I'm secretly hoping for some snow.  How about you?  Here's what's new in music these days...

Kindergarten students have been echoing rhythm patterns and following visual cues while becoming familiar with sounds and playing technique for various classroom instruments. They have also been having an echo-singing good time In the Woods with smiles that are on germs that are on bugs that are on wings that are on birds that are on and on and on!  And Oh no!  We never actually learn/know how The Airplane Ride turns out, but All right! The children have been vocally exploring high and low sounds while bringing the story to life through their responses.  And that's a good thing!

In 1st Grade the children have been singing songs that are in the call and response style, which originated in Africa (one person sings a solo and the group responds to it).  So far, they have sung Che Che Koolay, which has provided a bit of a workout as it was performed faster and faster, and Skin and Bones, with its surprising ending, and they are about to learn B'rer Rabbit.  The children have also learned the traditional symbols for quarter and eighth notes, as well as quarter rests, and have begun to read rhythmic notation.  And last but not least, they have thoroughly enjoyed vocal exploration with the definitely weird and mesmerizing glowing eyeball.    Ooooh!

2nd Graders  are beginning to learn how to improvise rhythm patterns, and have had a delightfully silly start as Charlie the Fish offered opportunities for soloists to make up blubby bubble patterns for the class to echo. The children are also learning how to read and perform  melodic patterns from simple staff notation. 


3rd grade students recently figured out how to rhythmically notate a familiar American folksong, and are now beginning to learn about the concept of form (how a piece of music is organized).  The beloved dancing Chicky Chick (a cute and fuzzy little marionette), the Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks, and a creative activity using a menagerie of manipulatives have gotten them off to a good start. 
These experiences have also shown how art, music, and dance can be interrelated and inspire one another.

4th and 5th grade:
Woo hoo!  It's time for the recorder!  For the rest of the school year, in addition to bringing his/her instrument to each music class, your child will need to bring a pocket folder.  This is where notebook paper, music, and handouts will be kept.  S/he will also need a shoelace or something that can be attached to the recorder so it can be worn around the neck and kept off of the floor when not in use.  Also, please encourage your child to practice at home!  What a difference this can make! 

Let the playing begin!  

Dear Chorus Parents,
Here is a copy of the letter with details about our upcoming Chambrel performance. Hopefully, you already got this information!

Hurray for the Garrison Mill Chorus!  Their recent daytime and PTA performances were quite a success as they filled the cafeteria with melodious tones and beautiful sounds.  The children applied what they have been learning during their rehearsals, and their hard work and efforts certainly paid off.

So how about if we take our chorus out for a road trip?  This week, on Thursday, December 8, 2011, we are scheduled to perform at Chambrel, a nearby retirement community.  Chambrel is located off of Mansell Road, which is off of 92.  Feel free to contact me if you need assistance with directions.

You will need to arrange transportation for your child to and from our Chambrel performance.

• Please pick your child up from Garrison Mill on Thursday, December 8^th at 2:05 PM, in the front of the school. You may want to arrive a little early to avoid any possible parking lot and car line congestion!
• The chorus car line will be parallel to the regular car rider line, near the side where the grass, deck, and sidewalk are.
• As you pick up your child, you will need to officially sign him/her out of school. This will be done from the convenience of your car.
• Please make sure that your child knows about the transportation arrangements that you make, prior to the day of the performance.
• We will meet in the front of the main building at Chambrel.

 Our Chambrel performance will begin at 3:00 PM, and it will last approximately 20 minutes.  Concert attire will be the same as it was for our PTA performance: A white, long-sleeve, button down shirt, black solid pants, and dark shoes.  Please have your child bring this outfit to change into prior to leaving for Chambrel, so it will be fresh for the performance. 

The children and I are excited about our upcoming community performance, and I look forward to seeing you there!

With a song in my heart,

Laurie Zarin/Music Specialist

Dear Chorus Parents,
Recently, a letter was sent home with your child, with information about our Thursday, December 1st chorus performance. Here is a copy of that, for you viewing pleasure.

***DECEMBER CHORUS PERFORMANCE DETAILS***

WHO: Garrison Mill Chorus

WHAT: Winter Concert/PTA     

WHEN: Thursday, December 1, 2011

WHERE: Garrison Mill Cafeteria

CONCERT   ATTIRE:  Girls:  Solid black pants
                                 Boys:  Solid black pants, dark socks
                                 Both:  White long-sleeve, button down shirt with a
                                            collar (Oxford-style, if  possible)
                                            Dark shoes (no tennis shoes)
****Please have your child bring a change of clothes to wear after our
     daytime performances are over.

CONCERT TIMES: 8:30 A.M., 9:30 A.M., and 7:00 P.M.
                            *** 7:00 P.M. is the approximate evening performance
                                 time.  This program will actually begin as soon as
                                 the PTA meeting is over.

TRANSPORTATION: Parents are responsible for arranging transportation
                              to and from the evening performance.        

ARRIVAL TIME: 6:00 P.M. — Pre-concert warm-up.  Rehearsal will begin
                        promptly at 6:00 P.M.

MEETING PLACE: Music Room   

FINAL REHEARSALS: Monday, November 28, 2011 (2:30 PM-4:00 PM)
                                Wednesday, November 30, 2011 (2:30 PM-4:00 PM)

TBA: Additional performances…More info coming after Thanksgiving
        Break
         * Chambrel Retirement Community: December 8, 2010 (3:00 PM)
         * Possibly one more (hopefully the Kroger by Shallowford
           and Sandy Plains)

Thank you so much for giving your child this musical opportunity!  We are looking forward to sharing what we have learned with you.  Parents, siblings, friends, and relatives are welcome to attend.  I hope to see you at our performances!

With a song in my heart,
Laurie Zarin/Music Specialist

Busy, busy, busy!!!

Kindergarteners have vocally explored with the help of an alien on a mission, the ever-so-energetic, high popping Zeebeez, and the always popular slide whistle. Tubby the Tuba, Pete Piccolo, and a cobbler helped the children learn about high and low, and they certainly were not chicken when A Chicken and a Chicken got them in the mood for dramatization. And finally, who would have thought that Bill Grogan's Goat could teach them about songs that can tell a story, while offering vocabulary building and solo singing opportunities? Wonders never cease!  

In 1st grade, the children have been performing rhythm patterns and steady beats with the help of Big Black Cats, teddy bears, squirrels, and monkeys. The quirky poem How Do You Do Ti? also reinforced the beat while challenging coordination and cooperation. Arms, legs, elbows, heads, shoulders, and knees were all a'kimbo and shaking up a storm in My Poor Hand Is Shaking, a song that focuses on movement exploration, specifically isolating body parts. And Fang, Twang (puppets) and the Gertie ball entertained the children as they worked on their so-mi-la pitch-matching skills.

2nd grade students continued working with repeated patterns (ostinati) through Old King Cole and a daring flying pig. A challenging Russian singing game (Ti Ya Ya) called upon the children's steady beat and teamwork skills, and Mickey Mouse has provided a fun vehicle for inner hearing, which is important for silent reading. The children are now working on performing patterns from rhythmic notation, and are learning songs that are preparing them to play melodic patterns on pitched percussion instruments (xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels, etc.)

Applause, applause and hats off to our 3rd grade students!!! They did a great job at their November 3rd performances of Movin' to the Beat! Not only did the children acquire and exhibit musical skills as a result of this performance and its preparation process, but they learned important lessons about perseverance, working toward long-term goals, listening skills, focus, and teamwork. And they also picked up some nice and hopefully long-lasting memories. A positive experience, for sure!

Many   to all of the parents who volunteered their time and talents to create props, accessories, and a backdrop for Movin' to the Beat! Because of you, our performance was enhanced and enriched with the very visually appealing element that you added. I truly appreciate your special contribution!

4th graders have been reinforcing their note-reading skills, both rhythmically and melodically. Some of the classes have been further challenged by performing one rhythm pattern from memory while looking at the next one that they are about to perform. The children are also learning a song that will lead into a part-singing experience.

5th grade students have been playing games that are helping them review the notes in the treble clef. They have also been learning about Ludwig van Beethoven and have gained insight into his music, his frustrations and his eccentricities, as well as the architecture, hair styles, fashion, the technological simplicity, and the role of music and musicians during the time when Beethoven lived.

Chorus Parents,

Here is a copy of the letter that I sent home with your child on Friday, November 11th.

The Garrison Mill Chorus is about to miss some important practice time. As you know, we will be missing a rehearsal due to Thanksgiving Break. The week after that is our performance, and since our rehearsal and performance day coincide, we will be missing that week’s Thursday rehearsal as well. 

Because our December 1st PTA program is fast approaching, I have scheduled some make-up practices along with an extra one.  Please note that there are changes in our regular dismissal times, as well as a few practices on days other than Thursdays.

Here is the schedule for the next few weeks. Performance-related information will be coming your way shortly!

Garrison Mill Chorus Rehearsals/Changes

• Monday, November 14th_______2:30-4:00_____Make-up rehearsal
• Thursday, November 17th______2:30-5:00_____Dismissal time change
   *Please feel free to provide your child with a snack for this
    rehearsal. As always, a bottle of water is a good idea.
  
• Thursday, November 24th______No Rehearsal__Thanksgiving Break
• Monday, November 28th_______2:30-4:00______Make-up rehearsal
• Wednesday, November 30th____2:30-4:00______Extra rehearsal
• Thursday, December 1st_______No Rehearsal___Due to daytime and evening PTA performances

These rehearsals are extremely important to the overall success of the entire chorus and will have a positive impact on the children’s musical security and confidence. I understand that your child may have other after school activities that conflict with some of these practices, and sincerely hope that something can be worked out so s/he is able to attend each of the planned rehearsals.

Our chorus rehearsals continue to be full of enthusiasm, good humor, and plenty of singing. I am so glad that your child is in chorus, and appreciate your continuing support!

With a song in my heart,
Laurie Zarin

In kindergarten, vocal exploration came through a stuffed feline who converses in 'cat'. Singing skills have been focusing on the so-mi (yoo-hoo) interval, and movement and instrumental activities have helped provide practice with steady beat.

1st grade students had fun with vocal exploration when they did "the wave" with their voices. The so-mi-la interval (nanny nanny foo foo!) was reinforced through several singing games and a bean bag. The children enjoyed moving expressively to a beautiful Brahm's Waltz, and steady beat motions were performed with recorded pieces that represented various styles of music.

2nd graders had the pleasure of meeting Squirrelly, a little bushy tail who had them singing a song with patterns whose notes come from a 5-note scale (pentatonic: do-re-mi-so-la). Several rhymes helped the children gain experience with repeated patterns (ostinato), including Old Mother Hubbard, who also provided creative rhyming fun and plenty of silliness.

3rd grade students are getting closer to their November 3rd music performance, Movin' to the Beat! A handful of children still need to return their permission slips, so please get those in since the program is right around the corner. Our next volunteer meeting is on Wednesday, October 26th at 3:00 p.m.

In 4th grade, Green Sally Up was extended so the children could create their own hand jive variations. When these were shared with the class, everybody enjoyed seeing the many ways that the original hand jive was modified, and audience skills were reinforced.

5th graders learned a good old camp song that will soon be used for part singing. They are also working on AB form while learning a folk dance called Boston Tea Party. The dance is great fun and quite challenging at times,requiring constant awareness as well as cooperation.  

September has gone by so quickly that it seems like a blur!  Let's slow things down a bit so you can see what we've been doing in music.

In Kindergarten, the children have had great fun with vocal exploration while playing with several cuddly little stuffed animals. They have also been experiencing steady beat with poems, recorded music, and unpitched percusion instruments. And, in addition to moving expressively to various styles of music, the children are beginning to describe qualities of the music they have moved to.

1st graders thoroughly enjoyed vocal exploration when that goofy Baby Big Bird recently came for a visit. Also, a poor, pathetic Pink Pig, a story about a lovable lizard, and a movement activity where the children's responses were determined by instrumental sounds, have given the children experience with the concept of high-low and the relationship between size and sound. Finally, steady beat skills, upward-downward, and so-mi-la intervals have received attention.

2nd graders have found that vocally playing around with timbre can be rather amusing when a singing game involving a seemingly sick Gramma Moses provides the vocal vehicle. Mentally, concentration and musical independence have been stretched as a result of performing one part while another is going on at the same time. This concept (ostinato) will continue to receive attention throughout the year. Rhythmically speaking, a story about a Happy Hedgehog has offered the opportunity for the children to perform patterns that enhance the tale, while learning about a variety of drums and improvising vocally.

In 3rd grade, the children have begun preparing for their November 3rd music performance. A blue informational letter with details about this program was sent home with your child on Thursday, September 29th. If you haven't done so yet, please fill out the bottom portion, sign this permission slip, and have your child return it to me by Monday, October 6th. If you did not receive the letter, please have your child let me know so I can give you another one.

Many thanks to all of you who are planning to help out with this program!  As stated in the letter, there will be an organizational meeting on Wednesday, October 8th, for those of you who would like to assist with scenery, props, or costumes/accessories.  The meeting will begin at 3:00, and will be held in the Music Room.  I hope to see you there!

In 4th grade, the children have been working on their vocal skills while learning a challenging hand jive pattern that accompanies a bluesy-type singing game. This, along with a bean bag game that initially seems easy, has called upon the children's ability to maintain the steady beat while focusing, cooperating, coordinating, and constantly being aware of sequences and what happens when.

5th graders have been working with form, singing skills, and cooperation while playing a partner-changing singing game. They are presently working with form, expressive speech, mallet technique, and pentatonic improvisation through the use of a folk rhyme and pitched percussion instruments (xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels).

Now that September is upon us, I am truly looking forward to the beautiful autumn palette that the foliage will soon be offering, not to mention the most welcome cooIer temperatures! But down in the music room, things are starting to heat up... 

In kindergarten, the children have enjoyed vocal exploration through a delicious story about an ice cream sundae. Yum! They have experienced the steady beat through movement and instruments, and have been learning about vocal timbre (singing, speaking, calling/shouting, and whispering voices). In addition, the children have been exploring movement possibilities through a game where they have to keep an eye on where they're going while also watching for my visual cues. Fun!

1st graders have been 'monkeying around' both vocally and through movement while learning about musical contrasts (up/down and high/low). They have also used their voices expressively to musically enhance poems. Creative and imitative movement opportunities have provided steady beat reinforcement.  

2nd grade students have been enjoying the ride as they vocally toodle around with that old tin car while working on their solfege hand signs and pentatonic singing skills. They have also been having fun with a vacation-related song that incorporates rhythmic body percussion patterns as well as locomotor and non-locomotor movement.

3rd grade is presently learning about tempo (speed of music) and dynamics (volume level). They are finding that, mama mia! while in the process of expanding their musical vocabulary, they are also picking up a bit of the Italian language. Quello e buono! The children are also experiencing several activities that will lead into the concept of form, which of course means that there actually was a reason for their trip Down to the Baker's Shop!  

4th graders have been rendered breathless in a singing game which challenged their ability to maintain a steady beat at a pace that grew ever  faster with each non-stop repetition! And the Chee Chee Cha had some of the children fondly recalling their kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Nichols, and her ever-popular Tooty Tot. The children have also been working on their singing skills through several other songs, and each class is about to create their own version of a hand drum piece that they have recently learned. After evaluating the outcome, we will be incorporating ideas and suggestions offered by the students.

In 5th grade, the children became comfortable with the speech and hand drum piece that was begun in August, and are now playing the accompanying movement game. They will be evaluating their performance, offering  suggestions for improvement, trying out their suggestions, and discussing what they learned as a result of this game. 

The music is flowing down in room 503! What have we been up to, you ask? Let's take a look and see...

In kindergarten, we've been having lots of fun with vocal exploration, steady beat activities, echo songs, and a dramatized poem that has been engaging our imaginations. Has your child mentioned anything about the magical musical microphone or the slide whistle? I hope so!

In first grade, steady beat has been reinforced while performing a folk song's cumulative motions and a welcome song's body percussion and instrumental accompaniment. In addition, the children have enjoyed a poem through dramatization, high-low vocal exploration, and the challenge of sometimes thinking the words of a poem (inner hearing) and sometimes saying them outloud. This musical inner hearing activity also reinforces skills necessary for silent reading.

2nd grade students have been performing steady beat through a getting acquainted game that utilizes cooperation, and a rather silly and very fun activity with cumulative motions that has challenged their coordination. They have also been working on playing technique while improvising a pentatonic accompaniment on pitched percussion (xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels).

In 3rd grade, the children have enjoyed a welcome game which incorporates singing, steady beat, listening and social skills. Movement has been used to explore pathways and direction while preparing for the introduction of the whole note, and a cheerful greeting song has provided the opportunity for the children to perform rhythm patterns with body and unpitched percussion.

The children are about to begin preparation for their upcoming music performance, which will be held on Thursday, November 3rd!  Be on the lookout for an informational letter that will soon be coming home with your child!

4th grade students played a name game using koosh blobs and a puffy, purple pom-pom, and then moved on to 'Having Fun!'  which uses hand drums and a body percussion pattern, and focuses on technique, form, and playing musically. This activity will also offer creative opportunities as the children develop performance variations for the piece.

5th graders started off the year with a greeting game and a French folk song, and are presently spending some time on drumming technique while learning a speech and hand drum piece. Through this piece, the children have utilized higher order thinking skills as they evaluate their class' musical performance. They are now ready to play the movement game that goes along with this piece. Key elements for success in this game will be concentration, teamwork, and cooperation.

And now for Chorus, Of Course! We have many wonderful singers in the 5th grade, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to develop their potential through their participation in the Garrison Mill Chorus!  I will begin listening to voices during the school day this week and the beginning of September.  More info will be coming your way!