This week in Music:

6th Grade:  
The students are using our new computer software, Sony MixCraft 6, to compose songs.  They will be sharing these compositions with the 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 musical in class next week.   A highlight for the students is seeing Christian Bale (Batman) singing and dancing in one of his earliest movies!

8th Grade: 

This week, the students 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.  

6th Grade:  The Conclusion of our World Music Unit: Europe
The students are learning about the culture, instruments, and dances of Europe.  This unit includes PowerPoint presentations, listening clips and educational videos, and learning songs and dances from other countries.

7th Grade: World Music Unit: Asia

This week concludes the world music unit covering 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.  On Friday, the students will learn an Indonesian line dance called the Poco Poco.  We will celebrate the end of ISAT testing with a dance!!! :)

Next week, the students have their 100 point Musician Project due.  The students were assigned this project three weeks ago.  They were allowed to choose any musician who inspires them.  They will present their research to the class with a visual and oral presentation.  The assignment and rubric are located on the 7th grade file cabinet.

8th Grade: Musical Theater Unit
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 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, The Phantom of the Opera, in class.  There will be a short quiz on the movie in class next Tuesday, March 11.