Music reflection- 23/05/2011

Today we had our practical assessment. I was the second person to perform. strangely, i was not nervous. Not very nervous at least. I played really well, I played fluently with dynamics, feeling and with no mistakes at all.

music reflection- 19/05/2011

Today, we did our final rehearsal for our practical assessment. I think I did well, I played fluently except for the B part. i played at the end of the class so 7E was standing infront of the class door watching me perform too. Best part of it? I got extra applause and cheers ;)

Music reflection- 16/05/2011

Today, in theory class, some people performed/rehearsed playing their songs for the assessment next week. I think all of them needs to practice a lot more because they weren't all that good and fluent. for instrument class, we watched a video of our first rehearsal.

Music reflection- 12/05/2011

Today, we had an assessment, which is to write an essay about John Williams. I think I did well on the test, I wrote pretty much everything I could remember from the handout.

Music reflection- 09/05/2011

in theory class, we only read the handout about John Williams because we have an assessment related to this composer on Thursday. We read it over and over again so that the information will be soaked up to our brains. Then, after reading, Mr. Sadrakh called some students to recite facts about John Williams. In instrument class, we practiced our songs again. This is a rehearsal for another upcoming assessment. we were asked to give feedback on each other's song/melody and their performance.

Music reflection- 02/05/2011

In theory class, we read our reflections in January and February. And some time later, mr. Sadrakh asked 2 students from each instrument class to rehearse their song but the only one who played was Nadya. In instrument class, we practiced our song (as usual) that we have to play in our practical assessment on May 19. I think I played better than last week, I made lass mistakes and played more fluently.

Music reflection 28/04/2011

in theory class, Mr. Sadrakh was back to teach us again. we discussed a bit about John Williams, He then explained how music was his life. He told us about a sad song that his dad composed. It made him cry sometime. Mr. Sadrakh then asked some of the students how music is important to them. in instrument class, we continued practicing our songs. I think I played better than I did on Monday. I only need to practice the B part of my song.

Music reflection 25/04/2011

Since Mr. Sadrakh is absent, Mr. Herry is replacing him as out theory teacher today. We were all aware that there was going to be an essay writing assessment. The assessment was going to be about John Williams, a pianist and composer for movies and tv shows. We were given a handout about his biography and his career in music. After we finished reading the handout, Mr. Herry gave us some practice questions about John Williams. We then exchanged notebooks with one another and read each other's answers. In instrument class, we practiced playing our own melody composition again. I played as bad as the last music class too because I didn't practice. I also forgot to print my finale notation of the song so I only had the draft with me to read.

Music reflection 18/04/2011

In theory class, Mr. Sadrakh checked and collected our finale homework. then, for instrument class we practiced playing our melody. I think I didn't play well because I made a lot of mistakes. I also forgot to print a second copy of the notation of my own song. So, I'll try to print and bring it on the next session we have music.

Music reflection 14/04/2011

(We didn't have classes on this day)

Music reflection - 11/04/2011

Today is the due date of our melody composition homework. I erased the one I had previously made and changed it into a better melody on Sunday night. I'm quite satisfied with my new melody because it sounded good to me. I have put some chords to go with the melody too. Then in instrument class, Mr. Herry told us to put chords to our melody to make it sound more sophisticated. He wrote on the board different combinations of notes and different ways for us to play it.

Music reflection - 07/04/2011

On the 7th of March, Mr. Sadrakh checked our progress on our melody composition. I had done making the A and A' part of the song. All that is left is the B part. Then, the ones that are done with the whole 32 bars of the melody are played by Mr. Sadrakh as an example for everyone.

Music reflection - 04/04/2011

The 4th of April was the first session of music class in term 4. In theory class, the first thing Mr. Sadrakh did was check our music book and whether we have finished making the first two lines of our own melody composition. Then, he lectured us again about the basic pattern of song composition, which is the AABA structure. For our homework, we are supposed to create 32 bars of our own melody. So in one line, there will be 8 bars. The due date is next Monday.

For instrument class, all we did was also get lectured about making the melody. As a class, we created our melody together and had Mr. Herry play it for us. We were just putting in notes for fun but the song actually turned out pretty well.

Music reflection - 17/03/2011

Today, we learned about composing our own music. The music pattern is AABA. Today we only created the first two bars of the two A's on the front of the pattern. What we have to do for next term is to compose our own melody or song and type it in finale.

Music reflection - 14/03/2011

Today, we didn't have instrument class at all. In theory class, Mr. Sadrakh announced our scores for the practical assessment. At first, he said I got a 6. Then he said "PLUS FOUR". mehehehhehee :D then after that, the students who were not satisfied with their score took the re-test to try to make their scores higher.

Music reflection - 10/03/2011

Today was the day of the music assessment. The piano students had to perform first. From what i observed, a lot of the piano students played with mistakes. I watched them in the practice, they weren't that bad. They must have gotten nervous. I was the second last from the piano students to play. I kept telling myself to keep calm because if I get nervous, I'll just lose concentration and make mistakes. I was satisfied with my performance because I played perfectly with no mistakes and put in dynamics too. :) I think all the practice I did was worth it.

Music reflection - 07/03/2011

On the 7th of March, Mr Sadrakh gave us 2 minutes to review what we learned, and after that, he picked out random students and quizzed them about major scales and intervals. For piano class, we played some major scales. Some of us chose to play contrary scales and some of us prefer playing parallel. Since i tried playing contrary, I had to play E,D,F contrary scales. Out of the three scales, I think the F major scale confuses me the most because I am not familiar with the fingering. And then we practiced our song for the assessment for the last time.

Music reflection - 03/03/2011

Today, we still continued practicing our songs to play for the assessment. I still had 2 mistakes though, I'll try not to make mistakes during the assessment.

Music reflection - 28/02/2011

Since all of us were wondering why these few days Kimberly doesn't go to class, we discussed this issue as a class and tried figuring out what was wrong, what problems she has,etc. We were called one by one to share what we know about this situation and try to come up with solutions to help Kimberly get back on track and get to class.

Music reflection - 24/02/2011

As usual, we reviewed again about some of the major scales. The students in our class are still a bit confused about where to locate the sharps. In our instruments class, we continued practicing our songs for the assessment on the 10th of March. I must have been not concentrating because I had 4 mistakes.

Music reflection - 21/02/2011

First up, in theory class, we reviewed about major scales. Some people had difficulties in understanding it. Mr Sadrakh gave us a mini quiz today and questioned us about the scales. This coming Thursday, we will have another quiz. In piano class, we practiced scales for a while then moved on and played our classical songs. I think I'm doing pretty well, the day of the assessment is still far but I've made great progress.

Music reflection - 17/02/2011

On the 17th of February, we learned about the treble clef (G and F clef) and started learning scales with sharps on them. We also reviewed about the 8 notes of a scale and its intervals. I thought it was quite easy because I've learned all of this before.

For instrument class, we only practiced what we are suppose to play for our assessment on the 2nd week of March. I think i played well, I memorized the notes and put in dynamics.

Music reflection - 14/02/2011

On the 14th of February, we had a written test about the different types/era of music. Although I wrote a lot, I'm pretty sure I still won't get a good score.I should have studied harder because I had difficulties in remembering the information that was on the handout.

Music reflection - 07/02/2011

For today, all we did in theory class is read the handout about the different types of music. Our written test is postponed to next Monday because o the ISA test will take place this Thursday. In instrument class, I picked a song from the romantic era, called 'The swan', to play for another assessment which will be on the 10th of March if I'm not mistaken. Today, all of us practiced playing our song. I have finished learning the song I chose but I still have to apply the dynamics and articulation in the song.

Music reflection - 31/01/2011

Today, some of the students in our class took the re-test of the solo singing assessment. Then, we read the handout about the different types and periods of music as we have a written test about it on the 10th of February. Our instrument classes only lasted for about 10 minutes, but Mr Herry explained that we need to pick a song from any era and play it for our next assessment. I chose a song from the romantic era, called 'The Swan'. This song is composed by Camille Saint-Saens.

Music reflection - 27/01/2011

On the 27th of January, we had a solo singing assessment. Mr. Sadrakh picked the students randomly so it was fair. I was really nervous when it was my turn; my hands and knees were shaking and I kept running out of breath. But I think my voice came out normally. I am proud of myself for not stuttering or forgetting the words of the song because of being nervous. I will have to try singing in front of an audience more often... Anyways, after everyone finished singing, we started filling in the assessment booklet and were given a handout to read for a written test which I think is on the 10th of February.

Music reflection - 24/01/2011

In theory class, we learned about intervals. I had a bit of trouble with it, I'm confused with the flat and sharp notes. i think I need to review this topic more. Mr Sadrakh questioned us about intervals one-by-one, some of us also had a bit of problems with it. In piano class, today I also played the major scales, except for 2 octaves. For next week, I will have to play contrary scales. i think I'll start practicing tomorrow.

Music reflection - 20/01/2011

Today in theory class, our teacher told us we were going to have a solo-singing assessment next week. The song we're going to sing is 'My favorite things' from the movie; the sound of music. We did some warming up and then tried singing the song together as a class, and then we sang with our instrument groups. Then later, we watched several video clips of the song. For piano, because some of us has trouble with the fingering of the major scales, Mr. Herry asked us to note down the fingering of the notes so we won't get confused. I think this lesson was easy, because I'm already used to playing scales in my piano lessons. But that doesn't mean i don't have to practice anymore.

Music reflection - 17/01/2011

Today is the first day of our music class in grade 7. In theory class, Mr. Sadrakh explained what we have to bring to every music class and we picked our instruments. I chose the piano. When we were in piano class, Mr. Herry gave us a brief explanation of what we were going to learn in this Semester. We are going to learn how to play the major and minor scales on the piano. We're also going to learn about Baroque, classical, and romantic periods, the composers, and the songs.