WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2013

QUOTE:
“Answer them [critics] with silence and indifference. It works better, I assure you, than anger and argument.”
AUTHOR: Gioacchino Rossini

MEANING OF THE QUOTE:
“Do not let critics stop you from creating your art. Ignore their negative comments if the
  comments are not constructive ones.”

COMPOSER

IVES

Symphony #2 Movement 1

Conducted by Bernstein

Symphony #2 Movement 2

Conducted by Bernstein

Symphony #2 Movement 3

Conducted by Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein explains some of Charles Ives background 

before performing his second Symphony in Munich 

heading the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

GENERAL MUSIC

01.  KEYBOARD RECITALS

........a.  SECOND DAY OF STUDENT RECITALS
........b.  EACH STUDENT SIGNED UP FOR A DAY THIS WEEK TO PERFORM A SONG FOR THE CLASS
.............1)  STUDENTS LEARNED  HOW TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A PERFORMANCE SITUATION
.............2)  STUDENTS EXPERIENCED THE NERVES (STAGE FRIGHT) THAT CAN OCCUR IN PERFORMING
.............3)  STUDENTS SHOWED THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAD LEARNED PLAYING THE KEYBOARD
.............4)  STUDENTS DEMONSTRATED PROPER CLASSICAL AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE
02.  COMPUTER NET CART PROJECT: MAKING AN INSTRUMENT (DAY 3)
............1)  STUDENTS TO COMPLETE FINDING 10 LINKS and PLACING THEM INTO THEIR DOCUMENT
............2)  STUDENTS THEN TO DETERMINE WHAT INSTRUMENT THEY INTEND TO MAKE
............3)  AFTER CHOOSING THE INSTRUMENT THEY WANT TO MAKE, STUDENTS ARE TO CREATE WRITTEN
                  DIRECTIONS ON THEIR DOCUMENT
..................a)  LIST OF INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THE INSTRUMENT (CAN USE PICTURES)
..................b)  SEQUENTIAL DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE THE INSTRUMENT

ADV. STRINGS
[SPRING CONCERT (THURSDAY; MAY 30TH) PREPARATION]
01.  PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
02.  MY HEART GOES ON
03.  SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW

BEG. STRINGS
[SPRING CONCERT (THURSDAY; MAY 30TH) PREPARATION]

01. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
.......a.  STARTED TO WORK ON SOME OF THE ADVANCED MUSIC
02. CABALITO

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013

QUOTE:
“Art is a kind of illness.”
AUTHOR: Giacomo Puccini

MEANING OF THE QUOTE:
“A true artist is addicted to his art.”

COMPOSER

IVES

SEE HOW MUSIC AND LITERATURE INTERCONNECT

Charles Ives came from New England and often wrote his music 

about the famous people and events that came from there. 

Piano Sonata No. 2 "Concord" I: 
Emerson

Piano Sonata No. 2 "Concord" II: 
Hawthorne

Piano Sonata No. 2 "Concord" III:  
The Alcotts

http://www.louisamayalcott.org/

Piano Sonata No. 2 "Concord" III:  The Alcotts

Played by Charles Ives

Charles Ives begins this piece with a 4-note motive and then uses it (often in variation) as the basis for the rest of the composition. 

If you compare this work to the first movement of Beethoven's Symphony #5 you might hear some similarities:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6K_IuBsRM4

Piano Sonata No. 2 "Concord" IV: 

Thoreau

GENERAL MUSIC
01. AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE
.......a.  WRITING A PARAGRAPH TO THE QUESTION/PAPERS HANDED BACK WITH COMMENTS
            "HOW IS AUDIENCE BEHAVIOR DIFFERENT AT A ROCK CONCERT WHEN COMPARED TO
              A CLASSICAL CONCERT?"
............1)  STATE THE QUESTION
............2)  EXPLAIN WHY WITH SUPPORTIVE EXAMPLES
............3)  CREATE A CONCLUSION
EXAMPLE OF WHAT TO WRITE:
Audience behavior is different at a rock concert when compared to a classical concert because acoustic instruments (instruments which are not amped), as those played in an orchestra, often cannot be heard over a loud audience.  Standing and singing (participating with the performers) is acceptable at rock concerts; it is part of the experience but at classical performances it is about intense listening and observers need to be very quiet.  My preference is the classical audience behavior as I enjoy being able to see and hear everything being performed on the stage.

............4)  DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING TO WRITE WELL

............5)  DISCUSSED ABOUT HOW FORMAL and INFORMAL WRITING IS DIFFERENT and USED FOR

                  DIFFERENT SITUATIONS (EXAMPLE TEXTING IS DIFFERENT THAN WRITING AN ESSAY                         FOR SCHOOL)

02.  KEYBOARD RECITALS

........a.  FIRST DAY OF STUDENT RECITALS
........b.  EACH STUDENT SIGNED UP FOR A DAY THIS WEEK TO PERFORM A SONG FOR THE CLASS
.............1)  STUDENTS LEARNED  HOW TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A PERFORMANCE SITUATION
.............2)  STUDENTS EXPERIENCED THE NERVES (STAGE FRIGHT) THAT CAN OCCUR IN                                       PERFORMING
.............3)  STUDENTS SHOWED THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAD LEARNED PLAYING THE                                   KEYBOARD
.............4)  STUDENTS DEMONSTRATED PROPER CLASSICAL AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE

ADV. STRINGS
[SPRING CONCERT (THURSDAY; MAY 30TH) PREPARATION]
01.  ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL
02.  HOUDINI

BEG. STRINGS
[SPRING CONCERT (THURSDAY; MAY 30TH) PREPARATION]

01. ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL
02. WHAT MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL (MELODY)

MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013

QUOTE:

“One supreme fact which I have discovered is that it is not willpower, but fantasy-imagination that creates.
   Imagination is the creative force. Imagination creates reality.”

AUTHOR: Richard Wagner

MEANING OF THE QUOTE:

"Creativity starts first in your imagination."

                                        

                           

COMPOSER

IVES

"Unanswered Question" 

Conductor Dudamel

"Unanswered Question" 

Conductor Bernstein

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbArUJBRRJ0&feature=c4

-overview-vl&list=PLbcJN2GY6LSKJuzoE2rUqSI3RHf39lOMF

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/07/05/199009541/behind-the-music-charles-ives

GENERAL MUSIC
01. AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE
.......a.  WRITING A PARAGRAPH TO THE QUESTION:
            "HOW IS AUDIENCE BEHAVIOR DIFFERENT AT A ROCK CONCERT WHEN COMPARED TO
              A CLASSICAL CONCERT?"
............1)  STATE THE QUESTION
............2)  EXPLAIN WHY WITH SUPPORTIVE EXAMPLES
............3)  CREATE A CONCLUSION
.......b.  DISCUSSED WITH STUDENTS THEIR THOUGHTS ON AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE
.......c.  DISCUSSED REASONS FOR DIFFERENT AUDIENCE BEHAVIORS
.............1)  ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCES VERSUS AMPED PERFORMANCES
.............2)  STYLE OF MUSIC PLAYED
EXAMPLE OF WHAT TO WRITE:
Audience behavior is different at a rock concert when compared to a classical concert because acoustic instruments (instruments which are not amped), as those played in an orchestra, often cannot be heard over a loud audience.  Standing and singing (participating with the performers) is acceptable at rock concerts; it is part of the experience but at classical performances it is about intense listening and observers need to be very quiet.  My preference is the classical audience behavior as I enjoy being able to see and hear everything being performed on the stage.

.......d.  REVIEWED CLASSICAL CONCERT ETIQUETTE

............1)  WHEN TO CLAP

............2)  STANDING OVATIONS

............3)  "BRAVO" and "BRAVISSIMO"

............4)  ENCORES

02.  KEYBOARDS

........a.  PRACTICE SONGS FOR THE RECITALS WHICH START TOMORROW

ADV. STRINGS
01.  LOS MACHETES
02.  PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
03.  MY HEART GOES ON

BEG. STRINGS

01. LOS MACHETES (MELODY)
02. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN (HARMONY)

02. STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2013

QUOTE:
"I adore art...when I am alone with my notes, my heart pounds and the tears stream from my eyes, and
  my emotion and my joys are too much to bare.”
AUTHOR: Giuseppe Verdi

MEANING OF THE QUOTE:
“The emotion and joy felt from the act of creating art is totally fulfilling.”

COMPOSER

HAYDN

Symphony No. 59 "Feuer"("Fire") 

GENERAL MUSIC
01. MUSICIAL THEATER: MY FAIR LADY
.......a.  MUSICAL REPORT FORM:  ADDED IN SONG TITLES and SOME MORE CHARACTERS
.......b.  REVIEWED THE FILM SO FAR
.............1)  DISCUSSED THE STOIC NATURE OF THE UPPER CLASS BRITISH VERSUS THE LOWER CLASS
.............2)  HEARD TWO MELODIES IN THE SONG "I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT" PLAYED AT THE SAME
                   TIME (CALLED COUNTERPOINT)
.............3)  TALKED ABOUT "ASCOT" (THE FAMOUS HORSE RACING TRACK) IN ENGLAND WHERE THE
                   ROYALS FREQUENT AS IT IS MENTIONED IN THE MUSICAL
.......c.  CONTINUED WATCHING THE FILM

ADV. STRINGS
01.  LOS MACHETES
02.  CABALITO
03.  SABOR A MI
04.  VOLVER, VOLVER

BEG. STRINGS

01. LOS MACHETES (MELODY)
02. CABALITO (MELODY)

02. SABOR A MI (HARMONY)

THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

QUOTE:
“It's not what you are, but what you don't become that hurts.”
AUTHOR: Oscar Levant

MEANING OF THE QUOTE:
“Not working up to and using your abilities to their fullest potential will
  stop you from feeling content with your progress.”

COMPOSER
HAYDN

http://www.classicfm.com/composers/haydn/music/cello-concerto-no1-c/

Cello Concerto No. 1 in C

Played by cellist Mstislav Rostropovich 

Cellist by Paul Gauguin

GENERAL MUSIC
01. MUSIC THEORY: IDENTIFYING LINE and  SPACE NOTES BY NUMBER
02.  RECORDER
........a.  WARM-UP
..............1)  ECHO RHYTHMS USING NOTES B, A, G THEN ADDING NOTES F and E
..............2)  MUSICAL ALPHABET/FINGERING  REVIEW ON THE RECORDER
........b.   RECORDER SONG REVIEW USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH NOTE READING USING THE TREBLE CLEF
...............1)  "ALL ALONE" (A SONG BASED ON THE NOTE "B" USING HALF and QUARTER NOTES
...............2)  "SKATING AWAY" (A SONG BASED ON NOTES B and A USING HALF,  DOTTED HALF, and QUARTER 
                     NOTES
...............3)  "SONG OF THE SEA"  ( A SONG BASED ON NOTES B, A, G USING HALF, DOTTED HALF, and 
                     QUARTER NOTES

ADV. STRINGS
01.  PIRATES OF THE CARIBEAN
02.  HOUDINI
03.  SABOR A MI
04.  VOLVER, VOLVER

BEG. STRINGS

01. LOS MACHETES (MELODY)

02. SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW (MELODY)

03. PARADISE (HARMONY)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

QUOTE:
“If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen, then
  thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all.”
AUTHOR: John Cage

MEANING OF THE QUOTE:
“Repetition helps to create interest. The more you are acquainted with a subject
  the more you are apt to enjoy it.”

COMPOSER
HAYDN

Piano Concerto in D Major, 
Hob. XVIII: 11 Movement 1

Sviatoslav Richter Pianist

Piano Concerto in D Major, 
Hob. XVIII: 11 Movement 2

Sviatoslav Richter Pianist

Piano Concerto in D Major, 
Hob. XVIII: 11 Movement 3

Sviatoslav Richter Pianist

GENERAL MUSIC

01. MUSIC THEORY: IDENTIFYING LINE NOTES BY NUMBER

.......a. REVIEW OF LINE NOTES

............1) USING THE HAND AS THE STAFF THE TEACHER ASKES STUDENTS TO 

                POINT TO CERTAIN LINES ON THE STAFF BY NUMBER

............2) WORKSHEET FOLLOW-UP

..................a) AFTER VIEWING THE NOTE ON THE STAFF, PLACE WHAT NUMBER 

                      OF THE LINE IT IS ON

..................b) GIVEN THE NUMBER, PLACE THE NOTE ON THE CORRECT LINE OF 

                      THE STAFF

02. SNARE DRUMMING INTRODUCTION

.......a. EXPLANATION OF HOW SOUNDS ARE PRODUCED ON A SNARE DRUM 

           USING SNARE DRUM STICKS and HOW PROPER HOLDING OF THE STICKS 

           IS  ESSENTIAL IN THEIR PROPER EXECUTION

...........1) STICKING TECHNIQUES

.................a) PROPER BOUNCING

.................b) ANGLES

.................c) HOW HIGH THE STICKS NEED TO BE FROM THE DRUM HEAD

.................d) TECHNIQUE OF VARIOUS TYPES OF ROLLS

............2) HOLDING THE SNARE STICKS

.................a) MATCHED STICKING (BOTH HANDS HOLDING THE STICKS THE SAME

                     WAY) AND THE OLDER VERSION WHERE THE LEFT HAND HOLD IS

                     DIFFERENT FROM THE RIGHT 

.................b) SHAKING HANDS WITH THE DRUM STICKS THEN RELEASING THE

                     OUTER 3 FINGERS

.................c) CREATING A "FULCRUM" or HINGE WITH THE MIDDLE JOINTS OF

                     THUMB and INDEX FINGER TO CONTROL THE DRUM STICK

.................d) HAVING THE BACK OF THE HAND IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CEILING

                      SO THE STICK CAN BOUNCE BACK ONTO THE PALM OF THE HAND 

                      FOR STICK CONTROL

.................e) LEFT VERSUS RIGHT HAND: BOTH HANDS EQUALLY IMPORTANT and

                     NEED TO BE OF EQUAL STRENGTH

............3) MOVING THE STICKS AGAINST A RECORDED BACKGROUND

.................a) STUDENTS PRACTICED BOUNCING THEIR SNARE STICKS BY PLAYING

                       ON DRUM PADS

.................b) STUDENTS GIVEN DIFFERENT LEFT RIGHT COMBINATION PATTERNS

                      TO FOLLOW TO PLAY AGAINST THE BACKGROUND

.................c) STUDENTS INSTRUCTED TO SAY THE LEFT and RIGHT DIRECTIONS 

                      OUT LOUD AS THEY PERFORMED THE EXERCISES (HELPING TO KEEP

                      THEIR EYES IN FOCUS ON THE DIRECTIONS)

.................d) TO HELP AVOID RUSHING STUDENTS WERE INSTRUCTED TO PLAY 

                      THE FIRST OF EVERY 4 STICKING MOVEMENTS A LITTLE LOUDER

                      (CALLED AN ACCENT)

ADV. STRINGS
01.  VOLVER, VOLVER
02.  SABOR A MI
03.  HOUDINI

BEG. STRINGS

01. PARADISE (HARMONY)

02. WHAT MAKES TOY BEAUTIFUL (MELODY)

03. STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN (MELODY)

TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2013

QUOTE:
“I'm beginning to understand myself. But it would have been great to be able to understand myself when
  I was 20 rather than when I was 82.”
AUTHOR: Dave Brubeck

MEANING OF THE QUOTE:
“It takes a lifetime just to start understanding yourself.”

COMPOSER
HAYDN

Lord Nelson Mass

GENERAL MUSIC
01. MUSIC THEORY: IDENTIFYING LINE and SPACE NOTES
.......a.  REVIEW OF WHAT A LINE and SPACE NOTE ARE
............1)  WORKSHEET FOLLOW-UP:  UNDER NOTES PLACE "L" FOR NOTES WHICH ARE LOCATED
                  ON LINES and "S" FOR NOTES WHICH ARE LOCATED ON SPACES
02.  STUDENTS HANDED IN FOR GRADING THE LAST 4 MUSIC THEORY WORKSHEETS WE DID IN CLASS
02.  KEYBOARD (PREPARATION FOR CLASS RECITAL)
.......a. EXPECTATIONS OF SONG PERFORMANCE IS DISCUSSED
.......b.  STUDENTS PRACTICED AT KEYBOARDS WITH TEACHER GUIDANCE AND HELP
.......c.  TEACHER TO HELP STUDENTS AS NEEDED

ADV. STRINGS

01. DISCUSSION OF SPRING CONCERT IN MAY
......a.  NEW DATE OF CONCERT: MAY 30th
......b.  CLASS GAVE INPUT INTO ORDER OF SONGS
......c.  STARTED TO CHOSE BOW LEADERS

BEG. STRINGS

01. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN (HARMONY)

02. HOUDINI (HARMONY)

03. YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME (HARMONY)

MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2013

QUOTE:
"A musician cannot move others unless he too is moved. He must of necessity feel all of the
   affects that he hopes to arouse in his audience, for the revealing of his own humor will stimulate
   a like humor in the listener."
AUTHOR: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

MEANING OF THE QUOTE:
“If the composer does not feel the music inside himself first
 he can not convey those feelings to the audience through
 his music.”

COMPOSER
HAYDN

Raul Dufy: Le Violin Rouge, 1848

Violin Concerto No. 4 in G Major

Young Woman with a Violin by Orazio Gentileschi

GENERAL MUSIC
01. MUSIC THEORY: IDENTIFYING LINE and SPACE NOTES
.......a.  REVIEW OF WHAT A LINE and SPACE NOTE ARE
............1)  WORKSHEET FOLLOW-UP:  UNDER NOTES PLACE "L" FOR NOTES WHICH ARE LOCATED
                  ON LINES and "S" FOR NOTES WHICH ARE LOCATED ON SPACES
............2)  IDENTIFYING LINE and SPACE NOTES BY NUMBER ON THE STAFF
..................a)  USING THE HAND AS A MODEL WITH THE 5 FINGERS REPRESENTING THE 5 LINES and
........................IN BETWEEN THE FINGERS ARE THE 4 SPACES STUDENTS ARE TO IDENTIFY THE NUMBER
                        OF THE LINES and SPACES (COUNTING FROM THE BOTTOM UP)
........................1)  PALM OF HAND FACES THE STUDENT'S FACE
........................2)  PINKY FINGER IS LINE 1, RING FINGER IS LINE 2, POINTER FINGER IS LINE 3, THUMB
                              IS LINE 5
............3)  IDENTIFYING LINE and SPACE NOTES FOR VISUAL ACCURACY AT FAST SPEEDS (EMPHASIS
                  ON FOCUSING SKILLS)
..................a)  TEACHER POINTS TO A PARTICULAR SPACE LOCATION (USING THE HAND AS THE MUSIC
                        STAFF) and STUDENTS ARE TO WATCH INTENSIVELY AND SAY WHAT SPACE NUMBER IS
                        BEING POINTED TO  ACCURACY and FOCUS
.........................1)  TEACHER MOVES UP THE POINTING SPEED TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN VISUAL
.........................2)  THE ACTIVITY IS PERFORMED FOR AN ELONGATED TIME TO TEACH VISUAL ENDURANCE 
                               and FOCUSING  FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME
............4)  WORKSHEET FOLLOW-UP:  STUDENTS IDENTIFY THE SPACE NOTES BY THEIR SPACE NUMBER
                  ON THE MUSIC STAFF 
02.  KEYBOARD (PREPARATION FOR CLASS RECITAL)
.......a. EXPECTATIONS OF SONG PERFORMANCE IS DISCUSSED
.......b.  STUDENTS PRACTICED AT KEYBOARDS WITH TEACHER GUIDANCE AND HELP

ADV. STRINGS

01. ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL
02. YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME
03.  STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

BEG. STRINGS

01. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN (HARMONY) SIGHT READ

02. CABALITO

03. STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN