Mrs. Battaglia’s Syllabus for
8 th Grade General Music
(2013-2014)
Grading
1 st Semester
Class Participation/ Effort…………………....60%
Quizzes/ Playing Exercises………………….10%
Test……………30%
2 nd Semester
Class Participation/ Effort…………………....50%
Quizzes / Playing Exercises………………….10%
Tests………………….10%
Projects………………………………30%
(NEW) ASSESSMENTS:
Students will be given a Music 8 level assessment as required by NYS education. These assessments will be given as two separate mid and end of the semester assessments. This will be a percentage of your class and test grades.
This is not to make you nervous in any way, simply a tool to monitor your learning growth in the subject of music.
8 th Grade General Music Units
Unit One: What is Music? (National Standards 8,9)
Curricular Goals: (Open Discussion)
The student will be able to discuss where music exists in student’s lives both in school and out of school


SWBAT create a definition of music (Organized sound)
SWBAT identify some of the roles music plays in other cultures
 SWBAT define musical elements
Additional Content:
Events in Music/ Performing Artist Assignment:
Students will complete a project of a current event or favorite artist- see handout
Students will fill out listening logs for each student’s favorite artist
Artist Appreciation:
SW discuss a specific artist and their contribution to our music culture; artist TBA
(Ex. Elvis Presley, Beatles, Michael Jackson’s This Is It )

Unit Two (Notation) and Unit Three (Rhythm): A review of the fundamentals of music theory. (Standards 1,2,4,5,6, 7)
Curricular Goals:
 SWBAT identify and create the following:
1. Note and Rest values
2. Bass and treble clef notation (accidentals)
3. Time signatures
4. Dynamic symbols
5. Tempo markings
6. Articulations
 SWBAT count rhythms using standard counting methods
 SWBAT identify, clap verbalize, count and notate rhythms up to sixteenth notes
 SWBAT Aural identify and notate rhythms
Additional Content:
The student will discover the reasoning for a standard notation in music
Concepts learned and activities include: Activities dealing with steps and skips, whole and half steps, direction, accidentals, rhythm and melodic dictation and error detection.
Additional Projects:
Rhythm video: TBA
Unit Four: Popular Music throughout History (Standards 6,7,8,9)
Curricular Goals:
 SWBAT study the history of Western popular music starting with the

Antiquity- present
SWBAT identify the relationship between the time periods and decades of the artists, composers, performers, and listeners that surfaced
Additional Project(s) :
SW view and discuss footage from The History of Rock N Roll CD collection
CD Project: SW combine into groups of three and design their own CD covers- see handout for requirements- http://www.avery.com/avery/en_us/Templates-&-
Software/Templates/Labels/CD-&-DVD-Media-Labels-&-Inserts/CDDVD-Slim-
Line-Jewel-Case_Microsoft-Word.htm
Unit Five: Influential Composers (Standards 6,7,8,9)
Curricular Goals:
 SW study the history of composers who contributed to music history
 SW identify the composers and their works (Bach, Mozart and Beethoven)

Additional Content:
 SW watch and discuss the 1986 Academy Award movie: account of Mozart’s life)
Amadeus (an
 SW learn about the Star Spangled Banner and the Falconer School Song , including the song lyrics for both
Unit Six: Musical Theater (Standards 6,7,8,9)
Curricular Goals:
 SWBAT define musical/ theatre terms and definitions
 SWBAT research, view and discuss a musical and its relevance to our music culture
Additional Content:
 SW discuss and watch the musical Phantom of the Opera
Unit Seven: Careers in Music (Standards 7,8,9)
Curricular Goals:
 SWBAT identify and define the different careers in the music industry
 SWBAT identify the role of a producer and promoter
 SWBAT promote a concert of a school function or a created concert
 SWBAT research composers and performers that will appear on their concert
 SWBAT create a promotional poster or powerpoint presentation
Additional Project(s) :
Music career project- Individual research into various music careers- using power point presentations
Garage Band project- if time permits
NOTE:
All units are subject to change at any time
Homework/Project Policy:
1. If the assignment is done on time; it is graded out of 100%
2. If the assignment is turned in anytime after the due date, the highest score it can receive is a 65%. (Exception: excused absence)
3. Homework will not be accepted 5 days after the issue of each progress report date. Progress report dates will run with eligibility (High school) dates. Teachers and students will work out a plan for late assignments.
4. Option: study hall, 9 th learning lab.
period, at home, study hall with other teacher, and
*** Some assignments such as projects and written assignments are handled differently due to their length and difficulty.