Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Program Selection

I did an activity in my grad class last night.  I brought in a set of ten different scores and asked the group to rank them in order of difficulty.  They next selected five of the songs to work for a concert program.

Some things I noticed:

  • There are differences of opinion on what is hard or easy.
  • Everyone selects different programs.  It is important to know why (conductor skills, interest, patience for hard music, etc...).
I wonder if any districts have meetings where they select the repertoire for the following year in a group.  I know English teachers don't bring a new book in without discussing it first.  Should we use the benefit of the crowd more?

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Hip Hop Assignments


Required:
1. Creating a youTube "Favorites" playlist.
  • Sign in to youtube using your google/youtube account.  If you do not have an account (most of you do) then create one.  Remember to sign out at end of class!!!!
  • Create a playlist called "Hip-Hop Favorites".  To create a new playlist click the share button on the video and "Create New Playlist".  Once you create playlist you will use same button to just add videos to it.
  • You can only include TEN videos in playlist.  These will be your TEN FAVORITE hip hop songs.  Not nine, not eight, not eleven.  Ten.
  • Try to include songs that are creative enough that they aren't one long swear word marathon.
  • Sign out of youtube!!
2. Create a flow chart of one of the following classic hip-hop tunes.  Most of you will use pencil/paper to do this.  Some of these are LONG.  You don't have to flow chart the entire song.  Check with me as you create.
  • "Rapper's Delight" - Sugar Hill Gang
  • "The Message" - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
  • "Wild Wild West" - Kool Moe Dee
  • "Fight for Your Rght" - Beastie Boys
  • "Can I Kick It?" - A Tribe Called Quest
  • "King of Rock" - Run DMC
3. Watch one of the following hip hop movies.  Please realize there are some "bad words" in these movies.

Optional/Choice (must do at least one):

1. Add a rhyme to your soundcloud account.  

2. Create a graffiti tag portfolio using the iPad and your evernote account.

3. Make a "how to" video to post to youtube of one of the following:
  • Hip hop dance moves.
  • How to draw your name hip hop style.
  • How to use garageband to create a recording.
4. Create something (hip-hop style) really cool and share it with the class.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

NAfME All-Eastern

I recently returned from the NAfME All-Eastern conference where I presented "Creative Uses for the iPad in Music Class".  I was lucky to have a full session.  I'm not sure I did too good, however.  I tried to include student examples.

A few observations:
1. It would be great if the BOCJ groups were at the conference and you didn't have to take a bus to go see them.  It is much more fun to stop in at rehearsal between sessions.
2.  Almost nobody was at the 8am session with Tom Duffy.  People should have been there.  One of the best things I have seen in awhile.
3. It was neat to meet up with some twitter colleagues.
4. There is almost no social media presence (or internet presence) by the conference or the attendees.  I'm almost certain this will be the only blog post.  Not sure why there is so little reflection and advocacy from this group.
5. Its really helpful when the convention center offers the wifi in the hallway and has the concession stand open.


Thursday, April 4, 2013

Masters

So lucky to have Dave Livolsi and Kurt Berglund visit our band yesterday. They did great work with our students!