Watoto Children's Choir concert announcement - March 17th

I just came across this concert announcement on panow (you can find the whole article by clicking here). This is sure to be an incredible concert and shouldn't be missed! Check it out!

Junior/Senior Music Festival choir rehearsal dates

Jr. choir noon hour rehearsals: Tues. March 1st / Thurs. March 3rd

Senior choir rehearsals INCLUDING junior choir (you will be pulled from class at these times) plus Arthur for accompaniment: Wed. March 2nd - P.3 / Fri. March 4th - P.4 / Thurs. March 10th - P.3

We are into the home stretch before our performance at Music Festival, ladies! I am encouraged by the progress we've made on our 2 pieces, but there is still work to be done before we take the stage. Please be sure to attend all rehearsals on time and prepared.

Playing tests

Band playing tests are almost all finished for Level 1 and 3. If you are in one of those bands but have been away, or without an instrument, etc. then you will need to catch up after the break.

Level 4 scale testing will begin on Monday after the break (during online theory time).

Level 2 scale testing will continue after the break. Please make sure that you are practicing so that you can play your scales with confidence. If you need extra help, please make arrangements to see me. Your tests should take about 2 minutes if you are prepared.

Happy February break! :o)

PS - Thanks to Level 3 band for an awesome rehearsal today! I had so much fun playing and singing with you. Phantom of the Opera was so cool. :oD

8I Picnik highlights - Feb 15th

Here are a few highlights from the past 2 assignments. Well done ladies!

Today's featured Picnikers: Makayla, Tasha, Claudia, Eryka, Janae, Karli, Morgan, and Vanessa. :o)

Public Market photos:

Flower edits:

And one fun extra one from Vanessa - neat idea!

8M selective boosting assignment

Hi girls!

To continue along the same lines of what we have been working on in Picnik, today we will be experimenting with another form of selective colouring that I call "selective boosting." Basically what it entails is lowering the colour saturation of your original photo, boosting it, and REVERSING the painting effect so that whatever you paint back on will be boosted (higher colour saturation) while the rest will be more muted colours. So, to break that down step by step:

1. Upload the photo that is to be edited.
2. Under the "Edit" tab, click "Colors" and pull the saturation toggle towards the left until you have achieved the level of colour you desire (be sure that it is muted enough that your boosting effect will be noticeable and worth your time and effort).

3. Under the "Create" tab, choose the Boost feature. Adjust the level using the toggle tab until you are happy with the colour of the object to be singled out (i.e. a flower, a guitar, a person, etc.). Always make sure to alter it only enough so that it adds to it, not detracts by being too distracting or overpowering. For example, sometimes boosting colour will erase important details, such as creases in flower petals, etc.4. In the "Effect Painting" box, click "Reverse Effect." This will bring everything back to the lower colour saturation level. Now, when you paint back the original colour (just like we did when we experimented with black and white selective colour painting), it will be a more bold and saturated colour. The overall effect will be that the entire photo is in colour, but one piece will stand out.

Selective boosting is much like selective colouring in that you are emphasizing one part of a photograph with bold colour while drawing attention away from its surroundings - you also use the same brush technique as you did with selective colouring. The difference with selective boosting, however, is that you are not turning the photo to black and white but rather decreasing its saturation so that some colour still remains, just not as bold as the original.

Here are some photos to choose from (make sure you click on the photo to enlarge it before you drag and drop it to your desktop):

When you are done, save it with your last name and "Selective boosting" and submit it to the 8M drop box (or 8I, if that is the class you are in).

8M Picnik highlights

Here are a few highlights from your first 2 photo editing assignments. Well done!

Today's featured Picnikers are Shannon, Erica B, Hannah, Danika, Brigid, and Michelle. :o)

Public Market edits:

Flower edits:

Colour and Quote

Colour and Quote (Picnik - Comp 8)

Hi Computers 8!

Once you have finished your "Public Market" and "flower" edits (which are overdue now, for those of you who haven't submitted yours), here is a new assignment for you:

Choose a photo that has vibrant colour (a bowl of candy, a pair of shoes, a guitar, etc.) and do selective colouring (remember to change the photo to black and white and then paint on the original colour using a brush size small enough that you can be accurate in your lines), and then search Google for a quotation that will fit with the mood of your photo. You may need to put your quotation on more than one line.

When you are finished, save the file with your last name and "Colour and Quote" and hand it in to my drop box.

Happy Picniking!