Happy Holidays!

Looking to hear some wonderful music over break??? 

Mark your calendars:

Downers Grove South Freshman Select will be caroling at the Frugal Muse (Chestnut Court Shopping Mall in Darien) on December 21 from 11:00am -1:00pm.

Have a fun and safe winter break!!!!  I'll see you in the New Year!!!   

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!!!  

Next week in music...

6th Grade:
The students are learning about Musical Theater.  First, they will learn about what a musical is and who makes a musical possible (composer, librettist, director, choreographer, etc.), then they will study one musical in depth. We will finish the week by watching the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The King and I, in class. There will be a short quiz on the movie in class on Friday. 

7th Grade:

The students are learning about Musical Theater.  First, they will learn about what a musical is and who makes a musical possible (composer, librettist, director, choreographer, etc.), then they will study one musical in depth. We will finish the week by watching the Disney musical, Newsies, in class. There will be a short quiz on the movie in class on Friday. 

The Musician Projects (100 point project) are due the week of Dec. 9.  The directions and rubric are on the file cabinet.  Please feel free to email me with any specific questions: jrickert@ccsd66.org

8th Grade:

This week, the students have started their Famous Duo Project.  The Famous Duo project includes researching famous Composer-Director teams or Composer-Lyricist teams and putting together a multimedia presentation using PhotoStory.  Some examples of the Famous duo's our students are learning about are: John Williams and Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton and Danny Elfman, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.  

Looking to hear some wonderful holiday music??? 

Mark your calendars:  Lakeview Choir, Concert Band, and Jazz Lab Band Concert- Monday, December 9 @ 7:00pm

This Week in Music Class:

6th Grade:

The students are presenting their projects on the Era's of Music.  Each student researched a composer from either the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Modern Era of music.  Once they completed their research on their composer's life and music, they combined with other students who researched musicians from the same Era to put together a poster and oral presentation.  I look forward to seeing the rest of these presentations this week! (100 point project)

7th Grade:  Musician Project & Visitors from Elmhurst College 

This week, the students have their 100 point Musician Project assigned.  The project will be due the week of December 10.  Each student signed up for the day they will present in class this week.  They were allowed to choose any musician or band who inspires them.  They will present their research to the class with a visual and oral presentation.  The assignment and rubric can be found in the 7th Grade File Cabinet. 

Later in the week, we will have students in the Music Education program at Elmhurst College coming in to teach some lessons on World Music, the Blues, and much more. Their professor and I will be observing the lesson to give the future teachers feedback.  

8th Grade:

The 8th Grade students will learn a brief history of Jazz music before delving into the Blues Genre specifically.  They will learn about 12-bar blues, chord progressions, be able to perform on instruments, sing,  improvise, write original lyrics in AAB blues format and perform in a class band as a singer or instrumentalist.

Quarter 2 Music: Week 2

6th Grade: Musical Era Project

The students will be researching composers from musical era's such as the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical Age.  This project includes researching a composer's works and life, listening and describing their music, creating a visual presentation, and organizing an oral presentation with their group members.  The students will present their Era of Music starting on Monday in class.  This project is worth 100 points.  60% of the grade is for the students individual research and 40% for the visual and oral group portion.

7th Grade:  World Music Unit
The students are learning about the music of Asia and Oceania.  This unit includes PowerPoint presentations, listening clips and educational videos, learning songs and dances from other countries, and learning to play instruments from other cultures.   See the clips below of students playing Angklung Rattles from Indonesia!

7th Grade Music Class Video 1- Angklung Rattles
7th Grade Music Class Video 2- Chord Progression

8th Grade: Jazz and Blues

The students are starting to learn about components of Jazz and Blues.  This unit will include learning about sub-genres of Jazz, an introduction to important Jazz musicians, learning about 12-Bar Blues, writing lyrics for a Blues progression, and performing in their own Class Blues Band!

Welcome to 2nd Quarter Music!

6th Grade: Musical Era Project

The students will be researching composers from musical era's such as the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical Age.   The students will continue this project through next week. This project includes researching a composer's works and life, listening and describing their music, creating a visual presentation, and organizing an oral presentation with their group members.  Next Friday, our presentations will begin.  This project is worth 100 points.  60% of the grade is for the students individual research and 40% for the visual and oral group portion.

7th Grade:  World Music Unit
The students are learning about the music of Asia and Oceania.  This unit includes PowerPoint presentations, listening clips and educational videos, learning songs and dances from other countries, and learning to play instruments from other cultures. 

8th Grade: Musical Theater

The students are learning about Musical Theater.  First, they will learn about what a musical is and who makes a musical possible (composer, librettist, director, choreographer, etc.), then they will study one musical in depth.  We will finish the week by watching the Broadway musical, The Phantom of the Opera, in class. There will be a short quiz on the musical in class on Monday, November 11. 

Next Week in Music:

6th and 7th Grade: Ballroom Dance Unit
The students will learn 4-6 ballroom dances (depending on the grade level).  The objective of this unit is to teach the student’s Ballroom Dance in general music class as a means of improving behavior and social skills.  In other words, this unit supports PBIS and the Music Curriculum through the vehicle of Ballroom Dance.  Not only will the students learn positive behavior and learn to dance, but they will also learn about the origin and music of each dance.  Their grade for the unit comprises of a packet they will fill out each day, a written quiz, and two dance performances equaling a 40 point unit grade. 

8th Grade: World Music Research Project

The students selected a country to research the music and culture of.  The students will receive six days in class to complete their research.  They will present their research to the class beginning next Friday.  This project is worth 100 points.  The assignment and rubric is online in the file cabinet. 

7th Grade "Form" Activity Pictures

The students determined the form of a song and "presented" the form through a choreographed dance.  Each section of the song was performed with different dance moves.

This week in Music:

The students will continue to learn how to play piano using two hands simultaneously.  There will be a 16 point performance assessment Wednesday.  Following the assessment, students will be able to compose their own song on the keyboards.  They will compose an eight measure song using both treble and bass clef and perform it for the class on Friday.

Keyboard Unit

In this hands-on unit, the students will  learn how to play piano in both the treble and bass clef.  First they will learn by playing with each hand alone, then they will practice using two hands simultaneously.  There will be a 16 point performance assessment in class next Wednesday, October 9.  Following the assessment, students will be able to compose their own song on the keyboards.  They will compose an eight measure song using both treble and bass clef and perform it for the class on Friday.  

Melody and Form Unit

This week in music class, the students will learn/understand components of a melody and analyze the form of various pieces of music. By the end of this unit, students will be able to identify notes on the treble and bass clef, identify intervals, chords, and key signatures, and sing a variety of music. We will have a test on this information next Thursday, September 26.

Music Class: Rhythm Unit & Test Information

6th Grade: The students will start the week by composing and performing syncopated rhythms in groups.  The students will perform using classroom percussion instruments.  Later in the week, they will learn about syncopated rhythms and review for the upcoming unit test. 

7th and 8th Grade:  The students will start the week by composing and performing syncopated rhythms in groups.  The students will perform using classroom percussion instruments.   Later in the week, they will learn to count and perform rhythms in new time signatures and review for the upcoming unit test. 

6th Grade Test:  Friday, September 13

7th Grade Test: Friday, September 13

8th Grade Test: Monday, September 16

Music Class: The Rhythm Unit

 This week in music, all grades will be learning about components of rhythm. The students will be composing their own rhythms and performing on instruments. 7th and 8th grade students will learn how to read and identify rhythms in new time signatures. There will be a unit test next for all grades on Friday, September 13. We will review in class on Thursday, September 12 by taking a "practice test."

It's not too late to join choir. If your child is interested, please have them see me in the music room for a permission slip and practice schedule.

Lakeview Cheerleading Team Results

Thank you to all of the girls who tried out for the Cheer Team at LV.  The following students (indicated by try-out number and in no particular order) have been selected for the team: 

1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 19

Our first practice will be Tuesday, September 3 from 3-5 pm.  

At that time the girls will get the full season schedule.

Welcome Back to School!

I am looking forward to another great year at Lakeview. This week we kick off PBIS for the year and students will meet their teachers by attending shortened classes. 

In music class this week the students will hear me read the book "Mole Music" by David McPhail. Yes... it is a children's book- but the message is what's really important! They will also receive a parent letter including expectations, units of study, and contact information.  By the end of the week, they will begin their first unit of study: Rhythm! 

Is your child interested in joining choir??? 

Choir is open to all 6, 7 and 8 graders!

They should attend the first meeting on August 30 at 7:10am in the band room. For more information, your child can get a permission slip and rehearsal calendar from me in room 14.

Is your child interested in trying out for cheerleading???

If so, they should attend the clinic on Thursday, August 29 from 3-5 to learn the material for tryouts.  Football cheerleading is open to all 6, 7, and 8 grader! They need to have a physical on file in the office in order to attend the clinic and tryout.