End of 4th Week

This week we started looking at intervals and chords. I played the intervals for the students and asked them to identify thirds and fifths.

Two of my five classes sang in 4-part harmony. They sounded great, even the ones who said, "I can't sing!"

Well, well, well. The tide surely turned this week. Why?

Grades are due!

So many students remembered my name - not "Miss" - not "Dr.", but "Ms. Cartwright" became popular and famous, all of a sudden.

"Ms. Cartwright, what grade do I have in Music?"

"Ms. Cartwright, how can I get my grade to a B?"

I responded, "By rowboat!" to many of them who'd treated me like a red-headed step-child, for the past three weeks. But, oh, did they become friendly and, oh, did I have the upper hand.

I worked with them. Too many hadn't turned in the first two assignments I gave them:

1. MUSICAL WORDS
2. Musical Careers: musician, conductor, lyricist, composer, agent, promoter, producer, distributor, manufacturer, graphics designer, engineer, etc.

More than half got less than 70% on Quiz 1 and the big TEST I gave. So, I had little to use to raise their grades. I gave extra credit, simply, for reading the Italian and English versions of tempos [or tempi, in Italian]. Presto, Largissimo, Adaggio, Allegretto, etc. That worked to raise some of their grades from and "F" to a "D".

Then, about 1/3 still refused to hand in the homework, over the last weekend, so I had to stay with the "D" for those and was able to give a "C", "B" and even a few "A's" to those who did hand it in. It was a simple assignment: Write two pages on ONE composer with birthdate, place, bio and 3 songs that they wrote. Many students gave me bios on people who sang songs but hadn't written the songs. Some gave me bios of groups. They just do not follow instructions. But I do not bend. I mark them down, when they don't give me what I ask for.

Well, grades went in on Friday. Would you believe they came in on Monday without their homework? This assignment was to watch music videos and write a sentence or two on seven (7) careers involved with creating the video. These students wrote down 7 rappers or singers. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, today, we sat there and went through 15 careers involved with making a video and put them in order of importance:

1. Script Writer
2. Producer
3. Director
4. Casting Agent
5. Talent Agents
6. Set Designer
7. Camera People (4+)
8. Sound Engineer (including Boom Microphone Operator)
9. Lighting Technician
10. Choreographer
11. Make Up & Costume Designer
12. Editor
13. Distributor
14. Promoter

I asked the students why I am discussing these careers with them. They said so that they would know about these careers and, possibily find one of them that interests them, since everyone won't be a successful singer, rapper, musician, dancer or actor. They realize that there are many different ways to make money in the MUSIC Industry.

Week 2 of Diva JC Music Teacher

Dear Joan,
The things you had in your blog were great suggestions. You had the kids write down how they feel about music and their emotions that they may be feeling. I will give it a try and let you know what happens. The kids have less and less attention span than we ever did growing up which is a challenge.
Wendell Harrison and Pamela Wise

Wendell,
This is truly the case. They don't get discipline like we did from our parents, teachers and neighbors. They have so many material things that make them think they are "grown" including cellphones, computers, cd players and telephones. They are not afraid of anything. They know they can report us just like we can report them. It is a tough job being a teacher, from the get go, but without the means of disciplining the students, it is closer to "impossible".

Today, I found out that they do not want an "F" or "0" for assignments. They will cheat from each other's work to get the assignment done. It is really difficult when you prefer that they cheat or copy from another student than fail to hand in the assignment at all. So, for their first assignment, MUSICAL WORDS, half of the students did nothing. The other half got grades ranging from B to A- to A, once they did the assignment and handed it in to me.
Diva JC

Also, see my blog, divajcpursuit.blogspot.com