Ms. Curtis | James M. Hill High School

Music 10, Music 112, Passion Projects, Humanities Block

Posted: May 5, 2020

Music 112 May 4th - 8th

BEETHOVEN!!!!

I love his work so much! You will need a lifetime, but at minimum two weeks to explore/study Beethoven's works. A musical genius, he wrote countless pieces of incredibly beautiful pieces of music in several different styles. Check out these videos over the next two weeks and listen, listen, listen! There is also a great film, "Immortal Beloved" about Beethoven, which I highly recommend you take a look at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQfytKqzC1E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRxpv_dkumM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HVfOauhx18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amR_i1CbEAE

Continue to work on your music theory and of course play your instruments :)

Have a great week!!

Posted: May 5, 2020

Instrument Return

If you have instruments at home and are planning on coming in to the school this week to pick up any pesonal items, please return your instrumenst at this time.

Thank you! :)

Posted: May 5, 2020

Music 10 May 4th-8th

COMPOSITION Continues!

I hope you have all had a chance to explore this cool software Mixcraft by Acoustica and come up with some fun creations. This week I encourage you to continue to compose/arrange in various styles - Jazz, Blues, Rock, Funk, etc. You can download a free trial version at https://acoustica.com/mixcraft/download. It's pretty user friendly and I trust that you will be able to figure it out very quickly. It basically has a library of sound loops that you can use and manipulate to help you arrange some tunes. I encourage you to experiment in arranging/composing in several different styles over the next several weeks. Again,I would love to hear some of your creations, so send them my way if you like.

Take care guys.

.

Posted: April 27, 2020

Music 10 April 27-May 1

Time to do some COMPOSING...

This week I want to introduce you to some cool composition software. I think you will have a lot of fun with Mixcraft by Acoustica. You can download a free trial version at https://acoustica.com/mixcraft/download. It's pretty user friendly and I trust that you will be able to figure it out very quickly. It basically has a library of sound loops that you can use and manipulate to help you arrange some tunes. I encourage you to experiment in arranging/composing in several different styles over the next several weeks. I woudl love to hear soem of yoru creations, so send them my way if you like.

Take care guys.

Posted: April 27, 2020

Music 112 April 27-May 1

On to Mozart!!! Woohoo!

Check out these concise videos, and of course do your own research and listening. There is soooo much out there in youtube/spotify/google land.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs1ff8S3mks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuq_c7PK6lY

Also, if you haven't watched the film Amadeus you may want to. It's an interesting and entertaining take on Mozart's life.

Continue to play your instruments and work through your msuic theory.

Posted: April 21, 2020

Music 112 Week of April 20-25

Hi Folks! As in previous weeks, I encourage you to do the following each week.

1) continue to play an instrument on a daily basis

2) continue to listen/analyse music of familiar and new styles and periods in history

3) challenge yoursleves by learning some new music theory.

History

Baroque music deserves at least two weeks of your life so I encourage you to dig a little deeper this week into some of the masterpieces of this era.If I could share some of my favourutes?

The Four Seasons - Vivaldi

Messiah - Handel

Water Music - Handel

Anything by Sammartini (LOVE him!)

Any and all Prelude and Fugue - Bach

Some incredible artists such as J. S. Bach , G.F Handel and Antonio Vivaldi emerged at this time, as well as the styles of opera and the Oratorio and the Fugue. This is definitely one of my favoutire music periods in history; such incredible music to sink your teeth in to. The following videos give a pretty comprehensive overview of the Baroque period. Check em out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6PoY7hGv3E&t=28s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKcNyKw2n98

Instruments

As i mentioned above, the goal is to play your instruments daily. Challenge yoursleves by learning to play a new style (Blues, Jazz, Classical, etc.) as you continue to take comfort in playing what soothes you.

Send me some video or audio recordings of you playing...that would be nice !

Theory

Continue with your music theory :)

At this point, you should be working on aurally identifying and writing major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales, but feel free to move ahead to identifying intervals if you have already covered scales.

www.musictheory.net is a great website with interactive activities that will allow you to continue to work on your theory and ear training skills. I encourage you to check it out and spend some time weekly on music theory.

As always, reach out if you have any questison or concerns.

Posted: April 21, 2020

Music 10 April 20-25

Hey Guys! How are things going? I'd love to hear from you. Send me a quick email to let me that you are well :)

This week I encourage you to continue to listen and examine various versions of the same song; any song...you choose. As you listen, zero in on what the artists are doing to give the song its unique sound.

Continue to play an instrment, if you are able.

Get outside and breath in some fresh Spring air...Thtat's an order!:)

Wellness Challenge

Posted: April 18, 2020

Posted: April 14, 2020

Music 112 Week of April 14-17

Hi Folks! I trust that you had a very nice Easter weekend. Moving forward, a reminder that your weekly tasks area as follows:

1) continue to play an instrument on a daily basis

2) continue to listen/analyse music of familiar and new styles and periods in history

3) challenge yoursleves by learning some new music theory.

History

This week I'd like you to move on to the Baroque Era and dive into the music of this period. Some incredible artists such as J. S. Bach , G.F Handel and Antonio Vivaldi emerged at this time, as well as the styles of opera and the Oratorio and the Fugue. This is definitely one of my favoutire music periods in history; such incredible music to sink your teeth in to. The following videos give a pretty comprehensive overview of the Baroque period. Check em out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6PoY7hGv3E&t=28s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKcNyKw2n98

Instruments

As i mentioned above, the goal is to play your instruments daily. Challenge yoursleves by learning to play a new style (Blues, Jazz, Classical, etc.) as you continue to take comfort in playing what soothes you.

Theory

Continue with your music theory :)

At this point, you should be working on aurally identifying and writing major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales, but feel free to move ahead to identifying intervals if you have already covered scales.

www.musictheory.net is a great website with interactive activities that will allow you to continue to work on your theory and ear training skills. I encourage you to check it out and spend some time weekly on music theory.

As always, reach out if you have any questison or concerns.

Posted: April 14, 2020

Music 10 Week of April 14-17

Hey all! I trust that you had a great Easter weekend, despite the challenges of visiting with family and friends.

As you continue to stay safe and take care of yourselves this week continue to :

1/ explore new styles of music or artists. Listen both causally and critically. Casually listen while you walk or run outside in this beautiful change of season, and listen critically to what we term the Elements of Music - those characteristics of music styles that make it unique. Tempo(speed), Dynamics (volume), Instruments, subject matter, Form (how the song is organized into sections), Tone (mood).

As a way of critically listnening and exploring Elements of Music you can compare and contrast two versions of the same song. For example "Jolene" performed by Miley Cyrus, and "Jolene" performed by the White Stripes is a good place to start. Although these two versions are based on the original Dolly Parton hit, they each have a very unique sound which I feel you'll find interesting to explore. By manipulating the Elements of Music artists create their own cover versions of songs. There are countless cover artists who have successful careers doing just that.

Suggested activities:

a) listen to Jolene by Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, and The White Stripes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0eeSoU35wM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOwblaKmyVw&list=RDwOwblaKmyVw&start_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5sYS0HJt5s

b) choose your own song and at least one cover version of that song and complete the attached table (Critical Analysis Assignment Chart). Use the attached document Elements of Music to assist you if necessary.

Extension Activity:

Arrange and perform your own cover version of a song on an instrument of your choice. Cant wait to see and hear your versions.

Happy Listening !