YR 12 LESSON NOTES

Term 1, 2012

WEEK 1

Lesson 1. Yr 12, T1 WK1 Introduction – powerpoint from first Yr 12 lesson.  Also, in this lesson we watched performance videos of former students and discussed marking standards.
Lesson 2. Hearing Intervals #1 – powerpoint.  In this lesson, students received written feedback from 2011 Term 4 assignments, did an interval quiz and used individual time to work towards MAP goals.

WEEK 2

Lesson 1. Students learned how to “Comp” vocal takes in Pro Tools using the video tutorial found on the Recording page.  Unfortunately due to technical problems with the laptops, students did not get to spend as much time on this activity as hoped.  Those students who feel that they did not fully grasp this skill should go back and complete the activity.  Pro Tools files can be found on the MIC Server (follow instructional video on the Recording page).

Lesson 2. Students learned the differences between Mono and Stereo recordings by listening to two versions of the same song “Somewhere over the rainbow – by Tommy Emmanuel”.  Overwhelmingly, students agreed that the stereo recording sounded better and was more enjoyable to listen to.  Also, students drew a “soundstage” map while listening to “Heart’s a Mess – by Gotye”.  The goal of this activity was to actively listen to all the details in the recording and determine where in the stereo spectrum each instrument had been placed.  Students then had MAP time but had to set immediate goals for themselves and later reflect on how successful they were at achieving them.  Audio files for this lesson are located in micserver/studentdata/music/protools/mono-stereo

WEEK 3

Lesson 1. In this lesson, the Term 1 music assignment was handed out; it is available for download on the Task Sheet page.  Students also discussed the use of music technology in performance, ways to prepare for performance (Physical, Mental, Musical & Professional preparation).  Students watched videos of both good and bad student performances and evaluated how preparation may have played a role.  Students also had Prac time where they had to set goals for themselves and then evaluated how well they thought they had completed them.

Lesson 2. In this lesson, students were able to pick up where Lesson 1, Week 2 left off.  Students used this video tutorial to learn how to record multiple takes and assemble them into one “composite take” in Pro Tools.

WEEK 4

Lesson 1. This lesson was somewhat disrupted for both year 12 classes by the Film and TV excursion.  The lesson was divided into three parts.  1) Firstly, students spent around 25 mins working their way through “Woody’s Theory Adventure” (not “Woody Says” on www.guitargames.net).  This game teaches/revises the musical alphabet.  2) Secondly, students had around 35+ mins of Creative prac time (composing or improvising).  3) Lastly, students watched and discussed several music performance videos which featured the use of music technology in some form; Jason Mraz(singing into guitar), The Kills (electronic drums) & Xavier Rudd (distorted acoustic & fully miked instrument set).  Also, students had the opportunity to experience “live” stereo sound via a portable recorder and a set of headphones as a prelude to further training in Pro Tools.

WEEK 5

Lesson 1. Today, students were introduced to the theory behind 7th chords. These chords have more colour than regular major and minor chords and can be a wonderful way to alter an existing song.  Chords covered were major 7th, dominant 7th and minor 7th.  Students were given a short before and after quiz to see if they were better able to identify these chords.  On average, there was a definite improvement between the before and after quizzes.  Video tutorial on 7th chords coming soon.  After this, students were given the rest of class time to prepare for their draft music performances next lesson.

Lesson 2. Today, the year 12′s did their draft music performances leading up to official performances looming in week 8.  These performances were videotaped.

WEEK 6

Lesson 1. Today, students continued to learn about 7th chords following on from Week 5, lesson 1.  In this lesson, students put what they’d learned into action by testing their aural skills on the www.guitargames.net website.  The aim of this activity was to correctly identify major 7th, dominant 7th and minor 7th chords using a software training program.  Student scores were recorded in their M.A.P document.  After this, students did a creative activity where they took an existing song that only had major or minor triad chords (such as Hotel California) and replaced these with 7th chords to see what it would sound like.  Instructions for both activities can be found here 7th Chord Activity.

Lesson 2. In this lesson, students watched their own individual draft performance from Week 5 and wrote a self assessment.  I then gave them my own written feedback for comparison.  Tempting fate, I performed one of my own songs Numbers in front of the class integrating several examples of music technology including: a video projection on the ceiling, subtle backing track parts (with a click track that only I could hear through an earpiece) and guitar looping.  An edited video of this performance can viewed here, I wonder what grade I’d get?  After this, students were given the rest of the lesson to practice for their upcoming performance in week 8.

WEEK 7

Lesson 1. In this lesson, students learned once again about stereo recording.  Beginning with a video on stereo miking techniques, and completing with a video tutorial and practical exercise on stereo mixing techniques.  The Pro Tools files for this exercise can be found at micserver/Studentdata/Music/Protools/Eleanor Rigby. After this, students used the remaining time to practice for their performance assessment next week.

REMAINING LESSONS (Weeks 7, 8, 9)

During these last few weeks, students used class time to practice and prepare for their performance assessment.

Week 10

Students were given an overview of what to expect in Term 2.  Students also participated in fun composition activities such as the “Song in an hour” challenge.

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Term 2, 2012 – Composition (The Purposes of Music)

WEEK 1

Lesson 1

Students were given an overview of what to expect in Term 2: Term 2 lesson 1, YR 12.  The music assignment will involve writing music to suit film, advertising, video games or something similar.  However, before commencing this assignment, students will get to experience many different composition styles in order to boost creativity and try something new.  For instance, during this lesson, students were given free time to “just compose”.

Lesson 2

Students watched the first half of Australian feature film “One Perfect Day” which is about a classical musician who finds inspiration in everyday sounds and eventually becomes an electronic music artist.  Students then spent the rest of the lesson on a “sound hunt” with their iPhones and Laptops.  The goal was to collect lots of sound effects from around the building and surrounding areas that could be used later to create music.
* Please note: One Perfect Day.avi video file can be found at MICSERVER/Student Data/Music/Films/

WEEK 2

Lesson 1

During this lesson, students finished watching the 2nd half of feature film “One Perfect Day”.  Students also viewed several youtube videos of compositions made with everyday sounds: Paper Beatbox & Jeep Techno as well as a promotional video for music software Izotope Iris which allows you to transform everyday sounds into music.  I also played students my own composition Sound Hunt Song – Andrew Kennedy from sounds I’d recorded on my iPhone, you can find it (along with all the samples) at MICSERVER/Student Data/Music/Pro Tools/Sound Hunt/.
*Please note: Due to public holiday, 11B missed lesson 1.  Therefore, this content will be packed into lesson 2.

Lesson 2

Public holiday, no Yr 12 class.

WEEK 3

Lesson 1

During this lesson, students took a short break from Sound Composition to learn about Film Composing.  Yr 12′s are currently required to write/plan music for their English book Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress.  We read the first four pages of the book and then brainstormed how we may compose music for that scene, here are their ideas: Balzac – Yr 12 composition brainstorming.  I then played a recording of my own film music to the class that I had composed for this scene, here it is: Balzac Soundtrack Composition – Andrew Kennedy.  Here is my reasoning behind the composition: BALZAC Soundtrack – Andrew’s reasoning.  Students were then given time to pick a scene of their own (from Youtube) and write music for it.

Lesson 2

For the first half of this lesson, students finished working on the film composition they had been doing yesterday.
For the second half of the lesson, students finished off the Sound Composition activity from last week by used the sounds they’d collected on their iPhones to make music in Pro Tools.  Tutorial video can be found here: Pro Tools Tutorial – Sound Composition.  If you don’t know how to make drum beat, here is an instruction sheet that requires no theory: Visual Drumbeats.
For inspiration, I played the class an electronic song I’d created using samples from Sarah Ajala’s iPhone.  Here it is: Saran Ajala Song – By Andrew Kennedy