Advanced Orchestra Assignments

Here is an example of a jazz melody that goes by really quickly in the beginning (they repeat it twice if you can catch it). Can you hum this?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVgQLtMDo3k
By the way, people ask me all the time what my favorite album of all time is.....this Miles Davis album (Nefertiti) is it.
Here's a pop tune that had such a strong melody that Miles Davis also recorded a version of it...when you listen to it, listen to the REPETITION of notes (especially the beginning lyrics)...this is an important aspect of melody...Plus it's just a great song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1mqrCTFoz4
Now you are set up for the best part.....take about 14 minutes of your life and listen to one of the most respected musicians to ever live talk about what a melody is. This whole series is kind of old, but I found a really good segment, and I hope you appreciate the time it takes to put the very best of Mr. Bernstein in front of you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AFovpvDRCI&t=200s

Hi everyone, I hope this finds you well. I am asking that you watch the 2nd and 3rd video from our collaborative series with Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Remember, they give a shout out to all CPS, but these videos and their content were put together via our ingenuity grant that you have all worked so hard for (this includes my beginners; they know how hard you have worked). The videos are for VIOLIN AND CELLO, but I want you all to watch both of them. Please, please PLEASE watch both videos and just turn in the assignment by simply checking in....just write "I watched both videos". I have to take attendance for these assignments and reach out to parents of students I am unable to get responses from. This isn't a threat, we just want to see who's tuning in and how everyone's doing. Here's the link to the videos: THE CELLO PLAYS THE BACH THAT WE ALL LOVE....sorry, I love slurring (that's the right hand technique they are both discussing). Take care!
Violin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLgMJc8wIh8&feature=youtu.be
Cello: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZwKwSGcJcY&feature=youtu.be

For Wednesday, please submit 2 well-written paragraphs that tell me YOUR definition of a melody based on the first example I gave vs. Mr. Bernstein and the examples I played. Don't think of it as an assignment...seriously, think of it as a chat about what you learned. Feel free to give me a youtube link to a melody you like!

just make sure to click "mark as submitted". Reminder; if you are just doing attendance and no work the grades can be lowered starting this Friday. Not a threat; just letting you know kiddos. Reach out

Hi. You have a homework assignment due Tuesday (pass it on). I want you to go to this website https://admin.smartmusic.com/join
When prompted, please put in code VU3TD-RRA6E
Feel free to explore and check it all out; the program is called smartmusic and I've chosen YOUR class to be the first one ever to use it.

Part 1 of 2: Hi everyone, I wanted to give you a lesson that I wish I had at your age. With the technology available today, I am able to put a lot of things at our fingertips that I didn't have in high school. You guys have every available melody available at your fingertips via youtube (as well as MANY definitions for what a "melody" is). My job is to distill this huge amount of information (hint:90% of it is ambiguous at best) and put in front of you in a way that is interesting and hip....yes hip. Some people know what a melody really is.....some people just name their cat melody because they "like music". Now, a person is NAMED Melody.......that is indeed hip. I've had the following musical names cross my path at Amundsen:
Melody.....haha meow
Aria......means an accompanied song with solo voice...think opera.
Dorian...a type of scale.....the same way major or minor is a type of scale
Allegra...means a lively tempo or speed in Italian
Piper....now in Ireland this would be someone who plays the Irish flute, or bagpipes, however it can also refer to a vocalist or even a songbird's melody. Piper, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
Ok, where was I
Ah yes, the definition of melody...this one is from IB, and I think it's an "ok" place to start:

"Melody is the most difficult of the characteristics to define. While there is no good formal definition of "melody," it is loosely, the “song of the song,” or the “hummable” part of a piece. A melody is comprised of multiple musical “sentences,” called phrases. These phrases are then made up of steps and leaps. Steps are short risings or fallings of the melody (e.g. an A to a B or an F to an E). Leaps are longer risings or fallings of the melody (e.g. an A to a C or an F to a D)."

Now, this definition is ok. However, you're smart enough to know by now that these steps and leaps are called intervals. When we first learn melody, we simply ask "how does that song go again?" The part that is sung or played back to us is the "tune" or the essence of the piece. However, if you're a bass player (like me) there can also be melodies played in the bass section. Like the beginning of Pachabel's Canon for instance, or Jupiter...there are a lot of melodious or melodic lines for both bass in cello in that piece...and I'm not talking about the solo parts. 2nd violin in Jupiter is a great example of a melody.

BUT what about music that is more sophisticated? Jazz music or Stravinsky where maybe the "tune" isn't really easy to hear or repeat.

Hi, see attached lesson; I worked pretty darn hard on it. For Monday, answer the following questions:
1. Reidy finally threw out a clue for what a theme was....what'd he say?
2. How is a tune different from a theme? Don't just talk about a food analogy...tell me with musical terms.
3. We've studied 2 types of theme structure. Which structure would a tune be like and why?
4. Leonard Bernstein showed a "method" that composers have used to develop a motif over time. He said that millions of songs have used the technique and played several examples....what is the technique called? Bernstein cites Beethoven's 5th and a few others as examples.
Due Monday, I will be around all day today and tomorrow (and weekend, let's be honest) for questions or comments. I'd love some comments rather than "hi"...I hope you're learning something cool.
DUE MONDAY.....Clear your mind before watching the Bernstein. REALLY LISTEN to what he's saying. I do this best at night without distractions. Ciao!
Reidy

Hi all. I have about 40 returning students in the last 2 days. To those of you that are back, we are going to start where the class is now. If you have done no work, start here. If you've done half the work or don't understand....start here.
First, know that the lesson is about melody....we are working toward a definition of melody by talking about what OFTEN makes a melody....but doesn't HAVE to. Get a notebook at this time please. Watch the following video and write down a definition for motif and phrase (submit that definition here please). Ok, here's first video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XKD9Uw4DYBxbuBLZxBdIzlE0765TxZUI/view
Now, get ready to take notes, this guy talks fast....watch the first 4 minutes of the next video. This took me a LONG time to find information this good; I'm not just throwing youtube videos out there.....most definitions online are hot trash. Ok, watch first 4 minutes of this:
https://youtu.be/wHp9kQdPLuE
After watching second video, I need your notes to have a clear definition of what a Period is compared to a Theme.
If you are all caught up and have turned in the work, continue your personal journey as to what a melody is, do a silly google search, keep it on your mind. I can't start the new material with 40 new kids....Take this time to wrap your head around all the material kids.
BONUS watch these 3 videos to see what this looks like when I actually used these tools. Scroll my class stream to link to that software!
https://classroom.google.com/u/0/c/NDIyMDE1MjU1NTNa/p/OTM3MzE5OTcxMjNa/details
OK
Summary....watch videos, submit a definition (my definition) of phrase and motif. Submit that here.
Then, everyone please submit attendance on the assignment I'm making right after this....to do attendance, click on that assignment and hit "mark as submitted", REMEMBER, I only take attendance that's been "turned in" not from the comment section. If you're ALL caught up DON'T SUBMIT ANYTHING HERE PLEASE, just keep thinking about melody and be ready for tomorrow.

Hi everyone: Weekly lesson plan is attached below. Check out plans for Monday.
Please look over the video (at least the first 4 minutes) with your notebook ready.
Submit definitions for following terms found in movie (feel free to find an outside source if you need some extra help; he puts you on the right path).
ok, here are the terms
Cadence
Sentence
Period
Watch video, submit one assignment with these 3 terms.......with definitions that showed you watched video (at least first 4 minutes please). Then submit attendance

Tuesday Attendance; hi everyone, remember to "turn in " attendance. Click on assignment and make sure to hit "mark as submitted". I will no longer be taking attendance in comments section. Thanks! Also, I'm having a problem uploading my live content. I apologize, it is just suplemental...no homework. So when it's up, just watch it today. Thanks for your patience.

Monday's attendance; due 11:59 p.m. please

Hi, before 3 please, and remember no attendance will be taken from comment section of class. Please don't submit and then put a comment, you are confusing other kids to do same. Also, please do your research homework on what a theme is; it's a slippery topic with a TON of bad definitions out there.

Sorry, I'm grading and calling parents at present. Today for my classes, I want YOU to research what a THEME is in music; it's our last piece of the puzzle for melody. I want you to do some research and post your results. Don't cut and paste. I want to know
1. What is an example of a musical theme
2. How does a musical theme compare to a phrase and a motif....is a theme made of them? Is it longer/ shorter?
3. There are a TON of bad definitions for theme. When I googled it, the first thing it says is "it's the melody" that answer is ambiguous at best. Find about 3 different examples....the farther down you scroll from wikipedia, the better.....write a couple things that catch your eye from each source, something that you think is really relevant to the direction we're headed. Your search might include theme, phrase and motif?
4. One well written paragraph please, paragraph is 4 sentences.....I will put all of this together for you after phone calls.

By 3 please

Hi everyone! Your assignment today is two-fold; I would like you to have a notebook and pen ready. I put together 3 videos that are going to help us learn about defining what a Melody is.....the terms are often abstract: motif vs. a phrase, vs a theme, etc. Take this basic example from the videos, do a little research on your own, and tell me the difference between a motif and a phrase USING definitions that show me you watched the videos please. MYP IB types this is going to be information you need to know to test successfully for the IB Diploma. MYP: I need to see you can put the work in (away from the instrument). I'm putting the time in to make this decent, please don't blow this off. We are lifelong learners. If you are a visual learner PLEASE scroll to the songwriting software I told you about (The Dunkin Competition)....you can use these lego videos to write motifs and phrases. HINT: will be assigned this week, might as well practice it. Also, attendance in by 3 today please. To recap: Watch the videos, tell me what a motif is, tell me what a phrase is. Due Tuesday by 3. Finally just write Hi on the attendance assignment that I'm posting right after this one ;)

Ok kids, please submit your attendance in (the correct way) by 3 p.m. If you're having troubles, try asking a classmate or reach out to me. REMEMBER saying "hi" in the classroom will not count, it has to be submitted as an assignment.

Due at 3 today (Monday April, 27th). I will not accept any attendance after 3. This will be going towards the ATL grades that will be posted on Friday.

Please just say hi if you were here today.....I'm closing attendance window at 9pm TONIGHT..please tell a friend, this is for my personal records. We will do this once in awhile with the deadline at 3p.m. This makes my paperwork much easier.....please take it easy on the old guy.
Mr. R

Please review attachment for today's live content. Next week we will be doing a Google Meet live, during our scheduled time.....Please be aware, as I've noticed a lot of you checking in and turning in assignments after 3. I try to respond to that work, but I have to schedule for my own family as well. Take care, this is pretty simple work, just let me know that you watched it. If you've already seen the violin; watch the cello.
Thanks! We will be taking a more in-depth look at material starting tomorrow.

Please read attached document.

Hi everyone. I am asking that you re-familiarize with the vibrato definition lesson plan and then use the attachment (today's lesson) to turn in a revised definition via google docs only . PLEASE read the lesson I attached, it gives you step by step instructions as to how to clean this all up and get your thoughts together. If your definition doesn't have the words shake, change, fluctuate and oscillate...you haven't looked at the material. I would like your final definition to be turned in HERE by Friday. The sooner you submit, the sooner I can help you. Again, final version to be turned in HERE , look at the revisions that many of us have done together and give me final definition here. Thanks!

Please see the attached lesson for Tuesday, 4/14. Also, in Google Classroom: please turn in your homework via google documents and not in the comment sections. PLEASE leave random comments......I want to see how you are doing. I'll do the same.
I hope this finds you all well. I'm working very hard to make this interesting and relevant, take your time with it.....but give it some effort. If you can't tell, I do my best work in the evening..

Hi everyone, I hope this finds you well. I would ask that you please fill out this quick survey regarding your access to technology. Please either type "already did it" or "just did it". This will let me put together the best possible lessons for everyone. Please turn your answers in as an assignment, don't just write it on the classroom stream. This will be our first recorded grade for remote learning, I will have your lesson ready to go on Monday, April 13th! Here is the link to the quick survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UfFqdKLejniDNiVMVfb5-EUJ6dnCmgQe5IOG5PC3kD0/viewform?edit_requested=true

Please read the lesson. I worked very hard to make it beyond decent. There's some cool music examples, and I tried to make it feel just like class. It took me a long time to do this kiddos; read the entire lesson and then submit YOUR definition of vibrato based on the clues I Ieft you. Don't just copy and paste something, that's a drag. This took me 3 hours to put together and I think it's pretty cool. The definition should be at LEAST 3 -4 well thought out sentences. Your first sentence can literally be the etymology of the word. hint hint. Tuesday is going to be less reading...I have some custom made videos for you! Please don't post your answers in the classroom comments, actually turn it in and I think you need to hit "mark as done" to complete the process. I added this to my homeroom, just because I wanted to say hi.....check my stuff out anyways....is your math teacher putting up Bugs Bunny cartoons? Didn't think so........don't tell Mr. Ross.

Hi everyone. I miss you and I hope this finds both you and your family in good health. In the coming days, I have instructed our Arts Partner (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) via the grant we won, to prepare a series of instructional videos for Amundsen students to watch and comment on. These will discuss tone production (remember bow weight, speed and placement?), vibrato for the advanced players and even some simple songs that you can learn at this point. I realize many of you don't have instruments. Don't let that stop you...we are always learning, we should always want to better ourselves as lifelong learners. Ok, what was I saying? SCRIBE!!!!??? Mike at A440 violin shop is planning on staying open (call ahead, he may have to deliver as of today's press conference), but if you'd like to rent an instrument....this is the perfect time. If you'd like to purchase an instrument, Mike can also safely accommodate you and your family on an appointment basis. For those of you looking online PLEASE do not buy an instrument off craigslist or EBAY. Instead, check out SHAR music out of Michigan; they sell MENC certified instruments, meaning that they comply to the standards set by music teachers regarding quality and playability. At this time, I would ask that you please just say "hi" on google classroom, so I know you're all out there. The first thing I want you to learn is simply "melody"; to this end I will send you a definition (the one I like....there are a million possible definitions for melody), and some youtube material that I have always wanted my students to watch. So....just say hi....due Monday morning. I'm serious, I am "e-learning" with my own 3 kids and I promise I will put things up that aren't a drag.....did you SEE THAT OCTOBASS? On a personal note, please stay home....we talked about this. Be the responsible, wonderful young people that I know you are......do it for the elderly and our most vulnerable.
OUT
like a light
Reidy

1st 2nd and Violas:
Maldau: Letters F-H, take the repeat (first ending please) record at 72 bpm (beats per minute)
Cellos and Basses J-End in Rite

excerpts discussed in class from the concert pieces. Due Wednesday by end of class.

Violas and Second Violins: Please submit your summative playing excerpt here; due Monday.

To be submitted via Google classroom only: Cellos, please tape yourself playing the higher position excerpt (with correct fingerings) from "Somewhere". Summative assessment due Tuesday of next week please. I believe we are talking measures 21-29? Please feel free correct me in the comments section.

Please video yourself playing the following excerpt(s) from our winter concert song. Please make sure camera angle isn't looking up your nose, and that I can get a sense of steady tempo/pulse. Please submit all work to this google classroom page, due Monday beginning of class
1st violins (both top and bottom players) measures 15-26
2nd violins measures 13-21 both top and bottom players
Violas: measures 1-5, then 13-21; both top and bottom players
Cellos: measures 21-25
Basses: 29-37
Remember the rubric for grading: RHYTHM, intonation, posture, technique and tone