What a great year in music!!  Students in grades one through four will be bringing home a music folder of their work in music this year.  My hope is that they will keep these folders and use them as a future resource (a music library!).  I wish everyone a restful, joy-filled, music-making summer!        Mrs. Jellison
 

KINDERGARTEN
Kindergarten students have done a wonderful job in music this year!  I am very pleased in how successful the children played the new orff instruments.  Students learned several different playing techniques on these instruments.  We learned about ensemble playing and how to really keep a steady beat!  We were able to clap twenty different rhythmic patterns and worked more on learning about our singing voice. Students at Holden worked on keyboards and students at Eddington School worked on the orff instruments.   Students did a great job at the spring concert!  I am looking forward to next year’s music class with the children!

GRADE ONE
This trimester first graders have been learning the line and space notes on the treble staff.  We have spent time listening to how notes move - up, down or repeat.  We have also spent time clapping different rhythmic patterns.  We have also learned about simple dynamics, such as forte and piano.  Students at Holden did a great job on keyboards at the spring concert and Eddington students were wonderful on the orff instrument!  We are doing a great job playing as an ensemble and keeping a steady beat.  I am very proud of what our first graders accomplished in music this year!



GRADE TWO
Second graders have continued to amaze me all year!  They can clap many different rhythmic patterns, can write notes on the treble staff and identify notes that step, skip or repeat.  We have done some “musical math” problems and learned some musical symbols such as forte (f), mezzo forte (mf), mezzo piano (mp), piano (p), ritardando (rit.) and accelerando (accel.).  We finished a music theory packet that we have been working on all year.  The students in both schools did an outstanding job playing the orff instruments and have learned many playing techniques which we will continue for next year!  We sang songs from  musicals, including The Wizard of Oz and Music Man for our spring concert and we are now watching these musicals as part our of music class.  I look forward to great music making with these students next year!

GRADE THREE
Third graders continue to do an outstanding job in music!  We have worked on counting rhythms with notes and rests, writing notes and rests on the music staff, learning about time signatures – 4/4 and 3/4, doing musical math problems, writing notes that skip, step or repeat, naming sharp (#) and flat (b) notes on the keyboard and music staff, learning about the natural sign and dynamic markings – p, mp, mf, f, ff, crescendo, diminuendo, slurs and ties and lastly tempo markings – allegro, adagio, ritardando (rit.) and accelerando (accel.).  We finished our “great composer” packet discussing Mozart, Schubert, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Wagner.  We even talked about what we might write as a composer!  We also played a great piece on our flutophones for the spring concert and sang wonderful songs from the musical, Annie.  We learned many orff techniques this year and will be working more on ensemble playing next year! 

GRADE FOUR
Fourth graders have worked very hard in music all year long and I am extremely proud of them!  We finished a very challenging music theory packet which included note and rest values, dotted notes, time signatures of C (common time), 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, learning how to count out measures containing notes and rests, learning sharps, flats, double sharps, double flats, natural sign, half steps, whole steps, how to build a major scale, identifying and writing notes that step, skip, or repeat.   We discussed the elements of music, including tempo (allegro, largo, accelerando, ritardando), rhythm and rhythmic patterns, melody, dynamics (ff, f, mf, mp, p, pp, crescendo and diminuendo), tone color or timbre and harmony.  We learned many orff techniques including keeping a steady beat, playing a C scale, borduns, thirds, glissandos, tremelos, shimmers and cross-over.  Most of the students earned their black belts in recorder karate!  Many students also completed their “A-Rhythm-E-Tic” or “musical math” packets.  Students did a great job singing some wonderful songs from musicals of earlier times and even did some simple movements to our songs!  The fourth graders leave with a lot of musical knowledge and my hope is that they continue to keep music as a close friend and companion in middle school!

CHORUS
I am grateful to all the students who participated in chorus this year!  What an inspiration to hear their beautiful voices as they sang from their hearts!  I know it always lifts my spirits to hear the students sing with such enthusiasm and love for music! We continue to work on good singing techniques and ensemble work.  Again, I look forward to next year’s time with our talented singers!

SCHOOL PLAY
Thanks to all students who participated in our play this year, The Magical Land of Oz!  We had fabulous performances at both schools and a real team effort on the part of all!  As each year passes, I believe we gain more confidence and enthusiasm!  I am not sure what our play will be for next year, but I hope students in grades two, three and four will consider taking part in this valuable and fun activity!!




 

SAD 63 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
 MUSIC NEWSLETTER - TRIMESTER TWO – 2009

At Eddington School, students are now working with the wonderful orff instruments from the Maine Community Foundation grant.  The students are enjoying these great instruments and are learning so much about good ensemble playing.  At Holden School, each grade level is doing something a little different.  Kindergarten students are being introduced to the keyboard and boomwhackers.  The first and second graders are also working on simple song arrangements for keyboard.  Third graders are continuing their flutophones and have had a small introduction on how to read tablature playing the ukulele.  Fourth graders are continuing on recorders, ukuleles and will be starting a simple drumming circle.  We hope you enjoy reading about what we are doing in music class!              Mrs. Jellison

Kindergarten
We have been continuing to learn about our musical family and have now begun to learn about the notes on the musical staff.  We have been clapping some simple rhythms and continue to work on keeping a steady beat.  We continue talking about musical concepts, such as high/low, loud/soft.  We watched a wonderful presentation of the musical story, Peter and the Wolf by Prokoviev. In this story, we learn about some of the sounds of the different musical instruments in the orchestra.  We are working hard on our music for the spring.

Grade One
Students in grade one are learning to write line and space notes on the music staff.  We have reviewed musical concepts, such as f (loud) and p (soft).  We have done some ear-training learning how to recognize notes that sound the same or notes that sound different, and identifying if notes played are going up or down.  We have talked about the orchestra and watched the musical story, Peter and the Wolf.

Grade Two
Students in grade two have been reviewing their notes and rhythms and naming notes on the treble staff.  We are also drawing those notes on the music staff.  We have talked about the four families in the orchestra and have identified which instruments belong to each musical family. We have been drawing notes on the musical staff that repeat, step and skip.  We also know all the notes on the treble clef and can write them on the staff.  We continue to work on clapping our rhythms and learning musical terms.  We have begun learning the songs for our spring concert!

Grade Three
We continue to work on playing the C major scale on our flutophones and have started learning a new song!  We continue to practice reading our notes on the treble staff and are working on our music theory packet. This includes identifying notes and rests, identifying notes on the treble clef, learning about simple time signatures such as 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4, learning how to count out notes and rests in a measure and doing “musical math” problems. We have also begun talking about some of the great composers and have listened to some of their beautiful pieces.  These include Bach, Handel, Beethoven and Papa Haydn!  We have begun learning our songs for the spring concert!



Grade Four
Most of the fourth graders have earned seven of their belts in recorder karate!  This is very impressive and they should be very proud!  Once we finish with our black belts, I hope to begin a simple drumming circle with students.  We are working hard on music theory and have recently learned about half steps and what sharp and flat notes are.  We can identify the notes on both the treble and bass clef lines and spaces. We also spent some time on time signatures and how to count notes and rests in measures.  We will soon learn how to build a major scale using a pattern of whole and half steps.  All the students received a “A-Rhythm-E-Tic” packet which uses musical math problems.  Some of the students have already completed this packet.  Our next goal will be to master our musical glossary as well as working on our rhythm cards.  We have recently begun to talk about musical textures.

Chorus
Our spring concert will feature some pieces from well-known musicals.  We have some challenging rhythmic pieces and these songs require good singing placement and correct breathing.  Students are doing very well using their “singing masks!”  Each student in our chorus makes a huge impact on the success of our singing group.  My hope is that all our students will attend our spring concert!

Our Musical Play-The Magical Land of Oz
We are getting very excited about our play being performed at both schools!  Students are working very hard and we all hope you will come to a performance!  Please bring your family to see this wonderful version of Oz!
    PERFORMANCE DATES:
    Holden School – March 20 6:00 p.m.
    Eddington School – March 31 6:00 p.m.

We are “orff” to a great start this year in music!! Forgive the pun!! You might be wondering what “orff” instruments are!!  These instruments include xylophones, metallophones, glockenspields, percussion instruments as well as flutophones, recorders and most importantly, the singing voice!!  Our focus this year will be on the wonderful orff instruments we have recently received through a grant by the Maine Community Foundation!!  These instruments will be shared at Holden and Eddington Schools.  The students at both schools will have an opportunity to play these instruments:  Holden School students will integrate these instruments for the Winter Concert and Eddington School students, (a few classes have played some of the instruments already), will play these instruments at our Spring Concert!  By playing these instruments, students learn about reading notes, playing simple rhythmic patterns, learning different playing techniques and playing as a musical ensemble!  These instruments are a wonderful addition to our elementary music program!! I offer the following brief synopsis of what we have been working on in our music classes!
                                Mrs. Jellison

KINDERGARTEN
Our kindergarten classes have been learning about the musical scale (do, re, mi…) using body signs.  We have begun learning about notes and rests using our musical family, Willie the whole note, etc.  We are talking about simple concepts, such as high/low, loud/soft, etc.  We have had lots of fun singing movement songs and have been working hard to prepare for our winter concert.  We will be improvising our own music on the glockenspiels for our winter concert!

GRADE ONE
First graders have been reviewing musical concepts, such as high/low, up/down on our musical scale.  We have been reviewing the letters of the musical alphabet both forwards and backwards.  We are talking about the music staff and learning how to draw line and space notes.  We have done lots of singing and playing handbells and xylophones and glockenspiels!  We have been working hard on playing with a steady beat and staying together as a music ensemble! 

GRADE TWO
Second graders began our year with some lively dancing!  We have been working on playing notes on the xylophones,  glockenspiels and handbells.  We are always reviewing notes, rests and rhythms.  We are identifying musical sounds/notes that are high/low and reviewing the musical alphabet.  We have begun talking and listening to beautiful music by famous composers:  Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart.  We are also preparing for our winter concert and have some great musical selections!  We will be playing bells and some orff instruments for our concert!

GRADE THREE
Third graders have accomplished great things in music thus far!  We began our year with some partner dancing!  We are learning to play different techniques on the orff instruments at Holden School.  Eddington School will begin to study the orffs in January!  We are working on reading our notes on the treble staff.  We have been working on a basic music theory packet in class.  We are playing a major scale on flutophones and have a great holiday song to play for our concert!

GRADE FOUR
Fourth graders are working on a music theory packet with concepts such as reading and writing notes and rests on the bass and treble clefs, learning the value of notes and rests.  We are also working on a rhythm packet and will start a packet about composers next trimester.  We have begun to listen to some beautiful music by Beethoven and Mozart.  We also have been working on the orff instruments at Holden School learning playing techniques, such as borduns and cross-overs.  We have earned three of our music belts for recorder karate and have a wonderful song to play on recorder for our concert!  Recorders are great pre-band instruments!  We have been preparing for our winter concert and are looking forward to a wonderful evening of music!

CHORUS
Our second, third and fourth grade chorus have been working very hard in learning good singing techniques and preparing several lovely songs for our concert!  
IMPORTANT MUSIC DATES!!!!
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2ND -WINTER CONCERT AT EDDINGTON SCHOOL-6:30 P.M.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4TH – WINTER CONCERT AT HOLDEN SCHOOL – 6:30 P.M.
**PLEASE NOTE:  IF THERE ARE ANY PARENTS WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP WITH PLAY REHEARSALS AFTER SCHOOL, PLEASE CONTACT MRS. JELLISON.  THANK YOU!!

September 2, 2008

Dear Parents and Students:

I hope everyone had a great summer!!  I would like to share some important information regarding our concert dates and our musical play for this year.

The concert dates are:

    EDDINGTON SCHOOL:
    Winter Concert – Tuesday, December 2nd – 6:30 p.m.
    Spring Concert – Tuesday, May 5th – 6:30 p.m.

    HOLDEN SCHOOL:
    Winter Concert – Thursday, December 4th – 6:30 p.m.
    Spring Concert – Thursday, May 7th – 6:30 p.m.

Every student makes a unique contribution to our performances and their presence at the concerts is so important!  Students learn to work collaboratively and their musical experience as a “team” is vital.  I hope you will mark and reserve these dates on your calendar!

Our musical play this year is THE MAGICAL LAND OF OZ!!  The timeless “Wizard of Oz” tale has been adapted into this wonderful musical for children!  A cyclone carries Dorothy and Toto to the magical Land of Oz.  When Dorothy’s house squashes the Wicked Witch of the East, she is ecstatically thanked by the liberated Munchkins and given permission to wear the witch’s powerful silver slippers.  From there, the loveable characters of Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and Tin Woodsman join Dorothy on a journey to meet the great Oz.  While on their journey, they battle the Wicked Witch of the West, who is determined to get revenge for the death of her sister.  This bright musical has wonderful songs and lots of thrills – like the escape from the Fighting Trees and encountering the enchanted poppies.  Eventually, Glinda the Good Witch helps Dorothy defeat the Wicked Witch of the West and her winged monkeys.  The great and powerful wizard grants Dorothy’s friends their wishes and of course, helps Dorothy return to Kansas.

Our play has lots of parts and each one is very important!   The characters include:  Dorothy, Toto, citizens of Oz who are Boq, loq and Toq, Glinda the Good Witch, the Wicked Witch of the West, Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, Cowardly Lion, the enchanted poppies, the fighting trees, the two Guardians of the Gates, the Powerful Oz, the winged monkeys and Aunt Em.  There are lots of fun and interesting parts.  Some parts have speaking and singing roles, while others do not have any speaking or singing roles (or only singing with the entire cast).

Auditions will be held after school beginning the week of September 8th.  Students can sign up for a 10-minute audition time right outside the music classroom.  I will provide students with a take-home sheet so you know when your child is signed up to audition.  Students will need a permission slip to stay after school for these tryouts!!  I will let everyone know the names of the cast as soon as everyone as tried out.  We also need students to be part of the stage crew!  STAGE CREW PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE TO AUDITION.  I will ask students in class who might be interested in being part of the stage crew.  The performance dates for the play are:

    AT EDDINGTON SCHOOL:
    TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009 AT 6:00 P.M.

    AT HOLDEN SCHOOL:
    FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2009 AT 6:00 P.M.

I really will need lots of help from parents who might have the time to help in the following areas: parent helpers during rehearsals, parent callers to get actors from music room to the stage when it’s time, sound assistant, prompters backstage, make-up, ushers, parents to set up and help dismantle stage after play finishes.  All of this parent power!! will really make a difference to the success of our play!!  I will have a sign-up sheet for parents if you feel you can help or just please come and see me!

Thank you for all your help and support!!  I hope this information is helpful and I look forward to a very exciting musical year!!

                        Sincerely,


                        Mrs. Jellison
                        Music Teacher
                        SAD 63 

   

HELLO KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADERS!!

This year we will be work with orff instruments - xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels and handbells!

We will also learn about musical notes and rests!!  We will play keyboards as well!  We will do lots of movement activities, dancing and singing!!

I look forward to seeing you in music!!

HELLO SECOND GRADERS!!

This year we will be playing with lots of orff instruments - xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels, and handbells!

We will also learn a little bit about the ukulele!! 

Also, get ready for some great singing and dancing!!

Don't forget we will continue working with the keyboards, and learning how to read notes and rhythms!!

Hello third graders!!

This year we will be working with flutophones!!  Because of wear and tear on the instruments, each student will be required to purchase their own flutophone.  The price is $2.00 and the instrument will be theirs to keep and use throughout the school year.  Please send payment as soon as possible to Mrs. Jellison.  If paying by check, please make payment to the appropriate school.  Thank you for your support!  Thank you all!!

Hello fourth graders!!

This year we will be working with recorders, ukuleles and guitars!  Students will be borrowing recorders from the school, therefore, you will asked to sign a recorder contract.  This contract states that the recorder is on loan to you to practice and that you will return it to the school in the same condition as you received it.

  If you have an acoustic guitar at home and would like to use it in class, you may bring it on music class day.  I will let you know when we will be working with the guitars!  Thank you everyone!!