Term 3 Reflections

13 January 2011
Today is the first day of the third term. We didn't do much today, since it was the first day of school. Also, we had a split session before and after lunch break so there wasn't much to do. Today, all that we did was see our scores for the last semester. I am not too pleased with my score, but I think it's still a lot better than I expected, especially since I was really bad with my reflections and videos. Also, today, we found out that we were going to study jazz music this term. I don't really listen to a lot of jazz, so I think that this is going to be hard for me.

For instrument class, we were practicing the scales and chords. That is the important part of jazz music, so we had to learn them again. I was a little bit bored, but I am not very good at it so I have to practice for the next session.

18 January 2011
Today, we received handouts about jazz music. It was about the start of jazz music from New Orleans. The paper was very thick, but we only had do read some of it for the quiz. We were given a quiz for that, so I think that it was difficult because we only had 10 minutes to study. However, we only had to do until number 16 on the paper, so it wasn't that bad. After the quiz was collected, we were taught about the jazz modes that we practiced last Thursday. After that was instrument class.

In instrument class, we only had to practice the jazz modes again. I wasn't very good at them, so I think I will have to do it again. The next lesson after that was practicing the jazz modes, but with the hand positions switched around. That means the right hand is playing the chords while the left hand plays the scale. I am really bad at that so I have to practice a lot to make it work.

20 January 2011
We received another handout about jazz music today. It was quite difficult to read, but we only had ten minutes again so I did the best I could. After that, some of my classmates played the jazz modes in front so we could see how to do it. I think they did pretty well, though some of the violins could be more in tune. I know it is difficult to play the violin in tune, so I still think they did good.

After this is instrument class. I played the jazz modes again, but I practiced it at home so I am much better at it now than before. However, we learned about the chord progression today. I couldn't understand any of it after the first part, because it was difficult for me to follow how the chords went down. I think that this is the most difficult part of the lesson so far. I had to look up the chord progression on the internet at home so I could be able to play it.

25 January 2011
Today, we were asked to sing the song called 'I Got Rhythm' in class. I have never heard of the song, but I think that it sounds okay. We were told that this would be our first singing assessment for this term, which will be to sing I Got Rhythm. It is a short song, so it isn't that difficult to memorize. I don't think I will have any problems with this, though the thing I am worried about is my voice. We also got another essay topic for an assessment, about jazz music. We were divided into groups and had to make a list of information about our given topics. Then, the group leader and vice-leader would present it to the class. My topic was the jazz in America. Then, after the presentation, the other students played the jazz modes, and then we went to instrument class.

For instrument class, we had to practice the chord progression again. I am having a lot of trouble with it. Now, even though I know which chords I have to play, it is still difficult for me to think in advance, so I keep making a lot of mistakes. I will have to practice more to get better at it.

27 January 2011
This time, we got the lyrics for I Got Rhythm. This is our singing assessment, so we have to memorize the song and sing in front of the class. We practiced singing it a little in class so we could understand how the melody went, and then after that, we went to the instrument class. I think that I will be able to memorize the song by the assessment date, since it isn't very long.

In instrument class, I finally started to be able to play well. I remembered the formula for the stepping down of the notes, and asked my piano teacher for help, so it's easier for me. Still, I made a lot of mistakes and wrong pressing of keys, so I will still have to practice a lot to make it better.

8 February 2011
Today, we were asked to submit our homework. I couldn't go to music last Tuesday because I had an ISA practice test to do. However, I asked my friends if we had any homework, and that was our essay assignment. It was about the role of jazz in society. However, I heard from my friends that it was about jazz, but they didn't say the society part, so I made my essay about the Harlem Renaissance. However, it still had a part where it mentioned the impact to society, so I think it is okay. Next time, I need to ask my friends about it in more detail so I will not make mistakes like that again. After that, we had to do our singing assessment for I Got Rhythm. I believe that I did well, but I could have done better if I was louder. My classmates also did very well. After that, we had to write a reflection for the song, and choose the next song to sing for the other singing assessment.

10 February 2011
For now, we were told how to compose a blues melody using the chords. I looks very simple because there are only three chords, which are the C Major 7, the F Major 7, and the G Major 7. We have our singing assessment next week, but I might not be present next week because I have a competition. Also, we have to submit a sheet music of our composition, which I think will be very troublesome because my trial for Finale has already expired.

In instrument class, we practiced how to make an accompaniment using the blues chords. I messed up many times, but it is simple so I just have to practice more. The main problem I have is forgetting which notes go with which chords, so I should study about that too.

22 February 2011
I was not able to come to school at all last week because of a competition, so I missed my singing assessment. However, I was able to make a finale file of my composition, and also submit it today for this class. The 12 bar blues melody wasn't very difficult to make, because I just had to use the right notes from the chords to make it. After that, the last of my classmates finished the singing assessment. I was supposed to do it today, but I couldn't because I was unprepared from the competition. I did not have time to memorize the lyrics of the song so I asked to do it later on.

For instrument class, I practiced my melody, since I had to perform it later on for another assessment. I was given a chance to improve my melody, but I left it as it is because it would be too difficult to try to change anything now, especially since I only had a limited amount of time to do that assessment as well as the singing. I think I played okay, though I still have to get used to it. It is very lucky that I don't need to use the left hand accompaniment as well because that would make it very difficult for me.

1 March 2011
Today, the rest of my classmates submitted their finale music sheets for their blues melody. I already submitted mine, so there isn't anything to change. After that, the booklets for this semester were given to us. After this, the next assessment was a group jazz performance. However, we still had to practice for performing our blues melody, so there is still another performance to do. We practiced in front of the other students, and after that, we went to instrument class.

For instrument class, we just had to keep practicing. We used the accompaniment from the keyboard so that we didn't have to play our own left hand. It was a relief for me because I was not sure how to play the chords and the melody at the same time since I hadn't practiced it yet. I think that I could play okay with my partner, so there wasn't a problem for that.

3 March 2011
Today, we performed our 12 bars blues melody for our assessment. I played with Yovita on the piano so when I played, she did the accompaniment of the chords, and I did the chords when she played. After all of the piano students had performed one by one, we all played together. After this was the guitars and then the violins and woodwinds. Some of the violins and woodwinds had to be split up because they played in different keys. I think they all performed very well, since playing a blues melody is quite difficult.

After that, there was lunch and instrument class. At instrument class, we basically had free time since we just finished an assessment. We watched some videos of jazz pianists, and after that, we discussed the jazz performance in a group a little because it was our next assessment. We were given the sheet music for Summertime which is a jazz song, and also, after that we were asked if we wanted to have the jazz performance with mixed instruments or the same instruments. We chose to have it with mixed instruments because it would be more interesting.

8 March 2011
Today, we received the groups and songs for the next assessment. The jazz group performance. There were three groups, and each group would have to play one song. The options were All of Me, Summertime, and I Got Rhythm. It took a long time to decide the group members, and we eventually chose is by drawing papers and numbers to form the groups. I then got the song Summertime, which was okay, since I had the sheet music for it already. It took the whole session to choose the groups because we were taking very long.

At instrument class, I did the make up singing assessment since I forgot to do it before. I could not remember the lyrics and melody of Summer Wind so I sang Fly Me To The Moon instead. It was easier and short, so I could remember it. I was very nervous and made a mistake at the beginning. After that, we were all given tips on how to sing better and discussed about some of the different chords like C7, C9, and C11 and other things like that.

10 March 2011
Today, we wrote a reflection about the 12 bars blues performance. After writing in the booklet, we were taught about things like melody, bass, and accompaniment and what part is best for the instrument. We were then given the chords for our song, so that we could practice it in instrument class. Since the piano is better for bass and accompaniment, I will not be playing the melody for that. I will have to discuss with Yovita about what to do since we are in the same group, but I think I will be playing one while she plays the other. We talked about the different chords that were discussed earlier, because chords are very important for the bass and accompaniment. I learned about many new types that I had not heard of before.

After this was instrument class. In instrument class, we just had to learn to play our songs. Summertime had somewhat difficult chords since I wasn't used to playing in that key, but I think it is okay. If I practice a lot, I believe that I can do it well.

15 March 2011
For today, there wasn't really much to do. Mainly, we tried to perform together for our jazz song. I think that my group has to practice a lot, since we couldn't play together, and some of our members weren't present. The main thing that should be worked on is tempo, since I am not sure how fast the song should be played. I tried to follow the violins, but the tempo and beats weren't constant so I wasn't sure what to do. I think we will have to try a lot harder next time so that it will be easier.

We were also split into groups and assigned supervisors. My group went to the guitar room to practice, and I think that I made an improvement from the last time I tried to play Summertime. I know the chords by now, and even if I still made mistakes, it was much better than last time since I did not hesitate that much.

17 March 2011
We filled in a form about the class for today, and watched some of my classmates perform their assessments, since they did not have a chance to do it before. That took up the entire first session, so after that, we discussed a little bit about the next assessment, which is the group jazz performance.

In instrument class, all three groups performed. For my group, I think we were starting to do quite well, though there are some parts where we should practice more together, to make it sound better. The tempo isn't constant, so I think that is the major part we have to work on. To me, everyone sounds in tune, so that is not a problem. I believe that we will be ready for the time when we have to perform if we practice together.