Seventh Grade Music

Music 7 is a 20 week course that builds on and adds to what is learned in music 6. We will be learning more about rhythm and melody. We will also be learning about the structure of music, music theatre, audience etiquette, jazz, and composing music of our own.

By the end of the course the student will...

1. Define polyrhythm, jazz terms, music history terms, and others pertinent to class discussions and activities.

 2. Read, compose, and perform rhythms in four-four time, three-four time, two-four time, three-eight, six-eight, and nine-eight time using given notes and rests.

3. Read, compose, and perform melodies in the treble clef and bass clef on xylophones and pianos.

4. Define and practice proper audience etiquette.

5.  Determine the origins of jazz and explore various jazz styles.

6. Study one important jazz figure's life and write a short biography to be presented to the class.

6. Determine the origins of American musical theatre and research Broadway shows.

7. Compose music to express the mood of a given painting or poem using graphic notation as opposed to standard music notation.

 8. Study the lives of several important European and American composers.

9. Compose music in given musical forms.

 10. Listen to music of various styles and write two sentences about each musical excerpt  describing something about the music or giving a personal reaction to the music.

Expectations, Procedures, Rules & Grading Information

Grading Policy: Class participation: 20%

                            Projects: 40%

                            Tests/Quizzes: 40%

§         Class participation grade includes in class work, individual and group, promptness in completing tasks and following directions, and contributing to whole group activities and discussions. Students are expected to stay on task. Students will receive a class participation grade each six day cycle.

§         Projects are a significant part of music class. These are usually done in groups chosen by me.

§         Homework may be given periodically to reinforce concepts and give students practice.

§         Tests will be given at the end of each unit. Quizzes may be given periodically to check for understanding. Students may or may not know that a quiz is being given.

Make-up Policy: When they return to school students have 3 school days to make up any missed

class work or homework. Students should make tests up as soon as possible so others may have theirs returned to them. Students should check the make-up folder outside my door to find the work they missed. Quizzes and some in class performances will also be made up within three school days. Students that are absent on project work days will need to make up those work days by coming in during detention period.

Classroom rules:

            1. Be respectful, polite and cooperative (follow directions).

2. Keep your hands, feet and objects to yourself.

3. Be on time and prepared.

4. Use good language.

5. Enter with an open mind and a positive attitude.

6. Begin tasks immediately and work diligently.

             7. No food or drink except water in a closed bottle.

Daily Expectations and Procedures:

1.      Students must arrive on time with a pencil with an eraser, agenda, folder, notebook and any work due that day.

2.      Bathroom use should occur during class changes. Pencil sharpening should be taken care of at the beginning of class during bell ringer time.

3.      Directions for the bell ringer assignment will be posted on the board when students arrive. Students are responsible for writing these down and doing whatever is asked.

4.      Each student will be required to keep a music folder and journal. Folders and journals will stay in a bin in my room. Folders are expected to remain organized. They will be checked periodically for a grade to see that they are organized and that all work is inserted into the correct pocket.

5.      Each student is expected to give his/her best effort.

Discipline Policy:

1. If students arrive without needed materials they will owe Mrs. Burnett minutes of their lunch period or detention period time.

a.       Missing pencil         =          1 minute

b.      Missing agenda       =          5 minutes

c.       Missing folder         =          20 minutes

d.      Missing journal        =          20 minutes

e.       Missing work          =          40 minutes

2.   Excessive lack of preparedness will result in a trip to the office.

3.   If student arrives late without a late pass that student will be kept during

lunch or detention period (Mrs. Burnett’s choice) for double the amount of minutes he or she was late. Excessive tardiness will result in a trip to the office.

4.       Students will first be given a verbal reminder when found to be breaking rules or expectations.

5.       If behavior does not stop after reminder, the student will be required to serve some time during lunch or detention period. The amount of time will depend on severity of misbehavior.

6.       Students that talk excessively during class will also be required to attend some time at detention.

7.       Use of foul language or violence will result in an immediate trip to the office.

8.       I will contact a parent or guardian at any time during this process that I feel is necessary. Please let me know if you would like to be contacted regularly regarding your child’s progress and behavior.

*Please note that the school day ends at 2:08 for students who are in good standing with assignments and behavior. Students that have incomplete work or have misbehaved are required to stay after 2:08 and ride the elementary bus home. The elementary bus run leaves the school at 3:10. Hopefully, it will not be necessary to keep your child for detention period. I will only do so when necessary.

Thank you for your support! I look forward to a fun class exploring music!