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

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.

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.

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!

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

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!

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

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Choir reminders

This is a reminder that both choirs perform on Tuesday, December 14th at 7:00pm. Sixth Grade Choir should arrive in the music room at 6:30pm and Honor Choir at 6:45pm. Both choirs are also performing on Wednesday, December 15th at Crown Center. Honor Choir will perform at 5:00pm and 6th grade choir at 5:45pm. Students should wear their Honor Choir t-shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes.

Make a donation to help animals!

We will be collecting items up until this Friday, December 17th. Please drop
donations off in the music room.

Humane Society Wish List
XL Kong Toy
Liquid Laundry Soap
Humane Live Traps
Science Diet Maintenance Dog and Cat Food
Paper Towels
Gerber chicken and Gravy Baby Food
Bleach
Scotch Tape
Fleece Blankets
New and Used Towels
Newspapers
White and Color Copy Paper
Dog and Cat Treats
Dog and Cat Toys
Cat Litter
Clippers
Toilet Paper
Isopropyl Alcohol
Dawn Dish Soap
Pens and Pencils
Stamps
Post-It Notes
Dog collars and leashes, new or used (retractable leashes, too)
Plastic Kennels or Carriers, any size
35 Gallon Trash Bags

In-Kind Services Needed:
Mason
Professional Banner Printing
Brochure Printing
Floor Waxing Services


KSDS Wish List
Paper Towels
Puppy Blankets (37x37)
Kong toys, Black for strong chewers or BLUE for puppies
Clorox wipes
Clorox bleach
Cases of bottled water
Liquid hand soap
Colored ink pads
Heavy duty paper plates, cups, and plastic silverware
Swiffer duster refills
Big bath towels

Monday, November 29, 2010

Music Notes for December

Fifth Grade Music
Fifth grade students are busy discovering Native American culture through playing games and singing songs. We have listened to a traditional Athabascan bead-chant song, performed a Navajo singing game with drum accompaniment, and played a Comanche Hand Game song called “Eka Muda. We will soon play and improvise patterns along with a stick game from the Ute tribe. Within our unit, we have discussed the word texture in art and music, experienced some new rhythms, and connected to Social Studies class through discussion of Native Americans.

Fifth graders are also preparing for a performance in the D.A.R.E. graduation, which will be next Monday, December 6th at 7:00pm in the gymnasium. We hope you are able to attend this awesome event to honor fifth graders’ accomplishments in D.A.R.E.

6th Grade Music
Sixth grade students are currently in the middle of a rock unit. Within our rock unit, we have listened to, discussed, and sung rock songs from the 1950’s to now. We are currently working on playing mallet instruments along with a rock track. In the next couple of weeks, we will compose ostinatos along to accompany a contemporary rock song. Within our rock unit, students have been experiencing syncopated rhythms and repeating patterns in music.

Sixth Grade Choir
Sixth grade choir is looking forward to their next concert on December 14th at 7:00pm in the IS gymnasium (this will be a combined concert with the elementary school) and their performance at Crown Center on December 15th at 5:45pm. Crown Center information is due this Friday, December 3rd. Sixth grade students will also be performing at the Pleasant Hill Health and Rehab Center at 1:30pm on December 20th, 2010. Our final performance this semester will be for the school on December 22nd before we leave for holiday break.

**Honor choir will also be performing on December 14th at the IS, December 15th at Crown Center, and December 22nd for the school.

We look forward to bringing cheer to many people through the gift of music this holiday season!

Sing-cer-ely,
Mrs. Williams

Monday, November 22, 2010

No Honor Choir Rehearsal on 11-23 -10

Honor Choir Announcement:
We will not have rehearsal tomorrow, November 23rd.
Remember Crown Center forms are due no later than next Friday,December 3rd!
Our rehearsal schedule for the rest of the year is...
Tuesday, November 30th
Tuesday, December 7th
Tuesday, December 14th
Concert: Tuesday, December 14th, IS Gymnasium 7:00pm
Concert: Tuesday, December 15th, Crown Center
Honor Choir Party: Tuesday, December 21st!!!
Perform for school assembly: Wednesday, December 22nd.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Music Notes Newsletter for November

Music Notes for November

5th Grade Music
This is a reminder that all 5th grade students will be participating in our “Looking Glass into the Past” P.T.O. night on Tuesday, November 9th at 7:00pm. Students and parents will begin in the gymnasium where students will perform patriotic songs from 1850 – 1910 and a groovy dance from the 1970’s. Following this performance, parents and students will be invited to travel through time around the school to view artwork from the Middle Ages and inventions from 1940 – present. Since the P.T.O. night is an extension of elective class work, attendance is mandatory for all fifth grade students. If a student cannot attend, he/she can pick up a makeup assignment from the music room beginning on Tuesday, November 2nd. The assignment will be due to Mrs. Williams on or before Friday, November 12th, 2010. P.T.O. will be providing drinks and requests that 5th grade parents donate cookies to enjoy after the performance. 5A should drop off cookies in the art room and 5B in the music room on or before November 9th. We look forward to seeing you on November 9th!

6th Grade Music
Sixth grade students just completed their vocal unit in music class. We are now moving on to create ostinatos (repeating melodic and rhythmic patterns) to perform along with contemporary music. At the end of November, we will begin a guitar unit with our brand new guitars that P.T.O. provided for the Intermediate School! Thank you P.T.O.!

Sixth Grade Choir
Sixth Grade Choir gave an awesome performance on October 7th! We are now moving on to our new concert repertoire, which includes…
La Loo, La Low – a Christmas lullaby
Frosty Hand Jive – a fun choreographed snowman song, full of syncopation!
Christmas Time is Here – one of my personal favorites from “A Charlie Brown Christmas”
Carol of the Bells – Traditional Carol
Eja, Eja – means “Joy, Joy” in Latin, an upbeat song in a minor key that speaks of the joy of singing.

Sixth grade choir is looking forward to their next concert on December 14th in the IS gymnasium (this will be a combined concert with the elementary school), and their performance at Crown Center on December 15th.

Sing-cer-ely,
Mrs. Williams

Monday, October 18, 2010

Class updates

Fifth grade students are responsible for bringing a picture to class. Please see the link on the right regarding the assignment. Remember that our 5th grade P.T.O. performance is coming up on Tuesday, November 9th at 7:00pm in the IS gymnasium:).

Sixth grade students are having a vocal unit test this week and next week! Please see the test review on the right as well!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Awesome Concert!

Congratulations to all of the students who participated in the IS choir concert last Thursday, October 7th! I am so proud of your accomplishments! You were fabulous!

Honor Choir Party

In celebration of our awesome choir performance, Honor Choir will be having a party on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 from 3:30 - 4:30pm in the IS cafeteria.
Below is a list of items to bring.
Students with last names...
A - L: A favorite snack to share with others
M-P: A drink to share with others
Q&R: Napkins
S&T: Plates or bowls
U-Z: Silverware

We will NOT have rehearsal next Tuesday, October 19th due to parent teacher conferences. We will resume our normal rehearsal schedule on October 26th.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Crown Center Date

Our Crown Center date has been confirmed! Honor Choir will perform at 5:00pm and Sixth Grade Choir will perform at 5:45pm on Wednesday, December 15th. More information to come...