Today we will continue our theory explorations and receive a new package of keyboard material. You will be asked to play Keyboard Task #3 from this package by Friday April 13.

A few deadline reminders:
Reading Response #3 on Medieval & Renaissance Eras was due Thursday April 5 (last week).
Modal Composition is due Wednesday April 11 (tomorrow).
Any work you'd like considered for mid-term marks by NOON tomorrow (Wednesday April 11).

Next Creation Assignment: Playing With Modes

A lot of musicians in jazz and/or rock use MODAL scales to inform their soloing. Modes were also the basis for most music written before the 1500s, as we'll learn today.

First: 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. You are going to create a modal chant using the features of chants that we discuss in class, and your own choice of mode. The chant should be:

• monophonic or polyphonic
• at least 12 bars long
• "a cappella" - ie. use organ or vocal sounds
• "flowing" rhythmic style
• using "home notes" at start/end
• at least two parts (melody and drone) and more if you want

Due emailed to Ms. Simmons by Wednesday, April 11.

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!

Second Year Students: Recording Project
You should be working on: Recording Research

• point-form summary of the best practices for mic’ing your chosen instruments, at least one page, emailed it to Lauren.simmons@tdsb.on.ca
• Due: Friday, March 30

Next Step: Artist Statement

• decide what kind of song you are going to record (will it be a cover, an original song, who will write it, will it be solo or group, instrumentation, etc.) 
• create a plan for recording (who will play which parts, who will record each parts, how many tracks will you have etc.)
• have some idea of your artistic vision (what do you want the final product to sound like, what genre, what parts are more important, what will you focus on, etc.)
• Write a proposal of 2 pages doubled spaced, at least three paragraphs, addressing the points above. Email to Lauren.simmons@tdsb.on.ca by Monday, April 2.

First Year Students: Texture Composition - reminder

• Required Elements:
• Monophonic Melody
• Homophonic Chords
• Polyphonic Countermelody
• If you wish, you can include your composition written out for a bonus of 5 marks!
• Due: Monday, April 2

Welcome back everyone!

You should be working on your REAL WORLD RESEARCH PROJECTS this week. The Library is booked Wednesday-Friday for any presentations should you choose this format, and all written work is due by Wednesday March 21 (hard deadline: Friday March 23).

All outstanding work from before March Break should also still be completed.

REAL WORLD MUSIC PROJECT
Reminder! Due tomorrow:

• links to 3 articles about your topic
• paragraph summary (250 words) for each article

After the Break, presentations for this project will take place Wednesday Mar 21, Thursday Mar 22 and all work is due Friday Mar 23.

NEW STUFF - Second Year Students - Moving to Logic

Over the next month, those of us in the more advanced stages of the class will be moving to using Logic for our next project.

As such, here are a few videos to get you started:

Intro to Logic 9 Express
Logic 9 Express Part 2

The computer with Logic Express 9 are numbers 1-10 (at the front of the class). We'll try to work on these when we get back from March Break!

Today we will start on some new theory material. Ms. Simmons will teach a lesson, then ask you to take a look at the material below.

Beginners:
- introduction to steps and accidentals
- "Half Step Hoedown" game

Intermediate:
- introduction to minor scales
- quiz on major and minor scales

Advanced:
- introduction to chords
- introduction to minor chords
- online chords quiz
- introduction to interval inversion

We will have a theory quiz on these topics on Thursday March 8.