POP Music

Since we are now a month past from POPS, let us look at some popular music. Pick your favorite song that would have been appropriate for POPS back in September and write about it here. No duplicate posts are allowed. All posts must be made by October 27, 2017 at 11:59 PM. No late posts are accepted. Please check to make sure that your post has posted to receive credit. Check for spelling, grammar, punctuation and errors.

Sample song:

Party Music

This week's blog post requires you to find a piece of music that would be appropriate for a party. Since Halloween is approaching and some people are getting ready to have parties, I felt it would be appropriate to do party music themed posts. Please make sure that the songs you choose are appropriate for school and do not contain any profanity or explicit language. Check your posts for correct grammar, spelling, and nor errors. All posts are due by October 20, 2017 at 11:59 PM. No late posts are accepted. Please check your post to make sure that it has posted if you would like to receive credit for the assignment.

Sample song:

Choral Music

This week, we are looking specifically at choral music. In this blog post, you will need to find a recording of your favorite choral song. It needs to be a choral performance and not a solo performance of a choral piece. It can be an ensemble performing as well. Please list the title of the piece, who the composer or arranger is, and what the meaning of the piece is. Include reasons why you like or enjoy the piece. Your post should be at minimum a paragraph in length and be free of spelling and grammatical errors. Write in complete sentences. All posts are due no later than Friday, October 13, 2017 at 11:59 PM. Please check to make sure that your post has posted if you want to receive credit.

Sample video:

Cover Performances

Covers

Covers are performances of songs by an artist other than the original performer. Most covers are done to popular music, but any song can be considered a cover. Sometimes, the cover performance is better than the original. For this week, choose a video to watch and discuss why the cover is better than the original. If you feel that the original is better, tell why you think this is true. All posts must be made by 11:59 pm on Friday, September 22, 2017. No late posts are accepted. Please verify that your comments have posted. No exceptions will be made for computer errors.

POPS Performances

As we prepare for POPS concert later this month, let's look at famous concert performances. Choose whatever genre you want (preferably something that you are not already too familiar with) and post a performance from that singer or group. There are so many groups and performers to choose from that there should be no problem finding one. No duplicate posts or performers are allowed. Post early. Keep in mind that this does not limit one to only popular music. There are many choral, dance, jazz, band, and other styles or instruments that you can choose from. Be creative! Check spelling and grammar before posting. All posts need to be at minimum 5 complete sentences. If your post is too basic, it will be deleted and you will have to start again. All posts are due by Friday, September 8, 11:59 PM. No late posts are accepted.

Here is my example. You cannot duplicate this performer now. Please note how I wrote in complete sentences, varying the sentence type and structure so that my reader did not become bored. Your posts should resemble this.




This video is interesting to me for several reasons. First, I love the fact that Alicia Keys plays and sings well together! Most performers either are excellent in one or the other, but not many are capable of doing both. Second, the song is one that is very memorable. I can remember being a younger piano student, wanting to learn her music and be successful at doing so. Third, making a song that is intended to be a solo a duet is ingenious. The way the two completely different voices work together in harmony is absolutely amazing.

2017-2018 First Post!

This week, we are looking at our first post. In this post, each student must choose a song from the following one of the following genres based on their last name. No duplicate posts are allowed. Please include the name of the song you are choosing in your post. All posts must be at least 5 sentences long (complete sentences), be free of grammatical errors, and include a link to the video on YouTube in your post. All posts are due by Friday, August 25, 2017 at 11:59 pm. No late posts will be accepted.

Last name beginning with A-F: Rock

Last name beginning with G-M: Pop

Last name beginning with N-R: Hip Hop

Last name beginning with S-Z: Country/Western

Soundtracks

This week we will be looking at movie soundtracks. I can remember when I was in high school and I would fall in love with certain songs and then realize they were from movie soundtracks. Suffice it to say I would then go get the soundtrack. Choose a song from your favorite movie (current or past) and write at least a paragraph about why you like the song. How does it capture the movie's story line or a particular moment in the movie? Keep in mind that music written for movies, plays, and other performances are written for a specific moment in time insomuch that they express an emotion that cannot be explained with words alone. Include the link to the video and check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. All posts are due by Friday, April 28, 2017 by 11:59 pm. No late posts or duplicate posts are accepted.

My Theme Song

After going to Six Flags over St. Louis and seeing that there was an area about DC Comics and Superheros, I thought about a hero's theme song. Your theme song is the song that describes you, gets you excited about doing anything, or just gets you through the day. What is your theme song? Why is it your theme song? What experiences have you had that make your song about you? Include this in your description and paragraph attached to your post as well as a link to the video. No two videos can be the same. All posts should be checked for spelling, grammar, and must be posted no later than 11:59 pm on Friday, April 14, 2017.

You're Gonna Do What You Want To Do....Please Read Carefully

In this final post of the grading period, choose your favorite video or song. Post comments about it below. Make sure you write in complete sentences and provide a rationale for why you chose what you did. Include any musical elements that are present in the video or song and tie them into something we are working on or have worked on in class. If this part is not present, your post, regardless of how detailed and concise it is, will not receive credit. Include a link to your video in your post. All posts are due by March 10, 2017 at 11:59 pm. No late posts  or duplicate posts will be accepted.

This is one song I like and we have done it each year at the True Divine Concert. Everyone enjoys it and almost everyone knows it and can easily learn it.

I'm Inspired!

This week, February 27-March 3, we are looking at songs that are inspirational or inspire you in some way. Songs of this type have different meanings in different contexts, so the same song for two different people may be interpreted in two or more different ways. Inspirational songs can be religious, secular, pop, rap, hip hop, country, or from any genre when they hold meaning to a listener. Find your favorite inspirational song and post a response about the following:
1) Why you consider it inspirational
2) What genre it is from
3) What in the music (lyrics, instruments, meaning, etc) justify it being inspirational
4) Include a link to the video in your post

Check all spelling, grammar, and turn your post in by March 3, 2017, 11:59 pm. No late posts are accepted. No duplicate songs are accepted, even if they are by different singers/performers.

Here is an example of an inspirational song I chose (you cannot post this same song or any variation of it).

Folk Songs

A folk song is a song originating among the people of a country or area, passed by oral tradition from one singer or generation to the next, often existing in several versions, and marked generally by simple, modal melody and stanzaic, narrative verse. 

In other words, a song that has been passed down from generation to generation. Each culture has its own folk songs. There's American folk, English folk, Irish, Spanish, etc. 

Today, there are numerous arrangements of folk songs written in different styles and sung by many musicians. Here is an arrangement of one of my favorite folk songs, "Scarborough Fair," by Simon and Garfunkel.

Now, find any folk song (you may need to do some research and listening on the Internet) and post it in the comments below. Remember not to post the same song as someone else, and spelling and grammar will count! Posts are due by February 24, 2017, 11:59 pm. No late posts will be accepted. Include a link to your video. 

Black History Month Meets Music

This week, we are going to look at African American singers and artists. Here is my favorite Christmas tune, "The Christmas Song," by Nat King Cole.

https://youtu.be/mWNkiAI-R

Reply to this blog post with a tune by one of your favorite African American artists from history. Refrain from using modern day musicians (such as Usher, Rhianna, etc.) and describe musical elements that you like about the piece. As always, be sure to check your spelling and grammar. Posts are due by 11:59 on Friday evening. Remember, you can not use a song that someone already posted! -Ms. R

Critique for February 8th

For those who were absent on Wednesday, Februrary 8th, we did a critique in class. Here are the videos we watched in order.

I've Been in the Storm, UGA Hodgson Singers
https://youtu.be/0rBoAypsPCA

Done Made My Vow, ASBC Bicentennial Choir
https://youtu.be/ySJlG32Twm8

Precious Lord, Concordia Chamber Choir
https://youtu.be/Od5lY22b180

Let Your Light Shine, California 2012 All-State
https://youtu.be/wFk1dUX7-qc





Note: You will be given a work sheet to fill out, you will not need to reply to this post.

Country and Western

This week we are looking at country/western music. There are many similarities between Country music and other genres (particularly R&B) and most people who like one will like the other. Pick your favorite Country song and write about the following: 1) why you like the song, 2) what instruments are used, 3) what makes the song sound like country and western (there are specific things that achieve this sound), 4) how this song or style of song is similar to another style. Make sure to check your post for grammar, spelling, and include a link to your video in your comments. No duplicate videos allowed and all posts must be made by Friday, February 10, 2017 at 11:59 pm. No late posts accepted.

Here is one song that I like. You cannot repost this song.

Covers

This week, we're looking at covers. A 'cover' is best defined as a performance of a song that was performed by someone other than the original performer.



Below is an example of a cover of The Chainsmokers "Closer," performed by Boyce Avenue, featuring Sarah Hyland.



Find a video of a cover of a song that you like. The song must be appropriate. Describe the video's musical elements in 5-6 sentences. Include a link to the video. No two videos can be the same. When you make your post, be sure to double check your spelling and grammar. All of this is due by 11:59 pm on Friday, February 3rd.