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 Music Class!!!

        ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eagle Choir will perform the musical revue "Lights! Camera! Action!" in the gym on Thursday, May 13th at 6:00 p.m.  All memebers must be dressed and in the music room at 5:30 p.m. 

Dress rehearsal for Eagle Choir's musical will be Thursday, May 6th from 2:30-4:30 in the gym.  Come dressed and prepared to practice like we will perform!

Eagle Choir will have a party on Thursday, May 20th during rehearsal time.  Please donate some type of party food, cups, plates, or napkins if at all possible.

5th grade graduation will be held the last day of school.  The songs chosen by the students were "Stand By Me" and our traditional piece, "We Go Together".  Congratulations to our two soloists, Samuel and Kimberly, both from Mrs. Riddell's class.

I would like to welcome everyone back to school and to music class!  I hope that everyone has had a fun and exciting summer and is now ready to get back to making music!  I have many new and exciting things planned for our year this year.  Please look for your grade level below to see what programs, music, and exciting events you can look forward to this year.  Also, please keep check on this site for updates on upcoming music events, concerts and music class announcements as well as local auditions, opportunities to attend a local musical or play and various links of interest!

All 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students interested in joining Eagle Choir must return the form the first rehearsal.  Eagle Choir start on Thursday, November 5th.  Eagle Choir is a singing and dancing show choir open to all 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders who wish to participate.  This program is free and will meet every Thursday after school from 2:30-4:00.  Please make sure someone is here to pick your child up at the car rider door by 4:00!  If you have missed your opportunity to join Eagle Choir, you have another one!  I will take new members starting the week we get back from winter break!  Ask me for more infomration.

I would like to say a special thank you to all the 5th and 4th grade classes and their teachers for a job well done at this year's Veteran's program!  You all did an amazing job and I could not have asked for a better performance!  I am so impressed with your work and so proud of you as people and musicians.

5th Grade - The 5th grade will be in charge of our Annual Veteran's Day program.  The Veteran's Day program will be on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2009 during school hours.  We will begin working on our music immediately following our return from Labor Day weekend.

    The 5th grade also presents an incredible opportunity to work with our fellow elementary schools in Anderson County at our county-wide concert.  This concert combines all volunteer 5th grade students from the nine elementary schools in the county.  Should you choose to be involved in this event, you will have the opportunity to perform with students from Briceville, Lake City, Norris, Andersonville, Fairview, Dutch Valley, Claxton, and Norwood, as well as being under the direction of their amazing music teachers!  This concert will be held in the spring at Anderson County High school.  All rehearsal will be done in class, during school time as not to interfere with any after school activity.  There will be one rehearsal night and the evening of the concert and the only cost will be for the t-shirt.

    Finally, the 5th grade will be looking towards their graduation performance.  This will be held within the last week of school and we will begin working on this music, including our traditional "We Go Together", immediately following our return from Spring Break!

4th Grade - Beginning in the 4th grade classroom brings about a new and exciting instrument and also a great responsibility.  I am talking about the RECORDER!!!!  It's the instrument you have been waiting to get since you were in Kindergarten!  The recorder is a pre-band instrument.  This means that this instrument will prepare you for instruments that you may choose to play in the middle school band.  Much of 4th grade music is based on the recorder so be prepared to practice, practice, practice.  We work with a program called "Recorder Karate" which is based on the same "belt" format.  Each song earns the student a new belt until he/she has achieved the ultimate black belt status and graduated from the program.  Students will be graded on performance and will be expected to achieve certain belts for each 9 weeks in order to receive a satisfactory grade for music class.

    The 4th grade performance this year will be themed around Tennessee Pride.  This music shows pride in our state and also follows along with not only the music curriculum, but the 4th grade curriculum as well.  The date for this performance is May 13th at 6:00 p.m. in the gym.  Please make sure your child is dressed and in the gym before the performance begins.

3rd Grade - The 3rd grade this year will start by continuing their work on the Boomwhackers and learning how to read music in preparation for their recorders in 4th grade.  With that, we will also continue concentrating on rhythms and rhythmic instruments, as we have done in the past, as well as lots of singing and dancing! 

    The 3rd grade will be in charge of our Seasonal/Holiday performance!  This performance will take place on Thursday, December 10th at 6:00 p.m. in the gym.  Please have your child dressed in seasonal clothing or at least a red, white, or green top if at all possible and on time for the performance.  This performance will include many seasonal tunes and winter music, as well as a possibility of some of our favorite Christmas songs!

   Multicultural music plays a huge role in the 3rd grade curriculum.  3rd graders will be learning about the music and the composers of not only various period of music, but also multiple origins and cultures. 

2nd Grade - Our 2nd graders are currently working towards the first performance of the year.  This year, we will be combining the 2nd and 3rd grades in concert to perform in the winter.  The Winter performance is filled with many songs about the season as well as some classic Holiday favorites!  This performance will be held on December 10th, at 6:00 p.m. in the gym.  Please make sure your child is prepared by having him/her dressed in seasonal clothing or a simple red, white, or green top.  Also, please make sure your child is in the gym and on time for the performance.

1st Grade -    The 1st grade will begin learning how to read rhythms, how to read music, and play pitches on a very interesting instrument called a Boomwhacker.  Boomwhackers are color coded, plastic tubes of various lengths that provide each with a specific pitch.  These instruments are perfect for the elementary classroom because they are lightweight, plastic, and very safe....not to mention the kids LOVE them!

Kindergarten - Music class is always a fun place for the Kindergarten crew!  We dance, we sing, we begin experimenting with new sounds and new instruments, and we learn how to be performers.  Each year, the Kindergarten class has its very own performance at the end of the year to show all of their family and friends how hard they have worked and how much they have learned in music class.  This concert will be in early May.

    The Kindergarten classes just learned a little bit about Chanukah this week as they learned how to sing the dreidel song and play the dreidel game!  This is an excellent opportunity to learn about other cultures, as well as playing a mathematic based game!  Next week, we will concentrate on some Christmas music and singing songs for the holidays!

    Pre-school and Headstart - Music is the perfect class for your Pre-K or Headstart child!  Each day includes various songs, movement lessons, dancing, and soon will include instruments!  The music class provides special instruments just for this group.  We have specific xylophones, jingle bells, woodblocks, and shakers/maracas exclusively for these students.  We do sing-a-long songs, interactive videos, and play many games.  Our music often concentrates on whatever theme is going on in the classroom such as ABC's, counting, animals, etc. so that I may better supplement the classroom teacher. 

    This week will begin with us learning some Christmas music.  Many of our tunes are holiday themes set to other well known music.  All songs either have movement or use instruments so the kids really love them!

Fun Music Links for students

www.dsokids.com

www.musictheory.net

http://musick8.com/rkdojo/rksounds.php - this is the direct link to the online Recorder Karate practice.

http://www.fisher-price.com/us/fun/games/musicmixer/default.asp

MUSICALS OPPORTUNITIES

                                                  AUDITION OPPORTUNITY!!!!!

                 weblink:  www.orplayhouse.com or call 865.482.9999

weblink:  http://www.tennesseetheatre.com/tickets/broadway-at-the-tennessee/

All shows are priced separately, but usually run between $20 - $65 depending on show and time.  Season tickets are also available at a much lower price.

weblink :  www.broadwayacrossamerica.com or call 404.249.6400

All shows are priced separately, but usually run between $20 - $65 depending on show and time.  Season tickets are also available at a much lower price.

        weblink:  www.theaterofthestars.com or call (404) 252-8960

Prices for each performance have yet to be posted, but season tickets are currently available.

From this link, www.broadwayacrossamerica.com, you may choose multiple other cities that you may travel to, or maybe you have friends or family in another area and it would be convenient for you to visit these other places and catch a show.

REMEMBER

"Never B(flat), sometimes B(sharp), but ALWAYS B(natural)!!!!!!!