Happy Holidays!

Have a wonderful and safe holiday break with your family!  Happy Holidays!

8th Grade:

Mixing and Arranging Music:

The 8th graders are using MixCraft to mix and arrange famous Holiday tunes.  They will share their arrangements on Friday in class.  

7th Grade:

Musician Project:

Students are finishing their 100 point Musician Project Presentations this week.  They were allowed to choose any musician or band who inspires them. The assignment and rubric are attached in google classroom.  Please contact me with specific questions.

6th Grade:

Instrument Families:

The 6th graders have been learning about the instrument families: how each instrument is played and how it sounds.  

Curriculum Update

8th Grade:

Jazz & Blues Unit

This week, the students will learn about Jazz Music.  We will discuss the various sub-genres and musicians through a variety of activities.  For example,later this week the students will conduct "interviews" by pretending to be famous Jazz musicians such as Miles Davis and Duke Ellington.  Next week, they will create their own Blues Lyrics in class using the 12 Bar Blues Form.  

7th Grade:

Musician Project:

December 10-16, the students have their 100 point Musician Project due.  They are 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 are attached in google classroom.  Please contact me with specific questions.

World Music Unit: Asia

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.  Daily worksheets/study guides are completed using google classroom. 

6th 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 King and I, in class. There will be a short quiz on the musical in class at the end of the week. 

Ukulele Unit

We started playing Ukulele's in class this week and will continue through next week.  This week the kids will learn how to tune, strum, and play 3 chords.  Next week we will expand our repertoire to include new chords and songs including more chord changes!  

Happy Halloween!

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 2. 

7th Grade: Tone Poems
Last week, the students learned about Program Music and Tone Poems.  They are writing a Halloween Children's Story inspired by Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens. The stories are due tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 29.

6th Grade: Musical Era Project

The students will be researching composers from musical era's such as the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical.   The students will be creating a visual presentation and organizing an oral presentation with their group members.  Next Thursday, 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.

Curriculum Update!

8th Grade:
The students are presenting their World Music projects.  So far, the presentations I've seen have been wonderful.  I look forward to seeing the rest over the next few days.

7th Grade:
The students learned about Program Music and Tone Poems.  They are writing a Halloween Children's Story inspired by their listening to Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens. The stories are due Thursday, Oct. 29.

6th Grade:
The past few days, the students have been learning how to compose music using MixCraft 6.  They will share their compositions today in class.

1st Quarter Ends: Oct. 27

Curriculum Update: New Units Begin Today!!!

8th Grade: World Music Research Project

The students selected a country to research the music and culture of.  The students receive six days in class to complete their research.  They will present their research to the class beginning October 22.  This project is worth 100 points.  Directions are in Google Classroom. 

6th and 7th Grade: Ballroom Dance Unit
The students will learn 3 ballroom dances (6th Grade:  Samba, Rumba, and Tango.  7th Grade:  Cha Cha, Salsa, and Waltz.)  The objective of this unit is to teach the student’s about Music, Culture, and Proper Dance Etiquette through Ballroom Dance.  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 in Google Classroom,  a written quiz, and a dance performance equaling a 30 point unit grade. 

Piano/Keyboard Unit Begins!

For the next two weeks, the students will learn how to play piano in General Music.  First they will learn to play simple songs in treble and bass clef individually.  Once they are comfortable performing in each clef solo, they will learn to play piano with both hands simultaneously.  For students who have played piano before, they will start on music at an appropriate level for them.  This unit concludes with a 25 point performance assessment and a 10 Point composition/performance activity.  

Melody Unit Begins!

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 week.  

Melody Test:  Thursday, Sept. 24

Rhythm Unit Test- This Week!

The Rhythm Unit is coming to an end.  This week we will review and prepare for the Rhythm Test.

If you need extra assistance from Mrs. Rickert- please set up a time with me before or after school for extra review!

6th Grade Test: Thursday, Sept. 10
7th & 8th Grade Test: Friday, Sept. 11

Welcome Back!!!

I hope everyone had a great summer and enjoyed sleeping in, having fun in the sun, and spending time with family and friends!  I am looking forward to another great year at Lakeview!  


Music Curriculum:  We are going to begin the year with a focus on Rhythm.  We will begin by review notes and values, then progress to reading and performing rhythms.

Is your child interested in joining Choir??? 

If so, they should attend the first meeting on Friday, September 4 at 7:10 am in the band room. For more information, your child can get a permission slip and rehearsal calendar from me in the music room (room 14.)

Ukulele Unit

I can't believe how fast the year went!  I have enjoyed working with my second semester classes immensely, and wish the 8th graders much luck as they enter high school.  For our last few weeks of music, we have a lot of fun in store.  This winter we purchased 10 Ukulele's.  We started playing Ukulele's in class this week and will continue through next week.  This week the kids learned how to tune, strum, and play basic chords.  Next week we will expand our repertoire to include new chords and songs with more chord changes. 

May Curriculum Update

6th Grade:
The 6th grade students just finished learning about the Instrument Families, and now we are going to travel around Europe by studying the instruments and dances of various European Countries.  The students will even learn two Folk Dances in class. 

7th Grade:
The 7th Grade students recently learned about Program Music and Tone Poems.  This week they are writing their own Children's Books based on the music of the famous Tone Poem Danse Macabre.

Later this week we will begin our Musical Theater Unit.  The students will learn about the background of musical theatre; the production staff, creative crew and pertinent elements.  They will focus on the musical Newsies by learning about the composer, lyricist, and director.  They will watch the musical in class next week. 

8th Grade:
The 8th Grade students are composing using MixCraft 6.  The students are creating Mixes or Arrangements of famous pieces from musicals or movies previously discussed in our class.  The will share these arrangements and mixes in class on Friday!

Curriculum Update!

8th Grade: World Music Research Project

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

7th Grade: World Music Unit & Musician Projects due next week

World Music Unit: Asia

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.  Daily worksheets/study guides are completed using google classroom. 

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 next week.


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 be creating a visual presentation and organizing an oral presentation with their group members.  This 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.

Welcome to 4th Quarter Music!

This week in music we are starting new units and activities.  

Below are descriptions for each grade level.

8th Grade: 
World Music Unit:  Africa
Wednesday, the students started learning about the music of Africa.  This unit includes PowerPoint presentations, listening clips and educational videos, and learning to play instruments from other cultures such as the mbira, djembe, gankogui bells, Udu, Shekere's and much more.  

7th Grade: 

Musician Project:
The week of April 20, the students have their 100 point Musician Project due.  They are 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 is in google classroom and rubric is located on the 7th grade file cabinet.  Please contact me with specific questions.

World Music Unit: Asia

This unit will begin this week and continue after spring break.  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.  Daily worksheets/study guides are completed using google classroom. 

6th Grade:  Compose a Painting Project

This week the students began a composition project.  First, the students are assigned a famous painting.  The students will analyze their painting using the elements of art (color, texture, line, etc).  Then, they will compose a song to accompany their painting using MixCraft 6.  Later this week, the students will present their painting analysis and composition to the class. 

Some paintings that the students can choose from are:

American Gothic by Grant Wood

Two Dancers on Stage by Edgar Degas

Guernica by Pablo Picasso

Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh

Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali

And Many More...

Keyboard/Piano Unit Begins!!!

For the next two weeks, the students will learn how to play piano in General Music.  First they will learn to play simple songs in treble and bass clef individually.  Once they are comfortable with each clef solo, they will learn to play piano with both hands simultaneously.  For students who have played piano before, they will start on music at an appropriate level for them.  This unit concludes with a 25 point performance assessment and a 10 Point composition/performance activity.  

Curriculum Update!

This week in Music our students started new units.......

8th Grade: 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 and 7th Grade: Ballroom Dance Unit
The students will learn 4 ballroom dances.  The objective of this unit is to teach the student’s about Music, Culture, and Proper Dance Etiquette through Ballroom Dance.  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 (7th grade packet is in Google Classroom- so they will use their chrome books for this activity,) a written quiz, and two dance performances equaling a 40 point unit grade. 

6th Grade Dances:
Samba, Rumba, East Coast Swing, and Tango

7th Grade Dances: 
Cha Cha, Salsa, Waltz, and Tango

Melody and Form Unit

This week in music class, the students have started to 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.  The 6th grade unit test will be on Tuesday, Feb. 17 and the 7th and 8th grade test will be on Wednesday, Feb. 18. 

Some fun music note videos: 

All About That Bass (Clef) Music Video


I Knew You Were Treble Music Video

Welcome to 2nd Semester Music!!!

This week in music, all grades will be learning about components of rhythm.  6th grade students will be focusing on basic rhythms in simple meter.  7th and 8th grade students will learn how to read and identify rhythms in complex and compound time signatures. All grades will be composing their own rhythms and performing on instruments. There will be a unit test  for all grades on Tuesday, February 3. We will review in class the day prior by taking a "practice test."

Choir is now accepting new members through the end of January! 

If your child is interested in joining choir for 2nd semester, please have them see me in the music room for a permission slip and practice schedule.

It's Ukulele Time!

I can't believe how fast the first half of the year went.  I have enjoyed working with my first semester classes immensely, and I'm sad to see them leave.  However, we have a lot of fun in store for our last week together.  We just purchased 10 ukulele's for the music room and the kids are so excited to be learning to play!  

This week the kids will learn how to tune, strum, and play basic chords.  By the end of the week, the students will be playing a variety of 2, 3, or 4 chord songs.