Winter Concert Etiquette & Logistics

A Note from the Higley Center:

·        Please be patient in the parking lot, and be aware of your surroundings at all times because of the high volume of traffic.

·        Cellphones should be turned off upon entering the auditorium.

·        Please wait until the end of the song to applaud.

·        Late comers will be asked to wait to enter the auditorium until the end of the current song.

·        Out of respect for the performers and the camera crew, please exit to the lobby if your small child is causing a distraction.

·        Food and drink are not allowed in the auditorium.

Families Attending Both Concerts:

• 3^rd – 5^th siblings must be seated with parents during the K-2 concert and vice versa. Groups of students sitting alone will be escorted back to their parents. 

• Please, pick up the K-2 students before the 3-5 concert begins and keep your 3-5 students with you until 6:45pm. 

• At 6:45pm, 3-5 students must exit and make their way to the back door entrance.

I so look forward to a wonderful concert tomorrow evening!

Winter Concert - this Tuesday!

Winter Concert Soloists and Speaking Parts

Congratulations to all of the students for the wonderful auditions!  I am so proud of the practicing and effort that you all put in.  Even if you didn't get a part for this concert, we will have more opportunities in the Spring.  4th grade parts will be posted next week (4B make-up auditions will be held on Monday at lunch).

5th Grade

Betelehemu Solos:

Chinedu O
Charlotte S

Speakers:
Dylan E
Sahana D
Caitlin S
Samuel C
Logan Si

Rainsticks:
Jacob C
Kate C

Tyler T

4th Grade

Hot Chocolate Descant:
Marisa C
Zoey K
Charlie M
Miguel R

Speakers:

Tanvi Anand
Emerson M
Evie J
Connor M

3rd Grade

Speakers:

Samuel T
Elliot J
Ryan B
Vega V
Piper C

Winter Concert Music Lyrics & Links

If your singer would like to practice and memorize their concert music at home, please follow the links on my blog (on the left-hand side menu).

At the end of the concert, we will bring all singers back onto stage and close with one final song.  Below are the lyrics for the students to practice.  I look forward to our rehearsing after Fall break!

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH

Arr. by Jay Althouse
To practice with accompaniment, click here!

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.

With God, our creator, neighbors all are we.

Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me.  Let this be the moment now.

With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow:

to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

And let it begin with me.

Music Theory Online Resource!

Does your student need some music theory reinforcement?  www.musictheory.net/ is a wonderful resource!  This website has free content (a lot of which we have covered in class!).  Look under the "Lessons" and "Exercises" headings in the top left corner of the home page for some helpful guides and activities.  

Hope you're all having a wonderful Fall break!

Theory Time Workbook Grades

Over the last 2 weeks or so I have meticulously read through, marked, and graded every student in 3^rd-5^th grade’s Theory Time workbook.  Until the students handed in their workbooks, each class started with 5-10 minutes of “bell work” in their Theory Time books.  During this time, students were able to work quietly and ask questions as I walked around the room.  The students understood that their workbooks would be turned in for a quiz grade and were given extra time to complete unfinished pages before turning them in.

Each book was graded on a 4-point scale:
     4 – almost everything is correct,
     3 – most things are done and I can see they understand the content,
     2 – inconsistent (leaving some things blank or incorrect, but I can see some effort), and
     1 – little to no effort was given. 


Emails went out this evening to parents/guardians of students with 1's.  If you did not see an email, ask your scholar what number they received!  As I told the students, our goal is that everyone is at a 3 or 4 by the end of the year.

I hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing Fall break!

Winter Concert Info!

The Winter Concert is coming up!  Here is the information everyone should know:

1. The concert is MANDATORY – if a student cannot come for an unavoidable reason, their family must inform me TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE (October 29^th) so they can be given a substitute assignment.  If a student is sick the day of the concert, the family must send a message that day informing me.  If a student does not attend the concert and no explanation is given, they receive a failing grade for the concert.

2. DRESS CODE: Students must wear black on bottom, white on top.  Black shoes, black pants (black skirt option for girls), black socks/tights, white shirt, and a tie for boys (bowie is fine).

3. Times and Location (please note student call times): Tuesday, November 12^th, 2019

Kindergarten, First, and Second Grades – 5:30 PM
students arrive at 5:00pm

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grades – 7:00 PM
students arrive at 6:45pm

Higley Center for the Performing Arts
4132 E. Pecos Rd.
Gilbert, AZ 85295

It’s going to be a wonderful evening of performances!

September Update!

We have been busy learning, memorizing, and rehearsing our Winter Concert music (Tuesday, November 12 -- I will send out a more detailed update on that soon).  The students can't wait to show you all that they have learned in class!  I see your child only 2 days a week for 40 minutes each (sometimes only 1 day if I we have a Monday holiday or if they're pulled for various reasons), but it's amazing what they are capable of doing in such a short time.

Here are some highlights of what we have been up to:

•  All grades have turned in their Theory Time books for a progress check/quiz grade.  It's taking some time, but I hope to have them all returned with markings by the time we return from Fall break (if not before).  If your student receives a "1" in their book you will also receive an email; this means they have not done their work or most of their work was done incorrectly.  Instead of just sitting and not doing their Theory Time work, I have encouraged the students to always ask if they have a question or don't understand a concept.  My goal for them is that they learn and grow in their knowledge of music!
•  September Composer of the Month: Handel!  At the beginning of the month we listened to portions of 3 of Handel's works: "Alla Hornpipe" in D major from Water Music, "Music for the Royal Fireworks" from Water Music, and a familiar choral work of his called "Hallelujah Chorus" from Messiah.
•  All grades have now have 3 concert selections in their repertoire!  We have one final song to learn -- all 3 grades will come back on stage at the end of the concert to sing together.
•  Our concert is on Tuesday, November 12.  It is mandatory and a major part of their performance grade.  Students must wear black on bottom, white on top, black shoes, black pants (black skirt option for girls), white shirt and a tie for boys (bowtie is fine).  I must know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if a student cannot attend the mandatory concert for an unavoidable reason.  

As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Music Class Expectations

We have been having a blast learning our 1st concert piece for the Winter Concert!  I absolutely love hearing each class sing in harmony and I get so excited at what they are capable of.  We've just begun working on each grade's 2nd concert piece -- I hope they've been singing for you at home!  I can't wait for them to show off these fun, challenging songs at the concert (November 12th).

Over the last couple of days, I have been reminding and emphasizing how grading works in music class.  Here are the 4 basic areas I'm looking for:

• Being prepared for class (Theory Time book every day!)
• Participation
• Being on task
• Trying your best

I've heard more than a few times "I can't sing" from students as an excuse as to why they don't participate and sing with the class.  I firmly believe that ALL people can sing and can sing WELL with good instruction and if they try their best!  Even as adults I believe it can be learned!  Not singing is not an option.  The Winter Concert is mandatory and a huge part of their grade and my hope is that every student can stand on stage with their peers and feel proud of what they have accomplished.

So, I leave you with the quote below -- I have seen it play out in real life!  I have had students start with little talent and work so hard and are now professional and passionate singers.  Keep encouraging your child to sing sing sing and I know they can do it!

August Composer of the Month: Johann Sebastian Bach!

On Monday and Tuesday we discussed our composer of the month, Bach!  We talked a little about his upbringing (his parents died when he was 9 and he went to live with his older brother where he learned to play the harpsicord).  He composed many beautiful and well-known compositions -- and we heard two of them in class!

The first recording we listened to was Bach's Concerto for Violin and Oboe in C minor, Allegro (Finale). Here's a link to a beautiful recording (we listened to the first minute or so of a CD of the University of North Texas Baroque Orchestra in class):

Then, we watched this very gifted organist play one of Bach's most famous compositions Toccata and Fugue in D minor.  Look at the beautiful pipe organ!  Here's the link the video we watched (we watched the first two minutes or so): 

After each song, we discussed all the musical elements and how they each encompassed the Baroque era: texture, tempo, dynamics, instrumentation, and note duration.  Pretty spectacular music!

1st Day Fun!

Happy weekend!

I hope everyone had a wonderful first day of school and first day of music class!  On our first day in music we reviewed and sang through our solfege hand signs (do, re, mi...etc), identified quarter notes, eighth notes and half notes, spoke a 4 measure rhythm example on the board (ta ti-ti or 1 2-and), and then used that rhythm to learn the cup game!  The cup game is a fun way to use our rhythm to create and maintain one steady beat across the entire group of students.  I've attached a video (and the link) below to a YouTube video showing how to play if your child would like to practice (or if you want to learn and play with them!).  Next week we will perfect the rhythm and see how fast we can do it together!

On our first day of music we also discussed music class procedures.  My classroom rules are as follows:

1. Try your best every single day.  I believe that all students have the ability to sing, and to sing well, if they try their best every day!
2. We have a safe room.  We never make fun of each other for trying!  Singing in front of our peers can be a very vulnerable activity.  Instead of laughing or making fun when someone makes a mistake, we encourage each other as we all try our best.
3. Raise your hand to ask a question or to answer a question.
4. Have fun!

I am so looking forward to getting to know each and every student and hope they are as excited as I am about this school year!  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and don't forget to make note of our mandatory choir concert on Tuesday, November 12th!  I'll be posting more information about the concert as we get closer.

Enjoy your weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Zimmermann
azimmermann@archwaylincoln.org

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5kYLOb6i5I

 

Save the Date for our Winter Concert!

A Welcome Note from Mrs. Zimmermann

Welcome to Mrs. Zimmermann's music class!

I am so excited to meet you and your student and explore the beautiful world of music together!  Please check back for updates to this blog on what your child is learning about this year in class, and always feel free to contact me at Azimmermann@archwaylincoln.org (don't forget the second 'n' at the end of my name).  I'm looking forward to a wonderfully musical year!

Sincerely,
Amy Zimmermann