Band students who are able to play Lightly Row and Old MacDonald from memory will be marching in the clean up day parade on Monday.  This will have no negative bearing on a student’s grade.  Those who are marching in the band or performing with the pom squad (violin students) will be given a Howard Sweater today.  Please read care instructions before washing the sweater.  Students will need to wear something under the sweater during the parade since I will ask for it to be returned immediately after the parade.

We will not meet for band or violin next week Thursday due to 5th grade camp.  We will meet at our regularly scheduled class times on Thursday, May 30, for Music Olympic challenges.  On that day all school owned instruments and books will be returned to me at the end of class.

It has been a great pleasure to work with your children this year.

🤗🎶

Back in November I had the great opportunity to attend the American Orff Schulwerk Association Professional Development Conference.  This photo was take at the conference….can you find me?

AOSA Conference photo of teachers performing on Orff Instruments

Yes, it is that very busy time of year where we have many concerts scheduled.

Fordson Track Concerts will be performed at McCollough-Unis School.  Tuesday, April 23, 5:00-5:45 p.m. violin and orchestra members from area elementary schools (yes, my students from Maples and Becker), middles schools and Fordson High School will perform in the gym.    Tuesday, April 30, 5:00-5:45 p.m. band members from area elementary schools (yes, my students from Maples and Becker), middles schools and Fordson High School will perform in the gym.

Students are expected to wear nice pants or skirts and preferably a dark color and a school shirt.  We want the students to be easily recognized by parents in the audience.  Just look for the school colors.

Other concerts coming up soon:

Thursday, May 2, 2:30 Howard Instrumental Music Concert in the gym. Parents are highly encouraged to attend.

Thursday, May 9, 2:30, Becker 4th and 5th grade Instrumental and Vocal Concert in the multipurpose room. Parents are highly encouraged to attend.

Friday, May 17, 2:30, Maples Instrumental and Recorder Music Concert in the gymnasium. Parents are highly encouraged to attend.

Monday, May 20, Howard Clean Up Day Parade featuring the band and pom pom squad.

Please email me if you have any questions.

Mrs. Reed will be available to meet for Parent-Teacher Conferences Wednesday, April 10, at Maples Elementary School.  If you are a parent of a student from one of my other building assignments you are welcome to email me to set up a phone conference if driving to Maples is not possible.

Mrs. Meyers and I had so much fun hosting a classroom for Literacy Night at Maples School last night.  Our theme was Super Ostinato (with an A B music form).  Students were divided into teams: 2 rhythm teams and 2 movement teams.  Each team had material to help them create their ostinato pattern.  The rhythm team had Super Hero rhythm cards they used to arranged and create their Ostinato which they performed on a non-pitched percussion instrument.  The movement teams had a set of vocabulary cards which gave them 4 different types of movement to perform in a pattern.  After about 10 minutes of practice we went around the teams and performed the Ostinato patterns; Rhythm, Movement, Rhythm, Movement.  We had a great time together.

Mrs. Meyers and Mrs. Reed are modeling the rhythm activity to the new group of students.

Mrs. Meyers and Mrs. Reed are modeling the movement activity to the new group of students.

Mrs. Meyers and Mrs. Reed are getting ready to fly like Super Heros.

Mr. H. assisting with grouping of students.

More pins are being awarded this week.  Congratulations to you for your hard work.  It takes time and dedication to learn to play an instrument.

A Becker student poses with her violin while proudly wearing her newly awarded Intermediate Pin.

Four students who have earned theie Master Pin. They have said they want to create a 5th pin and create their own song list. 😀

These three have earned their Intermediate Pin and proudly wear it.

This aspiring flutist has earned her Intermediate Pin and is well on her way to earning the First Class pin.

This aspiring saxophonist has earned his Intermediate Pin and has just 2 songs to go to earn his First Class pin.

these four violinists have earned their Intermediate Pin and have already begun work on the First Class Pin songs.

This young musician will not be losing pins. They are all stored in a very safe place – in the case and ready to wear for our Spring Concert. 😀