factsheet worksheet

- continue recording of "Jingle Bells" for Wed Feb. 11
- continue work on RHYTHM PIECE for Wed. Feb. 11
- continue work on Listening Log due Tues. Feb 17

Wed. Feb. 11
- performance of RHYTHM PIECE

- play your "Jingle Bells" for Ms. Simmons by today
- continue work on Medieval Factsheet worksheet due Thurs. Feb. 12
- continue work on MELODY PIECE
- continue work on Listening Log due Tues. Feb 17

Thurs. Feb. 12
- hand in Medieval Factsheet worksheet
- continue work on MELODY PIECE
- continue work on Listening Log due Tues. Feb 17

Remember to keep yourselves on task and ask for help if you need it.

Today:

- MIDI Reading Assignment Due

- Theory Quiz #1

- work time on Listening Logs - one piece each from List A, B and C and one of your choice

- work time on Rhythm Pieces - only percussion, minimum 16 bars

- more sharing of your pieces you brought

Deadlines, etc:

- Wed. Feb. 11 - Rhythm Piece ready for "performance"

- Tues. Feb. 17 - Listening Log #1 due

Homework for Mon. Feb. 9th:

Over the weekend, take some time to find an image, poster or cartoon on the internet about music, macs, computers, school or something else related to this class. Or, draw one yourself! Send Ms. Simmons the link or print it off so we can start our gallery of images!

Happy Friday!

In Class Tasks for Today
1. 20 minutes of independent work:
- Reading Assignment - LAST DAY TO HAND IN- FRIDAY FEB 6
- Music Ace program (located in My Applications on your dock)
- Rhythm Piece in GarageBand for Wed. Feb 11

2. Lesson on LISTENING - sharing your pieces

HAND IN ASAP:
- STUDENT INFO FORM, COMPUTER CONTRACT and $15 COURSE FEE
- THEORY ASSESSMENT

BY FRIDAY FEB 6:
- Complete Session 1-6 in Music Ace --> we will have a small quiz to check learning
- Hand-in MIDI Intro Reading Assignment sheet

In Class Tasks for Today

1. Sit in seating plan.
2. Continue work Reading Assignment - LAST DAY TO HAND IN- FRIDAY FEB 6
3. Continue work on MUSIC THEORY with ashort lesson from Ms. Simmons
4. Continue work on Music Ace program (located in My Applications on your dock)
5. Work on Rhythm Piece in GarageBand for Wed. Feb 11

HAND IN ASAP:
- STUDENT INFO FORM, COMPUTER CONTRACT and $15 COURSE FEE
- THEORY ASSESSMENT

BY FRIDAY FEB 6:
- Complete Session 1-6 in Music Ace --> we will have a small quiz to check learning
- Hand-in MIDI Intro Reading Assignment sheet

Happy exploring and keep yourselves on task :)

In Class Tasks for Today

** see seating plan

1. Continue work Reading Assignment - LAST DAY TO HAND IN- FRIDAY FEB 6

2. Begin explorations ELEMENTS OF MUSIC with lesson from Ms. Simmons

3. Begin MUSIC THEORY with Music Ace program (located in My Applications on your dock)

HAND IN ASAP:

- STUDENT INFO FORM, COMPUTER CONTRACT and $15 COURSE FEE

- THEORY ASSESSMENT

BY FRIDAY FEB 6:

- Complete Session 1-6 in Music Ace --> read lesson and complete game

(Ms. Simmons will come check your progress when you have completed this)

- Hand-in MIDI Intro Reading Assignment sheet

- begin your Rhythm Compositions in Garage Band

Happy exploring, everyone :)

In-class tasks for today:
1. Create a folder in your Documents titled "AMM" - you will save all your course work there
2. Work on the Reading Assignment below
3. Begin playing Music Ace (in the APPLICATIONS folder) and see how far you get!
4. Work on Theory Assessment

For Tuesday, Feb. 3:
- complete and hand-in Theory Formative Assessment
- hand-in Student Info Form, Computer Usage Contract and $15 fee

For Friday, Feb 6: MIDI Intro Reading Assignment HARD deadline