Lucius on NPR

Music Listeners,

The best thing since sliced bread is Lucius on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series:

Enjoy.
Mr. Kozak

NPO PSA Extension - for real

Grade 9 Students,

After logging in as a student and looking at all of your assignments and tests this week, I have decided to extend the deadline for NPO PSA video submission until Monday, April 1. Since I have both classes on Tuesday, we can finish the peer-assessments at that time - as long as everyone completes the first step of the assignment by submitting your videos.

Mr. Kozak

Rhythm dictation

Music Students,

We regularly use musictheory.net to learn about and take quizes on scales, note durations, chords, and a variety of other fundamental music basics. The only drawback to the site is the lack of rhythm training.

That is why everyone needs to bookmark teoria.com.

There is a section of the site that trains your rhythmic dictation ability. That's when you hear a rhythm, then you have to write it out on a staff.

You can customize the training for specific note durations, so if you think that half notes and quarter notes are too easy, you can eventually add eighth notes, noted notes, and triplets. You can also do exercises in simple or compound meter. 

I would go there right now to check it out and see where your level is - especially Grade 8 students, since we will have a quiz next class.

Mr. Kozak

Body Percussion videos - Take 2

Grade 8,

After researching, watching videos, and thinking about how to improve your previous attempt (or recreate one all together), I videotaped your second performances. In your Music Journals, give a score to each group out of 6 (referencing the Creative Rubric) and write a few sentences (referencing the elements of music) about each group's performance. 

Also, write something about what you did to contribute to the group's success.

Peer assessment is something that needs to be practiced as much as the actual performance creation so that you can develop your communication regarding artistic values.

Ask yourselves:
Why are some performances better than others?
How does an ensemble prepare for a performance?
How does one be creative (even if they don't feel like it)?

Mr. Kozak

Maori Stick Game lyrics

Grade 6, 

Here are the lyrics we will ruse for the Maori stick Game:

E hine, hoki mai ra

E papā Waiari,
Taku nei mahi
Taku nei mahi
He tuku roimata

Ē aue, ka mate au
E hine hoki mai rā

Māku e kaute Ō hīkoitanga
Māku e kaute Ō hīkoitanga
Ē aue, ka mate au
E hine hoki mai rā

E papā Waiari
Taku nei mahi
Taku nei mahi
He tuku roimata

Ē aue, ka mate au
E hine  hoki mai rā

E hine  hoki mai rā

Mr. Kozak

Jazz - from PBS.org

Students,

Here's a great site to get to know jazz.
Mr. Kozak

Jazz presentaions

Students,

Both classes have been working on presentations about the characteristics of jazz, reggae, rock, Latin, and funk music. This will once again help you to practice your BIG6 research skills.

Here is the first presentation. We will critique it next class.

Mr. Kozak

Robert Johnson's music

Grade 7,

Here is a snapshot (not Snapchat) of what we learned through your presentations comparing Robert Johnson and modern music:

We will discuss these points next class.

Mr. Kozak

Genres of Jazz

Grade 7,

As we continue to listen to jazz and blues music, we need to study rhythm notation as well. You copied the rhythms that we clapped, but eventually you will have to listen and write a rhythms without seeing them on staff paper.

We should be able to finish our shared Google presentation on five genres of jazz/improvised music (Jazz, Reggae, Rock, Blues, and Latin) very soon.

Students need to make a professional-looking, interesting, informative presentation about the five genres we have studied from Magic GarageBand.
You need:
- the name of the genre
- the musical elements that can be heard
- the name of a famous band/musician
- a picture

Both classes will complete a presentation.

Mr. Kozak

Blues Adventure

Intermediate Band,

Practice both lines A and B for line number 68 - Blues Adventure. We are definitely playing this for the Spring Concert.

Mr. Kozak

NPO PSA

Grade 9 Students,

After you have uploaded your thirty second NPO PSA video into the StudyWiz gallery
and
after you have written a self-assessment on your process
and
after you have critiqued three other peer videos in your Journals
and 
after you complete this all by Wednesday, March 20, 2013.....

you can take a break.
Mr. Kozak

Rhythm dictation, body percussion, meter

Grade 8,

We have started our body percussion assignment and you have all completed your research in the Google Doc. 

Then we split the class:
Girls - you had to write the rhythm of Gangnam Style
Boys - you practiced the E and F required on trombone/baritone/French horn for the Rocky theme for the Spring Concert

We will switch next class.

Mr. Kozak

Rhythm copying

Grade 6,

We clapped, then wrote rhythms on your music staff paper. 

Whenever you hear a rhythm in music, whether it's the singer, guitar, or snare drum, try to picture it in your mind as notes on paper. This takes a lot of practice.

Next time, we'll do some African dancing.

Don't forget to check your local 100 yen shop to see if they sell rolling pins!

Mr. Kozak

10 minutes every day

Beginner Band Students and Parents,

Practicing for (at least) ten minutes everyday is much better than an hour Sunday night to prepare for band rehearsal.

Try that as your goal this week while you practice lines 35, 39, and 42 - and don't forget Rocky!

Mr. Kozak

Robert Johnson's music

Grade 7 Students,

Comparing and contrasting Robert Johnson's music to a modern pop group means that you have to refer to the elements of music, then use your own experience. Anyone can look up the basic facts online, so that's not important. The ability to independently think about music is the goal.

Here is what we learned:

Mr. Kozak

Body rhythm- Take 1

Grade 8,

A class without computers is so refreshing.

We split into two groups of about 9 each and had you be creative with making music just with your bodies. Some basics were:
- stomping feet
- clapping hands
- snapping fingers
- hitting knees
- hitting chest
- hitting each other (palms or back) - - with permission!

The first class - here are the boys:

and here are the girls:

The second class - here are the girls:

and here are the boys:

We'll work on adding more creative rhythms using props next time.

Mr. Kozak

Dave Matthew's Band - Ants Marching

Fellow Musicians,

We were studying subdividing and composing simple rhythms in our mind, not on paper. Knowing the vocabulary of 'quarter note', 'eighth note', 'half note rest' and so on is fundamental if we want to communicate to fellow musicians. 

To show how deep this understanding goes, I I was showing Carter Beauford's amazing drumming technique. Yes, he is a wizard. Although there are videos that focus more on him soloing, I love how the group listens so well to each other at the beginning of this song.

Mr. Kozak

New lines

Students,

Please practice lines 61, 62, and 64. If you're adventurous, go ahead and try #68 - Blues Adventure.
Mr. Kozak

Breath-taking PSA

Grade 9 Students (and all Teachers),

While researching NPO PSAs to model for my classes, I found this recently-produced item from the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation. Be careful - it is very powerful. Watch it a few times and pay attention to the soundtrack and how vital it is to convey the message.

Apparently, they have quite a lot of experience with getting the message out. This very different approach went viral a few years ago.

Here's one from Saturday morning TV from a long time ago.

Mr. Kozak

Meter in Music Keynote

Students,

Here is the Meter Keynote I showed you last class explaining the three types of meter.

Mr. Kozak