2022-2023

Welcome back to school!

It’s a new school year, and we’re ready to make some music again! This year, we will be having both a winter and a spring concert where all students in the music program will have a chance to show their musical prowess!

Check back for more updates!

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2020-2021

All assignments for all classes will be posted in Google Classroom. If you need the code for your class, please click on the “Google Classroom Codes” to the left.

If you cannot find the code for your class, please email Ms. Alcuri at VAlcuri@sapublicschools.com 

PARENTS: I have made a google classroom just for you! (The code is also listed in the Classroom Code tab) If you have any questions about class times, or assignments, or just want to say hi, please drop me a message through Google Classroom! (You can also email me)

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2019-2020

Where to find assignments

If the need for online classes presents itself, please use the code for your class to join the google classroom. All assignments will be posted there.

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This first semester, Guitar 1, Keyboard 1, Rock Band, and 7th grade music are offered

Second semester, Guitar 2, Keyboard 2, Rock Band, 6th and 8th grade music are offered.

Valcuri@sapublicschools.com

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2018-2019

Welcome Back, everyone!

The first few days of school, we will be getting to know each other through a few different activities.

This first semester, all music classes are high school classes.

Second semester, middle school music will be once a week.

There is a music survey to complete on google classrooms. Please email Ms. Alcuri if you need the class code to sign in.

Valcuri@sapublicschools.com

Week of May 14 - May 18

Middle School Music

May 14 - May 18

Titanic. Students will listen to and analyze the lyrics to “My Heart Will Go On”.

Using information provided, students will “interview” Celine Dion for a summative grade! (Students are provided with a biography, and will use that information to ask 10 questions to Celine. Their answers will be written as if Celine was answering!)

Guitar 2, Keyboard 1/Keyboard 2, and Rock Band

May 14 - May 18

All classes are currently preparing music for the Spring Concert, which is this Thursday!

Week of May 7 - May 11

Middle School Music

May 7 - May 11

Scarborough Fair. We are exploring how a single song can be performed by completely different artists, but still have a similar feel. We’ll be listening to and watching videos from different artists like Simon and Garfunkle, Celtic Women, and a young youtube performer who plays the harp.

As wel listen, we’ll be filling out a chart to describe what we hear: instrumentation, tempo, dynamics, mood/feeling, and if you liked it or not.

Guitar 2, Keyboard 1/Keyboard 2, and Rock Band

May 7 - May 11

All classes are currently preparing music for the Spring Concert.

Week of April 30 - May 5

Middle School Music

April 30 - May 5

Music in the Renaissance: We will be listening to information about the time period, and what music was like then.

Everyone will have the chance to play a real Renaissance instrument: The harp!

Students who aren’t playing the harp are participating in a coloring contest of an intricate harp! (Prizes to follow!)

Guitar 2, Keyboard 1/Keyboard 2, and Rock Band

April 30 - May 5

All classes are currently preparing music for the Spring Concert.

Week of April 23 - April 27

Middle School Music

April 23 - April 27

This week, students are taking the PARCC test during music class.

8th graders will be enjoying a light, cool down activity.

Tuesday’s classes (6A and 7A) will be watching the beginning of the movie, Happy Feet, and will be making a list of all of the songs featured in the movie.

Guitar 2, Keyboard 1/Keyboard 2, and Rock Band

April 23 - April 27

All classes are currently preparing music for the Spring Concert.

The Rock Band is also preparing music for the Acoustic Concert they will be performing at on Wednesday, April 25.

Week of April 16 - April 20

Middle School Music

April 16 - April 20

This week, students are taking the PARCC test during music class. 8th graders will be enjoying a light, cool down activity.

Guitar 2, Keyboard 1/Keyboard 2, and Rock Band

April 16 - April 20

All classes are currently preparing music for the Spring Concert.

The Rock Band is also preparing music for the Acoustic Concert they will be performing at on Wednesday, April 25.

Week of March 12 - March 15

Middle School Music

March 12 - March 15

This week, students will be learning more Irish folk songs. They will be completing many different activities to make up for the snow day last week, and to review some old material.

We will be reviewing the Rattlin’ Bog in all classes by talking about the objects in the bog, and then singing the song along with the guitar.

All classes will complete a listening journal for the song “Musical Priest” by the Dubliners. Students will describe the music using unique adjectives, as well as draw a picture to show how it makes them feel.

Some classes will be completing a listening activity to the song “Tell My Ma”. Students will keep track of which voices they hear, male or female or both. Students will also discuss the difference between a verse and a chorus.

Some classes will be completing a listening activity where they will

Week of March 5- March 9

Middle School Music

March 5 - March 9

This week in music class, we will be completing St. Patrick’s Day Haiku Poems! Students will be reminded what a Haiku is, and will be writing poems about St. Patrick’s Day on a piece of Shamrock paper. Volunteers will share their poetry with the class!

***Update: Due to the snow, only Tuesday’s classes (6A, 7A, and 8A) completed this lesson!

Guitar 2, Keyboard 1/Keyboard 2, and Rock Band

March 5 - March 9

All classes are working on a project where they get to create their own band. Students may work together and be as creative as possible! The project, which will be created either in a google slide presentation, or a poster, is due at the end of class on Thursday, March 8th. See google classroom for all of the required elements!

***Update: Due to the snow, the due date has been extended to Monday, March 12!!

Week of February 26- March 2

Middle School Music

February 26 - March 2

This week in music class, we will be learning some Irish Folk Songs, “the Rattlin’ Bog” and “Tell My Ma”. We’ll try to perform the Rattlin’ Bog as fast as we can (everyone will have a chance!). Then, while listening to Tell My Ma, we will pick out which voices sing each chorus and verse, since some times it’s only males, sometimes only females, and sometimes it’s a mixed chorus. We will be keeping track of our answers to both of these songs on a worksheet to be collected at the end of class.

Guitar 2

February 26 - March 2

This week in guitar we are testing out new songs from a website called “Little Kids Rock”. This website provides instruction and guitar charts for many popular modern songs. We will be playing a few of these songs along with the recording of the music.

Keyboard 1/Keyboard 2

February 26 - March 2

This week in Keyboard, we are working on Ode to Joy. This song is split between the left hand and the right hand. Keyboard 1 will be working on playing with one hand at a time, while Keyboard 2 will be playing a version where both hands will be needed to play the song. There will be a performance test on Friday during class.

Rock Band

February 26 - March 2

This week in Rock Band, we will continue working on acoustic songs. Students will review known songs, and begin working on “Everybody wants to rule the world”, and “21 Guns”.

Week of February 12- February 16

Middle School Music

February 12-16

This week in music class, we will be learning about some famous musicians in celebration of Black History Month. We will be listening to and analyzing a jazz piece called Hymn of Freedom, performed by Canadian pianist, Oscar Peterson. We will also be reading and learning about Scott Joplin, the King of Ragtime. (Students will be utilizing a “stop and jot” technique where they will read a short section and jot down important information about that section)

Guitar 2

February 12-16

This week in guitar we will be incorporating the following strum pattern into known songs.

We will also be exploring the website Ultimate-Guitar.com and learn how to read the music shared through that site. Students will be able to play songs of their choosing by searching for them on the website.

Keyboard 1/Keyboard 2

February 12-16

This week, we will be focusing on reinforcing finger numbers, as well as white key labels. Last week we began reading treble clef music and learned the difference between space notes and line notes. We will be expanding on these topics this week.

Rock Band

February 12-16

This week, Rock Band will be focusing on two acoustic songs: The Only Exception by Paramore, as well as New Soul by Yael Naim.

Week of February 5- February 9

Middle School Music

February 5-9

This week in music class, we will be learning a Valentine’s Song called “Love Somebody”. We will also be going over the musical symbols for the whole note, half note, quarter note, and eighth note. We will also be introduced to the Baroque composer, Johann Sebastian Bach, and learn a little bit about his life! There will be a formative assessment following reading information about Bach.

Guitar 2

February 5-9

This week in guitar we will be working on the following strum pattern:

Keyboard 1/Keyboard 2

February 5-9

This week in Keyboarding 1 and 2, we will be exploring the workbook provided. We will learn the warm ups, and begin learning how to read notation by learning known songs such as Ode To Joy.

Rock Band

February 5-9

This week in Rock Band we will finalize a formal list for the upcoming acoustic night (in April) and will continue working on the songs. We have already completed Rip Tide, and will be moving on to The Only Exception by Paramore, as well as New Soul by Yael Naim.

Week of January 29- February 2

Middle School Music

January 29- February 2

Welcome week! This week in music class, students are receiving a welcome brochure containing all of the information about the music class! Students also received their first homework assignment- a classroom contract that is to be signed by a parent or guardian.

Students also completed a survey about their likes and dislikes of music!

Guitar 2

January 29- February 2

Welcome week! Guitar 2 has just begun. Students are working on remembering open chords and playing along to songs in the book. Students who haven’t had Guitar 1 since last year will be caught up on all known chords, and all students will have time to practice on their own during class.

Keyboard 1/Keyboard 2

January 29- February 2

Welcome week! Students will begin by leaning how to set up their stations with their partners. Students will be learning the names of the white keys and their locations on the piano, as well as using all 5 fingers when playing piano. Students will learn a warm-up they will be using throughout the semester.

Rock Band

January 29- February 2

Students are preparing for Acoustic Night (which will be held in April). This week the focus will be on Rip Tide by Vance Joy.