Thursday, February 3, 2011

WHAT WE DID TODAY (SEMESTER #2-07): TUESDAY; FEBRUARY 8, 2011

GENERAL MUSIC PERIODS 2, 3, 6:
COMPOSER: Chopin Impromptu in C# Minor Opus 66 "Fantasie Impromptu" 


Artur Rubinstein Pianist



.....a. This piece was rewritten in a modern "pop" version called "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows." It was performed by many famous singers of their day. In class we also listened to a modern version of this from the 1940's (sung by Judy Garland) called "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows"

.....b. We discussed the meaning of the words "impromptu" and "improvisation" in relation to Chopin's music. 
OBJECTIVE: Intro to Percussion 
1. Quote by Leonard Bernstein
.....a. Bernstein was a very famous 2oth Century American conductor and composer.
.....b. One of his most famous pieces was the musical "West Side Story" about gang violence in the late 1950's New York City. (http://www.spike.com/video/west-side-story/2672371)
2. Solfege Roll: Review solfege hand signals adding "Sol." Teacher asks with hand signals: Sol-Mi-La-Sol-Mi ("Mar-y did you finish your quote?")/Student answers with hand signals: Sol-Mi-La-Sol-Mi ("Yes I did") and show the quote to me.
3. Pass out various percussion instruments:, tambourine, cabasa, hand drum, guiro, triangle, finger cymbals, spoons, bell tree, claves, woodblock, sand blocks, cowbell, ratchet, maracas, and vibra tone (wah-wah)
4. Review how to follow a conductor's silent cues (signals) and how to start and end together.
a. Experiment with how to make instruments sound loud and soft (some examples: try striking the instruments at different places, try producing the movements that generate the sounds fast and slower, try striking the instruments with different pressures).
5. Go over "Beat Goes On" graph of the beats and the form 

  
[already practiced with BP (body percussion)] and exchange to instruments. Purple is everyone picking the instrument they want, wood sounds play the color green, pink is used for the bell-like metals, and blue for instruments that shake or scrape (have a raspy sound). Students given 3 instruments each with a different tone color to play
a. Students to play with help of the teacher but then be able to follow chart without that help. Students learn to track with their own eyes and listen to the patterns of sound on their own.
6. Do not forget to turn in signed rule sheets: worth 1 point
 


BEGINNING VIOLIN PERIOD 5:
OBJECTIVE: PREPARATION SPRING CONCERT
1. TUNE
2. MARIACHI SONG: CIELITO LINDO
.....a. Review beginning part with harmony notes
..........1)Everyone sings the note names as they play the song (helps for tracking)
.....b. Reviewed the first phrase of music
..........1)Examined the music sections that are repetitive


ADVANCED VIOLIN PERIOD 4: 
OBJECTIVE: PREPARATION SPRING CONCERT
1. TUNE
2. MARIACHI SONG: CIELITO LINDO
.....a. Go over beginning violin part with harmony (guitar and cello parts as well)
..........1)To help tracking, all students are to say note names as they play them
.....b. Learned the first phrase of the piece
3. 21 GUNS
.....a. Played through the entire piece
.....b. Worked on a difficult section near the end and then replayed the music to see if the section was a little easier to play 


LAST SEMESTER'S VIOLIN CLASSES: NEED TO GET PERMISSION SLIPS BACK FOR FIELD TRIP TO THE DISNEY HALL CONCERT IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 24th!