MUSIC

6th Grade, Term 2

Interest Packet

Topic Introduction In this term we will be learning about musical storytelling. Musical storytelling being any piece of music that illustrates a story of some kind. We will be listening to and watching various art forms of musical storytelling. We will then analyze what the composer or performers have done to convey emotion, plot, and characters through song. We will primarily be focusing on musical theatre and opera. Students will also continue their choral rehearsals in preparation for the winter concert in December.

Topic Overview Musical StorytellingPlot Setting LyricsEnsembleObjectives Musical TheatreChoreography Character ArcJukebox MusicalOperaOperettaPatter Song Oral Articulators Chinese Opera Programmatic MusicTheme

Essential Questions ■ What causes a particular character to burst out into song? ■ How do the plot line and the character arc differ?■ How do composers use dynamic and tempo markings to express inner emotions?■ How and why do composers use themes in music?

■ How do Operetta and Opera differ?■ What is programmatic music?

Skills list6.1. Describe the different aspects of Musical theatre. (e.g. characters, plot, Objectives, etc.) 6.2. Analyze character arch.6.3. Dancing particular dance moves standard to musical theatre. 6.4. Use songs to further a plot line. 6.5. Recognize and use various dynamic and tempo markings. 6.6. Listen and describe what you hear in a musical performance. (e.g. instruments, tone, expression.)6.7. Compose original music using keyboards and percussion instruments. 6.8. Use your knowledge of oral articulations to perform patter songs. 6.9. Recognize themes in music. 6.10 Perform original works of musical storytelling.

I Can … ❏ Describe the various aspects that go into creating a musical theatre performance.❏ Analyze a character’s arc in a play or a song.❏ Dance several standard musical theatre dance moves. ❏ Take a song I know and place it into a plot line to further develop the plot.❏ Recognize and use various tempo and dynamic markings. ❏ Listen to a piece of music and describe all the various aspects I am hearing. ❏ Compose original works of music to tell a story. ❏ Perform a patter song with the help of my knowledge of oral articulators. ❏ Recognize themes in programmatic music. ❏ Perform and original work of musical storytelling created by me and my classmates.

Google ClassroomGoogle Classroom will be used as a resource throughout the term. Homework and projects will be posted onto Google Classroom for the students to complete. Students should periodically check Google Classroom as this is the primary method the instructor will be using to notify the whole class about any specific announcements.

Reference Materials Essential Dictionary of Music,Alfred Publishing Co., Inc. Lindsey C. Harnsberger

Singing with Mind Body and Soul, Wheatmark, 2008, Betty Jeanne Chipman

Weekly Lesson Overview

(+ = In-class project/assignment or test, * = Homework)

Week 1 (6.1, 6.2)Topics: Musical Theatre, Plot, Lyrics, Setting, Objectives, Character Arc Goals: Students will receive an introduction to the various ways music can be used in storytelling. Students will also learn about various musical theatre shows by listening and watching performances.

Activities ■ Musical theatre viewing ■ What is musical theatre? ■ Google Classroom tutorial

+ Into the woods follow along worksheet

*Join Google Classroom*Musical Theatre Homework

Week 2 (6.1, 6.3, 6.4) Topics: Choreography, Ensemble, Jukebox Musical Goals: Students understanding of musical theatre as an art form will grow as they learn different songs, dances, and terminology from the genre.

Activities ■ Learn standard musical theatre dance moves. ■ Watch various performances. ■ Presentation on Jukebox Musicals

+Create short choreography routine.

*Jukebox Musical assigned.

Week 3 (6.1, 6.5)Topics: Musical Theatre, Tempo Markings, Dynamic Markings. Goals: Students will understand how composers use various musical techniques to aide the character in expressing their deep emotion.

Activities ■ Critique of musical theatre performers. ■ Tempo/Dynamic marking conversation.

*Tempo/Dynamic Markings homework assigned.

Week 4 (6.6, 6.7)Topics: Opera Goals: Students will learn about the various aspects of Opera; what goes into creating a full opera production.

Activities ■ Watch and listen to various examples of Opera. ■ Opera scenes project groups assigned.

+Test #1 +Opera Scenes (O.S.) - Brainstorm ideas for songs, characters, plot lines,

*Intro to Opera Homework

Week 5 (6.6, 6.7, 6.8)Topics: Operetta, Patter Song, Oral Articulators Goals: Students will learn about the artform known as Operetta by analyzing the works of Gilbert and Sullivan.

Activities ■ Patter Song presentation. ■ Create our own patter songs.■ “How do they talk so fast?”: Anatomy lesson on oral articulators.

+O.S. - Plot line should be written

*Operetta listening homework.

Week 6 (6.6, 6.7)Topics: Chinese OperaGoals: Students will learn about the art of Chinese Opera.

Activities ■ Video on Chinese Opera.

+O.S. - Music should be finished.

*Chinese Opera homework

Week 7 (6.6, 6.9, 6.10)Topics: Programmatic Music, Theme Goals: Students will learn how instrumental composers tell stories with no words.

Activities ■ Listening activity ■ Find the theme activity. ■ Create our own musical themes

+Test #2+Perform opera scenes in class.

Grading Rubric Homework 20%Class Participation 25%Choral Participation 25%Projects/Assignments 10%Tests 10%Final Project 10%

i. Homework- Will be given out every week to the students. Homework will always be due the following week’s first class period. Homework will either be submitted on google classroom or handed in in-person depending on the assignment.

ii. Class Participation - Involves the student’s willingness to ask and answer questions, add to classroom discussions, take activities seriously and not goof around, and stay engaged in the class everyday.

iii. Choral Participation - Refers to the student's preparedness and participation in the choral rehearsal. Students should bring a pencil (not a pen) to class everyday. They should be giving their all by singing out and actively working on the technique we will be working on in class.

iv. Projects and assignments - Are the work done in class that are to be handed into Mr. Tolley. These projects and assignments can involve written work, and checkpoints on how the final project is being completed.

v. Tests - Will be administered twice throughout the term. One test consisting of the content on musical theatre that we learned and the other will be Opera, Operetta, Chinese Opera.

vi. Final Project- Is the Opera Scenes project. Students will be put into groups and create their own dramatic musical stories. They will be assigned different roles within the group but make big decisions collectively. Project will be graded on the creativity, cleanliness, and preparedness of the final performance, and the written scripts, lyrics, and music turned into Mr. Tolley.

Formative Assessment

Homework Due Dates

Join Google Classroom Class #2

Musical Theatre Homework Class #3

Jukebox Musical Homework Class #5

Tempo/Dynamic Markings Homework Class #7

Intro to Opera Homework Class #7

Operetta Viewing Homework Class #9

Chinese Opera Homework Class #11

In-Class Work Dates

Into the woods Follow Along worksheet Class #1

Create Short Choreography Routine Class #3/4

Test #1 Class #7

Opera Scenes - Brainstorm Class #8

Opera Scenes - Plot line Written Class #10

Opera Scenes - Music Written Class #12

Test #2 Class #13

Perform Opera Scenes Class #14

Expansion Pack

Tangential Topics■ Orchestration ■ Film Scoring

Greek Theatre

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