voice mail #211

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!

Here is a brief summary of January-March music this year for eighth grade:  In January, we will watch and critique "West Side Story" and discuss the differences/similarities to "Romeo and Juliet."  February, we will focus on music theory, how it is related to logic and math, discuss modern technology, and recapping and building on previously learned knowledge. March will see the beginning of spring musical try-outs!

Fifth Grade Music News
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!

    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 some of the February music classes, so I can help them with gathering information.  The instrument project will be due on March 1.  Any further questions, you may contact me through e-mail or voice mail.

Mark your calendars!  Saturday, May 5, 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.

Talent Show Try-outs!
Tuesday, January 31, is the annual Sacred Heart Talent Show! It is during Catholic Schools Week this year.  Try-outs will be the weeks of January 9, 16, and 23. 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, Ms, Ekegren, Sra. Rios, or the office by Monday, January 23. Please have your child bring any needed materials. We look forward to seeing The Sacred Heart students shine!!
 

Mark your calendars!  The winter production of "The Worst Day of Christmas" will be presented on Tuesday, December 20, at noon for the day performance, and at 6:30 for the evening performance.  Seventh graders should arrive with costumes all set to go by 5:15 that evening and Kinde, first, third, fifth graders, and band members should arrive no later than 6:15 so that we may begin promptly at 6:30. All of the students involved are working their hardest to make another great show! Merry Christmas!!

First and third graders and select band/recorder members will be performing at the Senior Lunch on Friday, December 2 at approximately 12:30.  All students involved will be able to wear non-uniform that day!  We will be singing and playing songs of the season, and ending the day joining the seniors in singing Christmas carols. Parents may attend, but it is standing room only, due to the tables set up for the luncheon.

October 31-Annie, Caitlin, Maya, Victor, Josh F, Angela, Matt

November 7-Morgan, Josh R, Cole, Sedona, Maggie, Aelvinson, Ryan, Cabrinna, Hailey, Lisette, Nick B

November 14-Emma, Sophie L

November 21-Ken, Miles, Rhiannon

November 28-Megan, Sophie B

December 5-Hannah, Nick P

Cornerstone, our new grade book and school web pages, are now up and running.  Please check in there for new announcements, homework, and projects!

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 21.  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.

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.) 

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.

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!

Grades are weighted as follows:

1/3 participation

1/3 tests and quizzes

1/3 projects and assignments