Due to the current school modifications caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic, I am teaching in-person at PAPS, however students do not go into the Music Room, and there are restrictions regarding Instrument use and singing.  The descriptions below indicate our 'normal' monthly learning goals, and I am modifying my lessons according to Provincial and Board guidelines. What you see below may not be happening this year. Send me a personal message through EDSBY for quickest response time if you have any questions or concerns!

                 

-Mr. H-

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December 2/20: "December  News "

 

Keep calm and get to the Winter Concert:

 

Elements of Music Foci: Pitch

 

-Grade 7's and 8's have mostly finished their playing tests and will now be preparing for a written quiz on ledger lines and key signatures.  The final week of 2019 will be a study of Bach and Beethoven.

-Grade 6's are also finishing their final playing test of the year. Information has been passed out to the students regarding their choice of song and Success Criteria.

-Grade 5's will have a Time Signature and Rhythm Creation quiz, and a Listening Lesson with written response this month, as well as time on their instruments.  They are demonstrating beginning sounds and switching between 2 and 3 notes.  

-Grade 4's have finished their xylophone unit and are now doing activities to strengthen their knowledge of the lines and spaces. Look for an exciting unit on Boomwhackers soon where we continue applying the lines and spaces using simple instruments. 

-All primary classes from grades 1-3 are working on Pitch and melody activities, as well as applying rhythms.

-Jr. Band and Sr. Band are prepared to wow you at the Concert!  Thank you for getting them to all those early-morning rehearsals!

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If you have any questions, please call the number at the top of this page!

 

Your partner in education,

 

Mr. K. Harris

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November 1/20: "November  News "

 

The weather is turning colder, and here is what's going on in the PAPS music program for this month:

 

Elements of Music Foci: Pitch

 

-Grade 7's and 8's are preparing for their second playing test of the year.  There will be a listening lesson regarding Dan Bukvich and his Symphony #1 (The Bombing of Dresden) where we try to connect the music to the real-life events in the closing months of WWII.  This lesson will occur close to Remembrance Day.

-Grade 6's will also have their second playing test.

-Grade 5's are still learning how to assemble their instruments, make beginning sounds and learn their first 5 notes.  They will not have a formal playing test until December, and will be allowed to take their instruments home to practice after Winter Break, once I am confident they can meet the above criteria in class. 

-Grade 4's are halfway through a xylophone unit where they are reading simple melodies with their knowledge of basic rhythm durations and a 5 line staff.  Playing tests will occur in early-mid November.

-All primary grades are working on the concept of pitch.  Through activities like Melody-Mapping, we're learning how to read a line of pitches and guess what it might sound like....kind of like "predicting" in literacy, or "estimate/guess and check" in math.

-Performances: The Senior band just completed its first performance on Oct. 31.  Great job, everyone!  The students worked so hard in a very short amount of time for this!  As we gear into the Winter season, there will be some more performance announcements coming soon.  Watch the calendar. Newsletters will be going home about each event as they get closer.

 

If you have any questions, please call the number at the top of this page!

 

Your partner in education,

 

Mr. K. Harris

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October 2/20: "October News "

 

The first month of school is in the books, and here is what's going on in the music program for this month:

 

Elements of Music Foci: Durations/Rhythms and Pitch

 

-Grade 6's, 7's and 8's are preparing for their first playing test of the year.  

-Grade 5's have successfully completed their theory lessons and are now beginning their first brass or woodwind instrument this month.  

-Grade 4's are beginning their xylophone unit.

-All grades 1-3 are working on Pitch and Duration concepts through activities and singing games.

-The  Senior Concert band has begun rehearsals every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 am, and the Junior Band is on Wednesdays (same time).  It's not too late to join!

 

If you have any questions, please call the number at the top of this page!

 

Your partner in education,

 

Mr. K. Harris

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September 8/20: "September News "

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 A new school year has begun, and here is what's going on in the music program for this month:

 

Elements of Music Foci: Durations/Rhythms and Pitch

 

-Every grade will be reviewing their learnings from last year, and discovering new rhythms (grade-appropriate by Ontario curriculum expectations).  

-Primary students will be learning new singing games to practise these expectations.

-Instrumental students will soon be picking up their instruments to engage in this months foci.

-Students in Grade 5 will be selecting and learning to perform on a concert band instrument for the first time this year!  Prior to this, however, they must display a good recall of basic music literacy skills through most of September with some fun activities.  

-I will be updating my twitter feed with pictures of students once the photo consent forms have been sent in by parents. 

-Look for band to start up at the end of September.

 

If you have any questions, please call the number at the top of this page!

 

Your partner in education,

 

Mr. K. Harris

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June 1/20: "June News"

In the music room at Essex Public School this month, we're talking about Form:

 

Elements of Music Foci: FORM ("How music is organized")

 

-Grade 7's and 8's will be learning about STOMP and creating their own routines using found and recycled materials. Following this, we plan to use technology to compose a theme song for a video game or environmental cause through Musescore on our school laptops.

-Grade 5's and 6's will be composing using Soundation and Jamstudio.  Grade 6's will be learning about Elton John and the role of his music in the media.

-4A and 4WM have now finished their recorder unit and will be exploring the music of Beethoven and Bach, comparing music and society in the past and present.

-Primary  students will explore FORM through various singing games and activities.  

  

 

If you have any questions, please call the number at the top of this page!

 

Your partner in education,

 

Mr. K. Harris

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May 1/20: "May News"

In the music room this month, we're talking about Form:

 

Elements of Music Foci: FORM ("How music is organized")

 

-Grade 7's and 8's are starting the month with playing tests, then writing a year-end theory quiz.  See the calendar for dates.  Following this, we'll be exploring the Jazz genre and composing using recycled materials (STOMP!).

-Grade 5's and 6's are also starting playing tests and will be quizzed on the Lines and Spaces of the Treble and Bass Clef, as well as some Critical Analysis questions.  They will be exploring FORM in some listening activities before composing their own songs using technology like Soundation and Jamstudio.

-4A and 4WM will be completing their recorder unit.  They are learning some basic songs, warm-ups  and routines and will write a quiz at the end of the unit.

-Primary students will explore FORM through various singing games and activities.

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-Here is a list of upcoming performances:

 

  

 

If you have any questions, please call the number at the top of this page!

 

Your partner in education,

 

Mr. K. Harris

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April 1/20: "April News"

In the music room this month, we're talking about Timbre:

 

Elements of Music Foci: Timbre ("The texture of music from the instruments chosen by the composer")

 

-Grade 7's and 8's are currently working on performance material for their May playing tests, the final ones for the year.  We are still perfecting dynamics on our instruments.  There will be some listening lessons geared towards World Music Instruments.

-Grade 5's and 6's are hard at work on instrumental music, getting ready for their year-end playing tests. At home, you can support them by encouraging instrument sign-out for additional practicing at home.  Grade 6's in particular are creating music to represent Aboriginal Art by Morriseau and Carr.

-4A and 4WM have begun a recorder unit.  Look for them to learn a few beginning notes, melodies and develop proper technique.  They are trying to earn belts for our recorder karate program.  Please help by discussing resiliency at home.....practicing with focus, and not giving up if they are struggling.

-Primary students will explore instrument families through various activities.  

  

 

If you have any questions, please call the number at the top of this page!

 

Your partner in education,

 

Mr. K. Harris

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March 1/20: "March News"

In the music room this month, we're getting expressive:

 

Elements of Music Foci: Tempo ("How fast or slow the beat is")

 

-Grade 5-8 are performing their playing tests in the first week of March, and will be getting new music to explore.  

-4A and 4WM have begun a recorder unit.  At home, you can encourage them to practice the sheet music in their duotang.  Don't forget to use the fingering chart if they forget how to play a note. Students must bring their recorder and duotang to each music class.  This is their responsibility. 

-Primary students will explore changing tempo in the songs and singing games that we learn this month. At home, ask them how they might change the speed in music they like, and which way sounds better.

 

If you have any questions, please call the number at the top of this page!

 

Your partner in education,

 

Mr. K. Harris

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February 1/20: "February News

Although it's not a leap year, let's leap into learning anyway:

 

Elements of Music Foci: Dynamics ("When music is played loudly or softly")

 

-Grade 7's and 8's will be preparing for playing tests in late Feb. and early March, focusing on Dynamics (playing quietly and loudly, with crescendo and decrescendo).

-Grade 6's will also be getting ready for a playing test in early March.  Grade 6's in particular will be initializing Dynamic control on their instruments.  At home, you can support them by encouraging instrument sign-out for additional practice.

-4A and 4WM will begin a recorder unit.  At home, you can encourage your child to practice counting the beat in music they like, and practice our songs for a few minutes each day.  Also, they will be writing a quiz about time signatures and bar lines, and learning about Beethoven's 9th Symphony.

-Primary students will explore Dynamics in the songs and singing games that we learn this month. At home, ask them how they might change the dynamics in music they like.

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If you have any questions, please call the number at the top of this page!

 

Your partner in education,

 

Mr. K. Harris

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January 6/20: "January News"

Hope you had a restful break, now we're back at it:

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Elements of Music Foci: Harmony (When a note has one or more notes added to it)

 

-Grade 7's and 8's will be getting new music this month, and focusing on harmony by performing major and minor triads in groups.  There will also be a listening lesson on Smetana and Louie, where they respond to music through visual art, connecting their drawing to the music using musical vocabulary.

-Grade 6's will be getting new music as well, and will compare the music, life and times of Bach and Mozart (Baroque vs. Classical).

-Grade 5's will be exploring Chopin and Glenn Miller, and continue their progress on their instruments.  They will be allowed to sign out instruments to take home this month, keep an eye out for a newsletter.

-4A and 4WM will be exploring harmony and teamwork as they continue a Boomwhacker unit which will challenge them to read and compose with standard notation (real notes on a 5-line staff) in groups.  They'll also be learning about Haydn.

-Grade  2's and 3's will also explore harmony through singing games and composing lyrics for existing melodies to match syllables with rhythm durations.

-Grade 1's will be exploring the music of the Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky through dance, drawing and oral descriptions.

-Remember that band rehearsals start again around mid-late January, and a rehearsal calendar is coming soon with details.  

  

 

If you have any questions, please call the number at the top of this page!

 

Your partner in education,

 

Mr. K. Harris

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