Fifth Week of Music Class with Diva JC

This week, we're reviewing all that we've covered in October, including last week's lessons on intervals, chords: triad, Dominant 7, suspension, altered or raised 5th.

We reviewed SOLFEGGIO or SOLFEGE: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La and Ti.

We are looking at how music moves through the I - V7 - I Chord Progression, from key to key.

Also, we are searching www.ASCAP.com and www.BMI.com to find performers, composers and PUBLISHERS' and songs in their CATALOGUES.

November Lesson Plan

Week of November 4, 2007

1. Publishers (ASCAP + BMI)
2. Musical Careers (making videos)
3. Ear-Training (Solfeggio)
4. Writing Chords
5. Sight-Singing ("Dreamin'")

Week of November 11, 2007

1. Writing Lyrics
2. Writing a Melody
3. Sight-Singing ("Winter's Comin'")

Week of November 18, 2007

1. Writing Lyrics and Melody on Sheet Music
2. Singing 4-Part Harmony
3. Sight-Singing ("Little Drummer Boy")

Week of November 25, 2007

1. Review of songs for Christmas Show
2. Review of writing a song
3. Testing on ear-training and sight-singing

Also, in November, we will get to WOMEN IN JAZZ and Jazzmen that we didn't cover in October.

Day 2 and 3 - Musical Insturments and Elements

Music classes involved identifying instruments, rhythms, voices, intervals and styles of music.

On Tuesday, students read the lyrics to my song "Dreamin'" and two poems from my book - "Untitled" and "Alone". They were responsive to the messages of the poems. They learned the word "omnipotent" in "Untitled" and realized that their personal power is at stake, if they allow someone else to believe that they are powerless.

However, most of the day was spent commenting on the behavior of out-of-control students. These kids have been left back one, 2 or 3 times. Their self-discipline is minimal.

It will be interested to see how they learn keyboarding. The challenge will be to retain their attention long enough for them to learn scales.