voice mail #211

Fourth graders will be learning the recorder as part of their music curriculum at Sacred Heart this year.  The total cost for their book and recorder is $10.00 (  If you have a recorder and/or an Ed Sueta Level One book at home that was used by an older child, that is fine.)  We are also offering a practice CD this year for only $5.  This is a perfect supplement for practicing their songs at home!

The recorders are red, in a white carrying case.  Our school colors!  Please pay the fee at registration,  send payment with your child to school, or let me know if you are using an existing recorder or book.  Music is on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Please have your child bring their recorder and book to school on these days.

A fairly large old clothing chest, a few red and white archery targets, long coil of thick rope, a tusk-like horn, and any "Rennaisance" looking hats and/or clothing fit for characters in "Robin Hood."

Thanks to anyone willing to lend or donate these props for "Robin Hood!"

Special Person's Mass is 9:30 Wednesday, April 28!

Mark your calendars!  The spring production of "Robin Hood" will be presented on Thursday, May 27, at 11:45 for the day performance, and at 6:30 for the evening performance.  Eighth graders should arrive with costumes all set to go by 5:15 that evening and second, fourth, sixth graders, and band members should arrive no later than 6:00 so that we may begin promptly at 6:30. All of the students involved are working their hardest to make another great show!

    Please remember that the recital is Saturday, May 1, at 11:00 in the morning.  Please be there by 10:45 so that we may begin promptly at 11:00.  Remember that we are serving an appetizer lunch, so please bring an appetizer to share.  I will be supplying the drinks, dishes, and paper products. Please let me know as soon as you can the type of appetizer you would like to bring, so we don’t have a lot of the same thing.  Either e-mail me, call me, or send a message with your child. The recital will be here at  Sacred Heart again this year!
    Any questions, please feel free to call or e-mail me.  Otherwise, I will see all of you at the recital!

Memorization schedule for the eighth grade:

Over break-Santi, Olivia, Pat, Mitchell,Valentin,Drew

April 14-Brandie, Grace

April 21-Maggie, Sam,Nekita

April 28-Mark,Noel,Maria

May 5-Cullen,Spencer,Anna

May 12-Ashley, Kaila

Second, Fourth, and Sixth graders have begun singing their songs for the May musical.  In a few weeks, Anne Hedlund will be in to choreograph actions.  Hopefully, most words will be memorized over the long break.  Second grade is singing "Hi, Ho, Robin Hood," "We Lead a Merry Life," and "Little Small Horn."  Fourth graders are singin "Little Small Horn," "Come to the Fair," "Goden Arrow," and "Every Maiden Wants to Marry," while sixth graders are singing "Help is on the Way," "Such a Clever Man," "Never Defeated," and the "Hi, Ho, Robin Hood" finale!  Lyrics went home over the break.

Thursday, March 15, is the annual Sacred Heart Talent Show!  Try-outs will be the week of March 8 and the week of March 15.  Let's try to get as much variety as possible this year! We would also like more middle school kids to try-out.Singing, gymnastics, dancing, playing an instrument, skits, baton twirling--The list of possibilities is endless!  Please, no lip-syncing or inappropriate music.  Try-outs will be judged on originality and creativity.  Talent show audition slips are available from each homeroom teacher or in the office.   Please have the form handed into Mr. Melius, Mrs. Jandl, or the office by Monday, March 16.  We look forward to seeing The Sacred Heart students shine!!

We will announce on Monday, March 8, when the students should bring their materials during these two try-out weeks.  They will be scattered throughout the two week period, during mine and Mrs. Jandl's breaks.

We are really getting busy in eighth grade music class!  Our theory test is Wednesday, February 17.  This will cover the Circle of Fifths, scales, key signatures, and basic knowledge of notation.  After that, we will be watching "West Side Story" and critiquing it. 

Eighth graders have narrowed down spring musical choices to these four: "Robin Hood," "Pirates of Penzance," "Oliver," and "Sleepy Hollow."  I will decide  by the end of February which play we will be doing!

Sixth grade in January and February will be doing a lot of "hands-on" material based on the four elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, and tone color.  We will be using these four elements through singing and playing percussion instruments.  There will be quite a few in-class assignments and short quizzes.  We, unfortunately, miss a few Mondays due to holidays, so there is a lot of material in a relative short amount of time!

Mark your calendars!  Saturday, May 1, will be the piano/vocal recital here at SHS, at 11 AM.  We will again have lunch.  Details will be sent out when the date nears.

    Your child in third grade has been given an instrument of which   they will be writing a one page report.  They have received a picture of  their instrument, which they can use and color for their cover if they wish  to do so.  They can be as creative as they like; for instance making their  report on poster board, using charts and diagrams, finding pictures, finding fun facts, etc.  The only stipulation is that the basis of their report has to been in their own words.  The rest can be information gathered from any sources, including family, internet, books, etc.
     We will as a class be in the computer lab for a few times in March, as well as use resources from my room, so I can help them with gathering information.  The instrument project will be due on Monday, March 1(Temple) and Tuesday, March 2(Jandl).   Any further questions, you may contact me through e-mail or voice mail.

With the new year comes more homework for fifth grade!  We will do many in-class worksheets as well as some homework assignments on rhythm and note reading in January and February.  Now that the fifth graders have written their own music, the next step is trying to perform it!  We are learning about different percussion ensembles from different countries and will, later, put their own ensemble together!

Seventh grade only has two weeks of music left before they switch over to Spanish class.  We are watching the musical "The Wiz", critiquing it, and testing on it on Wednesday, January 13.  Eight grade music starts Wednesday, January 20.

Wonderful work on "The Christmas Carol," Seventh Grade.  What a terrific perormance-Bravo!! It sure came together!!

January 11 is the next unit test in sixth grade, covering music from 1900-1955. The test will be on listening examples, unscrambling musical styles, artist of the era, matching, and short answer questlons!

Sixth grade is learning all about music from 1900-1955 this month and next, now that the latter half of the century has been covered.   We are concentrating on county, bluegrass, jazz, blues, Big Band, and Ragtime.  We will have a practice quiz on Monday, December 7, and resume again after Christmas break due to concert practice with the odd-numbered grades.

An old easy chair, feather pen, tiny Christmas tree, a half dozen old plates, small boxes, wrapping paper, and old chains

Thanks to anyone willing to lend or donate these props for "The Christmas Carol!"

October 26-Stephanie, Alex, Chris, Julian

November 2-Jim, Katie, Jack H, Mary G, Grace, Jason

November 9-Mary W, Anna, Abby, Michael, Jacques, Josh

November 16-Juliana, Court, Andrew

November 30-Jack, Hank, Emily

Fifth grade has begun practicing their songs for the Christmas concert. It will be here before we know it! Also, on Monday, November 9, we will have an assessment on melodic direction, note reading on the staff, and basic rhythm concepts.

Sixth Graders have been busy working on learning the music styles from 1955(the birth of rock and roll) to the present. We have studied rock, rhythm and blues, folk, and disco, to name just a few! The test on the unit will be Monday, November 2. This will incorporate listening examples, multiple choice and true/false questions. They should also be able to name a few artists from each type of era. Next up will be music of the first half of the 1900's, including jazz and the blues!

The musical that Kinde, first, third, fifth, and seventh grade will be performing on December 17 is "A Christmas Carol "  Try-outs began this past week with roles to be posted on Wednesday, October 14.  Criteria on casting roles will be on how well the student reads for the part, how they rank their top three choices, and grades in all classes.  Hopefully, the seventh graders can memorize some lines over the longer weekend.  Younger grades will start practicing their songs after the break!

Grading

Middle School receives a letter grade in Music, based on behavior, class participation, papers, tests, and quizzes.  

Middle School Major Units

All Middle School grades watch, critique, and are tested on a musical.  Past musicals include:  The Wiz, Phantom of the Opera, Oliver, and Holiday Inn.  Eighth grade is required to watch West Side Story.

Sixth Grade learns about all of the eras of music from 1900 to the present, including jazz, blues, rock, country, etc. etc.  This is about a four month unit!  in the winter, we will be working on  units on freedom and the make-up of individual voices.  They are involved with the Spring Concert as well.  

Seventh Grade will be charting a song of their choice for seven weeks on a Top 10 or Top 40 chart.  The students will start this in September and it will be due by Thanksgiving.  This way, if they miss a few weeks, they can still get seven weeks worth of information. The early part of the year is devoted to recapping all of the basic music terms and notation learned through the years, as well as using our new books!   By October, they will start working on the Christmas musical, of which the seventh graders are in charge. Seventh grade will have music twice a week in the first two quarters.

Eighth Grade will begin Music class this January.  Two major units in eighth grade are:  learning about the steps of making a recording and the technological evolution of the recording process;  and tying everything learned over the years into one cohesive music theory unit.  Eighth grade will have music twice a week in the second two quarters.  Their grand finale will, of course, be performing in the Spring musical!

Curriculum Night is Thursday, October 1. My homeroom parents should check in with me at 6:00.  You will receive a rotating class schedule, similar to your child's typical day(just not as long!) You will then visit all of your child's teachers according to the schedule, and hear about curriculum, expectations, and our behavior plan.  Looking forward to seeing all of you!

The Christmas concert for grades Kinde, First, Third, Fifth, and Seventh is Thursday, December 17.  The musical will be announced in October!

Seventh graders will be picking a popular song and will follow it on a top 40/100 chart for seven weeks.  They can get their source from any number of areas: Itunes, Billboard, the Sunday paper, etc. 

They can chart the progress of the song by using line graphs or bar graphs, they can put their charts on poster board, add pictures to it, show the song lyrics or any other information on the song/artist, and so on. Be creative!

They must have their name and source on the chart, name the weeks that the data is from, and have at least seven weeks of information.

This assignment is due on Monday, November 23.  This will give them plenty of time to gather seven weeks of information, and if they miss a week, they still have plenty of time to catch up.