This week in Music:

6th Grade is in Charleston, SC on their Grade Level trip!  I can't wait to hear their stories!  #Davis6

7th Grade Fusion is working on You Can Call Me Al, by Paul Simon.  On Monday, we are going to listen to the song and follow the sheet music.  We will be discussing the FORM of the song, along with key signature and other musical symbols used in the song.

In addition, we will be adding brass instruments to the song!

8th Grade is working on Mustang Sally, by Wilson Picket.  On Monday, everybody began working on how-to-play the bass line.  Understanding and playing the bass line will help everybody understand how the bass part fits into the song, giving students a different perspective.

Here is what's happening in Middle School Music this week!

ROCK 101 is preparing for our in-class concert on November 8th!  We are working on the following skills and music:

Guitar Techniques:  Learning notes on the fret board - how to play Power Chords
Bass Guitar Techniques: Learning notes on the fret board - using the right hand for strumming/plucking.
Drum Techniques: Learning how to read and execute basic drum set pattern in 4/4 Time.
Piano Technique: Learning how to play major chords on the piano.

This week, students are learning how to play I, IV, V, I chord progression in the keys of C, G, D, A and E.

We are working on the following songs/genres:

1. 12-Bar Blues (Multiple Keys)
2. Seven Nation Army, by The Whites Stripes
3. I Gotta Feelin', by The Black Eyed Peas

NOTES:

Seven Nation Army consists of a repeated "theme" played throughout the song.

I Gotta Feelin' has a repeated chord progression throughout.

FUSION I continues to work on new skills and music!

Skills this week include:

1. Learning how to play Power Chords
2. Learning the Fret Board
3. Palm Muting

Songs include:

Hit Me With Your Best Shot, by Pat Benatar

Every Breath You Take, by The Police

Another One Bites The  Dust, by Queen

FUSION II continues to work on skills and new music too!

Songs include:

Fear Of The Dark, by Iron Maiden

On Monday, we decided to split into smaller groups and work on three Bon Jovi songs:

Have A Nice Day

Wanted Dead or Alive

Runaway

FUSION II has spent time using Fear Of The Dark as a music lesson in unison playing as well as harmonization.

6th Grade Rock 101

ROCK 101, is a 12-week learning experience that provides students with expanded performance opportunities in a mixed ensemble environment. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of musical genres, including: Rock, Classical, Jazz, Blues, Jewish Folk, R&B and other musical genres.  

Goals:

1. ·         To Introduce and develop melodic and rhythmic concepts.
2. ·         Students will be introduced to fundamental piano concepts.
3. ·         To advance individual skills in music theory, sight-reading, ear training and performance.
4. ·         Students will learn to play multiple instruments.
5. ·         To execute appropriate rehearsal and performance etiquette.
6. ·         To develop and record a consistent and effective practice routine.
7. ·         To build a positive, respectful relationship between Students and Instructor.
8. ·         How to effectively use the Internet as a viable learning resource.

Materials

Students are required to bring the following items to class: music, practice log and a pencil. 

Grading

1.     Class participation and daily class work            40%

2.     Written and playing evaluations                          40%

3.     Concert performance                                            20%

Welcome Back!
2017-18 School Year has begun!  Looking forward to a great year!

7th and 8th Grade FUSION Syllabus

Fusion is a year-long class broken into the four segments:

1) Individual skills (20%)

2) Ensemble rehearsal and performance (50%)

3) Music History (20%)

4) Songwriting and Recording (10%)

Each of the four segments will contribute to your FUSION grade every trimester.

Individual Skills:

Students will be required to:

- Complete "pass-offs" every week 

- Model productive daily practice

-Prepare Ensemble music

- Learn how to tune

Ensemble rehearsal/performances:

- Developing a solid rehearsal routine in class

- Working in small and large ensembles 

-  Learning how to set up and break down sound equipment for concerts and rehearsals.

Music History:

- Research Composers

- Study the history of Blues and music from the 1930's to present -Group projects utilizing www.teachrock.org

- Using YOUTUBE and other online resources to listen and analyze music

Song Writing/Recording

- Individual/group projects, writing jingles and original songs

- Learn how to record, using RockBand and ProTools software

Welcome back from Spring Break!

This week, our 7th and 8th Grade FUSION groups will be performing on Thursday, April 20th at 7pm at the Rosenberg Family Performing Arts Center!

Please come out to support our Middle School Rockers as they play songs from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's!

This week in Rock 101, the 6th Graders continue studies on chords, 12-Bar Blues FORM and reading rhythms.  They are getting ready to work on their first song!

Have a fantastic week!

This week in Middle School Music:

The Sixth Grade is preparing for their "in-class" concert on March 8th!  Students are working on the following songs:

"Traditional" 12- Bar Blues, a Standard musical FORM that has inspired many genres of music over the past 75 years.

Students will have the opportunity to improvise on their instruments.

7th Grade is working on Sopring Concert music!  They are working on:

Black or White, by Michael Jackson
Turn The Page, by Bob Seger
Livin' On A Prayer, by Bon Jovi
Sabatoge, by The Beastie Boys

8th Grade is working on concert songs and working through new material:

Freewill, by RUSH
All Along The Watchtower, by Bob Dylan (Jimi Hendrix version)
Ethiopia, by The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Purple Haze, by Jimi Hendrix
Moby Dick, by Led Zeppelin

Latest and Greatest for February 2017!

Happy Tuesday to all of my Davis families!

Here is what our students have been working on recently:

6th Grade:  The 6th Grade has been learning three songs for their upcoming "in-school" concert on March 8th,

• 12-Bar Blues  (Standard)
• Seven Nation Army (The Black Keys)
• We're Not Gonna Take It  (Twisted Sister)

Students have been learning basic rhythmic and melodic phrases on:

• Guitar
• Bass
• Drums

In addition, they are singing and learning about musical FORM.  We are winding down our 12-week rotation and preparing for our "end of the trimester" concert.

7th Grade is working on Michael Jackson songs, learning different themes and phrases.  In addition, they have split into two groups, each working on a new song.

8th Grade is working on spring concert music as well.  From RUSH, to Jimi Hendrix, to Smashing Pumpkins, the 8th grade is showing how diverse their musical aspirations are!

Have a great week!

- Mr. Michek