Course Outline
8th Grade General Music
Course Outline
Welcome to 8th Grade General Music. This Course Outline will hopefully address some of the questions about what we will be studying during the course, the opportunities for assessment, as well as what you need to bring with you each day.
The Course
We will be studying the different aspects of classical music during the next eight weeks.
The following is a list of each of the 8 units of study we will be focusing on.
• Gregorian Chant – Medieval Music
• Music of the Renaissance
• Bach – Baroque Music
• Mozart – Classical Music
• Beethoven – Classical Music
• Tchaikovsky – Romantic Music
• Stravinsky – 20th Century Music
• Copland – American Neoclassical
Each unit will highlight the various characteristics of that period of music history, and
the role that the composer played. There will be a great deal of music and artwork
displayed from each period, as well as links to literature, science and history. In addition, using our new music technology lab, we will be using various software titles and synthesizers to support what we are learning.
Opportunities for Assessment
My grading system is very student friendly. In each unit there will be a 10-point project or test. These projects may include using software to create music, designing a PowerPoint presentation, responding in writing to music, a multiple-choice quiz, or creating a website. The total point value for the projects is 80 points. In addition, there will be a 10-point class participation grade, and a 10-point critique grade. There may also be opportunities for extra credit if needed.
What to Bring
Each day, you need to bring a notebook (whatever kind you’d like), a folder, and pen or pencil to class. There is no textbook for this course.