6th - 8th Grade Music

6th Grade 

Sixth graders will be reviewing rhythm concepts in December. They will complete various activities demonstrating their ability to read, perform and write rhythm patterns. Students are also practicing a Christmas song to share at our school's Nativity production in December. Feel free to find the appropriate grade level's song and lyrics in the presentation below and have your student sing along for extra practice!

*Nativity song lyrics quiz on December 4 (6th grade)

7th Grade

Seventh graders will be learning about and analyzing the music of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker in December. We will watch selected segments of both Acts of the ballet, discuss how the plot fits the music, and analyze the individual dances in Act II.  Students are also practicing a Christmas song to share at our school's Nativity production in December. Feel free to find the appropriate grade level's song and lyrics in the presentation below and have your student sing along for extra practice!

*Nativity song lyrics quiz on December 8 (7B)
*Nativity song lyrics quiz on December 15 (7A)

8th Grade

Eighth grade students will work on a unit of Cultural Music that will continue through December and into January. Students will choose a country/culture to investigate and find out information about its musical traditions, instruments, and current music landscape. Students will then create and present a Cultural music podcast as their final assessment of the unit.

Composer of the Month

All middle School students will be learning about a specific composer each month during the year. During most months, students will complete 3 separate assignments about the composer of the month.  All work is due at the end of each month. See Mrs. Hirsch if you need to makeup any of these assignments.

September Composer: Carlos Chavez (Mexico)
October Composer: Krzysztof Penderecki (Poland)
November: Dawn Avery (Native American - Mohawk descent)