What a great way to end the first semester! I am very proud of all the groups that played on the 20th! Awesome job! Break is always a great chance for me to recuperate and see family and friends--but it also goes by really quickly! I write today sitting in my office having just put my room back together. My grades are almost complete, but I'll spend some time working on those today and Monday. To me, the most exciting thing is handing out new music! The 7-8 band has been working a little on one new piece for a couple of weeks, but everything we will be playing at the Parade of Bands in March needs to be handed out before students come back. The same thing is true for choir--new music! It's exciting, but there is a lot of work to be done!
I hope you all have had a great holiday week! Happy New Year!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Turn up the Heat!
The motherboard went out on the furnace in the band room on Monday evening, which has made for a very cold last couple of days. The closest a new motherboard could be found was Kansas City, so Tuesday, Wednesday and part of Thursday were very cold in the band room! We didn't have lessons those days and group band rehearsals happened in the equally HOT choir room downstairs. We watched a Mannheim Steamroller video and discussed some performance styles. Thankfully the heat is back on and working so we can have some great rehearsals today!
Students were sent home with a note about the concert on Dec. 20th. It is at 7PM at the middle school. I'd like choir students to be here by 6:30 for warm-up and band students by 6:40. Students have been asked to dress nicely--no jeans or tennis shoes if at all possible. If this is a problem, give me a call or email. I have some nice clothes that I can lend out!
It should be a wonderful concert! I am very much looking forward to it!
Students were sent home with a note about the concert on Dec. 20th. It is at 7PM at the middle school. I'd like choir students to be here by 6:30 for warm-up and band students by 6:40. Students have been asked to dress nicely--no jeans or tennis shoes if at all possible. If this is a problem, give me a call or email. I have some nice clothes that I can lend out!
It should be a wonderful concert! I am very much looking forward to it!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Awesome stuff!
Here is a link to an article in the Cedar Rapids Gazette that I think is way cool for a couple of reasons:
1) It talks about students who have taken it upon themselves to organize and have fun with something that is educational and musical.
2) I know the band director there through Wartburg College.
It's a short article and a very cool story!
http://thegazette.com/2011/11/23/north-cedar-sixth-graders-happy-to-be-band-geeks/
1) It talks about students who have taken it upon themselves to organize and have fun with something that is educational and musical.
2) I know the band director there through Wartburg College.
It's a short article and a very cool story!
http://thegazette.com/2011/11/23/north-cedar-sixth-graders-happy-to-be-band-geeks/
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
The Little Stuff
Lots of little things in this post, so I'll get to it.
As our concert draws closer (Tuesday, Dec. 20) we are spending more and more time in rehearsal working on the little things. This can get a little tedious at times, but all the groups are really starting to hear what they are capable of putting together--AWESOME!
Butterbraids came in last night. It's always hectic trying to get them packed up and back to the middle school in time for students to take them home on the bus. Let me know if you have an incorrect order.
We will be starting some solos/ensembles for the 7-8 band students following Thanksgiving break. All 7-8 band students participate in a solo or small group. They will perform these pieces on Tuesday, February 9th at PCM Middle School.
I hope everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving break!
As our concert draws closer (Tuesday, Dec. 20) we are spending more and more time in rehearsal working on the little things. This can get a little tedious at times, but all the groups are really starting to hear what they are capable of putting together--AWESOME!
Butterbraids came in last night. It's always hectic trying to get them packed up and back to the middle school in time for students to take them home on the bus. Let me know if you have an incorrect order.
We will be starting some solos/ensembles for the 7-8 band students following Thanksgiving break. All 7-8 band students participate in a solo or small group. They will perform these pieces on Tuesday, February 9th at PCM Middle School.
I hope everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving break!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Wow!
I can't believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. It seems like I say it every year, but it seems to come quicker every year! That means concerts are just around the corner. Our middle school concert is Tuesday, December 20th. Hopefully we can avoid any snow and have no scheduling difficulties!
It is fun to come to school every day and work with the groups I get to work with. I was just telling my 7-8 band today that I really do enjoy coming to school and working with them Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday. There is no substitute for doing something you love to do!
On another positive note, check out the great news about the middle school on the website. The building was one of 10 in the state to be recognized for improvement in test scores! That's some awesome news!
It is fun to come to school every day and work with the groups I get to work with. I was just telling my 7-8 band today that I really do enjoy coming to school and working with them Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday. There is no substitute for doing something you love to do!
On another positive note, check out the great news about the middle school on the website. The building was one of 10 in the state to be recognized for improvement in test scores! That's some awesome news!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Keeping up with the Posts
It inevitably happens--I begin the year with the best intentions on keeping up with everything I want to do, but about this time of year, I start to fall behind on things. This blog is one of them! I'm going to make a renewed effort to keep putting information out there!
It was great to see so many of you at conferences on Thursday! I wish I could have been there both nights, but I took 2 students to SCIBA Honor Band on Tuesday and had the opportunity to listen to 3 wonderful bands perform at a concert. It is amazing what committed students can do!
On that note, I would like to redouble my reminder to encourage your student to practice. It doesn't need to be an everyday thing (although that wouldn't be bad) but it needs to be some kind of routine. 15-20 minutes can do wonderful things--even if it means setting a kitchen timer! A lot of times, a student just needs to get over that hurdle of starting to practice--once they get going, they'll often play for much longer.
We have a lot of students here who have great potential--I am looking to help them move past potential to make it a reality! That is one of the things that excites me so much about teaching.
KEEP ENCOURAGING THE PRACTICE AT HOME!
It was great to see so many of you at conferences on Thursday! I wish I could have been there both nights, but I took 2 students to SCIBA Honor Band on Tuesday and had the opportunity to listen to 3 wonderful bands perform at a concert. It is amazing what committed students can do!
On that note, I would like to redouble my reminder to encourage your student to practice. It doesn't need to be an everyday thing (although that wouldn't be bad) but it needs to be some kind of routine. 15-20 minutes can do wonderful things--even if it means setting a kitchen timer! A lot of times, a student just needs to get over that hurdle of starting to practice--once they get going, they'll often play for much longer.
We have a lot of students here who have great potential--I am looking to help them move past potential to make it a reality! That is one of the things that excites me so much about teaching.
KEEP ENCOURAGING THE PRACTICE AT HOME!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
History of Rock Music
This year, I am teaching a history of rock music exploratory class. We begin with Bill Haley and the Comets in the 50's and go all the way through the 90's. I have had an absolute blast so far listening to and talking about some FUN music! It's also great to see the students make some connections about family members and music, as well as cultural connections concerning music's role in society.
Today we had Megan Wood's grandfather come and talk a little about Buddy Holly. What a great time! He had quite a collection of memorabilia and information to share with the class. I learned several things today! It was a great opportunity to have him come and share his knowledge and enthusiasm with the class! What a resource for us to have!
Today we had Megan Wood's grandfather come and talk a little about Buddy Holly. What a great time! He had quite a collection of memorabilia and information to share with the class. I learned several things today! It was a great opportunity to have him come and share his knowledge and enthusiasm with the class! What a resource for us to have!
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