From Mrs Keates

Hi Guys,

I hear that you were awesome tonight and did an outstanding job. Well done - I am really sorry that I couldn't be there to cheer you on.

Can't wait to see the footage!

Helena- Blame It On The Boogie

Today, we had the drumkit for only one half of the lesson, so we ran through the song, and we found a few timing and tuning issues. We will need to work on this, by having the singers just singing with the help of a piano so they get the right tune and are not out of tune. To sort out the timing issues we just need to practice and maybe look at each other when someone needs to come in so we're communicating as a group and band.

Helena Clough- Blame It On The Boogie

We ran through our song a lot to try and see where we needed to improve and what we thought was good. We now have four singers, 2 main singers and 2 back ups. I think we need to try and see what it sounds like when the singers have micro phones and you can hear them against everything else, because at the moment you cannot hear them. Our target is to try and get the microphones and to get the singers to learn the words.

Sean stansill-todd-smooth criminal

Today we have done quite allot as we have got our timing sorted and we worked on putting the solo which went very well. The song at some points is quite difficult but at the same time very easy as the timing is easy but the getting everything to sound write has many difficulties. In the next lessons we need to have a drum kit and get some good practice with the drums.

Kieran Roberts Smooth Criminal

Today we practised on our timing and put all of our parts together. We also sorted outthw structure of the song like how long the intro is and where different instruments come in. Next lesson we will practise the ending of our song and the guitar solo.

Mikey Smith Blame it on the boogie

Today we got ready to perform our song infront of the class. At the start of the lesson we had 30 minutes to practise and perfect the song and we did! The song sounds much better and our timing and confidence have both inproved. We all know what we are doing in the group making working together much easier. :)

Georgiana Naylor- Beat It

Today we improved our timing issues, we all stayed in time because before the piano and singers were together, and the guitars and drums were together but it didn't all fit all together. We also played the song all the way through together instead of working on it step by step. Today we also fitted in a solo for one of the guitars.

Blame it on the Boogie - Thomas Clayton.

This lesson we analysed the song and we developed our performance by changing it to a slower tempo. We organised which people were singing which lines, and practised it thoroughly. We also decided to add harmonising to the beginning where we do the chorus, but slower. People on the other instruments (Mikey - Electric Guitar, Paulina - Bass Guitar, Helena - Drums, Jason - Euphonium) have all excelled in the performance, they have practised to the hardest of their ability, reaping the rewards and achieving well. The only problem we are having is timing... next lesson we will look at this predicament and try to overcome it.

Beat it- Lois Parker

In music today we tried to sort out the timing of the song but are still struggling. The harmonies in the intro are helping to keep the piano and second guitar together. Also we have decided that they will be some harmonies in the chorus. We have all agreed that we are going to aim to make the song more like Fall Out Boy's cover than Michael Jackson's, to do this we are speeding the tempo up a bit.  We have also decided how the song will begin and that the first verse will be a solo verse.

Next lesson we will continue to work on the timing and begin adding different elements to the song.

Smooth Criminal - Cobi Davis

In our group last lesson we put our parts together and made sure they were in time. We are no longer playing our song as an instrumental version and have decided that some body will sing. I still need to practice the chorus to get it perfect and i have to play the bass part on the piano for extra marks.

Smooth Criminal- Sean stansill-todd

Today was really good we saw what each of us could do and we tryed to see what issounded like.it sounded vey good and we have got to work on our timing and make sure everything sounds good and we will be on our way to getting it done. tomprrow we will be a step further and have done really well.

Blame it on the boogy- Jake Thompson

Today we decided that we were going to slow down the song and make it into more of a ballard; This makes it easier to play and to sing, we started to put it together and got to the first chorus, we need to add a part for Jason's Euphoniun and need to decide whether we're going to have piano in it or not.

Beat It-Samantha Booth

In the lesson today we worked on bringing all the instruments together. We had some issues with the timing which we are sorting out by adding some harmonies to the intro, so that the second guitar and piano can come in, in time with the drums and first guitar.

We also began working on putting the structure of the song together and making sure the parts we had all learnt went together well.
Next lesson we will work on the timing to make sure it sounds correctly.

Beat It-Chloe Metcalfe

Today we have been getting used to the song choice we have chosen the song is beat it.
We have been getting into the group and working out the piano melody and guitar melody.
We have been thinking of different ways to make are song sound better and make it into are own.
We have been working well as a group and making all the different parrts fit together so it sounds good and well sinced together without any problems. The group has had a few arguments about what there views are but we had thought of a plan and are working as a team effectivley to make the situation better. We have many skilled instrumentalists in our group so it is good and we make it as  best we can hopefully we will get even better and keep the good work.

Smooth Criminal- Oliver Barraclough

On the first lesson, we assinged jobs, and instruments, we decidedto focus on the chorus of thwe song. We worked well together, and listened to other peoples ideas. I am looking forward to the rest of the project.

Blame It On The Boogie-Helena Clough

Today, we changed our song choice as we didn't like our orginial song which was 'ABC'. We changed it to 'Blame It On The Boogie', and I think we all like this song better as we can do more with it. Today, we was listening to the song, and figuring out how we would make it our own. We allicated who was singing what, as well. Next week we will try and play the chorus.

Beat It, Jessica McKinley

Our task is to produce a performance based on some of the most popular Michael Jackson songs. The aim of this task is to work as a team and to be more confident therefore to achieve these aims we are going to be performing in front of hundreds of people in the Michael Jackson tribute also this is part of our coursework so we are definitely going to try reach them.

Our group chose Beat It which will be a tricky challenge because its sort of a hard song to do. Even though we have only discussed what instruments we our playing or who's singing, but we are working together pretty well. Every one suggesting  ideas and the group are listening to one another. I think we have got some talented performers in our group so in  my eyes i think were going to do amazingly well. Next lesson we are hopefully going to move onto actually start doing practical work seen as though we have only just started discussing we will probably work on the chorus and then work our way through the rest of the versus .

-ABC, ScarlettGriffin

Today in our music lesson we got into the groups that Miss Keates put us in. Our group had to come up with our own versions of Micheal Jackson's(Jackson5) ABC, today in our lesson Miss Keates didnt have the Michael Jackson song book, so what we did was sort out who was playing what. We still yet have to disscuss who is singing which part of the song. x

Matthew Clough

At the beginning of the six week holidays I went to Sweden. Whilst I was there I took part in a non-formal talent competition with some friends. I sung Hallelluah (as it was the only song we knew as a group) and I think it went very well. We had only practised once, but we were all in tune and mostly in time, and I think our group communication was excellent, as we added another chorus and told each other what to do next without speaking to each other (as we nodded or gave certain looks to each other, which seemed to work!) We had gotten the beginnning wrong, as one of us came in before the other and I missed coming into a verse but mostly it went well, with some of my friends watching beginnning to slow dance! I think if we had practised more we would have known exactly what to do and our timing would have been very slick and smooth, and I think we could have set up quicker, because we took very long to get the microphone to work. We didn't win but I think we did very well.

Matthew Clough

Last week I managed to teach myself how to play chasing cars by coldplay on guitar. I do not know any notes on the guitar or any chords but I taught myself the two notes played at the beginning and from there I used trial and error to work out the chords. It is very important to know the notes, chords and theory of an instrument because it makes learning new songs a lot easier and quicker to learn. Being able to read music means that you have the correct notes in front of you and you can learn to play it a lot quicker. I am beginning to learn some notes and chords, so I can learn new songs on the guitar, and soon I will learn how to read tabs, so that I can play songs and learn chords a lot easier.

Andrew Flint

Over the holidays I've managed to get myself an electric drum kit (my birthday and christmas present) it's great because I can practice in near silence and a lot more often than I could, because now I'm not annoying the neighbours. I've already managed to break one pad, so we were given another. I'm being a lot more careful with it now though!

I've also been taking a few steps at learning bass guitar, a friend is going to lend me his old one and let me start properly learning it.

Eleanor Haley

Over the holidays I have been practising many different songs that I may use in my vocal exam in November, a few of these are 'On my own - Les Miserables', 'Defying Gravity - Wicked' and 'I'd give my life for you - Miss Saigon'. Just before the holidays I auditioned for a main role in a show to be put on around Christmas and got the part, the first rehearsal's tonight so I'll have to see how that goes!
Last Friday I went to Bingley Festival and watched a variety of different bands, that were all actually very good :) Still practising different guitar chords, hope to improve asap :)

Charlotte Nisbet

Over the holidays i have been attempting to learn some guitar chords and piano chords. I think learning these will come in helpfull because it will expand my knowledge of chords and it will be good to know basic chords. I have been learning through the internet and a few friends have shown me some

Alice Fletcher

This holiday I have really been getting back into playing the piano. I hadn't really been playing since we broke up from school but after my holiday (30th July-6th August) I started playing again. I have been playing mostly Disney but Twilight as well. I also found my music for Fur Elise and I have tried really hard to play both hands together and have managed quite well. Over all I am pretty proud of my progress with my piano recently. I am now just waiting for my exam books to arrive so I can start  working on them and hopefully do my grade 5 some time next year.

JAKE JAGGER

Successfully managed to play along to all the opening of eastenders, all acapella :) !! dont really do much music but oh well.

Alice Fletcher

Last week my sister was down visiting and played on the piano. She was struggling a bit so I helped her out,. also I have started to listen to musicals such as; Phantom of the Opera and Grease. I have still been listening to my usual styles such as dance and rock. I have started to listen to Nickelback which I haven't listened to in a while. I also ordered my piano grade 5 book the other day and should be getting it sometime next week.

Charlotte Nisbet

Recently i have been listening to a variety of music, from all kinds of pop music, musicals, rock to classic. The other day i had a quick listen of a few clarinet pieces which i will be learning in September. Listening to a variety of music will help me to study music and understand it better. Also it will help with performing because it will show me how other people have shown their abilites in that genre.

Jonny watson

Over the summer holidays I have practiced hard for the English championships solo piping competion which will take place on the 3rd September 2011 at Chatsworth house. I played and spectated at the World Pipe Band Championships on the 13th August at Glasgow Green. I also stayed in Glasgow for that week for the International piping festival.

Alice Bickerdike

Still preparing for my cello exam I have been spending more and more time learning the pieces that I have been given. I have now learn two of them off by heart ( Seranade and Accuratley Accented Accidental Accident ) which I am quite proud of. I have also been going through the songs that I may be doing for a possible singing exam ( His Name - Piece the musical , Everything Else - Next to Normal , My Party Dress - Henry and Mudge and also Stars and the Moon - Jason Robert Brown ) making sure that I know them ready for my first singing lesson once we go back to school. I have spent time trying to get these right so it is clear to my teachers when I come back to my lessons that I have done some practice over the holidays :)

Alice Bickerdike

Throughout these holidays I have really got back into playing my Cello regularly. I have been trying to improve my sight reading and the overall way I play ready for my exam next year. I have read back through my practice diary and re-read all of the notes I had been given and have put effort in to try and take them all on board and remember the important things like a high wrist and a 'big sound!'
I can now actually recognise the notes I am playing a little faster than before and I think i am actually improving :)
I have worked on being able to getting my bowing right. Practicing joining notes together in one bow and still having a strong sound is the thing i needed to work on most, and also not forgetting when my notes must be joined so that i don't get my bowing all backwards! I think i have improved on this.
Also I have been trying to stay in tune all the time and make sure that I can recognise when I have done something not quite right and then correct it without stopping. I have been trying to improve listening to the sounds i make when I am playing in more detail so I know exactly what it is I am doing wrong. I have tried to practice changing strings and fingers quickly to help learn where I need to be to stay in tune all the way through a piece.

George Backhouse

Readying myself for my Grade 5 ABRSM vocal exam later this year, I have practiced my pieces regularly - I Attempt From Love's Sickness, Trauer Der Lieber, On The Street Where You Live and Turtle Dove. The ABRSM exam board specialise in Classical music, so it is important to learn specific techniques inorder to gain higher marks. These techniques include being able to get through whole phrases in one breath, so you need to work on breath control i.e. I take a big breath and slowly release it so the sound 'shh'.

George Backhouse

As most of you already know music if my life. Throughout the holidays, I don't think I've skipped a day from playing piano or singing, so far. At the begining of the holidays, Whitcliffe Mount and the feeder Middle Schools put on a production of FAME, therefore the whole cast including me were rehearsing for three full days with help from the production team Learn To Rock. Inorder to produce an authentic character, it is important to practice your lines and how you will present yourself to the audience. This is achieved by continuously repeating lines and learning how to emphasise words and show emotions.
The performance was a huge success and was a superb experience to be a part of.
The whole cast throughly enjoyed themselves... A great start to the holidays!!!

BTEC BLOG WRITING

Hi,
Just a reminder that you my BTEC group need to log in to this site using the details I have given you. You then need to click on 'view blog', from there select 'new post' (top right).
Make the title your name and then add to the box below:
You should be including anything new and musical you have done, either practice or listening or even skills based. Remember the more detail you give the better your grade!
Once you've finished select 'Publish Post' - then you're done!

Get blogging!!
Miss Glaholm

Samba Parade

Today in music, we were taking part in a samba parade. It was fantastic, with all the sound and all masks, it was just sooooooooo fun and we both really enjoyed the day ! All the class had a really goods time and it was especially fun as we both got the biggest drums !!!! Hopefully we will be able to do something like this again !!! :)
By Haydn Bowen & James Gascoigne Y9

Our Samba Performance

We did our performance out on the tennis courts with lots of dancing and loud drums.  We kept in time but didn't move very far!  We lloked like a slow moving catapillar!

Samba Parade

We Are Preforming A Samba Song Using The Following Instruments: Drums, Bells, Shakers And Bongos. We Are Going To Perform A Parade Outside To Be Filmed. 
Christina McEvoy & Samantha Booth Year 9  

Samba Music Parade.

Some year 9 students played instruments (drums, agogo bells, shakers) they played at different times and different beats which made a samba rhythm, while some year 11 students was samba dancing inbetween them. The whole group played and danced around the basketball courts and the dancers wore colourfull masks to fit the samba theme.

Carnival Take 1

WE DID IT! When we led the whole pack of samba dancers the whole line jouned in our festivities of joy. EVERYONE LOVED IT!

By James Crossley, Ethan Roper, and Nathan Roper Y11

Sambarooney!

We walked into the colourful surrounding of the music department to find that we had to create a Samba dance to go in a carnival!


The enthusiasm of the class shone through as we created our own little Samba number.  Check out the pictures!


James Crossley, Nathan Roper, Sam Bates Y11

Sambatastic

We have learning pattens of music (ostinatos) with different sorts of musical instruments like drums, agogo bells and shakers. we are going to perform a parade along with year 11 performing arts class using our instruments weve been given.
by Jonny Hopkins, Josh Mordue and Michael Berry Y9

Glue and Feathers Galore!

Today is Enterpise Day, and up in Music, we have the element of Creativty! Not that you'd know that with the bright colourful signs posted around Music saying that! So, instead of creating music, we created colourful Samba masks, with feathers and brightly coloured tissue paper! Getting us in the mood was lively, toe tapping Samba music. Overall, everyone highly enjoyed getting gluey and messy, and I'm sure everyone would love to do it again!

Later on Y9 and Y11 Performing Arts will be wearing the masks in our very own Whitcliffe Carnival!

Sophie Wynne Y11

Enterprise Day - Friday 18th March 2011

Today at Whitcliffe Mount each department has an enterprising skill that they have to highlight in their lessons.  They also have to include the good work that Comic Relief does.

The Music Department has been given "CREATIVITY" so we are having a Latino Party!  Y9 students have been studying World Music and today is all about creating a Samba Carnival!

We are going to look at the poverty and social issues in Brazil and then try to recreate the enthusiasm, creativity and party atmosphere that goes into their celebrations.

Vamos a hacer una fiesta latina!