WHAT WE DID TODAY #1-42: TUESDAY; NOVEMBER 2, 2010

GENERAL MUSIC PERIODS 2,3,6 
COMPOSER: PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: ROMEO and JULIET 

ROMEO and JULIET FANTASY OVERTURE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOfb-YZYU5g

1. Romeo and Juliet
.....a. The story (William Shakespeare):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/story-of-romeo-and-juliet.html
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet/summary.html
http://www.love-story.com/stories/stories_romeo.htm

.....b. Tchaikovsky's version: http://www.enotes.com/topic/Romeo_and_Juliet_(Tchaikovsky)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet_(Tchaikovsky)

2. Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

.....a. Considered to be the most famous Russian composer up until this time

.....b. Specialized in Romantic, emotional music

.....c. Known for his classical theatrical music especially in the ballet genre

OBJECTIVE: RECORDER SONGS PLAYED ON THE KEYBOARD
1. QUOTE AUTHOR: Ludwig van Beethoven

.....a. Famous German composer (1770-1827)

.....b. Representative composition:
2. HOLIDAY SONG: CHANUKAH
3. HOLIDAY SONG: JOY TO THE WORLD

4. Keyboard practice for min-recital next week

MINI-KEYBOARD RECITAL IS SCHEDULED THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 8, 9, 10.

DECEMBER 9th is the holiday concert for chorus, band, and strings. Recorder students are invited to play their instruments ("recorder carolling") as the pre-concert activity outside of the gym. This is not mandatory; just a fun way to celebrate the holidays through music. We will play the holiday music learned in class. All students need to bring is their recorder; music and accompaniments will be already set-up. More details to follow as I get them.

BEGINNING VIOLIN PERIOD 5: 
OBJECTIVE: PREPARATION FOR HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE ON DECEMBER 9th

1. TUNE
2. SHIFTING on a major scale one octave ascending
.....a. Shifting is when a single finger slides from one note to another without leaving contact with the string.
.........1)The shift we are using in this exercise has the left thumb and finger moving together while sliding.
.........2)The finger depresses the string to play a pitch and then the pressure is released but contact with the finger on the string remains as the 
            finger slides.
.........3)As the sliding finger approaches the next pitch, its sliding speed slows down while the finger pressure on the string increases until the 
            exact pitch is found (sort-of like the concept of a baseball player sliding into home plate).
.....b. We started on the open string (DO) and then we added the 1st finger (RE) then moved the 1st finger forward (toward the bridge) without 
         lifting it up, to the next pitch, and we repeated this movement up (ascending) the scale. (do:1, re:1, mi: 1, -fa:1, -sol:1, -la:1, -ti:1, -do
3. HOLIDAY SONG: JINGLE BELL ROCK
.....a. Reviewed directions, note names, and fingerings.
.....b. As we listened to the music, students sang the note names (without playing the instrument)
.........1)Doing this helps students develop the mental concept first. (If you can't hear it in your head, you can't play it on your instrument.)
.....c. We then sight read through this piece.

VIOLIN PERIOD 4: 
OBJECTIVE: Preparation for: Holiday performance on December 9th
1. HOLIDAY SONG: GREENSLEEVES
2. HOLIDAY SONG: JINGLE BELL ROCK

Holiday Concert : Thursday, December 9th
17 rehearsal days left until the concert