RadnorMiddleSchool CourseOverview
GeneralMusic6thGrade 7605

I.CourseDescription

General Music classes meet for one semester, every other day, alternating between the music classroom and the piano keyboard lab. Students are introduced to the fundamentals of piano technique, vocal technique, note reading, solfeggio and the instruments of the orchestra. Areas of instruction include beginning level music literacy, keyboard performance skills and in depth exposure to the instruments of the orchestra via videos, recordings and live demonstrations.
II.Resources,Materials,Equipment
The Music Connection, 2000 Silver Burdett Ginn Inc. (textbook and CDs) Patterns of Sound, by Joyce Bacak & Emily Crocker (solfeggio textbook) Discovering the Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London (videos) Alfreds Basic Piano Library, multiple levels Piano Library, a varied collection of piano music at multiple levels 24 Korg K61 MIDI Studio Controller Keyboards Yamaha MLC-100, Music Laboratory System Xylophones, Metallophones, General Music Percussion
III.CourseGoals,Objectives
Students will be able to: Locate the white keys on the piano by name. Identify the notes on the treble and bass clef staves. Sing solfeggio syllables, do-sol, in treble clef. Identify and perform basic rhythms from notation. Perform basic music notation on the keyboard using both hands. Identify the instruments of the orchestra by sight and sound. Describe the size/pitch relationship between instruments. Describe the unique characteristics of each family of the orchestra according to their method of sound production. Demonstrate proper posture and techniques for vocal production.
Modified 3/27/2009 6th Grade General Music
IV.UnitsofStudy(SummaryOutline) Note Reading / Solfeggio (syllable singing) Students are introduced to the notes on the treble and bass clefs and practice by using note identification worksheets and reading music in the keyboard lab. Note reading is an ongoing activity throughout all levels of the music program. Students learn the rhythmic values of notes and perform them on the keyboard or on classroom instruments. The Patterns of Sound book is used to teach the solfeggio syllables (do, re, mi) and their locations on the staff. Piano Instruction Each student is assigned an individual electronic piano keyboard. The teacher is able to monitor and interact via the teachers station. Students are guided by the teacher and work from books individually tailored to their level. The piano lab has the flexibility to have students practice alone, in pairs, in small groups or as an entire class through the use of headphones and microphones. Instruments of the Orchestra The string, brass, woodwind, and percussion families of the orchestra are explored in detail. Each family is introduced with a video featuring the principal players of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London. Students fill out a worksheet that becomes their study guide. Following the video, the teacher brings in the instruments for the students to experience. When possible, the instruments are demonstrated live by the teacher or the students. Vocal Instruction Students are taught vocal warm-ups and proper vocal technique in the music classroom. The Patterns of Sound textbook is used to build a strong tonal center using solfeggio. The Music Connection has many multicultural pieces to sing and provides opportunities to sing in languages other than English. For some pieces, the classroom instruments add texture and an added level of difficulty to the compositions. V.Assessments Rubrics for assessments include: Performance skills on the keyboard Note Reading Solfeggio syllables Aural identification of the individual instruments of the orchestra Class discussions and observations Written responses: Knowledge of the four families of the orchestra

Graduate Award Number 20Classroom Teacher of Piano
NOTE: In Spring 2008, Graduate Award Number 20 will be assigned to select candidates on the basis of a submitted video recording (in DVD format) of a teaching demonstration. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Current Eastman Students are also subject to this requirement. If you applied for Graduate Award Number 20 in the Online Application, you must send a video example of your teaching to the Admissions Office by Friday, February 29, 2008. Candidates intending to audition in Rochester following prescreening review should submit this video only after confirmation of a live audition is received. Candidates should plan ahead to ensure that a successful teaching demonstration can be scheduled and taped in the event of being assigned a live audition. Applicants to a degree program at a regional audition or by recording may submit their video at any time before Friday, February 29, 2008 There are two Class Piano labs at Eastman, with the larger (10 student keyboards) housed in a smart room, with Internet access, a Data projector and screen. The labs contain a Yamaha Clavinova CVP Teacher Station Keyboard and 10 CLP Clavinovas all connected to a MLC-100 Controller; a Yamaha Disklavier (model MX100II) and a Key/Note Visualizer. While preferential consideration will be given to applicants who demonstrate their teaching skills using a digital keyboard lab, it is not required. In this pedagogical excerpt, you may select one or two topics from the list below, and teach them for up to 10 minutes. Professor Tony Caramia (the supervisor of the Class Piano Program) is primarily interested in how you articulate your teaching strategies as they pertain to teaching a group of music majors at the Eastman School of Music. For complete information on the Class Piano Program, go to the Class Piano Website at http://www.esm.rochester.edu/classpiano/ You may use any piano class text with which you are familiar. At Eastman, we use Keyboard Musicianship, Book 1 (8th edition) and Book 2 (8th edition) by Lyke and Caramia (Stipes Publishing Company, Champaign, IL).
Please keep in mind that this is NOT a theory class; you are being evaluated on your ability to teach class piano.
Teaching Topics Prepare select one or two topics; you may use up to ten (10) minutes for your presentation. Successful applicants for this Graduate Award will be teaching groups of music majors at the Eastman School of Music. Classes meet twice per week; each semester is 15 weeks. First semester (beginner): 1. First day of instruction 2. Week #4: introduction of five-finger pattern 3. Week #8: introduction of white key major scales Second semester: 4. Week #3: introduction of white key minor scales, harmonic form 5. Week #5: teaching improvisation (use Keyboard Musicianship, Book 1 8th edition; p. 259 as a guide) Third semester: 6. Week #6: introduction of flat major scales 7. Week #8: using a Smart room to teach class piano to music majors Fourth semester: 8. Week #12: teaching improvisation (use Keyboard Musicianship, Book 2 8th edition; p. 299 as a guide) Professor Tony Caramia may be contacted at: tcaramia@esm.rochester.edu Video recordings (DVD format only) must be sent to: ADMISSIONS OFFICE, BOX GA 20, 26 GIBBS STREET, ROCHESTER, NY 14604, USA Or to the Admissions Office with the submission of your main application materials. Reminder: Deadline for receipt of video is Friday, Late submissions will not be reviewed.
February 29, 2008. This is your responsibility.
You should keep this page for your records.

GA Page 1 of 2

You must include this questionnaire with your DVD demonstration.
Questionnaire for Graduate Award Number 20
Applicant Information (please print clearly) Name __________________________________________________________________________
Family (Last) Name Given (First) Name Middle Name

Gender ___Male ___Female

Date of Audition _____________________________ Address

Street

Age __________
Proposed Degree Program _______________

State Zip

Phone (

)____________________

E-Mail __________________________________ (must be valid after May 1, 2008)
All graduate students who receive assistantships as Classroom Teachers of Piano must attend a training program on Monday, August 25, 2008.

Failure to be available for this orientation will result in the removal of this Award from your Financial Aid, with NO EXCEPTIONS. If you receive this award, Prof. Caramia will send a complete description of your duties. Therefore it is VITAL that he has a current address and e-mail address. Please submit this information above clearly, neatly, and completely. Background Information Current school ___________________________________ Current piano teacher ______________________________

Course Where Taken

Current Degree Program _____________________________________ Pedagogy teacher __________________________________________
When Taken Graduate or Undergraduate
List all pedagogy courses taken, including where and when the courses were taken, and if they were undergraduate or graduate courses.
Have you ever taught collegiate class piano? ______No

______Yes

Where? __________________________________________ ______Yes
Did you observe piano classes as part of any pedagogy course? ______No
If yes, where? _________________________________________________________________________________ List all class piano texts with which you are familiar (NOT beginning methods).
Do you have any experience teaching with electronic or digital piano labs, sequencers, and related equipment? ______No
Describe: __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Remember to submit this form with your DVD to the Admissions Office by Friday,

February 29, 2008.

GA 20, 2008, Page 2 of 2