Final Blog Post!

Hey everyone, so, if you couldn't tell from the title, this is my final blog post! The reason it is my final post is because my blogging class (run by Jen) is ending because our school just got out! So it's been fun writing to you guys and I hope you enjoy this last post.

For our final, we have to invent a class (like Jen did) that involves technology, reading, writing and just basic overall skills in any of the school course categories. With this class we have to explain how it would be run, what tools are needed, if it would be popular by the students and what are students would learn from the class. So this is what I'll be writing about.


So as many of you Linworth friends of mine may know, Linworth is a very artistic place. Although, we don't have our own individual music program, there are many kids that are very interested in music and learning about music. So, my class would be a Music History and Composition Class. This class would teach the history and sounds of all types of music that has developed over the centuries. Then after learning the history and the sounds of the specific type of music they would then have to write or compose a musical piece of their own that would fit with the concept of that music's era and style.

We would meet once a week in the classroom. (Times would be determined based on students schedules.) At the classroom, we would establish what style of music they would research for that week as well as some of the basic history of that type of music. Then they would receive an assignment to find and site a source on the web that they found, that talked about the history of the certain style of music that we would be studying. Then, they would summarize what they learned in a paragraph or two. In additional to the site on the web, the students would also be given the book, Haydn String Quartets, written by Rosemary Hughes. This book talks about Haydn and his string quartets and how he changed the way music was seen back in the eighteenth century. Also this book talks about the ingenious ways Haydn wrote his music and the tricks he used that helped him become so successful. This would be vital to a student's general understanding of how to write and compose a quality, understandable piece of music.

The next step of the assignment would be for them to find a piece of music from that era and style that speaks to them or that they feel has a special meaning to them. Then to tell again in a writing summarized form, what that particular piece of music meant to them. The last part of the assignment for the students would be, to write a piece of music (no shorter than 30 seconds with no limit on how long it could be) that would fit the instrumentation of that time period, the style of music from that time period and the correct use of notation from that era. And this is where the technology aspect of the class kicks in. Each student of the class would receive a music notation (composition) program that will help the student write out their desired piece of music. What I would suggest to the students is the Sibelius Student Music Notation Program. I believe it would best fit the class and probably best fit the students music composition ability. It is also a great learning tool and stepping stone to a more advanced notation program. Also for each summary that I would have the kids write (as I mentioned earlier) I would have them write it through a blog program, such as this blogger.com, that Jen introduced me to. I believe this would be probably the best place for an online classroom/in school classroom environment to be held. All of the summaries would be due each week, once a week and that would be as well with the compositions. Then we would meet back at the classroom and discuss some of the things the students learned about (music wise) over the last week.

All in all, what I would want for my students to gain out of this class and experience, would be overall to have more respect for all types of music. Also, many kids at Linworth such as Aaron improv all day on their guitars and such, and many of these songs that they improv are actually quite excellent. If I could just give these students the tools and the steps to actually WRITE the music they play everyday, I as well as many of my students, I'm sure, would feel very happy and accomplished of what they've achieved.

So, after this whole blog class experience, thanks Jen for sticking in there with the blog class, I know it must be really hard, but I appreciate what you've done. So, thanks!
And to all of my readers, well thanks for reading.
And finally to everyone, HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!!!!

--KP

commented on Allie and Dylan's blogs.

OC:Music and Films

Since I'm on a little movie roll lately I thought I would bring up the less appreciated part of films. The music. Much of the music these film composers compose has a huge effect on the film and the character of the film. I mean honestly do you think most movies would be as inspiring as exciting if there was no music involved? Music builds anticipation in films, it brings characters personalities and feelings to life and has many other great contributions.
I really wish that people would find more respect for film music and how much it contributes to the film and everything about it. Film composing is also much more difficult than people think. It might be even more difficult than an actors or a directors job. So next time you see a movie or film, really think about the music in the film and the effect it has to the film's mood and hopefully many more people will start to have more appreciation or as much appreciation for film composers and film music and scoring as I do.

Keep in tuned for next week's blogs.

--KP

OC:Indiana Jones

If you haven't heard, the latest Indiana Jones movie is coming out. In the past Jones has participated in adventures for finding the lost covenant, sacred stones, as well as the holy grail. And his latest adventure is for the Crystal Skulls. In fact, today after watching Indiana Jones the holy grail movie, I watched the history channel special called the Ultimate Quest of Indiana. This special talked about the actual non-fictional history of Indiana Jones adventures. And it also in addition to the research gave a sneek peak preview of the next film, the Crystal Skulls. It was said that there are 13 of these skulls scattered over the earth in which 4 or 5 of them have already been found. These skulls are based off the Mayan culture and teachings. It is said that if these skulls were to be reunited into one area it could repel such a thing as armeggedon which according to the Mayan calendar is supposed to occur in the winter of 2012.
Watching these stories were thrilling, suspenseful and inspirational, and I truly can't wait for the next Indiana Jones movie it should be great.

Talk to you later,

--KP

Pirates III

Hey, so the next chapter Im going to tell you about, that is in the Pirates book I have been reading, is Chapter 3 titled, Captiva, Once an Isle of Captive Women. This chapter takes place in the time period of 1800 to 1821 on the Island of Captiva.
Captiva is a sister island of Sanibel (which I'm sure many of you have heard of.) Captiva is based off the spanish word cautiva, which means female slave. It is said that in times past Gasparilla quarter his specific valuable female captives here on this island for safety until their money could be paid. Back in the day, travel by sea was dangerous and with women aboard it was thought to be even more dangerous and quite unlucky. (Sticking true to that of Mr.Gibbs comments on Pirates of the Carribean.) Women actually usually only traveled by sea when reaching new lands or territories, not for the pleasure reason as pirates ruled these waters centuries ago. Pirates also learned that capturing wives or daughters of high Spanish officials meant lots of gold in trade in the long run.
After a raid near Boca Grande, Gasparilla captured many women of high rank and value and sent them off to an island where women captives awaiting the payment of ransom could be safe. Gasparilla then took some of his older, trustworthy friends to act as guards. This island soon became known as The Island of the Captives.
The Pirates on this island built thatched huts for the captives. This became known as the camp of captiva. Unfortunately knowone now knows where the camp originally was. After many years without Gasparilla ever returning to the island, the captives as well as the "guards" started to develop their own culture and civilization and their own way of living.

Hope you tune in next week for chapter 4.

--KP

commented on Jacob and Allie's blogs.

OC:Wrongfully accused

My teacher also told us of stories of innocent people who were wrongly accused of murder then exonerated because of precise evidence. Recently NPR wrote a great story about a man in Dallas who his pretty much a head of the police department who has for the most part dedicated his life to proving wrongly convicted citizens innocent of their charge. In this country their is a lot of people who are wrongly convicted for soing something they really didn't do and it's amazing the ways they are now coming up with to help accuse the truly guilty and free the wrongly convicted. Including such of what this man in Dallas is doing. What he is doing is now using DNA evidence to help prove those that were wrongly accused innocent. Additional steps still need to be taken to help become more precise with convicting the truly guilty people in the future. Also to not wrongfully accuse prisoners of certain things they didn't do in the future.

Thanks for reading.

--KP