SKILL BUILDER PROGRAM

for

The Badger State Girl Choir

 

 

All good musicians acquire a basic set of skills to assist them in their craft.  Understanding how music worksÉis constructedÉbuildÉand how to read it is part of that set of skills.  This series of exercises and games is meant to help develop your basic understanding of music and increase your ability to enjoy and perform as a singer.

 

Some musicians study instruments.  This is VERY helpful when learning to read rhythms and pitches.  Singers always have a harder time with this because there are no keys to push, strings to finger or slides to pull.  Singers must hear notes and rhythms in their mindÕs ear firstÉand then recreate them with their voices.  This takes some talentÉand training to do well.

 

Included at this site is a sequential set of lessons (games and exercises) that we are including.  Start at the beginning and work your way to the end.  DonÕt spend a lot of time (unless you want to!)Ébut maybe a few minutes 3-4 times a week. 

 

Have FUN!!!

 

 

Here is the plan:

 

 

1.         Go to the website for each lesson.  It should pop right up at the lesson IÕve chosen.  Although they are all pretty easy to understand, there are instructions that can be accessed on that page.

 

2.         Try the lesson or activity as many times as you like. 

 

3.         When you have been successful, print the page of your final effort.  Put your name on it and turn it in to Dr. Meidl on or before the rehearsal due date.

 

4.         Any skill builder lesson that is turned in must meet the minimum time goal and must be signed by a parent or guardian.  All skills taught through this program will be reinforced during rehearsal.

 

Those singers that are more experienced will fly through the early lessons.  Novice musicians will need to take more timeÉ learn as much as you can!  Be sure to do your own work.

 

 

Lesson 1                     The Music Staff and Clefs

 

*           Go to:              http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/html/id10_en.html

*           Click through the information about the staff and clefs

*           Go to:              http://www.musictheory.net/trainers/html/id82_en.html

*           Do the ÒNote TrainerÓ activity.              Goal:   50 correct/100%

*           When you have achieved the goalÉprint the page and turn it in to your teacher.

 

Lesson 2                     Treble Clef (G Clef) Note Names

 

*           Go to:              http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/noteNames.html

*           Read the instructions by clicking on the link in the upper left of the screen.

*           Click on ÒSettingsÓÉchoose Treble Staff Only and No Ledger Lines (line and spaces are ok)

*           Click ÒOKÓ and then click ÒStart Drill.Ó

*           Do the ÒNote NamesÓ activity.              Goal:   50 completed/100%/7 Seconds

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 3                     Treble Clef Note Names

 

*           Same as Lesson 2Ébut faster!             Goal:   50 completed/100%/5 Seconds

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 4                     Treble Clef Note Names

 

*           Same as Lessons 1 & 2, but now we will add ledger lines!

*           Click on ÒSettingsÓÉchoose Treble Staff Only and Allow Ledger Lines

*           Do the activity.                                                Goal    50 completed/100%/5 Seconds

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 5                     Treble Clef Note Names

 

*           Go to:              http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/speedNoteNames.html

*           Read the instructions by clicking on the link in the upper left of the screen.

*           Click on ÒSettingsÓÉchoose Treble Staff Only, No Ledger Lines, Scrolling Speed 40

*           Click ÒOkÓ and then click ÒStart Drill.Ó

*           Do the ÒPaced Note NamesÓ activity.               Goal:   50 completed/100%/ Av. Time 4 sec.

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 6                     Treble Clef Note Names

 

*           Same as Lesson 5Ébut faster!            

*           Click on ÒSettingsÓÉchoose Treble Staff Only, No Ledger Lines, Scrolling Speed 50

*           Click ÒOkÓ and then click ÒStart Drill.Ó

*           Do the activity.                                                            Goal:   50 completed/100%/Av. Time 4 sec.

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 7                     Treble Clef Note Names with Ledger Lines

 

*           Same as Lessons 5 & 6, but now we add ledger lines!

*           Click on ÒSettingsÓÉchoose Treble Staff Only, Allow Ledger Lines, Scrolling Speed 50

*           Click ÒOkÓ and then click ÒStart Drill.Ó

*           Do the activity.                                                            Goal:   50 completed/100%/Av. Time 4 sec.

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 8                     Treble Clef Note Names with Ledger Lines

 

*           Same as Lessons 5, 6 & 7Ébut faster!

*           Click on ÒSettingsÓÉchoose Treble Staff Only, Allow Ledger Lines, Scrolling Speed 60

*           Click ÒOkÓ and then click ÒStart Drill.Ó

*           Do the activity.                                                            Goal:   50 completed/100%/Av. Time 3 sec.

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 9                      Music Rhythms and Counting

 

*           Go to:               http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/rhythmPerf.html

*           Read instructions by clicking on the upper left hand corner of the screen.

*           Click on ÒSettingsÓÉchoose Difficulty Level: Easy

*           Click ÒOkÓ and then click ÒStart Drill.Ó

*           Do the ÒRhythm PerformanceÓ activity.                        Goal:   50 completed/100%

            (Note:  use the computer keyboardÉclick any key to get 4 quarter note pulses before you start)

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 10                   Music Rhythms and Counting

 

*           Same as lesson 9Ébut harder!

*           Click on ÒSettingsÓÉchoose Difficulty Level: Medium

*           Click ÒOkÓ and then click ÒStart Drill.Ó

*           Do the activity.                                                            Goal:   50 completed/100%

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 11                   Music Rhythms and Counting

 

*           Same as lessons 9 & 10Ébut harder!

*           Click on ÒSettingsÓÉchoose Difficulty Level: Hard

*           Click ÒOkÓ and then click ÒStart Drill.Ó

*           Do the activity.                                                            Goal:   50 completed/100%

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 12                   Music Rhythms and Counting

 

*           Repeat lesson 11                                             Goal:   75 completed/100%

 

Lesson 13                   How Rhythms are Counted and Beats Divided

 

This lesson is a bit complicated for the novice musician.  Spend some time following this strangeÉyet interesting presentation and see if you can get a better understanding as to how trained musicians count beats and the rhythms that play on top of them.

 

*           Go to:              http://www.philtulga.com/counter.html

*           Read the material in the first two paragraphs and click on links as they interest you.

*           Click the ÒNumbersÓ button on the rightÉand then click the ÒRhythmsÓ button on the bottom.

*           Choose ÒTwinkle, TwinkleÓÉpress play and count the rhythms along with that unusual voice!

*           Go back and do the same thing by clicking ÒJingle BellsÓ, ÒRow, Row, Row Your BoatÓ or any

            other that you recognize.  Take careful note how each beat is divided into:  1 e + a  or 2 e + a

            and, depending on the song, how different parts of each beat are counted.  ThatÕs rhythm!

*           Print and turn in any song-rhythm that you have studied (There is nothing to complete).

 

Lesson 14                   Rhythm Dictation Easy

 

*           Go to:              http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/rhythmDict.html

*           Read instructions by clicking on the upper left hand corner of the screen.

*           Click ÒSettingsÓÉchoose Difficulty Level:  Easy

*           Click ÒOkÓ and then click ÒStart Drill.Ó

*           Do the ÒRhythm DictationÓ activity by clicking ÒPlay Rhythm.Ó Goal:    20 completed/100%

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 15                   Rhythm Dictation Easy

 

*           Same as lesson 14Ébut more memory!                                   Goal:               30 completed/100%

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 16                    Rhythm Dictation Medium

 

*           Go to:              http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/rhythmDict.html

*           Click ÒSettingsÓÉchoose Difficulty Level:  Medium

*           Click ÒOkÓ and then click ÒStart Drill.Ó

*           Do the ÒRhythm DictationÓ activity by clicking ÒPlay Rhythm.Ó Goal:   20 completed/100%

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 17                   Rhythm Dictation Medium

 

*           Same as lesson 16Ébut more memory!                                   Goal:               30 completed/100%

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 18                   Rhythm Dictation Hard

 

*           Go to:              http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/rhythmDict.html

*           Click ÒSettingsÓÉchoose Difficulty Level:  Hard

*           Click ÒOkÓ and then click ÒStart Drill.Ó

*           Do the ÒRhythm DictationÓ activity by clicking ÒPlay Rhythm.Ó Goal:   20 completed/100%

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 19                   Rhythm Dictation Hard

 

*           Same as lesson 18Ébut more memory!                                   Goal:               30 completed/100%

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 20                   Major Key Signatures

 

*           Singers need to know the most important pitch upon which a song is builtÉit helps when sight-reading.  So for Major Keys you will search for the pitch ÒDoÓ of the scale.  The Key Signature are the flats and sharps that are often placed at the beginning of a song showing the location of ÒDoÓ.

*           The three rules you will need to know: No Sharps or FlatsÉC is ÒDoÓ

                                                                        The Last Sharp to the Right is ÒTiÓÉfind ÒDoÓ

                                                                        The Last Flat to the Right is ÒFaÓÉfind ÒDoÓ

                                                Shortcut           The Second to Last FlatÉis ÒDoÓ

*           Go to:              http://www.musictheory.net/trainers/html/id83_en.html

*           Click ÒSettingsÓ and choose ALL 7 Flat Key Signatures, Major Keys, and Treble Clef

*           Click ÒSettingsÓ again to hide the window.

*           Do the ÒKey TrainerÓ activity.               Goal:                           30 Correct/0 Incorrect/100%

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 21                   Major Key Signatures

 

*           Same as lesson 20 but now just sharps.

*           Click ÒSettingsÓ and choose ALL 7 Sharp Key Signatures, Major Keys, and Treble Clef

*           Click ÒSettingsÓ again to hide the window.

*           Do the ÒKey TrainerÓ activity.               Goal:                           30 Correct/0 Incorrect/100%

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 22                   Major Key Signatures

 

*           Same as lesson 20Ébut now with sharps and flats

*           Click ÒSettingsÓ and choose ALL 15 Key Signatures, Major Keys, and Treble Clef

*           Click ÒSettingsÓ again to hide the window.

*           Do the ÒKey TrainerÓ activity.               Goal:                           30 Correct/0 Incorrect/100%

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 23                   The Major Scale

 

*           The major scale is a pitch collection that has a very specific series of whole steps and half steps.

            It is the most important pitch collection that we will study right now.  Memorize the interval

            sequence that identifies this scale.

*           Go to:              http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/html/id21_en.html

*           Read and click through the lesson.  There is no activity to do for this activity.

*           Print the screen that shows the ÒD Major Scale.Ó  Turn in.

 

Lesson 24                   Building Major Scales

 

*           Now that you know the interval sequence for a Major ScaleÉletÕs build some!

*           Go to:              http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/scales.html

*           Read instructions in the upper left hand corner of the window.

*           Click on ÒSettingsÓÉchoose     Drill Type: Build Scales on Staff

                                                            Tonic Note: No Accidentals on Tonic Note

                                                            Scales:  Only Check Major  (Ionian)

*           Click ÒOkÓ and then click ÒStart Drill.Ó               Goal:   10 Completed/100%/ Av. Time 45 Sec.

*           Print and turn in.

 

Lesson 25                   Building Major Scales

 

*           Same as lesson 24Ébut harder!                                  Goal:   10 Completed/100%/Av. Time 30 Sec.

*           Print and turn in.

 

 

More?

 

For some of you with advanced musical study in your past, these lessons are very easy.  You can find dozens of good theory programs online to help you advance even more.  Push yourself to be the best musician you can possibly be!  Here are some additional resources for more advanced students.

 

Intervals:                      http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/intervals.html

                                    http://www.musictheory.net/trainers/html/id84_en.html

                                    http://www.musictheory.net/trainers/html/id90_en.html

 

Advanced Scales:         http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/scales.html

                                    http://www.musictheory.net/trainers/html/id91_en.html

 

Triads/Chords:              http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/chords.html

                                    http://www.musictheory.net/trainers/html/id85_en.html

                                    http://www.musictheory.net/trainers/html/id92_en.html

 

Complete Theory:        http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/Fundamentals/workbooks.html

 

Print Staff Paper:         http://www.musictheory.net/utilities/html/id96_en.html

 

Other Interesting Sites:            http://www.dolmetsch.com/index.htm

                                    http://www.musicards.net

                                    http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/

Listening:

                                    http://www.smithsonianglobalsound.org/index.aspx

                                    http://www.classicalarchives.com/

                                    http://www.musicovery.com/

 

 

Questions:                    meidl@badgerstategirlchoir.com  or 729-4753

                                    meyersautumn@aasd.k12.wi.us  or 832-4168