- Listening Journal #7 due today
- continue working on Texture Assignment, Melody and Chord writing
- practice theory, especially key signatures, for test next week (see links below)
- complete any overdue work

Enrichment (BONUS) Assignment for Texture Composition

The bonus for this project is to produce a written score version of your melody, counter-melody and chords. You will do this in Finale, following these instructions.

1. From the Launch Window, select Setup Wizard

2. Choose "Create a New Ensemble" and then "Engraved Style Maestro Font". Click Next.

3. Choose your instruments. It should be Piano, and you should have three of them in the score. Click Next.

4. Give your piece a title such as "Texture Composition" and fill in what you wish. Click Next.

5. You should keep it in 4/4 and C major. Click Next.

6. Your score will be created. Go to View and choose Page View. You should see Piano 1, Piano 2 and PIano 3.

7. Add your melody in Piano 1, your counter melody in Piano 2, and your chords in Piano 3.

When this is complete, email it to Ms. Simmons with "textureyoulastname" as the file name.

Welcome to the mid-week!

Here are some resources about Chords/Melodies...
- Introduction to Chords Lesson
- Lesson on Chords and Roman Numerals

You should be...
- continuing work on Texture Compositions, having your Melody ready to show me ASAP
- working on Listening Journals you still owe me (we're up to 6)

Past-due work includes...
- your Blues Progression/Improv
- Melody and Variations
- Italian Term Visual Assignment
- playing the Blues Progression and Jingle Bells on the piano

Welcome back! We'll try to make this as painless as possible :) Today we are going to learn about the element of TEXTURE.

Next Composition Assignment: PLAYING WITH TEXTURE

Consult this Resource for Guidelines About Texture (definitions, etc):

Steps to the Assignment:

1. Write a MONOPHONIC melodic line at least 8 bars long, in C major or A minor.
2. Record this as a track in a GarageBand file. Call it “textureyourlastname”.
   
3. Write a POLYPHONIC counter-melody underneath your MONOPHONIC track. It should “fit” harmonically with your given melody. Total at least 8 bars.
   
4. Record this as a 2nd track in your GarageBand file. Copy your melody and have it go a 2nd time with the POLYPHONIC part under.
   
5. Write a HOMOPHONIC accompaniment part underneath your MONOPHONIC track. Use chords we have learned. Total at least 8 bars.
   
6. Record this as a 3rd track in your GarageBand file. Copy your melody a 3rd time and have it go a 3rd time with the HOMOPHONIC part under.
   
7. Make sure you properly complete a WRITTEN VERSION of the MONOPHONIC, POLYPHONIC and HOMOPHONIC parts. Ms. Simmons can help you with this.

TIMELINE:
By Wednesday Mar. 24 → have written/recorded your melody
By Friday Mar. 26 → have written/recorded your POLYPHONIC counter-melody
By Tuesday Mar. 31 → have written/recorded your HOMOPHONIC chords
By Thursday Apr.1 → final version of all three ready for performance


Continuing Work:
- playing Blues Progression for Ms. Simmons
- working on Blues Solo Improv over progression - sharing on Fri Mar 12

Work Past-Due:
- Listening Journals (6 total as of today)
- Visual Representation of Italian Term
- Melody and Variation composition
- Rhythm Compositions
- Jingle Bells - playing for Ms. Simmons
- Jingle Bells - emailing Finale transcription

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 like Eddie Van Halen would do!

If you think you've done a good job, tell Ms. Simmons and then email it 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!

REMINDERS:
** TODAY is the last day to get work in before Interim Marks (S/U)
** FREE PIZZA and RADIO INTERVIEW tomorrow (Wed Mar 10) at lunch!
** Theory Quiz Key Signatures/Scales Re-do (without the given answers) Wed Mar 10

Click on the links to try some Key Signature/Scales Practice Games:
- Scales Quiz
- Key Signature Quiz

Continuing Work:
- playing Blues Progression for Ms. Simmons
- working on Blues Solo Improv over progression - sharing on Fri Mar 12

Work Past-Due:
- Listening Journals (5 total)
- Visual Representation of Italian Term
- Melody and Variation composition
- Rhythm Compositions
- Jingle Bells - playing for Ms. Simmons
- Jingle Bells - emailing Finale transcription