OBJECTIVE: Recorder fingering and muscle movement coordination of notes from the C Major scale
1. QUOTE AUTHOR: Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach
.....a. He was a German musician and composer, the second son of J.S. Bach and Maria Barbara Bach. He was a founder of the Classical style. (http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Bach-Carl-Philipp-Emanuel.htm)
.....b. One of his most famous pieces was the "Solfeggietto No.2 in C Minor H.220, W.117"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74eBHfNbCNc&feature=related
2. BACH COMPOSER REPORT #2
.....a. We will finish this Wednesday by writing our opinions about Bach's music.
.....b. Included with the report that will be turned in will be the notes taken yesterday during the film about Bach.
..........1)Those not turning in Bach film notes will be completing the Bach composer report with the sections we have not already completed (the report is found on this Blog).
..........2)Students not turning in the Bach film notes will complete the composer report during class while the others will be going to the keyboards to work on practicing their songs for our mini-recital.
3. RECORDER WARM-UP
.....a. Using echo technique review notes "B" (T1), "A" (T12), "G" (T123), "F" (T1234), "E" (T12345), "D" (T123456) and "C" [or middle "C" as found on the keyboard (T1234567)]
.....b. New fingering T02 ("C" one octave higher than middle "C" or "high C")
..........1)Practiced muscle movement pattern of "A" (T12) to High "C" (T02) to make into an automatic reflex
..........2)Practiced muscle movement pattern of "B" (T1) to High "C" (T02) to make into an automatic reflex (fingers 1 and
alternate back and forth)
.....c. Try all notes in order (descending) from high "C" down to low or middle "C"
..........1)This is a "C" major scale going down (DO-TI-LA-SOL-FA-MI-RE-DO) and I showed the students what it looked like on the keyboard.
..........2)Played the scale passage again changing the rhythm and produced the first phrase of "Joy to the World"
4. HOLIDAY SONG: JOY TO THE WORLD
.....a. Showed the music and reviewed how many of the passages of music are made up of scales or scale like (step-wise)passages.
.....b. Class reviewed the recorder fingerings and sight read through the song
.....c. We looked at the music and discovered where the main "skips" were as skips are usually harder to play then steps.
.....d. The hardest skip pattern is middle (or low) "C" to high "C" so we pulled the two notes out and worked on learning
the muscle movement pattern. (The movement pattern will not be really learned until it becomes an automatic reflex)
.....e. Some students noticed that I had colored in certain notated passages with different colors.
..........1)The colors represented sections with patterns in them. I asked the students if they could identify what types of patterns they were seeing. (Actually, we hear the patterns but placing them into colors in notation makes the patterns they hear more obvious.)
.............a)As stated before, one pattern was the scale passage.
.............b)Another pattern was played twice, exactly the same.
.............c)Yet another pattern was played twice but this the second time every note was the same except one note lower; this type of pattern is called a "sequence."
.....f. Played with piano accompaniment and had a student act as a pointer.
5. HOLIDAY SONG: WHACKY NUTCRACKER (Period 2 played this)
6. HOLIDAY SONG: JOLLY OLD ST. NICK (Period 2 and 3 played this)
.....a. Reviewed fingering and then played the music without finger numbers on the chart.
.....b. Played song with a pre-recorded accompaniment for the first time.
7. BECAUSE WE HAVE STUDENTS AT VARYING ABILITY LEVELS I DECIDED THAT WE ARE GOING TO PUT ON A MINI-RECITAL THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 8, 9, 10.
1. Students will choose a song to play from the music we have been working on in class and/or a piece that I pre-approve of at their ability level.
2. During the next few weeks, when we have our keyboard playing days in class, students will practice the pieces they
have chosen to play at our recital.
3. I will divide the class into groups of thirds and students in each group will perform on one of the scheduled days.
4. Students will perform their chosen song by themselves (solo).
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. HOLIDAY SONG: GREENSLEEVES (1st section)
.....a. Reviewed note names and fingerings and sight read through 3. HOLIDAY SONG: COVENTRY CAROL
....a. BEG. VIOLIN (HARMONY PART)
....b. VIOLIN (MELODY PART)
........1)So many students are learning the other part so quickly that we decided we wanted to try the harder part.
........2)Those who wish to remain on the easier part for the performance may do so but I am instructing everyone on the harder part for a learning experience anyway.
........3)Song uses low second finger (sad or minor do-re-may pattern) and has an added note we have not used before called G# (a note fingered 1/2 step higher than the normal 3rd finger position we have been using)
...........a)A SHARP (#) raises the pitch of a note 1/2 step so the finger needs to be moved up 1/2 step on the fingerboard (in the direction toward the bridge)
.....c. We will continue working on this.
VIOLIN PERIOD 4:
OBJECTIVE: Preparation for: Harvest Day performance on October 28th/Holiday Program December 9th
1. TUNE
2. MUSIC STANDS WERE SET-UP
4. REVIEW SONGS FOR THE HARVEST FESTIVAL (PRACTICED DURING HR) .....a. ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL
.....b. HOEDOWN
.....c. DE COLORES
5. COVENTRY CAROL (HR)
HARVEST FESTIVAL INFORMATION
..1 SCHOOL PRACTICE DAYS LEFT FOR THE HARVEST CONCERT
..ALL STUDENTS ARE TO REPORT TO THE MUSIC ROOM BY 5:00 PM ON THURSDAY FOR TUNING.
..WE WILL BE PLAYING PROBABLY WITHIN THE FIRST HALF HOUR OF THE FESTIVAL (BETWEEN 5:30 PM AND 6:00 PM ON THE OUTSIDE STAGE (UNLESS WEATHER FORCES US INSIDE THE CAFETERIA)
..MR. DORSEY SAID THAT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO WEAR A COSTUME CAN DO SO; PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE COSTUME IS COMFORTABLE ENOUGH SO YOU CAN PLAY YOUR INSTRUMENT.
..AFTER WE ARE FINISHED PLAYING, STUDENTS ARE TO BRING THEIR INSTRUMENTS BACK TO THE MUSIC ROOM AND THEN THEY MAY GO ENJOY THE CARNIVAL.