Two weeks before break!

This has been a busy past few weeks. Both choirs are working on their "Christmas Carols" for the sing-a-long at the choir concert in about a week. This past Wednesday each of the classes had a listening assignment that compared and contrasted 5 different Christmas Carols. Three of them the students are singing and 2 were classic songs--The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire...) and The Little Drummer Boy. Ask your students which three they listened to that they're also singing.

We're a week away from the Choir concert! Each choir is working on four songs, as well as a combined song for all four choirs, plus 13 classic Christmas carols. A few of the carols are; "We Three Kings of Orient are", "Angels We Have Heard on High", "Good King Wenceslaus", and "Joy to the World". It is quite a bit of music, but the kids are doing a great job with it. The carols don't have to be memorized, so the day before Thanksgiving they spent decorating their carol books! I know one student took her's home and showed it to a graduate from the program and he was reminded of his carol book. Ask your students what kind of decorations they drew and whether they have a green or red cover.

On December 17, 2008 we're having our concert! We will be performing at the HS and will have tables set up so you can sit as a family. We also add a baked potato dinner to the evening. A loaded potato will be $4 and a family of loaded potatos will be $15. It does not cost to get in to the concert, just if you buy a potato. This is a choir fundraiser that we do every year to help cover costs. The potatos will be ready at 6:30pm when you bring your student for warm-ups. Looking forward to seeing everyone there! Come with your appetite and be ready to sing with the choirs on your favorite classic Christmas carol!

Fifth/Sixth week of school--already!

Fifth week--We are working hard on all our music selections. Each of the classes have a foreign language song so that's our focus for this week, especially Monday and Thursday. We also worked on a music packet Tuesday and Wednesday, learning about the National Anthem. There were word searches and number lessons involved, as well as information about the composer. We all helped each other out on the word searches, and they tried to see who could get finished first--them or me! On Friday I introduced the next movie in our selection--Fern Gully. We watch this movie because it has various different song styles throughout and we can talk about them as we go through the movie. Typically, in movies they have the same song style, but not in Fern Gully. There is rap, country, world, jazz, blues, and rock styled songs performed. Ask your student if he/she knows which song is which style?

Sixth week--
The students are just over two weeks from their first concert so it's pretty hectic in class! Each class has 4 songs to memorize. On Monday we worked on woodshedding each of the pieces (that is picking the trouble spots in each song and fixing just that section). Tuesday we started practicing how to walk onto the risers for the concert. There is a particular way in which we do this. Ask your student if they know who they stand by and what row gets on the risers first? Wednesday they had their first sub and did a listening assignment. The assignment was to compare and contrast the music from North and South Africa. Ask your student what the differences were? Today's Thursday and we'll be working on our music again and continuing to practice getting on and off the risers. Hope everyone enjoy's their Friday off!

Fourth Week of School!

This week both choirs received two new songs, to add to their two old ones. On Monday, since it was a half day we worked on some theory worksheets. They were reviewing note names and all about time signatures. We talked about 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 time signatures and what each note is worth in each measure.

Tuesday we worked on marking the new music, each part makes a mark next to their line so that they can follow the music easier. Both choirs also received a foreign language piece. 7/8th grade choir will be singing, "Si Vis Amari" and the 6th graders will be singing "Ose Shalom". We spent some time in class going over pronunciation for each of those songs.

Wednesday we completed the theory worksheets. The students worked with partners and then altogether as a class. We corrected the note name portions in class and then clapped the time signature portions as a class. Progress reports were passed out to the students today.

Thursday we worked on the new music. The 6th graders learned one of their new songs all the way through. The 7/8th grade choir worked on all four songs.

Friday I let the kids vote on what we did because everyone had been participating all week. No surprise that they picked--to finish "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers"!

The choir shirts have been ordered and will be in October 10!

Third Week of School!

Hey folks! The choir program is up, running, and quite busy. This week we spent Monday, Tuesday and Thursday rehearsing for our first concert of the year. Each class has two songs that they are working on right now. The 7th/8th grade choir are going to have some rainmakers in their midst. The 6th grade choir is sounding really good on their two part pieces.

On Wednesday both choirs watched part of the PBS documentary JAZZ, directed by Kenneth Burns. We watched the first half of the second DVD. It talks about the beginnings of jazz in both Chicago and New York, introducing Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington and their music.

Friday we continued to watch "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". The scenes that seemed to be favorites were the dance off at the barn raising and the fight that insues. Friday was also the day the choir t-shirts were ordered. We will have them Oct. 10!

Second week of school!

This week was really busy in choir class. The kids continued working on Theory worksheets Monday and Tuesday. They were specifically about note names and note values. Ask you students what a quarter note, half note and whole note each look like. See if they can describe what each of the corresponding rests as well. You might also check to see if they remember where "A" on the treble clef or bass clef is located. It is always in the same place (2nd space and 1st space respectively).

Wednesday we had our first "Clappy duet". The students worked with partners on clapping five lines of a rhythm. Each student had their own rhythm line to clap while clapping against their partner's rhythm.

Thursday the kids performed the Clappy duet and vocalized to pick voice parts.

Friday was pretty exciting--both classes got their music. I passed out 2 songs this week and will be adding two more songs. Each choir will be singing four songs in the fall concert on Oct. 23. The kids are sounding great for their first try. That's what has impressed me with this group of kids, they're willing to try whether its right or not. Way to go!
Ms. Crain

First week of school!

The year has started out fabulously! All but two kids have turned in their contracts! If you did you have an "A" for choir, if you didn't you have a "F". On Wednesday we did a listening assignment, comparing and contrasting the "Ska" and "Reggae" music styles. On Thursday we worked on note name and rhythm worksheets. Friday we watched our first movie musical--"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". By watching the musicals we can start talking about careers in music and the arts.