Journal #5

Journal #5 (8/24-12/4)
In this class, we learned about rhythm, meter, the different types of notes by name and value, half step and whole step, the C and G major scale, solfa, hand signs for solfa, rhythmic duration syllables, the fingerings for C, D, E , F, G, A, B, C’, and D’ on the recorder, melodic icons, teaching a lesson plan, the meaning of a sharp and flat, wrote our own song for the recorder, instruments that produce melody, harmony, and rhythm, how to do an activity with using instruments, incorporating music into stories, listening to music, movement in music, binary form, rondo form, and notes that are followed by a dot. Rhythm is the steady beat in a song. There is a combination of long, short, and silent sounds in rhythm. The top number in meter tells how many beats in a measure. The bottom number in meter tells what note gets the beat. For example, in 2/4 there are 2 beats in a measure and the quarter note gets the beat. Notes can be described by the value of the note such as a half note and by the letter that corresponds to the note such as C. A half step is from one note to another note that is the closest note higher or lower than it, such as E to F. A whole step is notes that has a half step in between it, such as C to D. The C major scale starts on C and goes to C’. G major scale starts on G and goes to G’. Solfa is the tones: do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti, do. Rhythmic duration syllables give a syllable to each beat in a note, such as a half note being ta-ah. Melodic icons are pictures that are drawn for the words of the song and the size of the images are based on the value of the note and the height is based on the pitch. We taught a singing lesson plan to the class. A sharp is a raise of a half step. A flat is a drop of a half step. Some instruments that produce melody are piano, tone chimes, and recorder. Instruments that produce harmony are autoharp, Q-chord, and guitar. Some instruments that produce rhythm are rhythm sticks, cymbals, and bongo drums. Binary form has two sections to it, an A secation-chorus and a B section-verse. Rondo form has more than two sections, for example ABACA and the A section is the theme. A dotted note takes half of that value of that note to make it longer.
We learned these concepts by using them in songs, singing, drawings on the board, playing the recorder, being the teacher, writing out music, making activities with instruments, playing different instruments, listening to music, moving to the notes that were being played, and moving to music. We clapped the rhythm to songs and sang songs. The different types of notes was discussed and explained by using the example that a whole note was a whole piece of bread and that the other notes are formed by breaking down/in half the whole note. I learned to sing with the rhythm by repeating the songs over and over. We learned to read music. We learned hand signs for each tone in solfa. We played songs on the recorder. We made up our own song. We played different instruments while telling a story with music in it. We passed a ball around a circle and changed the direction when the tempo/pitch changed.
It is important for me to learn all of these concepts because I know the basics of music. With all of this knowledge, I would be better able to teach music to elementary school students. My learning the basics betters my understanding of music and why it is important. Also, I know why it is important to teach elementary school students music.
It is important for children in elementary school to learn the basics about music because they could be interested in learning more about music. They may want to play an instrument. They might be interested in some way getting more involved in music. As they continue to get older their knowledge of music will expand.

I really liked seeing all of the assignments that I have done because I can see how much I have learned throughout the semester. It is an easier way to remember all that was learned in the class because all I have to do is log on to my blog. By posting on blog, you get to use the internet and it is really nice to use other programs on the computer than only Microsoft Word. I feel that I retain the information better because I do it Microsoft Word and then post it so I see the assignment twice. All the assignments always together and in the same place because if it had to be turned in the papers could be all over the place, but blog keeps it in one place and it will always be on blog.
Other students could go and look at work and possibly copy it. Posting on blog could sometimes be problem and may not work. It sometimes could take a long time to post on blog and it creates stress for us. The feedback just does not seem the same than it does when you get a paper back with the feedback on it. You have to remember to post the assignment on blog because sometimes you do the assignment on Microsoft Word and if you do not post it right away, you might forget, and get a zero for the assignment.
I really liked posting on blog because I like to see my progression in class. I think that it works well in many ways, but there still needs to be improvements. It is great to see the assignments because then I can always go and look back at them again and again.