Lakeview General Music

This week in Music:

2012-01-23T07:17:00.000-08:00

The students will continue to play the keyboards in music class. This week, the focus will be to play with both hands (treble and bass cleft) simultaneously. There will be a 16 point quiz on Wednesday, January 25. On Thursday and Friday, the students will be composing their own song and performing it for the class.

This week in Music Class:

2012-01-17T08:31:00.000-08:00

The students will begintheir Piano/Keyboard Skills unit. The students will play the piano by learning proper ettiquette, playing position, and reviewing note names on the staff and how those notes apply to the keyboard. First the students will master playing with each hand (both treble and bass clef) individually before putting both hands together later in the week.

There will be a keyboard playing quiz (16 points) on Wednesday, January 25.

2012-01-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

This week in Music Class:

The students will continue their journey through the components of Melody and Harmony.

6th grade Test- Thursday, Jan. 12

7th and 8th grade Test- Friday, Jan. 13

Next week we will begin our Keyboard/Piano Unit!!!

Welcome Back!

2012-01-03T07:28:00.000-08:00

This week in music:

All grades are learning components of a Melody. They will learn notes in the treble and bass clef, how to read and draw major scales, how to sing using Solfege syllables, and learn the Curwen hand signs. In addition, 7th and 8th graders will learn major key signatures, triads, and common chord progressions.

Throughout this unit, the students will practice these skills by singing songs such as His Cheeseburger, Another Day in Paradise, Lean on Me, and Seasons of Love.

In two weeks, the students will practice these same skills by playing the keyboard.

Countdown to Winter Break...

2011-12-12T11:14:00.000-08:00

This week in music, the classes will be learning about Irving Berlin and watching the classic movie musical White Christmas. Later in the week, we will be singing Holiday tunes such as Marshmallow World, Deck the Halls, Dominick the Donkey, and the kids will write a Christmas Rap.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe winter break!!! I look forward to seeing everyone in 2012!

2011-12-05T08:07:00.000-08:00

This week in music the students will be learning various components of rhythm through counting, performing, and writing/composing. The 7th and 8th grade classes will be learning new time signatures including cut time and compound time.

Rhythm Test:
December 8- 6th and 8th grade
December 9- 7th grade

This week we will have some music education majors from Elmhurst College teaching lessons in my classroom. Each lesson will be taught by a "team" (two students) to help them prepare for student teaching. Their professor from Elmhurst will accompany them, and I will also be in the room as they teach their lesson. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email or call me.

Music Class: Week 2

2011-11-28T12:56:00.001-08:00

This week in music the students will be learning various components of rhythm through counting, performing, and writing/composing.

Rhythm Test:

December 8- 6th and 8th grade

December 9- 7th grade

This week we will have some music education majors from Elmhurst College teaching lessons in my classroom. Each lesson will be taught by a "team" (two students) to help them prepare for student teaching. Their professor from Elmhurst will accompany them, and I will also be in the room as they teach their lesson. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email or call me.

Welcome to Music- 2nd Trimester

2011-11-21T07:49:00.000-08:00

Our first unit in music class will be Rhythm! This (short) week, the students will learn note names, note values, and how to count rhythms in simple time signatures.

Rhythm Test:

6th and 8th Grade- December 8

7th Grade- December 9

Elmhurst Students: Next week we will have some music education majors from Elmhurst College teaching lessons in my classroom. Each lesson will be taught by a "team" (two students) to help them prepare for student teaching. Their professor from Elmhurst will accompany them, and I will also be in the room as they teach their lesson. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email or call me.

Have a great Thanksgiving Break!

Last Week of 1st Trimester

2011-11-14T07:59:00.000-08:00

It has been a pleasure teaching my 1st trimester classes and I will miss them very much as they move on to their next encore class. :)

Below are some TV advertisements from talented 8th graders last week:

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T06:18:00.001-07:00

This week in Music:

The 6th grade classes are starting a research project on the Eras of Music. They will write a biography on one composer and research that composers music. Each group will then create a poster with the information about their era and present their project to the class. This project will take the whole week and is worth 100 points.

The 7th grade classes are learning about Musical Theatre. They will learn about the role of the composer, lyricist, choreographer and learn the difference between a stage adaptation and a film adaptation. They will also watch the Disney Movie Musical "Newsies."

The 8th grade classes will be presenting their World Music Projects. Later in the week, they will compose music on the computers using Super Duper Music Looper.

This Week in Music:

2011-10-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

6th Grade: Ballroom Dance Unit:
The objective of this unit is to teach the student's Ballroom Dance in general music class as a means of improving behavior and social skills (alligned to the goals of PBIS.)

An exciting opportunity: Students from Northern Illinois University will be watching me teach a lesson from this unit "live" next week via internet. The students who will be watching the lesson and learning from this experience are undergraduate Music Education Majors.

7th Grade: World Music Unit:
During this unit, the students will learn about the music, instruments, and dance of various cultures. They will also learn song, how to play instruments, and how to dance the cultural dances from these countries.

8th Grade: Phantom of the Opera/ World Music Unit:
The students will finish the musical, The Phantom of the Opera, and take a test based on the movie, the music, and composer of this musical. Starting Wednesday, the students will begin their World Music Project. They get to choose the country they would like to do research on. The students will focus their research on the music, instruments, and composers of these countries, however, they will also research the culture of their country.

This week in Music:

2011-10-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

6th Grade: Ballroom Dance Unit
The objective of this unit is to teach the student's Ballroom Dance in general music class as a means of improving behavior and social skills. In other words, this unit supports PBIS and the Music Curriculum though the vehicle of dance.

An exciting opportunity: Students from Northern Illinois University will be watching me teach a lesson from this unit "live" next week via internet. The students who will be watching the lesson and learning from this experience are undergraduate Music Education Majors at NIU.

7th Grade: Musical Artist Project
Today the students kicked off their 100 point project for the trimester. Students signed up for their presentation date and picked their research topic (musician of choice) today as well. The projects are due the week of November 7.

World Music Unit:
On Friday, the 7th grade students will begin their World Music Unit. Through this unit, students will learn about the music, dance, and instruments of various cultures through listening to music, watching clips, learning dances, and playing instruments of these cultures.

8th Grade: Phantom of the Opera- Musical Theatre Unit
The 8th graders kicked off their unit on Musical Theatre today. They will learn about the story, history, composer, and music of The Phantom of the Opera and will watch the movie in class. They will have a test next week (Tuesday, October 18) on this information.

Music Class- Week 6

2011-09-26T07:58:00.001-07:00

The students have their Melody Test on Tuesday, September 27. The students received study guides and have taken a practice test to help them prepare!

Wednesday, the students will begin their new unit: Playing the Keyboard. The students will first learn proper playing position, and how to use each hand individually before playing pieces with both hands next week. They will have a performance assessment quiz on the keyboard on Thursday, October 6. This assessment is 16 points of their grade.

Melody Unit

2011-09-19T07:18:00.000-07:00

This week the students will be learning how to identify chords (triads), understand chord progressions, and use solfege to sight-read new songs. In addition to new material, we will be reviewing note names in treble and bass clef, intervals, key signatures, and scales. There will be a test on this unit on Tuesday, September 27.

Study material will be going home with the kids throughout the week. Ms. Berman is available before school on Monday's and Friday's for extra help. Ms. Berman will also make herself available after school if a student would like to set up an appointment.

This Week in Music...

2011-09-12T14:16:00.001-07:00

Following their rhythm test on Monday, students will begin a new unit: Melody.

During this unit, students will learn how to read notes in the treble and bass clef, how to identify intervals, chords, scales, and form. In addition to learning these concepts, the children will apply these skills through singing in class. Our next test will be on Tuesday, September 27.

It's not too late to join choir... see Ms. Berman for a permission slip!

Music Class Week 3

2011-09-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

This week in Music, the students will be learning to count and perform syncopated rhythms. They will even get a chance to compose rhythms in groups and perform those rhythms with instruments in front of the class. 7th and 8th grade classes will also learn to read rhythms in Cut Time and in 6/8 Time.

Monday, Sept. 12 will be the Rhythm Test. This is the first test grade in my class, so make sure you study!!! On Friday, Sept. 9, the students will take a practice test, and this (along with their worksheets) will be a great study guide for the test on Monday!

P.S. It's not too late to join choir, see Ms. Berman for information!!!

This week in Music:

2011-08-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

The students have begun their unit on Rhythm! They are learning to hear, count, and perform rhythms in various time signatures. On Monday, September 12, they will have a test on the material covered over the next two weeks.

It's not to late to join choir...
If your child missed the first meeting, they may attend our next rehearsal on Tuesday, September 6 in the band room at 7:10am.

Welcome Back!!!

2011-08-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

I am looking forward to another great year at Lakeview. Today we kick off PBIS for the year and students will meet their teachers by attending shortened classes.

In music class this week the students will (hopefully) be inspired by hearing me read the book "Mole Music" by David McPhail, and they will receive a parent letter including expectations, units of study, and contact information.

Is your child interested in joining choir??? They should attend the first meeting on September 1 at 7:10am in the band room. For more information, your child can get a permission slip and parent letter, and rehearsal calendar from me in room 14.

Music Class- Week 6

2010-09-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

This week in music class:

The students will be playing songs on the keyboard using both hands simultaneously. Later in the week, the students will be assessed on the keyboards by playing two songs for me with the correct hand position and correct notes. At the end of the week, the students will be composing their own keyboard songs.

Music Class- Week 5

2010-09-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

This week in Music Class:

The students are starting a new unit: Playing the Keyboard! For those of you at curriculum night, you heard me mention how unique this unit is, because it allows each student to progress at their own rate. Students who have had piano lessons will begin at a level appropriate for them. Next week, the students will be assessed on what they have learned through performing for me in class. Also, the students will be composing music on the keyboard to present for the class.

Music Class- Week 4

2010-09-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

This week in Music Class we are focusing on components of melody and form. The students have been learning to sing using solfege, and they have been analyzing the pieces as we go. The 7th and 8th grade students will be learning how to build chords, analyze chord progressions, and determine all major key signatures. 6th grade students will focus on the basics of form, phrase structure and singing with solfege.

The next test in music will be on Monday, Sept. 20.

Music Class- Week 3

2010-09-07T09:46:00.000-07:00

This week in music class, the students will finish the rhythm unit by taking a test on Tuesday. Wednesday, the students will compose rhythms in groups and perform their compositions with instruments for the class. Thursday and Friday will be an introduction to Melody and Form.

Music Class: Trimester 1: Week 2

2010-08-30T14:31:00.000-07:00

This week in music, the students will be learning how to count rhythms in simple, compound, and complex meters. The students will also learn to identify meter and rhythms by ear. Later this week, the students will compose and perform rhythms using classroom instruments. Next Tuesday, September 7, the students will have a test on the rhythm concepts learned throughout this unit.

If your child is interested in joining choir, they should come to the meeting on August 31 at 7:35am in the band room. Choir meets Tuesday and Thursday mornings before school from 7:10- 7:45am. See Ms. Berman for a permission slip!

Welcome Back!!!

2010-08-24T08:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome back!
I am looking forward to the beginning of another great year at Lakeview.
Music classes begin today and we will soon enter into the first unit of study: Rhythm!

Our first test (on the Rhythm unit) will be on Tuesday, September 7, 2010.