Monday, November 22, 2010

WEEK 14

7th and 8th Grade Chorus is rehearsing and preparing for our Winter Concert on Thursday, December 9th at 7pm in the cafetorium. We will wear our chorus shirts, black pants and black shoes.
6th Grade Chorus is preparing for our Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 7th at 7pm in the Cafetorium. Girls will wear our long black dresses, black shoes (and a black shrug, if desired) and boys will wear black pants, black shoes and white shirts.
6th Grade Music continues with our music theory/note reading skills and musical study of "The Lion King" trilogy.
7th Grade Music Appreciation completed our study of Johann Strauss. Jr and the waltz. This week we will study "Pocahontas", the musical, in observance of Native American month and the Thanksgiving holiday.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

WEEK 7

Mixed Chorus and Girls Chorus - Rehearsing "Jubilate Deo", "On a Snowy Evening" and October songs. Music theory-writing and singing the a minor scale, Unit 1 Lesson 6 reviewing rhythm and half notes.
Beginning Chorus - Rehearsing "Las Mananitas", "Dona Nobis Pacem". "My America" and October songs. Music theory-rhythm reviewing notes and rests. Continuing musical theater study of "The Sound of Music".
6th Grade Wheel - concluding study of "The Sound of Music", packet due Wednesday. Study of the voice and how to produce a good singing tone.
7th grade Music - Conclude study of Baroque Music, composers Handel and JS Bach. Packet due on Monday, 10/4. Begin study of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The King and I".

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

All State audition rehearsals

This is the last week (Sept. 30th and Oct. 1st) of after school rehearsals for the All State Musicianship test and Sight-singing audition. We will meet in the chorus room after school from 2:15pm-3:00pm. Audition is at 8:30m on Saturday, October 3rd at Electa Lee Middle in Bradenton.

WEEK 6

7th and 8th grade chorus reviewing the difference between slurs and ties. (Learning Goal #4) Rehearsing "A Different Kind of Hero" and "Disney Spectacular". We will be in the keyboard lab on Wednesday.
6th grade chorus learning how to identify and draw the 3 clef signs, Treble, Alto and Bass. (Learning Goal #8) Working on breathing and producing a good vocal tone. Keyboard lab on Wednesday this week.
6th grade music wheel begins a musical study of "Annie". We will have an accompany assignment as we watch and experience the original movie version.
7th and 8th grade keyboard begin reading the Grand Staff and playing hands together. Our theory assignment this week focuses on rhythm...identifying whole, half, dotted half, quarter notes and rests and counting them.
7th grade music appreciation finished our study of music in the Renaissance. We are learning of American great Leonard Bernstein and studying his famous musical "West Side Story". Students are participating in a music survey of how music is used in movies/television and their opinions about that.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

WEEK 2

ALL Chorus and Keyboard classes begin our annual fundraiser "Broadway Cafe" this week. Ms. McGinnis from Encore Fundraising will be here Wednesday, September 2nd, for the fundraiser kick-off.
7th and 8th grade Chorus have begun rehearsing. We are working on breathing, vocalizing, and sight singing in C major. We will be in the keyboard lab on Friday to help reinforce our music reading skills.
6th grade Chorus is off to a great start! We are focusing on diaphragmatic breathing, learning the pitch names of the Treble Clef staff and vocalizing. Friday is keyboard lab day :-)
8th grade Keyboard has begun learning the lines and spaces of the Treble Clef staff. This week's written theory assignment focuses on that skill. We have begun playing in C position with the right hand. New song "Ode to Joy"
7th grade Music Appreciation will finish our study of music in the Middle Ages. We have listened to Gregorian chants and now will discuss life in medieval times and the arrival of polyphonic ("many voices") music. We will begin an American musical theater segment with the study of "My Fair Lady" at the conclusion.
6th grade Music Wheel continues working with reading the Treble Clef staff. We will have various assignments each day focusing on this skill. We will begin our first musical theater study by watching and completing assignments related to "The Music Man". Packets will be completed in class and finished by Tuesday, Sept. 8th.

WEEK 1

All students need to turn in a SIGNED course outline for a grade. Please have your parents review your outline, sign it and turn it in SOON!

WELCOME BACK!

Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year! We look forward to a wonderful year of learning and performing music. On this blog you will find weekly updates for each chorus, keyboard and music appreciation class taught by Mrs. DeWitt. Important dates and reminders will also be posted. Best of luck for a successful school year!