Melody and Variation composition ready to share today!

Continuing:
- Visual Representation of Italian Term due Wednesday March 3
- next piano task: C chord RH/LH, G7 chord RH/LH
- next piano task for Fri Mar 5: "When the Saints Go Marching In" - both LH and RH versions

Work Past-Due:
- Rhythm Compositions - sharing with class
- Jingle Bells - playing for Ms. Simmons
- Jingle Bells - emailing Finale transcription

Today:
- Theory Quiz
- Intro to Next Piano/Finale Task for Friday March 5

Continuing:
- Visual Representation of Italian Term due Wednesday March 3
- Melody and Variation composition ready to share for Friday Feb 26

Work Past-Due:
- Rhythm Compositions - sharing with class
- Jingle Bells - playing for Ms. Simmons
- Jingle Bells - emailing Finale transcription

Today:

- Introduction to Italian Terms in Music

- New Assignment: Visual Representation of Italian Term due Wed. Mar. 3:

- Using Powerpoint, Paint or another program of your choice, make a visual poster (at least one page 8.5x11) representing an Italian term in music

- show Ms. Simmons your plan and pick your word before proceeding

- submit via email on WED MAR. 3

- review for theory quiz

- review/practice can be found in:

- My Applications --> Music Ace 2 --> Lesson 1-6

- Half Step/Whole Step Game

- Half Step Game

Reminders:

- Theory Quiz Thursday (Feb. 25)

- Melody and Variation composition ready to share for Friday Feb 26

Work Past-Due:
- Rhythm Compositions - sharing with class
- Jingle Bells - playing for Ms. Simmons
- Jingle Bells - emailing Finale transcription

NOTE: Theory Quiz Thursday (Feb. 25)

Work Continuing:
- Melody and Variation composition

Work Past-Due:
- Rhythm Compositions - sharing with class
- Jingle Bells - playing for Ms. Simmons
- Jingle Bells - emailing Finale transcription

Today:
- Theory exercises on Wholetones/Semitones - to be completed in class

Work Continuing:
- Melody and Variation composition

Work Past-Due:
- Rhythm Compositions - sharing with class
- Jingle Bells - playing for Ms. Simmons
- Jingle Bells - emailing Finale transcription

Please complete the following (sometimes silly) games:
- basic information about Skips, Steps and Repeats
- a very childish but fun game about Skips, Steps and Repeats - Basketball!
- also very childish game on Half Steps

Work Continuing Today:

- Melody and Variation composition

- Theory on Semitones and Wholetones

Work Past-Due:

- Rhythm Compositions - sharing with class

- Jingle Bells - playing for Ms. Simmons

- Jingle Bells - emailing Finale transcription

Work Continuing Today:

- Melody and Variation composition

- Theory on Semitones and Wholetones

Work Past-Due:

- Rhythm Compositions - sharing with class

- Jingle Bells - playing for Ms. Simmons

- Jingle Bells - emailing Finale transcription

Don't forget - Theory quiz soon (ok, tomorrow) and Listening Journals past-due!

Sharing today:
- Jingle Bells (for Ms. Simmons 1-on-1)
- your Rhythm Composition (for full class)

New work:
- Introduction to the Element of Melody
- Theory: notes, half steps, whole steps.

For fun/review, check out the following websites:
- basic information about Skips, Steps and Repeats
- a very childish but fun game about Skips, Steps and Repeats - Basketball!
- also very childish game on Half Steps


NEW COMPOSITION: Melody and Variations Assignment

- You will take a given melody of 8-12 bars from the choices given to you
- Using Garage Band, you will write at least TWO VARIATIONS on the given melody
- Using FINALE, you will write at least ONE VARIATION on the given melody

- 1st year: 8-12 bars per variation

- 2nd year: 16 bars or more, at least one minor variation

- 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 FRI. FEB.26.

Due today: Listening Journal

Sharing today:
- Jingle Bells (for Ms. Simmons 1-on-1)
- your Rhythm Composition (for full class)

New work:
- Introduction to the Element of Melody
- Theory: notes, half steps, whole steps.


For fun, check out the following websites:
- basic information about Skips, Steps and Repeats
- a very childish but fun game about Skips, Steps and Repeats - Basketball!
- also very childish game on Half Steps


Go Canada Go!

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

Continuing Tasks
- practice "Jingle Bells" for performance on Tues Feb 16
- finish you Rhythm Compositions in Garage Band for Tues Feb 16
- review concepts on rhythm for theory quiz "soon"

And if you're ready to move on
- start on Listening Journal due Tues Feb 16 (as always)
- read the following websites about Skips, Steps and Repeats
- listen to the following Podcast about Melody and Contour

For Fun:

10 Fake Simpsons Words that Belong in the Dictionary

Today:
- Discussion on Rhythm

- 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 Level A: try Lessons 1-6
- Theory Level B: try Lessons 9-12 and up.

CONTINUING:
- Simple Entry on Finale emailed by Thurs Feb 11
- practicing "Jingle Bells" for playing Tues Feb 16
- creating rhythm in Garage Band by Tues Feb 16

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

Today's New Work:

• Discussion on rhythm.
• Lesson on rhythm.

Websites for Practicing Rhythm:

• http://www.musictechteacher.com/quiz_music_rhythm_time001ft.htm
• http://www.musictechteacher.com/quiz_time_signs001.htm
• http://www.musictechteacher.com/aq_rhythm_fill_in001/quizmaker.html
• http://www.musictechteacher.com/musicquizzes.htm

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 TUESDAY FEB 16

CONTINUING:
- Simple Entry on Finale emailed by Thurs Feb 11
- practicing "Jingle Bells" for playing Tues Feb 16

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

Welcome to our first Monday! We will be learning some new ideas with Ms. Simmons today and continuing our work time on other tasks.

Due today: Reading Assignment and Listening Journal
LATE: Theory Check-up (Due Friday)

Work for class today:
- Introduction to Elements of Music
- exploration of sound creation in Garage Band

Continuing:
- continue working on Simple Entry in Finale - "Jingle Bells" due Thurs Feb 11
- continue practicing "Jingle Bells" for playing next week

Work for Fri. Feb 5

THEORY CHECK-UP DUE TODAY.

PLEASE ALSO HAND IN YOUR STUDENT INFO FORMS, FEE of $10 and PARENT CONTRACT.

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". You may find it helpful to check out this link from Berklee College of Music about How to Compose Using Finale.

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 Thursday, February 11.

Don't forget your MIDI/DRM Reading Assignments are due MONDAY FEB 8.

Work for Thursday Feb 4

Everyone:
- continue to work on Theory Check-Up - due Fri. Feb 5
- remember to hand in Contract + $10 and Student Info Form

Year 1 Students:
- complete the MIDI Reading Assignment. see links below.

Year 2 Students:
- complete the DRM Reading Assignment. see links below.

Both reading assignments will be due on MONDAY FEB 8

Welcome to Semester 2, 2010 at Leaside! If you've found your way here that's because you're a student in Ms. Simmons' AMM 3/4 classes.

Welcome to our class blog. This is where you will check in daily to see waht work will be assigned/completed in class, and what will be coming up. There will be links to assignment pages and other fun stuff too. This is a work in progress and a collaboration and hopefully we'll get some of your work up here soon too.

First up...what you should all be working on for your first few classes:

- completing the Theory Check-up

- completing the Student Info Form

- signing the Computer Use policy

- getting familiar with the Mac environment and with course expectations!

Year 1 Students:

- Practicing your first keyboard tasks!

- Getting started on MIDI Reading Assignment. Here are the links:

History of MIDI

Technology of MIDI

Making Music with MIDI

See the handout given in class for response actions. Happy reading :)

Year 2 Students:

- Reading the following website about Digital Right Management

- Writing a one-page, double spaced summary explaining why DRM might be relevant to Music and Computers students.

Cool Resource of the Day:

If you are new to the MAC environment, you will want to check these out:

Switch 101: Windows vs. Mac Navigation

On Windows I Used To...

Happy Mac Computing!

And for those ready to move on...

Check out the Following Youtube videos about using Finale softawre.