I have been a substitute teacher for a few years now...and through a series me announcing that I CAN read music and that I am willing to take on Middle School Instrumental Music classes (Advanced and Beginning Band and Orchestra) I am and have been teaching this music assignment since September 21, 2015. The teacher for whom I have been subbing, sadly, died in January and I have been asked to finish the year.
I have instituted several systems of which I am proud...Methods Mondays and "Collaborative Conversations" that are sectionals with a bit of reflective writing thrown in. Because I am taking this music history class to be able to keep teaching this assignment...I have also begun a Music History unit...this blog will track my efforts.
The basis of my music history unit is this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m33fst0q74E I showed the video and had students take notes in a template form. This template has notes that indicate what will be emphasized in each era (composers and types of music from the period). I selected this video for its VERY basic format and information (this is middle school). My goal is to make students aware of their western civilization musical past and some of the themes that still appear in the music of today.
I did play a very brief example of Medieval music (Gregorian chant). I reminded most students (7th and 8th graders have already studied this era in history but 6th graders have not) that the church was the center of life for most people so religious music was the norm.
Our first era in this unit is the Renaissance which 7th and 8th graders have already studied and they were able to recall what made the era so special.
The next entry will review the details of the lesson and how well I succeeded in sharing the basics of Renaissance music.
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