Music & Performing Arts

Performing Arts – Grade 9

Teacher: Melanie Von Spreecken

Required course for grade 9. Classes meet Day A for half a block.

Quarter 1

  1. Guitar
    1. Basics of the guitar
    2. The importance of tuning
    3. Note reading on a 6 strings
    4. Basic chord progressions
    5. Basic strumming patterns
    6. Beginning Ensembles
    7. Free play (after completing the above requirements, students may work alone or in groups on music that I provide or that they pull off the internet.

Quarter 2

  1. Choral work
    1. Finding each students’ most effective range
    2. Removing the fear of singing
    3. Explore the capabilities of the singing voice
    4. Prepare age-appropriate vocal selections for the December concert
    5. Small ensemble and solo work
    6. Proper Audience behavior
    7. Concert
    8. Performance evaluation

Quarter 3 This quarter will focus on both the singing voice as well as the guitar. The difference this time is that while I am working with one of the vocal selections, the rest will be working on guitar. The choral music will be in preparation for the choral festival. The guitar students are expected to have retained or to regain their guitar proficiency from first quarter. Then they each are expected to work on an ensemble piece to perform for the class.

  1. Choral work
    1. Re-voice the choir for changes in range and vocal efficiency
    2. Sight-singing and ear training exercises
    3. Small ensemble work
    4. Sectional work
    5. Using the music we are preparing focus on style, era, and music fundamentals
    6. Prepare age-appropriate vocal selections for the choir festival
    7. Festival behavior/audience behavior
    8. Choral Festival
    9. Festival Evaluation
    10. Guitar
      1. Design their own course of study and get my approval.
      2. Prepare a selection to perform for the class (this must be an ensemble using both guitar and vocals or more than one guitar.
      3. Perform for the class/class comments & discussion

Quarter 4 (As in Quarter 3, this quarter combines choral work and guitar study at the same time.)

  1. Choral work
    1. Preparation of the May concert music

                                          i.    Addition of choreography

                                         ii.    Consider adding accompanying instruments

  1. Preparation of the graduation selections
  2. May concert and concert evaluation
  3. Graduation (usually evaluation is not possible due to the students final exam schedule.)
  4. Guitar
    1. Design their own course of study and get my approval.
    2. Work as groups with guitars

                                          i.    Groups may include multiple guitars

                                         ii.    Students may choose to work on bass

                                        iii.    If a “combo” develops out of the class they can add drums

  1. Perform for the class/class comments & discussion
Music 101  - HS Elective Class, Open to Grades 10 – 12

Teacher: Melanie Von Spreecken

This course may be taken for either a semester or for the whole year.

1st Quarter

Basics of music theory, notation, chord construction, circle of 5ths, overview of

music history, listening and discussing music samples through history, and an

applied instrument and quarter performance for the class (usually guitar).

2nd Quarter

Continued study in from 1st quarter, choral music and performing in the December concert.  In the past students have been involved in the creation, direction and

arrangement of the concert choral selection as well as last year’s handbell choir which opened the concert.

3rd Quarter

Students new to the class will be expected to work on the basic music theory and fundamentals covered by the 1st quarter students. The quarter’s performance obligation will be the choir festival and the student designed projects (handout).

For continuing students this quarter will largely be preparation of the festival choir

selections. However, each student will design their own course of study to do while not engaged in learning the choral music. (Handout for this quarter will be given to all.)

4th Quarter

Exploration in other areas of music: electronic music (i.c. Garage Band or

Audacity), composition, and conducting.

Performance preparation for the spring concert and graduation.

Quarter 1

View, review, and discuss representative films from each decade.

Each student will keep a notebook and the following questions will be answered after viewing each movie.

Paragraph 1:  Offer your overall impression of the film while mentioning the movie’s title, director, and key actors.

Paragraph 2:  Summarize the plot of the film

Paragraph 3: How did the actors portray key character roles?  Did they play their parts well?

Paragraph 4:  Were any particular film techniques used in key scenes?  How did the film techniques and music enhance the setting and themes of the film?

Paragraph 5: Ending paragraph–your last opportunity to guide the reader.  Offer a clincher that tells the reader to attend the film or not.

Quarter 2

Choose, research, and present to the class a classic film.

Each student will choose a film for the class.

Make the choice:  You may choose a film that you particularly like or one that you have always wanted to see. However you must preview the film, the class viewing may not be your first time.

Research:  Give us a plot summary and reasons why you chose the film.

Create a 5-question document/worksheet for each member of the class to answer. 

Lead a class discussion:  Were any particular film techniques used in key scenes?  How did the film techniques and music enhance the setting and themes of the film?

Turn in to instructor: A brief summary of why you chose the film, your research on that film a copy of your worksheet.

 

 Scene Study- 2nd Semester Elective for Grades 11 & 12

Teacher: Melanie Von Spreecken

  1. Part I – Analysis
    1. Thinking as a Storyteller
    2. Finding the Story and Playing It
    3. Analysis to Action
    4. Script Analysis
    5. Scene Analysis
    6. Scoring the Scene
  1. Part II – Scene Study
    1. The Value of Scene Study Class
    2. The Actor’s Homework
    3. The Scene Work Process – an Overview
    4. The First Read in Detail
    5. Blocking – Before the Scene if Put Up
    6. More Blocking and Working the Scene
    7. Listening and Staying the the Moment
    8. Final Note

3,   Performances

  1. Audience Critique , Suggestions, and Evaluation

Note:

Last year this course was offered for only one quarter. This year it is a semester elective. Last year I was working without a text. This year I am using The Scene Study Book, Roadmap to Success by Bruce Miller. The outline above comes directly from this book. Since I haven’t taught this class I cannot delineate the material by quarters at this time.