MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM

2013 Middle School Curriculum
links will be added as the lessons progress

OCTOBER
Religious Music (to correspond with World Religion course)

• Judaism  (Some of what we listened to: Modern group, Klezmer, Niggun) 
• Buddhism (Some of what we listened to: bowls, chanting)
• Gospel (Some of what we watched:  American Roots1-5)
• Christianity (Some of what we listened to: Gregorian, Cantatas)
• Hinduism (Some of what we listened to: Carnatic, Mridangam, Shankar)
• Sikhism (Some of what we listened to: Bhangra, Modern)
• Islamic (Some of what we listened to: Sufi, Call to prayer)
• Baha'i (Some of what we listened to: Modern & Rap,  Persian)

Discussions:
What are the pros/cons of modernizing religious music for a younger audience?
What is the appropriate use of sacred music in education or schools?
How does music promote worship?
Why is sacred music vital to the worship experience?
What can you learn about a culture thru their religious music?

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER
Opera

• Tristan & Isolde - Wagner
• Madame Butterfly - Puccini
• La Traviata - Verdi
• Carmen - Bizet
• Magic Flute - Mozart
• Marriage of Figaro - Mozart
• Rigoletto - Verdi
• Barber of Seville - Rossini
• Little Prince - Portman
• Hansel and Gretal - Humperdink 

JANUARY
Rock & Roll

1940's
How to analyze a song
R&B into Rock & Roll
Technology and the electric guitar

1950's
Elvis
Do Wop
Teenage Culture

1960's
TV&Dance
Surf Music
Girl Groups

1960's
Beatles
Rolling Stones
The Who

FEBRUARY
1960's/70's
Bob Dylan
Folk

MARCH
1960's-1970's
Hard Rock development
Soul
Roots of Heavy Metal
Glam Rock

1970's
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Art/Progressive (Jethro Tull; Emerson, Lake and Palmer; Pink Floyd; Genesis)

1970's
Rise of Disco
New York

APRIL
1980's

MAY
1990's
Grunge
Hip-Hop
Punk

2013 ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM

Appreciation 
OCTOBER
Genres:
(links to just some of what we listen to)
Latin - Salsa, Mambo
Jazz and Blues
Country and Western
Rock and Rap

NOVEMBER
Classical Month:
Kodaly's Viennese Musical Clock
Bach's Little Fugue
Bach's Minuet in G (The Supremes)
Bach's Brandenburg Concerto

DECEMBER
Opera: (taught by Middle School)
Hansel and Gretal - Humperdink
Magic Flute - Mozart
Rigoletto - Verdi
Barber of Seville - Rossini
Little Prince - Portman
Madame Butterfly - Puccini
Carmen - Bizet
Aida - Verdi

JANUARY - FEBRUARY
Opera review

American History:
Native American music
Revolutionary War: Star Spangled Banner
Music for the Underground Railroad
Civil War: North vs. South music/lyics
Frontier Music: gold rush, homesteaders, railroad, cowboysBlue Grass music

MARCH-APRIL
A month of American composers:
Sousa (El Capitan is the perfect tempo for students learning the cup song)
Gershwin
Copland
Jopland
 
APRIL-MAY
Music from Asia
India
Korea
Japan
China
Middle East/Arabia
Philippenes
 

Theory
We follow the Music Mind Games curriculum

Play
Fall Unit - voice

Winter Unit - Boomwhackers

Spring Unit - Hand percussion

PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN

2013 Preschool and Kindergarten curriculum
links are added as lessons progress

OCTOBER
Theory: the musical alphabet and the Grand Staff

Singing Songs:
Farmer Browns Apples
I Have 10 Toes
Hinges
Pile of Tin

Appreciation:
Idlewood - They Might Be Giants
Big Rock Candy Mountain - book (family friendly version)
Chelsea Morning -book
Farkle McBride - book

NOVEMBER
Theory: the Grand Staff, introducing rhythm

Singing Songs:
Autumn Time
Zoom Zoom
My Hands
Hi Yo Witzi

Appreciation
Viennese Music Clock - Kodaly
Symphony No. 5 - Beethoven

DECEMBER
Theory: introducing rhythm and dictation

Singing Songs:
Hear the Wind Blow
Roll Your Hands
Sarasponda
Snowman Song

Appreciation:
The Animal Boogie
Shake your Sillies Out
Vivaldi's Winter 

JANUARY
Theory:

Singing Songs:
Ring Those Bells
Playful Little Jackfrost
Kye Kye Kula
Snowflake, Snowflake,
The Mitten Song
Let's Wave

Appreciation:
What do you hear trays
Sicilienne
The Loud Book

FEBRUARY
Theory:

Singing Songs:
Like to Play in the Snow
Gung Hey Fat Choy
The Shaker Hop
Skinnamarink
There's a Little Wheel Turnin'
I Wiggle

Appreciation:
Clap a familiar song
Going on a Bear Hunt

UBER REWARD WEEK 7

Beatbox Brilliance: Tom Thum at TedX Sydney.

Parents, you will enjoy the whole clip, but for class we started at 6:30 and watched thru to the end.

UBER REWARD WEEK 6

 

The Fun Power of Music:

Virgin Airlines uses music to get people to listen to something they usually ignore.

UBER REWARD WEEK 5

Sooooo much fun!!!

UBER REWARD WEEK 4

After studying the evolution of folk into modern country music I wanted something fun for the kids to enjoy as their uber reward. 

This video actually provided a great discussion on the realities of being famous and the lifestyle that follows.  This is a talk I think all parents can have with their kids.  It was fascinating to see which students said they wanted to be famous and which were opposed to it. 

(There is an inappropriate word in the song which I made a point of talking over.  Only one out of all the students commented.   When I asked how she heard it, she admitted she was listening for it, but all my other students had no idea it was there... that is an interesting lesson in itself :)

UBER REWARD WEEK 3

After discussing Rock 'n Roll music genre, this was a must Uber Reward.  Sadly, I don't think too many elementary students get the full humor of this.

UBER REWARD WEEK 2

UBER REWARD WEEK 1

OPERA CYCLE

Opera's and links are listed below.


Week 1:  

1. Using the links above learn about the story of your opera or Wikipedia.  Don't use your time watching videos, there is time next week for this. 
2. If it applies, read about Italian opera    http://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/showview.asp?ID=42
3. By the end of class you should know the story and be-able to identify the characters.
4. By the end of class you should know a little bit about the composer.

Week 2:

1. Spend time this week watching videos and learning about music samples.
2. By the end of class you should have written down a summary of the story using simple words and approximately 10 sentences.
3. Write a few sentences about the composer.
4. Consider the following when you are writing your summary:

• Who are the main characters?
• What is the main story?
• Identify which songs from this opera are famous
• Is there anything besides the music that makes the opera famous?  (Was it written for somebody famous?  Is it a historical event?)
• Who is this opera by?
• What was happening in the composers life when they wrote it?

Week 3:

1. Use your computer to set up a power point or slide show.
2. You can use Google Presentations or another powerpoint you are more comfortable with
3. The first slide should include three sentences and a picture of your composer.
4. Using a few sentences on different slides tell the story of your opera (use 5-10 slides with simple sentences.)
5. Include a few slides within the story of images from performances.

Week 4:

1. Go thru your presentation.  
2. Check your summary.  
3. Check your pictures.  
4. Make sure the links work.  
5. Adjust start times on the links of necessary (or make a note for yourself to do this during your presentation.)

OPERAS

Madame Butterfly

• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/amato/theater/madamabutterfly.html
• http://www.classical917.org/articles/1375466298-Opera-Cheat-Sheet-Madama-Butterfly.html
• http://www.metoperafamily.org/video/2013-2014/madama-butterfly
• http://opera.stanford.edu/op4all/OCTeachingManual.pdf
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/gp-at-the-met-madama-butterfly/preview-of-madama-butterfly/788/

La Traviata

• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/amato/theater/latraviata.html
• http://classical917.org/articles/1364569690-Opera-Cheat-Sheet-La-Traviata.html
• http://www.geocities.jp/wakaru_opera/englishtraviata.html
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/gp-at-the-met-la-traviata/about-the-opera/1326/
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/gp-at-the-met-la-traviata/libiamo-from-la-traviata/1345/
• http://opera.stanford.edu/op4all/OCTeachingManual.pdf

Carmen

• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/amato/theater/carmen.html
• http://classical917.org/articles/1361537989-Opera-Cheat-Sheet-Carmen.html

Magic Flute

• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/amato/theater/diezauberflote.html
• http://www.metoperafamily.org/video/2013-2014/the-magic-flute
• http://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/showview.asp?ID=27
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/gp-at-the-met-the-magic-flute/introduction/73/

Marriage of Figaro

• http://www.manitobaopera.mb.ca/learn/studyguides/FigaroStudyGuide.pdf
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/amato/theater/figaro.html
• http://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/showview.asp?ID=27 

Rigoletto

• http://www.metoperafamily.org/video/2013-2014/rigoletto
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/gp-at-the-met-rigoletto/video-caro-nome/1693/
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/gp-at-the-met-rigoletto/video-questa-o-quella/1685/
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/gp-at-the-met-rigoletto/video-act-1-duet/1696/
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/gp-at-the-met-rigoletto/about-the-opera/1672/
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/rigoletto-from-mantua/about-the-operatic-film/1148/

Barber of Seville

• http://www.geocities.jp/wakaru_opera/englishbarber.html 
• http://classical917.org/articles/1355954166-Opera-Cheat-Sheet-The-Barber-of-Seville.html
• http://www.daytonopera.org/site/uploads/Barber%20Ultimate%20Study%20Guide.pdf
• http://opera.stanford.edu/op4all/OCTeachingManual.pdf 
• Listen to this old recording called A Child's Introduction to Opera: The Barber of Seville at Kiddie Records. Look on 2009, January, Week 4.
• Visit Classics for Kids for more about Rossini.

La Boheme

• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/amato/theater/laboheme.html
• http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_boh%C3%A8me
• http://www.metoperafamily.org/video/2013-2014/la-boheme
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/la-boheme/preview-of-the-film/892/
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/gp-at-the-met-la-boheme/introduction/282/

The Merry Widow

• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/merrywidow/synopsis.html

The Enchanted Island

• http://www.metoperafamily.org/video/2013-2014/the-enchanted-island
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/gp-at-the-met-the-enchanted-island/clip-danielle-de-niese-in-the-enchanted-island/1302/
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/gp-at-the-met-the-enchanted-island/clip-joyce-didonato-in-the-enchanted-island/1299/
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/gp-at-the-met-the-enchanted-island/clip-david-daniels-in-the-enchanted-island/1296/

Aida

• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/gp-at-the-met-aida/video-gloria-all-egitto/1708/
• http://classical917.org/articles/1355442628-Opera-Cheat-Sheet-Aida.html

ULTIMATE REWARD

 

Though they are all familiar with the tune, we have taken a little time studying the actual music, Frere Jaques.  

Learning to read music has been a big development for the elementary this year.

As a little reward we watched this cute rendition.

ULTIMATE REWARD

After studying John Phillips Sousa and Stars and Stripes Forever, this was a fitting Ultimate Reward.

As a side note, we did watch a few marching band clips.

ULTIMATE REWARD

and this little ditty was a bit hit too (as you can imagine):

ULTIMATE REWARD

In our Pre-K and Kindergarten class we spent two months studying Carnival of the Animals by Saint -Saens.

We watched little peices of the above video during the course, but the favorite video was what we watched at the end.

CIVIL RIGHTS STUDY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL

Our Middle School students are studying the Civil Rights movement.

In music enrichment class we supported that study.

ULTIMATE REWARD

After studying Eine Kleine Nacht Musik  by Mozart, this was a fun watch.

ULTIMATE REWARD

Studying Pachelbel's Canon for the next two weeks and its chord structure.  The above was an Ultimate Reward.

ULTIMATE REWARD

The pre-k's are studying Camille Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals.

So far we have learned The Tortoise, The Hens, The Persons with Long Ears (donkeys) and now The Swan.

This video was used as an Ultimate Reward.  (We noticed how the water is represented by the piano and the swan by the violin.)

MENDELSSOHN & VOCABULARY

We studied Mendelssohn, focusing on new vocabulary like: theme, melody and counter-melody, lyrical, fanfare, concerto, phrase, and virtuoso.

At the end of the lesson we watched excerpts of his Violin Concerto in E minor (this complete peice is 30 minutes.)

The great thing about this performance are the facts shown at the bottom of the screen teaching kids about the music.

ULTIMATE REWARD

 After learning about Bizet s Carmen and reading the sheet music to Toreador we were rewarded with this exciting performance of Carmen by David Garrett.

ULTIMATE REWARD

Piano Guys, One Direction
(Student requested Ultimate Reward)

ULTIMATE REWARD

Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Sandart
(We studied Vivaldi's, Spring in correlation with tempo terminology.)

ULTIMATE REWARD

Dona Nobis Pacem performed by Lisbeth Scott
(We learn songs in many languages.  In Latin this says "Give us peace".)