Tuesday, May 17, 2011
MCDA rehearsals
Remember, MCDA choir students are rehearsing next Monday, May 23rd from 3:30 - 4:30. We will also rehearse on the following Mondays throughout the summer: June 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th from 2:00 - 3:00pm. All rehearsals will be held in the IS music room. Please go to the Northwest music room door to drop off/pick up your child.
Talent Show Auditions this week!
Talent show auditions will be held this week in your music classroom. If you are not able to audition in your classroom, you may sign up for a time before school (Wednesday, May 18th 7:30 - 7:55am), or after school (Thursday, May 19th 3:30 - 4:30). I am looking forward to seeing lots of awesome talent!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
May Newsletter
5th grade students are currently working on dynamics and drumming. We have been working together in a drum circle where students are improvising rhythm patterns, working together to keep “the groove,” and applying dynamics. We are creating a class composition in rondo form. It is awesome to see the creativity flowing within the drum circle.
6th grade students are finally wrapping up their blues guitar unit. Students are in the process of being assessed on playing the 12-bar blues. Students have also completed two blues verses and are finishing up a project that explains their blues lyrics in depth. Students have chosen between singing their blues lyrics, writing about their blues lyrics, or creating an art project about their blues lyrics. Again, students have really come up with some creative projects!
6th grade choir students are busy preparing for the Spring Musical, Mulan, Jr.! We are adding choreography and polishing up songs in order to perform on May 5th and 6th at the High School. Students are also singing a Japanese piece titled “Hotaru Koi,” which is about fireflies. We will present this song to 5th grade students on May 10th and 11th in school.
Our talent show will be held on the last day of school, May 26th. Auditions will be the week of May 16th in your child’s music classroom. More information will be available on the music blog beginning the first week of May.
It is a pleasure to teach such wonderful, talented kids here at Pleasant Hill Intermediate School! I am truly blessed!
Sing-cere-ly,
Mrs. Williams
6th grade students are finally wrapping up their blues guitar unit. Students are in the process of being assessed on playing the 12-bar blues. Students have also completed two blues verses and are finishing up a project that explains their blues lyrics in depth. Students have chosen between singing their blues lyrics, writing about their blues lyrics, or creating an art project about their blues lyrics. Again, students have really come up with some creative projects!
6th grade choir students are busy preparing for the Spring Musical, Mulan, Jr.! We are adding choreography and polishing up songs in order to perform on May 5th and 6th at the High School. Students are also singing a Japanese piece titled “Hotaru Koi,” which is about fireflies. We will present this song to 5th grade students on May 10th and 11th in school.
Our talent show will be held on the last day of school, May 26th. Auditions will be the week of May 16th in your child’s music classroom. More information will be available on the music blog beginning the first week of May.
It is a pleasure to teach such wonderful, talented kids here at Pleasant Hill Intermediate School! I am truly blessed!
Sing-cere-ly,
Mrs. Williams
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
April Music Notes Newsletter
5th Grade
Fifth grade students are currently discovering bluegrass music in class! This is one of my favorite genres of music and I hope my excitement will be contagious to students. So far we have seen Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys perform “Uncle Pen,” a song that fifth grade classes are working on singing in two-part harmony. We have also had the opportunity to see, hear, and analyze the tone color of two bluegrass instruments: the guitar and mandolin. Students also experienced the tone color of the viola and discussed similarities and differences between its’ sound and the violin and fiddle. The viola, one of my main instruments, is slightly larger than the violin, has the strings of a cello, and it plays in the alto clef.
6th Grade
Sixth grade students are still in the process of learning the 12-bar blues on the guitar. Students have also spent some time reading and analyzing blues lyrics, and will soon be writing their own lyrics that express something about themselves. Students have received their final assessment, which includes playing 12-bar blues, writing blues verses, and choosing another performance task such as: singing their blues lyrics, writing a paragraph explaining their blues lyrics, or creating a piece of artwork that expresses their blues lyrics. If choosing to do an art project, students should plan on bringing in some supplies beginning on Monday, April 11th. We will be wrapping our blues unit up in April and moving on to a short unit on Chinese music.
6th Grade Choir
Sixth grade students are in the process of working on Mulan, Jr. repertoire. We are also singing a Japanese folk song titled “Hotaru Koi” about fireflies, which we will perform for fifth grade students on May 10th and 11th in a sixth grade Asian Museum presented by the entire sixth grade. We are also working on Paul McCartney’s “Blackbird,” which we will perform for our all-school talent show on the last day of school.
Mulan, Jr. Musical Information
Costume information is now available on the music blog. Orders are due to Mrs. Williams on Friday, April 8th.
Fifth grade students are currently discovering bluegrass music in class! This is one of my favorite genres of music and I hope my excitement will be contagious to students. So far we have seen Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys perform “Uncle Pen,” a song that fifth grade classes are working on singing in two-part harmony. We have also had the opportunity to see, hear, and analyze the tone color of two bluegrass instruments: the guitar and mandolin. Students also experienced the tone color of the viola and discussed similarities and differences between its’ sound and the violin and fiddle. The viola, one of my main instruments, is slightly larger than the violin, has the strings of a cello, and it plays in the alto clef.
6th Grade
Sixth grade students are still in the process of learning the 12-bar blues on the guitar. Students have also spent some time reading and analyzing blues lyrics, and will soon be writing their own lyrics that express something about themselves. Students have received their final assessment, which includes playing 12-bar blues, writing blues verses, and choosing another performance task such as: singing their blues lyrics, writing a paragraph explaining their blues lyrics, or creating a piece of artwork that expresses their blues lyrics. If choosing to do an art project, students should plan on bringing in some supplies beginning on Monday, April 11th. We will be wrapping our blues unit up in April and moving on to a short unit on Chinese music.
6th Grade Choir
Sixth grade students are in the process of working on Mulan, Jr. repertoire. We are also singing a Japanese folk song titled “Hotaru Koi” about fireflies, which we will perform for fifth grade students on May 10th and 11th in a sixth grade Asian Museum presented by the entire sixth grade. We are also working on Paul McCartney’s “Blackbird,” which we will perform for our all-school talent show on the last day of school.
Mulan, Jr. Musical Information
Costume information is now available on the music blog. Orders are due to Mrs. Williams on Friday, April 8th.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Music Notes March Newsletter
5th Grade
Fifth grade students are currently wrapping up a unit on African American Spirituals. The final part of the unit will consist of students composing an accompaniment along with a Spiritual on mallet instruments.
6th Grade
Sixth grade students are in the process of learning to play the guitar! So far, students have learned the notes on the top string and can play a G chord. Our goal in the next several weeks is to learn notes on the top three strings, play three chords, and compose a blues song along with a 12-bar blues accompaniment. Students are also continuing to sing blues music and learn about key blues performers such as Bessie Smith and Huddie Ledbetter.
6th Grade Choir and Honor Choir
We hope you can join us for our March 8th P.T.O. choir concert in the IS gymnasium at 7:00pm! It will be our final choir concert for the year. Honor Choir parents, remember we have rehearsal from 3:30 - 5:00pm on Thursday, March 3rd and our final Honor Choir party will be Thursday, March 10th from 3:30 - 4:30pm.
All District Honor Choir
Twelve students will travel to the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg on Saturday, March 5th to sing with students from all over the West Central District all day long! Students will give a concert to the public at 3:30pm in Hendricks Hall on Campus.
Mulan, Jr. Musical Information
Congratulations to our Spring Musical Cast, and thank you to all students who auditioned. There will be an informational musical meeting on Thursday, March 10th, 2011 at 6:30pm in the IS music room. Please plan to attend if your child is a part of the musical. Students will receive their scripts and musical schedules on this date. Rehearsals will begin the week of March 14th.
Fifth grade students are currently wrapping up a unit on African American Spirituals. The final part of the unit will consist of students composing an accompaniment along with a Spiritual on mallet instruments.
6th Grade
Sixth grade students are in the process of learning to play the guitar! So far, students have learned the notes on the top string and can play a G chord. Our goal in the next several weeks is to learn notes on the top three strings, play three chords, and compose a blues song along with a 12-bar blues accompaniment. Students are also continuing to sing blues music and learn about key blues performers such as Bessie Smith and Huddie Ledbetter.
6th Grade Choir and Honor Choir
We hope you can join us for our March 8th P.T.O. choir concert in the IS gymnasium at 7:00pm! It will be our final choir concert for the year. Honor Choir parents, remember we have rehearsal from 3:30 - 5:00pm on Thursday, March 3rd and our final Honor Choir party will be Thursday, March 10th from 3:30 - 4:30pm.
All District Honor Choir
Twelve students will travel to the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg on Saturday, March 5th to sing with students from all over the West Central District all day long! Students will give a concert to the public at 3:30pm in Hendricks Hall on Campus.
Mulan, Jr. Musical Information
Congratulations to our Spring Musical Cast, and thank you to all students who auditioned. There will be an informational musical meeting on Thursday, March 10th, 2011 at 6:30pm in the IS music room. Please plan to attend if your child is a part of the musical. Students will receive their scripts and musical schedules on this date. Rehearsals will begin the week of March 14th.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Musical Audition Results Now Available!
Thank you to all students who auditioned for the 2011 Spring Musical, Mulan, Jr. Audition results are now available on the PHIS Musical Blog (see link to the right of the page)under the link "Mulan Junior Cast!" Congratulations to all of you:). Cast members and parents, please mark your calendars for our informational musical meeting on Thursday, March 10th at 6:30pm.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Musical Audition information available!
Click on the link below "PHIS Musical Blog" to the right of the page for audition information for the 2011 Spring Musical, Mulan, Jr.!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
February Newsletter
Music Notes
5th grade students are currently exploring African American Spirituals. They are beginning to play a three part instrumental accompaniment along with a spiritual and will soon be composing their own instrumental accompaniments on mallet instruments. Students are also playing some American folk singing games at this time.
Sixth grade students are finally picking up guitars this week, weather permitting! We have discussed characteristics of Blues music and played a 12-bar blues accompaniment on boomwhackers. We are now ready to begin learning to play notes and chords on guitars. Please note that the P.T.O. performance will now feature PHIS choirs and a few volunteer sixth grade students sharing their blues songs on guitar instead of the entire sixth grade. The change in plans is due to a lack of time as a result of snow days.
Sixth grade choir students are really digging into their new repertoire. Songs for our March 8th concert (now at 7:00pm) include…
Hitori – Japanese Folk Song
Hotaru Koi (Ho, Firefly) – Japanese Chidren’s Song
Tell Me Ma – Traditional Irish Folk Song
Elijah Rock – Medley of traditional spirituals
When I Close My Eyes – Inspirational song
Honor Choir students will resume meeting this Thursday, February 3rd. Please note that our concert on March 8th concert feature both sixth grade choir, honor choir, and some sixth grade guitar players and will now be held at 7:00pm in the PHIS gymnasium.
Congratulations to these twelve students who made the All-District Honor Choir: Haley Burge, Ricee Cade, Noah Campbell, Katie Jones, Jake King, Aidan Link, Clara Plasse, Jordan Smith, Jessica Turner, Johnna Walls, Brooke Wood, Colleen Wouters. Alternates include: Maleeha Tozier and Courtney Wesemann. These students will be traveling to the University of Central Missouri on Saturday, March 5th to perform with other students from around the West Central District. It is a great honor to be selected to participate in this choir! Our first rehearsal will be this Wednesday, February 2nd at 7:00am.
MUSICAL INFORMATION: Musical auditions for Mulan Jr. will be held in your child’s music class beginning on February 14th. Audition materials will be available on Thursday, February, 3rd on the music blog. Paper copies will be available soon after. Auditions will consist of singing a short song from the musical (we will learn it in class), acting out lines, and turning in an evaluation form that the students’ home team of teachers will fill out. Please check the music blog for more information!
5th grade students are currently exploring African American Spirituals. They are beginning to play a three part instrumental accompaniment along with a spiritual and will soon be composing their own instrumental accompaniments on mallet instruments. Students are also playing some American folk singing games at this time.
Sixth grade students are finally picking up guitars this week, weather permitting! We have discussed characteristics of Blues music and played a 12-bar blues accompaniment on boomwhackers. We are now ready to begin learning to play notes and chords on guitars. Please note that the P.T.O. performance will now feature PHIS choirs and a few volunteer sixth grade students sharing their blues songs on guitar instead of the entire sixth grade. The change in plans is due to a lack of time as a result of snow days.
Sixth grade choir students are really digging into their new repertoire. Songs for our March 8th concert (now at 7:00pm) include…
Hitori – Japanese Folk Song
Hotaru Koi (Ho, Firefly) – Japanese Chidren’s Song
Tell Me Ma – Traditional Irish Folk Song
Elijah Rock – Medley of traditional spirituals
When I Close My Eyes – Inspirational song
Honor Choir students will resume meeting this Thursday, February 3rd. Please note that our concert on March 8th concert feature both sixth grade choir, honor choir, and some sixth grade guitar players and will now be held at 7:00pm in the PHIS gymnasium.
Congratulations to these twelve students who made the All-District Honor Choir: Haley Burge, Ricee Cade, Noah Campbell, Katie Jones, Jake King, Aidan Link, Clara Plasse, Jordan Smith, Jessica Turner, Johnna Walls, Brooke Wood, Colleen Wouters. Alternates include: Maleeha Tozier and Courtney Wesemann. These students will be traveling to the University of Central Missouri on Saturday, March 5th to perform with other students from around the West Central District. It is a great honor to be selected to participate in this choir! Our first rehearsal will be this Wednesday, February 2nd at 7:00am.
MUSICAL INFORMATION: Musical auditions for Mulan Jr. will be held in your child’s music class beginning on February 14th. Audition materials will be available on Thursday, February, 3rd on the music blog. Paper copies will be available soon after. Auditions will consist of singing a short song from the musical (we will learn it in class), acting out lines, and turning in an evaluation form that the students’ home team of teachers will fill out. Please check the music blog for more information!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
All District Honor Choir Information
The West Central All-District Honor Choir is coming up on Saturday, March 5th at the UCM campus in Warrensburg! This is a wonderful opportunity for young singers from all over the West-Central District to join together in singing and having fun. Students will rehearse music with Mrs. Williams once a week during the month of February, and then travel to UCM on March 5th to rehearse the same music with an awesome choir director and give an afternoon performance to the community.
If you are interested in this choir, please be aware that it there will be mandatory rehearsals for the month of February (see dates/times below) and there is an $8.00 registration fee. Students will also be required to wear a black skirt or pants and a white top for the performance on Saturday, March 5th. Only sixth grade students who have participated in or are participating in sixth grade choir or honor choir are eligible to audition.
If you make the All-District Choir, mandatory Rehearsal Dates will be on…
Wednesday mornings from 7:00 – 7:55am on the following dates:
•February 2nd
•February 9th
•February 16th
•February 23rd
•March 2nd
•Saturday, March 5th, 2010 –rehearsal and performance on UCM campus in Warrensburg! This time commitment will be 7:45am – 4:30pm. Transportation will be provided.
*If you miss a rehearsal for anything other than sickness or a family emergency, an alternate will replace you.
Auditions will consist of singing “My Country Tis’ of Thee” (America), and sight reading.
•Sixth grade choir students will audition during class on Wednesday, January 19th.
•Honor Choir students will audition during Honor Choir rehearsal on Thursday, January 20th.
Only twelve sixth grade students will be selected to participate in the Honor Choir. Results will be posted outside the music room door, at the office door, and at bus doors on Friday, January 21st as long as everyone has had an opportunity to audition.
I look forward to your auditions!
Mrs. Williams
If you are interested in this choir, please be aware that it there will be mandatory rehearsals for the month of February (see dates/times below) and there is an $8.00 registration fee. Students will also be required to wear a black skirt or pants and a white top for the performance on Saturday, March 5th. Only sixth grade students who have participated in or are participating in sixth grade choir or honor choir are eligible to audition.
If you make the All-District Choir, mandatory Rehearsal Dates will be on…
Wednesday mornings from 7:00 – 7:55am on the following dates:
•February 2nd
•February 9th
•February 16th
•February 23rd
•March 2nd
•Saturday, March 5th, 2010 –rehearsal and performance on UCM campus in Warrensburg! This time commitment will be 7:45am – 4:30pm. Transportation will be provided.
*If you miss a rehearsal for anything other than sickness or a family emergency, an alternate will replace you.
Auditions will consist of singing “My Country Tis’ of Thee” (America), and sight reading.
•Sixth grade choir students will audition during class on Wednesday, January 19th.
•Honor Choir students will audition during Honor Choir rehearsal on Thursday, January 20th.
Only twelve sixth grade students will be selected to participate in the Honor Choir. Results will be posted outside the music room door, at the office door, and at bus doors on Friday, January 21st as long as everyone has had an opportunity to audition.
I look forward to your auditions!
Mrs. Williams
January Newsletter Changes/Updates
Please note the following changes to information stated in the sixth grade portion of the January Newsletter...
Due to time restraints, the sixth grade P.T.O. concert will feature the Honor Choir and Sixth Grade Choir at 7:00pm instead of the previously stated time of 6:15pm. A select group of sixth graders will also contribute to the P.T.O. performance, but it will no longer be a required performance for the entire sixth grade. More information to come!
Due to time restraints, the sixth grade P.T.O. concert will feature the Honor Choir and Sixth Grade Choir at 7:00pm instead of the previously stated time of 6:15pm. A select group of sixth graders will also contribute to the P.T.O. performance, but it will no longer be a required performance for the entire sixth grade. More information to come!
Monday, January 3, 2011
January Newsletter
Music Notes for January
Welcome back! I hope your holidays were filled with memorable moments.
Fifth Grade Music
This quarter, fifth grade students will be exploring different genres of music unique to America. We will experience American folk songs, African American Spirituals, Ragtime, Bluegrass, and Swing Music. Students will be singing, playing instruments, dancing, and researching artists as they delve into these exciting genres of music!
6th Grade Music
This quarter, sixth grade students will be learning about Blues music and composing their own Blues song with guitar accompaniment! The culmination of this Blues Unit will be the sixth grade P.T.O. performance on Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 @ 7:00pm in the IS Gymnasium. A select group of students will perform their blues compositions on this evening.
Sixth Grade Choir
Sixth Grade Choir will be learning new repertoire this quarter for our concert, on Tuesday, March 8th at 7:00 pm. This choir concert will precede the sixth grade P.T.O. performance. Following this concert, students will begin preparing for the spring musical, Mulan Jr.
Honor Choir
Honor Choir will resume rehearsals on Thursday, January 13th, 2011 from 3:30 – 4:30pm in the music room. Our final concert will be on Tuesday, March 8th at 7:00pm in the IS gymnasium.
Upcoming Events
Sixth Grade WCMMEA All District Honor Choir Auditions: The week of January 17th – Students must be in 6th grade choir or Honor Choir to audition for this choir. Audition information will be available on January 10th in the music room.
Spring Musical, Mulan Jr.: Auditions for the musical will be held in February. More information to come soon!
Sing-cer-ely,
Mrs. Williams
Welcome back! I hope your holidays were filled with memorable moments.
Fifth Grade Music
This quarter, fifth grade students will be exploring different genres of music unique to America. We will experience American folk songs, African American Spirituals, Ragtime, Bluegrass, and Swing Music. Students will be singing, playing instruments, dancing, and researching artists as they delve into these exciting genres of music!
6th Grade Music
This quarter, sixth grade students will be learning about Blues music and composing their own Blues song with guitar accompaniment! The culmination of this Blues Unit will be the sixth grade P.T.O. performance on Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 @ 7:00pm in the IS Gymnasium. A select group of students will perform their blues compositions on this evening.
Sixth Grade Choir
Sixth Grade Choir will be learning new repertoire this quarter for our concert, on Tuesday, March 8th at 7:00 pm. This choir concert will precede the sixth grade P.T.O. performance. Following this concert, students will begin preparing for the spring musical, Mulan Jr.
Honor Choir
Honor Choir will resume rehearsals on Thursday, January 13th, 2011 from 3:30 – 4:30pm in the music room. Our final concert will be on Tuesday, March 8th at 7:00pm in the IS gymnasium.
Upcoming Events
Sixth Grade WCMMEA All District Honor Choir Auditions: The week of January 17th – Students must be in 6th grade choir or Honor Choir to audition for this choir. Audition information will be available on January 10th in the music room.
Spring Musical, Mulan Jr.: Auditions for the musical will be held in February. More information to come soon!
Sing-cer-ely,
Mrs. Williams
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