8th Grade Music Appreciation -Mrs. Smith
marilea.smith@beavercreek.k12.oh.us
Welcome!
I would like to welcome students to 8th Grade Music Appreciation! You will have many
opportunities to experience various eras in music history and a study of the most famous
composers from each era, playing keyboards and guitars, and learning our schools fight song!!~
Each student is graded in the following categories:
Classroom Assignments (15%),
Tests (20%)
Quizzes (15%)
Performing tests (25%)
(1) Project (25%)
Unit One: Eras In Music History (3 weeks)
One week review of the different periods in music history, including: Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque,
Renaissance, Classical, Romantic/Nationalistic, 20th and 21st Century Music and Composers. (including
music listening samples featuring each of the eras and a power point presentation covering the different
eras in Music History).
View a Composer video/film that features one composer and complete a video worksheet (example:
Bach's Fight For Freedom, Handel's Last Chance, etc.)
One week ~ Computer Lab time~ work on power point of chosen composer from era drawn (criteria
sheet available)
One week ~ Power Point Presentation of a chosen Composer from Era Drawn (students who elect to perform a
'piece' from a selected composer do not have to draw an ERA)
A study of music of various composers from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical,
Romantic, Nationalistic, 20th and 21st century style periods. A background in music is not
assumed, since the course will introduce students to basic music terminology from all periods
aforementioned.
Unit Two :
Piano Lab~ Learn the basic skills of how to play the piano (two week)
Students will be using a piano methods booklet that has been adopted and approved by the
Beavercreek Board of Education in learning the basic skills of playing the piano in a piano lab
setting. Students will share an 88 key Roland F-120 weighted key piano with split key capability.
Students will work as a class and demonstrate the basic skills for playing the piano.
Unit Three:
"Happy Feet" Video & worksheet (one week)
One week (adresses: environmental issues, pollution, climate change, animal endangerment & how
the arts can help bring awareness to major political issues such as those mentioned) . Some
questions will involve reading online articles about the environmental issues, pollution, climate
change, and animal endangerment.
Unit Four:
Learn and sing/perform the 'School Fight Song' (Two days)
One week Students will be taught the Beavercreek School Fight Song and are required to
perform it (memorized) for a grade. A rubrics will be used in grading their performance. They
must demonstrate: Memorization, Rhythmic and melodic accuracy, and show school spirit and
effort/energy during their performance.
Unit Five: "Beginning Guitar Methods"-
(two week)
Students will learn the basic fundamentals of playing the guitar and will be able to play some simple
three chord songs by the end of the unit. There will be a playing test at the conclusion of this unit.
Unit Six:
Musical Theatre Unit~ ("Phantom of the Opera" DVD)(one week)
Students will talk about the different jobs involved in music theatre. Students will observe the
film/musical, Phantom of the Opera" on DVD and answer a movie worksheet while watching
the movie/film. Some questions will involve reading articles about the movie online.
select their 'FAVORITE ARTIST' and prepare a report (take home) on chosen artist. This can be
a current artist or an older artist. Students are required bring in a flash drive with a video of
artist performing, and have the option to perform a 'composition' of said artist for extra credit.
Backup Unit:
Artist Report~ (Take home Project) (one week)
One week Students will select their 'FAVORITE ARTIST' and prepare a report (take home) on
chosen artist. This can be a current artist or an older artist. Students are required bring in a
flash drive with a video of artist performing, and have the option to perform a 'composition' of
said artist for extra credit.
Back up Unit:
Intune Monthly Magazine (three days)
(if time permits)
Students will read from a current educational music magazine called intune monthly and listen to musical excerpts from the magazine.