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.