Guitar 2-Post 2-Music from Film or TV

In the comments below, (or in an email to me)
Paste a youtube link showing music from film or TV. Tell us why you picked it, and describe your clip in musical terms.

I picked the opening sequence from the horror movie "Insidious." 

It appears to use stringed instruments, mostly violins, and they are using the classic horror movie recipe of creepy dynamics and dissonance. (Remember, consonance is when notes blend well together, dissonance is when they do not.)

It sounds like the violin's pitches are descending quickly, starting with high notes and dropping the pitch in a wobbly, turbulent, unsettling way. When the text featuring the movie title pops up, there is an explosion of more dissonance and tension that gives me the creeps and makes me jump every time. This is a great example of using harsh sounds to make scary images even scarier.

Guitar 2, Semester 2 2014-15 BLOG #1

Welcome to Guitar 2! I'm very happy to see so many familiar faces in thew class, and I welcome our new students as well! Below is the assignment which is due THIS FRIDAY by 11 pm. If this blog post doesn't load, you will still receive full credit if you email your response to tmorrow@depaulprep.org

Post a youtube link below to a song involving the guitar and describe it using musical terms. Tell us why you picked the clip you picked in at least 2 paragraphs. Here are some terms to incorporate if you need inspiration.

Example: "The tempo is rather slow, but I like how the dynamics slowly became louder by the chorus... etc......"

Tempo
Pitch
Major
Minor
Verse
Chorus
Solo
Dynamics
Acoustic
Electric
Distortion
Effects
Power Chords
First Position Chords
Capo
Tuning

Blog due Friday 9-12-Your Reaction to the Secret Sisters visit!

This blog assignment is your opportunity to document last Friday's visit from the Secret Sisters. Here are some questions to consider when writing your post. Please provide at least two paragraphs or more about this special day at DePaul Prep.

What was your overall impression of the band?

What did you come away with from the Q & A session with the band?

How does this event tie into our studies in Guitar 1?

Blog Assignment #1 Who are you?

Hello Guitar 1.
Let me be the first to congratulate you on making it this far.

You'll find in this class that completing the blogs is not hard, and it's a great way to secure a good grade.

As always, if this page doesn't let you post for whatever reason, send your post via email to tmorrow@depaulprep.org and you'll get receive full credit. Your assignment is as follows.

Tell me about yourself by answering the following questions:

Name/Grade:

What is your impression of Guitar 1 so far?

What is your favorite type of music and why?

What are some of your favorite things to do?

What do you hope to achieve in this class?

Cut and paste a youtube clip of something musical that you enjoy!


Here's my response:

Name/Grade: Mr. Morrow/31 years YOUNG

What is your impression of Guitar 1 so far?
I'm enjoying the class a lot. You are all picking things up quickly, participating, and respecting the all important cutoff. I am looking forward to playing lots of songs together.

What is your favorite type of music and why?
Right now, I'm really on a sort of pop music kick. I'm enjoying the songs that the choir is singing, such as Lorde's "Royals" and Broadway stuff too. Les Miserables is in heavy rotation in my house. I also love punk rock and metal.

What are some of your favorite things to do?
Teaching music, cooking, hanging with my wife, dogs and twin boys (Freddie and Mickey) watching 30 rock on Netflix, drinking coffee. Oh, and horror movies. Always.

What do you hope to achieve in this class?
I want everyone to develop confidence not only as a guitarist, but as a musician, and as a person. Playing music did that for me when I was in high school.

Cut and paste a youtube clip of something musical that you enjoy!
One of my favorite bands is Opeth, from Sweden. Here's a clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzZEO_-gBxU

How are You?

GUITAR 2!
My paternity leave has been excellent. Hectic, and not a lot of sleep, but still so awesome to be home with my wife and Freddie and Mickey.

This post is NOT a grade, but it's a chance for you to tell me, how was your week? What did you accomplish? I really cannot wait to get back to work with you.

In the meantime, I am checking this blog daily, so feel free to comment below, even if you're just saying hi, or updating me on your week with Mr. R. Enjoy these pics of my boys, they turned 1 month yesterday!

ALSO, don't forget you have a graded blog due 2-14 by 11 pm, don't be late and don't forget!

Yours in music,
Mr. Morrow

Blog Assignment # 2-Due Friday February 14th by 11 pm

As always, if this blog doesn't post for whatever reason, you can email it or write it to me and get full credit as long as it's NOT LATE! Happy blogging!

What has been your favorite thing about guitar 2 so far? Give me at least a full paragraph about what you have enjoyed so far and why. Is there anything you would change about this class?

I'll tell you mine. I have been blown away with not only the natural talent of my students, but your willingness to listen and to grow and improve, from beginner level to advanced. Sometimes, students can turn into "know it alls" pretty quick once they know a few things, but you have kept a positive and productive attitude which makes me very proud. The only thing I would change is I wish I had you all for Guitar 1 so that we were all on the same page, but we are still making progress together which is all that matters!

SECOND SEMESTER 2014! Welcome to Guitar 2!

Hi everyone. Congratulations on completing the first blog post of the second semester! Read below for directions. This post is due this FRIDAY, JANUARY 17th by 11PM. If the post doesn't work for whatever reason, you can email your response to me for full credit. Click here to email me.

*Late submissions will receive half credit or less. Don't be late, people!


This will be your first graded blog assignment. Please post below in the comments section.

There are no wrong answers, simply follow directions and receive full credit for your post. You may personalize your posts with pictures, and please always use complete sentences!

1. Tell us all a little bit about yourself. 
Why did you sign up for guitar? 
Who are some of your favorite guitar players? 
What are your hobbies?
Tell us one funny or interesting thing about your school year thus far.

2. Please copy and paste one youtube link of a song or riff that you would like to learn this semester.

I am VERY open to your suggestions :)

REMINDER: This IS a grade, so don't procrastinate, and have your post completed by this Friday. I'm looking forward to reading them!

Here's mine, to give you an idea of what I expect, format wise.

Mr. Morrow

I have been playing music since the age of 9, when I got my first guitar. In high school, I fell in love with singing, and now I play the drums, guitar, bass, piano, and I sing constantly. I play in a punk band and I also perform as a solo guitarist for weddings and private events.

I listen to everything from Scandinavian Metal to Flamenco guitar and sacred a Capella choir music. Music brings me joy, and I always say, the more variety, the better! Right now I'm listening to both Civil Wars albums, "Wasting Light" from the Foo Fighters, and a classic rock band called Thin Lizzy from Ireland.

Some of my favorite guitarists are Brian Setzer from the Stray Cats, Chris Cheney from The Living End, and Mikael Akerfeldt from Opeth. Here's a link to Chris Cheney rocking out.

My hobbies include recording music, performing live with my band, teaching private lessons, cooking (I love to make fried chicken) and Sci-Fi movies. Right now, I am all about ALIEN....Speaking of Alien, my wife and I just had twin boys (Freddie and Mickey Morrow) on January 5th !

I love taking my dogs for a run at the park, and doing yoga. Also, my wife and I love horror movies, the cheesier, the better.

One funny thing that happened to me is the first week of school is upon entering my classroom for the first time, I dropped a box filled with books and musical gear, because I was walking up the stairs too fast... I was a little too pumped...
Remember, last year, I bounced around 3 schools, had 3 different classrooms, so you can imagine how excited I am to have ONE room that I can put all of my support and energy into. 

Did I mention I'm already proud of you all?
Happy posting!