Fusion, Week Four

This week in Fusion, we will be covering the following:

• Major/Minor scales.
• 12-Bar Blues Progressions in all Natural keys.
• Continue working on Concert Music.
• New concert music to be introduced.
• Improvisation
• Chord Study:Major and Minor

Advanced Percussion: Week Four

This week in Advanced Percussion, we will be working on the following material:

• Standards of Excellence Book: Continue working on mallet percussion, sight-reading, and note striking.
• Continue to work with metronome - building a solid, steady rhythmic foundation.
• Continue working as an "Ensemble," listening to eachother and "blending" as a group.
• Begin major scale studys. Learning the Standard "middle school" scale patterns.
• Pass offs: Each student will prepare a piece for me this week to be critiqued on. They will be judged on Rhythmic accuracy, pitch accuracy, and dynamics.

Guitar II: Week Four

This week in Guitar II, we will be covering the following material:

• Review "Clouds," which is a version of Jimi Hendrix's song "Little Wing."
• Continue working on A minor Pentatonic soloing.
• Continue to work on Jump Blues, opening up improvisation for every student.
• Major Scales/Minor scales.
• Hammer on technique/Pull off technique.
• String bending technique.

Guitar I: Week Four

This week in Guitar I, we will be covering the following material:

• Week Three review.
• Introduce new chords: Dminor, E7, Aminor, and E.
• Learn new notes on guitar: G, A, D, E, F.
• Learn to play songs using notes: E, F, G, A, B, C, D, lower G.

Fusion, Week III

This week in Fusion we will be working on the following:

• 12-Bar Blues warmups.
• Dynamics.
• Tempo

We are working on songs for the first concert. To date, we are already making music! I have a great group of students, and hopefully, this year will be one of the best in Davis Academy history!

We are building a repertoire of songs over the next two months. We will have songs to choose from when the concert date arrives.

Have a great week!

Advanced Percussion, Week III

This week in Advanced Percussion, we will review the following material:

• 1/4 notes and 1/8 note solo pieces.
• Using a metronome.
• Open Roll/Closed Roll exercises.
• Basic drumming fundamentals.
• Major Scales on Marimba.

We will continue to review fundamental skills to ensure that all students are on the same page. As individuals grow, additional, more challenging skills will be addressed.

One goal in Advanced Percussion is to be exposed to as many percussion instruments during the 2009-2010 school year. We will learn how to play many orchestral instruments the "correct" way.

Have a great week!

Guitar II, Week 3

This week in Guitar II, we will be reviewing the following materials:

• "Clouds" - Jimi Hendrix chord progression.
• Blues Form.
• Review following scales: E Blues, Aminor pentatonic, Gminor pentatonic scales.
• Hammer-on technique, and pull-off technique.
• "Rock A Billy" Blues feel/12-Bar Blues Pattern review.

This week, students will audition to play a guitar solo for the first concert this year. The solo is written. It is based on the Rock A Billy style, using 12-Bar Blues form. This is the first major audition for a solo part.

We will continue to work on new scales, songs and styles. We will also incorporate Bass guitar accompaniment as well.

Have a great week!

Guitar I Week 3

This week in Guitar I, we will be reviewing the following subject matter:

• Review notes: E, B, G, and F.
• Review chords: C, G, D7, D and A7
• Review accompaniment songs, using chords.

New material this week:

• Learn new notes: C, D, and A.
• Learn new chords: E7, E, D minor and Eminor
• Learn first song.

In addition, we will have our first play test. Last week, each student played a short song, which will give them an idea of how a play test will occur.

Have a great week!

Fusion, Week Two

Good morning from The Davis Academy Music Department! Fusion will be working on the following applications and skills this week:

• Review 12-Bar Blues Form.
• Begin working on Major Scales.
• Review new music for first concert.
• Introduction to Music Theory.

There is an interesting mix of instruments in Fusion this year. Our group consists of the following:

• Drums
• Bass
• Guitar I
• Guitar II
• Tenor Sax
• Three Piano Players

Last week, I introduced the Xylophone to class. Our Piano students have taken a liking to the instrument, and we will be incorporating this "voice" to our group!

Advanced Percussion, Week Two

Good morning from The Davis Academy Music Department! This week in Advanced Percussion, we will be working on the following:

• Review Jazz Drumset patterns.
• Review Fundamental Rhythmic Patterns.
• Begin studying and playing duets
• Work in Orchestral Drum Roll.
• Playing in 2/4 Time.
• Playing in 3/4 Time.

This week, we will have our first "play test." Students will be graded on note accuracy and rhythmic accuracy.

Have a great week!

Guitar Two, Week Two

Good morning from The Davis Academy Music Department! This week in Guitar Two, we will be covering the following:

• Review Power Chords learned from last week. (E5, A5, and D5).
• Review chord progression titled, "Clouds."
• Review new chords learned (Bm and Bm7).
• Review 12-Bar Blues Form.
• Begin working on moveable pentatonic scales.
• Work on Blues/Rock progressions.

Have a great week!

Guitar One, Week Two

Good morning from The Davis Academy Music Department! This week in Guitar One, we will be covering the following material:

• Revieving notes learned (E and B) in first position.
• Review chords learned (EZ-C, EZ G, and G7).
• Learn new notes, G and F in first position.
• Learn new chords, D7 and D Major.

The students have been doing great so far! In addition to playing guitar, they have been singing along and playing!

Fusion, Week One

Fusion class will focus on 12-Bar Blues all week.
We are going to develop a "natural feel" for 12-Bar Blues, by playing in unison, and introducing Improvisation as well! We will also be reviewing our "counting" and "note/chord reading...

Advanced Percussion, Week One

Students in Advanced Percussion will begin studying Jazz Drumming today, and all week. We are going to focus on developing the basic "swing pattern" using the Ride cymbal and Hi Hat foot. We will be adding snare drum patterns to the "swing pattern" starting today!

Guitar Two Class, Week One

Guitar Two Class got off to a great start today! We are going to be working on chords, and 12-Bar Blues Form this week. We will also begin a year-long study focusing on Improvisation!

Guitar One, Week One

Welcome to the first day of Guitar One! This week, we will begin working on the following subject matter:

1. Classrom Rules
2. Parts of the guitar
3. Posture
4. Rhythmic notation
5. Melodic notation

Thank you for visiting my Blog today, and look forward to seeing what we are covering every week in class!!!!!

Welcome!

Welcome Davis Academy Families and Staff!

My name is Robert Michek. I am the new MS Music Director at Davis Academy. The 2009-2010 school year is going to be very exciting for everybody! This year, we are offering four classes at Davis Academy. They are:

Guitar One
Guitar Two
Advanced Percussion
Fusion

Be on the look out for more posts!!!!!

Good luck this year!!!!!

Mr. Michek