Friday, September 24, 2010

WHAT WE DID TODAY (SEMESTER #1-17): FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2010

GENERAL MUSIC PERIODS 2, 3:
COMPOSER: Chopin Etude in C# Minor Opus 15 #7

OBJECTIVE: LEARNING ABOUT MUSICAL THEATRE
1. COMPOSER REPORT ON CHOPIN CONTINUED:
.....a. Discussed famous artists that lived during the time period of Chopin:
..........1)J.M.W Turner, J.M.W
..........2)George Caleb Bingham
..........3)Eugene Delacroix (Personal friend to Chopin and George Sand; he painted a famous painting of Chopin)
.....b. Discussed some important historical happenings, inventions during Chopin's time period:
..........1)Daguerreotype Photography (Photography invented at end of Chopin's life and there is only one confirmed                                 photograph of Chopin that is known
..........2)John Deere Steel Plow invented
..........3)Safety Pin invented by Walter Hunt
..........4)Baseball invented by Abner Doubleday
..........5)California Gold Rush
.....c. Discussed the style of Chopin's music:
.........1)Romantic (evokes feelings and emotions)
.........2)Melodic
.........3)Contrasted Tempos (Speeds in the music change)
.........4)Nationalistic (Love of his country Poland depicted in his music)
.........5)Folk Music (Use of Polish folk music incorporated into his musical style)
.....d. Discussed "How to Write an Opinion" section and students had two write a couple of sentences giving their opinion on             the music of Chopin.
2. "What Is a Musical Worksheet" and discussion
.....a. Questions are being answered in class and to be finished on Monday
.....b. See this worksheet on this Blog as well
.....c. Some terms learned and discussed from this worksheet/lesson in regards to musical theatre:
........1)composer
........2)lyrics, lyricist
........3)dialogue
........4)choreographer, dance
........5)song, reprise
........6)act, intermission
........7)technicians
........8)creative team, director, musical conductor

We did 4 quotes this week worth 4 points on the grade.
GENERAL MUSIC PERIOD 6:
The same as periods 2,3 except the Chopin composer report information:
1. COMPOSER REPORT ON CHOPIN (CONTINUED): .....a. Discussed some other famous composers who were alive at the same time as Chopin:
..........1)Felix Mendelssohn: Famous composer and conductor from Germany (wrote a famous Wedding March)
..........2)Robert Schumann: Famous pianist, composer and piano teacher. He married the daughter of his piano teacher Clara Wieck Schumann, who was also well known for her piano playing and composing in her own right. Schumann experimented with a device he invented to help strengthen and train the fingers of his students. While trying the device out himself, he harmed one of his fingers to the extent that it never healed properly. Not being to play the piano as well as he used to depressed him so much that he eventually developed a mental illiness.
..........3)Franz Liszt: A famous pianist (performer) and composer who, like Chopin, was one of the most popular pianists of his time.
.....b. Discussed some other famous historical people alive during Chopin's lifetime:
..........1)US President #5 James Monroe
..........2)US President #11 James K. Polk
..........3)Queen Victoria of England (She was the queen of England for a very long time and her style was copied by people all over the world. Her influence on style and culture was so famous that the time period she lived in is often refered to as the "Victorian" era. An example of her influence is the tradition of the Christmas tree. Before she had one in her palace, the Christmas tree was only a tradition in Germany. After Victoria was introduced to this custom by her husband Albert, who was German, the Christmas tree became a tradition all over. It was also Victoria who set the tradition of getting married to a famous bridal march composed by Felix Mendelssohn. She had heard the music in his (Mendelssohn's) "A Midsummer's Night Dream" and decided to have it played at her own wedding ceremony.

(SEE periods 2,3 for the rest of the lesson)
BEGINNING VIOLIN PERIOD 5:
OBJECTIVE: Violin Bow: Bowing on the Shoulder: Bow Levels and Moving the Bow at Different Parts

1. Reviewed bow hold
2. Bowing on the shoulder: review bow levels

3. Moving the bow at its different parts using down and up bows
.....a. Learned the symbols for UP and DOWN bows
ADVANCED VIOLIN PERIOD 4: 
OBJECTIVE: Preparation for Harvest Day performance on October 28th/Hoedown music
1. TUNE

2. ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL:
a. Worked on the 3rd section based on fast scale passages:

FINGER PATTERNS USED:
"A" Major Scale: 0 1 23 4 (4can also be 0)
"E" Major Scale: 1 2 34 (4 can also be 0)
played with the recording for continuity.
MONDAY THERE WILL BE A QUIZ ON THAT DIFFICULT 4-NOTE PASSAGE!