Today is the second district Benchmark Test in my fourth period Math I class, with the other classes taking their district tests tomorrow. Thus I sing "Benchmark Tests" in fourth period -- but it's also the perfect day for a Math III song.
This is the sixth song that I'm composing in 14EDL, our main scale for January and February. And it's the first 14EDL song in the ABCD format, with verses, a pre-chorus, a chorus, and a bridge.
Here's a link to today's Mocha code:
https://www.haplessgenius.com/mocha/
Don't forget to click on Sound before you RUN the program.
While this song includes the entire 14EDL scale, certain notes appear only in certain parts -- indeed, the chorus consists only of two tonic whole notes, a high F# and a low F#. The verse is the only part in which Degree 13 appears, while the bridge is the only part where Degrees 10 and 11 appear.
Thus we might interpret 14EDL as a pure Locrian scale, with Degrees 13 and 11 as G and B -- since these notes don't appear in the same part of the song, there's no need to worry about interpreting 13/11 as a major third. We might instead interpret is as a natural minor scale, since the only appearance of the diminished 7/5 fifth C is as a quick eighth note in the bridge.
Notice that I haven't actually performed this song yet. This tune corresponds to the second block of the week, which is tomorrow for both Math III classes. But the blogging schedule corresponds to the block days of fourth period, which isn't a Math III class (and got "Benchmark Tests" instead).
Thus I have yet to decide which chords to play with this song. I'm actually leaning more towards the minor key interpretation, so F#m will be the chord to play during the chorus.
(By the way, the FOR loops are written oddly. Line 30 is written so that the first verse plays ABC -- 48 notes -- and the second verse plays ABCD -- 72 notes. Line 90 squeezes in one more Chorus to play at the end of the song -- possible only because the Chorus consists of two whole notes repeated.)
The song indicates how the Math III lesson will soon be presented. The Factor and Remainder Theorems each have their own verses, and the bridge reminds us to switch signs (so r = 1 tests the factor x - 1, and r = -1 tests the factor x + 1). Because of syllables, I expect to shorten remainder to 'mainder to fit the tune.
There's not much to say about Math I in this post, since the focus is on the district Benchmarks. I will say that Chapter 6 is briefly covered on today's test just as Chapter 3 was on the first district test. This is why we covered Lesson 6.1.1 before the test. Still, there are a few questions from deeper in Chapter 6, but perhaps some students might remember a little about solving systems from Math 8 (once again, just like transformations in Chapter 3).
Today is Sevenday on the Eleven Calendar:
Resolution #7: We earn our grades through hard work and dedication.
And hopefully my students are working hard to earn their scores on the Benchmarks today.
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