Research Projects Begin!

6th Grade:

The students will be researching composers from musical era's such as the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic Age.  The students will continue this project through next week by 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.  Directions and the Rubric can be found on the 6th Grade file cabinet. Research should be done in the Google Drive and shared with Mrs. Rickert and Miss Hayden.

7th Grade:
The 7th grade students will begin a cross-curricular web quest project called Birth of America: History Through Song. Student groups will be researching a particular song, and with that song they are tasked with determining what time period in American History it came from and more specifically, what historical event is taking place. Students were able to choose from seven different songs that encompassed historical events such as the American Revolution, World War Two, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights Movement. Using a list of questions to aid in their research, the students will become musical historians to figure out what was going on historically and musically at that point in America.


8th Grade:

Today, the students selected a country to research the music and culture of.  The students will receive six days in class to complete their research and create a PowerPoint presentation using the Google Drive.  They will present their research to the class beginning next Friday.  This project is worth 100 points.  Directions and the Rubric can be found in the 8th Grade File Cabinet. 

Keyboard Unit Continues...

The students are at the conclusion of their Keyboard Unit.  They are currently composing original songs and will share them in class tomorrow!

Next week, Miss Hayden will teach them about the music of Jamaica.  She spent a semester abroad in Jamaica and learned about their culture and music.  I, too, look forward to singing Jamaican songs with the kids next week!

Keyboard/Piano Unit

This week in Music-

The students will learn how to play piano using both treble and bass clef (both hands) individually, then simultaneously.  There will be a 16 point performance assessment next 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.

Welcome Back from Spring Break!

Music Student Teacher:
Please welcome my student teacher, Mary Kate Hayden, from Elmhurst College.  Miss Hayden plays the clarinet, piano, and is also a vocalist.  She also performs with various ensembles at Elmhurst and is in the Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity. She hopes to one day teach at the middle school level. Miss Hayden studied abroad in Jamaica and plans to share music she learned there in her lessons.   I look forward to seeing her teach in my classroom. 

6th Grade Curriculum:  Ballroom Dance Unit
The students are learning East Coast Swing, Fot Trot and Tango this week in music class.  They will learn about the origin of these dances and the style of music that accompany them.  On Friday, there will be a performance assessment.  The students can dress up nice for their dance in class to earn two points extra credit.  This is a great way to start 4th quarter ahead!

7th Grade Curriculum:  Ballroom Dance Unit
The students are learning Salsa, Waltz and Tango this week in music class.  They will learn about the origin of these dances and the style of music that accompany them.  On Friday, there will be a performance assessment.  The students can dress up nice for their dance in class to earn two points extra credit.  This is a great way to start 4th quarter ahead!

8th Grade Curriculum:  Composing Using MixCraft 6
The 8th Graders will be using our new composing/mixing software to compose songs in different forms (AB, ABA, Rondo, etc.)  They will share these compositions later this week in class.