24/5/2011 Last day

Today started off with usual attendance. Then Mr. John said that he already got the score for the out John Williams essay. I got 7.5 out of 8 which is not a pretty bad score but i wanted to get an 8. He also got the scores for the solo performance. I got a 9.3 out of 10. Its a good score but i wanted to get 10. Then Mr. John asked some students who got a high score to share some tips on how to achieve a high score and what not. Then we had instrument class. We had free time and we just talked about some stuff. Today is the last day of music.

23/5/2011 Solo performance assessment

Today we had attendance as usual. Then we had to perform out composition infront of everyone as part of out solo performance assessment. First was the guitar students, then piano, then woodwind and then violin. In every instrument class, it was arranged in alphabetical order. In violin, Aradhea was the first to play, then it was me and so on and so forth. They also gave us 2 booklets: one for the solo performance and one for the music composition. We had to submit the booklet about the solo performance today while we can submit the other booklet tomorrow. All we had to do was write a reflection on how we did and what not.

16/5/2011

Today started off with the usual attendance. Then Mr. John and Mr. Hari asked us for the soft copy of our finale. We were shocked at first because a few weeks ago he told us that we dont need to submit the soft copy and now we have to submit it today? I wasn't worried because i remember i sent the soft copy of my finale a long time ago because i first thought that he needs the soft copy. The other students whi have their soft copy right now could put it in the computer through USB. The ones who didn't bring had to send it through email because that day was the deadline of the soft copy.

10/5/2011 Writing assessment

Today started with the usual attendance. Then we started with the assessment in which we had to write an essay about John Williams based on our understanding from the handout. Mr. John also said that we could also add additional information that was not included in the handout. I write my essay in different paragraphs. One paragraphs for his early years, another paragraphs for his musical career and another paragraph for why he is so inspirational. I think that I didn't write enough information because I didn't have time to write them all.

9/5/2011

Today started with the usual attendance. Then we discussed about the assessment that was going to happen tomorrow. But then some students were punished and lectured for not bringing their resources again and again. Then we read about the John Williams handout again. Mr. John told us to highlight the important stuff which would really be helpful for us. Then we went to instrument class where we practiced more for our solo performance.

3/5/2011

Today started with usual attendance. Then Mr. John asked 3 students from each instrument to play their composition infront of everyone. First up was the piano. First was Rhea, then Priyanka and then Vanessa. After the piano students were the guitar students. First was Gama, Mawira then Rego. After the guitar students were the woodwind students who were Brian, Raihan and Fero. After them, the violin students were supposed to play but then we ran out of time and went to instrument class. In there, we practiced our composition.

2/5/2011

Today started off with the usual attendance. Then we discussed more about John Williams. We also talked about what would decrease our score for the written assessment. Then Mr. John and Mr. Herry showed us some of John Williams' works. They showed videos with music such as the Star Wars Theme, Indiana Jones theme and many more. It sounded really nice. Then we were given a few tips and what not.

26/4/2011

Today started with the usual attendance. Then we discussed more about John Williams. Some students had to read a few paragraphs in the handout that was given to us. Then we had a short quiz based on the handout. I'm guessing that Mr. John did this exercise because it wold help us in practicing for the written assessment.

25/4/2011

Today started with attendance as usual. Then Mr. John handed us a handout about the famous composer John Williams. He gave us a time to read about it and we know we know who he is and what his famous pieces were. We also learned about his awards. Then Mr. John told us that this would be our topic for our writing assessment.

19/4/2011

Today started with usual attendance. Then Mr. John picked random students one by one and told them to write a note on the board. He then explained that he was giving us an example of how easy and simple it is to create a composition. Then he asked one person from each instrument to play the composition and it sounded nice. Then he reminded us about our solo playing and stuff.

18/4/2011

Today started with the usual attendance as usual. Then Mr. John reminded us about the solo instrument playing assessment which is just a few weeks away somewhere in May. The he taught us about the chords which made a a little confused. Then he said that we need to base our own composition with specific chords which made me even more confused. Then he began to explain about the chords. He told us about the tonic, sub-dominant and dominant seventh chords. Tonic is basically the first note that is chosen. Then sub-dominant is the fourth note from the tonic. Then dominant seventh is the seventh note from the tonic so it was quite simple but what confuses me is that we have to base our melody on chords so in instrument class I asked Mr. Sadrakh about it and he just told us to ignore it and just focus on our melody at hand.

12/4/2011

Today started with usual attendance and music was the first class for that day. But since Mr. John was absent, Mr. Herry and Mr. Hari replaced him. Some of the students submitted their work. I was one of them. They explained more about the Finale software and gave a few examples of other students composition. Thy also gave an example of a bad composition. They made the terrible composition to show us that our composition shouldn't be like that and should be in tune. It should connect from 1 note to another. Then they also told us to do something that Mr. John never told us to do. They wanted us to submit the hardcopy. I was using the demo version so I couldn't save the file so I asked for Jody's help. I asked him to copy down the notes in Finale, save it and then send it to me and it worked. However on Thursday, when we wanted to submit the soft copy, Mr. John said that we don't need to give him the soft copy.

11/4/2011

Today started off with the usual attendance of complete or incomplete items. Then we talked more about the Finale. Mr. Hari also helped Mr. John explain about Finale. He showed it to us through a projector and explain to us how to download it and more. They even told us that we can copy their software from them. They explained it in a very clear way. Then Mr. John also said that the due date for the Finale is moved to Thursday (14/4/2011). Everyone was relieved including me.

05/4/2011

Today started off with usual attendance and music was also our first class for this day. After the attendance Mr. John gave a few more example of AABA and also explained a bit more about how to use Finale. Then he said that the composition was due on Monday (11/4/2011) which was just 1 week away. I think that I can finish the composition by that time and submit it. After that we had instrument class. If i remember correctly, we only had a few minutes left so Mr. Sadrakh just talked a bit and then told us to practice at home. He told us to play a music piece from the Suzuki book 2.

04/4/2011

Today was our first music session in Term 4. We first start with attendance as usual. After that we discussed about the things we were going to do this term. He told us that we were going to make our own music composition using the AABA format. It was quite easy to understand about it. He also told us that we need to do it in Finale and that we need a total of 16 bars, 4 bars on each line. I think that it will be difficult for me to make the composition because I don't know if I still have the Finale software.

08/03/2011 Music assessment

Today started off with the usual attendance. Then Mr. John gave us time to practice for awhile before performing. When the assessment started, Mr. John decided that the violin students should go first because Mr. Sadrakh was conveniently in the music room. Mr. Sadrakh chose me to perform first. I was quite nervous because I was the first one in class performing. I played Can-can which is quite fast. When I played the violin, I made it sound a little squeaky and the violin was not synced completely with the piano accompaniment. After the violin were the guitar students, piano students and then the woodwind students. While everyone was performing, Mr. John took pictures and recorded them. After each of us played, we were given an assessment booklet and we were told to finish it.

07/03/2011

Today started with the usual attendance. Then Mr. John gave us our scores for the writing assessment about the different music eras. I got 7.4/8 but in the report card it would be noted as 7/8. Its a pretty good score but I wanted a higher score than 7. I wanted to get full marks. Mr. John said that i was lacking information and that I didn't fill in the whole page. After that we had our instrument class. Ms. Marie was absent that day so Mr. Sadrakh was in charge of the class. Mr. Sadrakh said that we an play Can-can so I picked Can-can because I am more familiar with the song and I memorized the song.

01/03/2011

Today started with the usual attendance. Then Mr. John wanted us all to practice infront of everybody for the music assessment for next week. The first to play were the violin students which also included me. When I was playing the violin, I played "My favorite things". I think i got a few mistakes because when I played, it sounded a bit squeaky. After the violin, the piano students played, then the flute and then the guitars if I'm not mistaken.

28/02/2011

Today started off with the usual attendance. Then Mr. John introduced us to the F cleff. I recognized the F cleff from other music sheets. I just didn't know what they were called until Mr. John drew it on the board. That was when I was sure that the symbols i saw in other music sheets were the F cleff. It was quite easy understanding the F cleff. Easier than the sharps and flats. After that, Mr. John wanted the students who play guitar to play infront by pair so they can practice for the music assessment.

22/02/2011

Today was not a good day. It started off with the usual attendance and Mr. John came in and briefly taught us about the scales and what not. Then Mr. Sadrakh came in and he started giving a pop quiz. He would ask a student to answer a question about the scales (both sharps and flats) and if they got the wrong answer, they would be asked to stand up. I was one of them who couldn't answer but in the end I answered correctly and finally sat down. After that we went to instrument class. I don't remember what i did exactly in instrument class.

21/02/2011

Today started off with the usual attendance. Then some students began asking Mr. John if they received their emails or not. Some students were also confused about the blog. All this took up almost an entire music theory session. Mr. John thought that it was unfair that one session was wasted because of something so trivial so he decided to use the session that was for instrument class. Some students were disappointed though. Then we learned until the 4 major scale.

14/02/2011 Writing assessment

Today we started off with the usual attendance. Then Mr. John announced something that shook the entire class. He said that today was the day to do our assessment. He never mentioned about the date of the assessment last week so the class argued a bit but then Mr. John showed that in the assessment booklet that he gave us, there were already the dates that says which assessment is due. He gave us one session to read the handout about the history about music and one session to do the assessment. All we need to do is write an essay about the history of music. The problem that I encountered is that I can't memorize everything in just 20-40 minutes but I tried my best to memorize the eras, years and some developments that occurred. I didn't really remember the last part so I blanked out a bit but I managed to finish the essay nevertheless.

08/02/2011

Today's music class started with the usual attendance checking. Then Mr. John briefly explained about the sharp major scales i think. Then he asked us about the flat major scale. No one really understood it in the beginning although some students who were in Binus since gr. 6 already knew because we were already thought about the topic. So Mr. John explained about it to the whole class. After the explanation, some people were still confused and some of us understood about it. Then we went to instrument class. In instrument class, we didn't really practice or talk about the assessment, instead, we did some hand exercises which help us relax our hands in order to play the violin perfectly.

07/02/2011

Today started off with the usual attendance. Then Mr. John gave us a handout which is about the history about music. Mr. John said that our next assessment will be about the handout concerning the history of music. After that, I think Mr. John asked some students to read some of the passages out loud.

31/01/2011

Today was like any other day in music class. The class started with attendance. Today we all got the results for our singing assessment. majority got 7 and 8. I got 9/10 which is quite good. If I memorized the song i could have gotten a 10/10 which is even better. Then we discussed about the other assessments and took awhile so we didn't have music class. I think. I dont really remember.

25/01/2011 Singing assessment

Today was a normal music class day. We always start with attendance. Today was our singing assessment day. Each of us had to sing solo in front of everybody and it will be alphabetical meaning that Affan will go first and then Yosua's the last to sing. I didn't really memorize the song so i had ti take the music sheet with me. I was quite nervous before i sang. after that, i wasn't worrid anymore because my turn was over. We did have instrument class again because we used the extra sessions for the singing assessment because it was important.

24/01/2011

Today started like a typical music lesson. FIrst it was attendance. Then Mr. John gave us a sheet with the notes and lyrics of "My favorite things". He said that the song we were supposed to sing for our assessment was that song so he told us to practice for awhile. Then he told us to sing in front of everybody with a partner. I sang with Jody. He told us that the assessment was going to be tomorrow so he told us that we had to practice at home. He also told us that if you memorize the song, you would get full marks. Before leaving, Mr John cave us a small booklet containing the assessments, the criterias and more. W didn't have instrument class because we were all busy practicing singing.

18/01/2011 Second day of music

Today music was the first session and it started like any other day. We started the day with attendance. then after that we were slowly learning about sharps. We learned about the C major scale and more. It was quite confusing at first although we already studied it in 2009.Some people were called to write some stuff on the board. In instrument class, our violins got tuned and then we just talked a bit about the assessment.

17/01/2011 First day of music

Today was the first day of music. Our music theory teacher is Mr. John Legoh. The class started with some of the students being late and then attendance. The students who were late or had their uniform not properly worn properly would be asked to go in front of the class. If I remember correctly, either one or all of them had to recite the school vision in front of everybody. Then they asked us to pick which instrument we were going to play until the end of school. i chose violin and a few others chose violin. Then after music theory was over, we went to our respective instrument classes with our respective teachers. In instrument class, our teacher wasn't Mr. Sadrakh anymore, it was Ms. Marie.