Carol-fest 2018

Christmas Around the World!

This was one of my favourite concerts. We had 145 students participating in Grades 1, 2 and 3 with 45 readers, 6 soloists and several instrumentalists. Each grade performed 5 songs and Jr. Choir performed 9 in total. That is quite an amazing feat to memorize all their words and learn the actions in just over a month (we began after Remembrance Day).

I have included a few photos that I managed to take while conducting. I apologize for not getting every class. Hopefully, parents can send me their photos at maryellen.martin@cssd.ab.ca

Again, thank you students for a wonderful concert and for being such amazing students to work with. It truly was a gift!

Musically yours,
Mrs. Martin

Carol-fest Reminder

Carol-fest is just about here. The students have been working hard on their music, their speaking roles and their art for bulletin boards outside of their classroom.
Reminders are as follows:
1) Please have your child dress in concert attire - Sunday best or Christmas colors. Try to wear something that is not every day attire. Note for girls: Wear flat shoes or very low heels; please no high heels. It is hard for the girls to maintain their balance on the risers and it alters their height on the risers.
2) We have a dress rehearsal in the morning on the 18th for Div. 2 and an afternoon performance for parents. If your child is not able to attend for whatever reason, please let both your homeroom teacher and myself know (maryellen.martin@cssd.ab.ca).
3) The concert for parents on the 18th will begin between 2:15 and 2:30pm. Doors will open at 2:00p.m.
4) Afterwards, please stay to help with stacking chairs and then check out the Div. 1 hallway bulletin boards. The student artwork is lovely!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Martin

PS. Have a look at some of their art work below:

December Carol-fest 2018

The theme for this year’s Carol-fest is 

Around the World at Christmas and it will begin around 2:15pm

on Tuesday, December 18th (doors will open at 2:00pm). It is for parents and grandparents. The concert features Gr. 1, 2 and 3 students as well as the Junior Choir. Each grade will be reveal Christmas customs and sing songs related to their countries of study. Concert attire should be Christmas colors or Christmas best. It’s time to get dressed up! We are looking forward to celebrating the Christmas season with music and poetry. Hope to see you on the 18^th of December.  

Mrs. Martin

Music Teacher

Junior Choir Director

December News

December is the time for Ho, Ho, Ho,
December is the time for love,
December is the time for lots of snow,    
December is the time for love!

Here's what's going in Music over the next couple of weeks:

Kindergarten:

• We are continuing to work on class routines by always beginning our Music class with a greeting and a circle song like "Good Morning when it's Morning". 
• As this is concert month, after our warm-up, we practice our pageant melodies which utilize actions and different tempi. 
• Concert date again is December 20th and the short performance will take place in the music room.

Grade One:

 

• Our focus in December is preparing our songs for the concert. We have 3 carols to learn: O Tannenbaum, Jingle Bells and Tingalayo.
• Concert date again is December 18th at 2:15 p.m. 
• In between our concert songs we are also focusing on the concept of high/low through playing Orff instruments and re-telling stories as we play. 
• Also, important concepts are beat (a steady pulse that stays the same) and rhythm (some sounds are short and some are longer). 

Grade Two:

• We have been spending time learning to play a steady beat pattern on the Orff instruments. Mallet technique is very important and students need to avoid pointer fingers or clicking mallets when the teacher is speaking,
• Carol-fest is on December 18 and so we are busy learning songs for it: Pat-a-Pan (France), Buon Natale (Italy) and Here We Come a Caroling (England). 

Grade Three:

• We have had fun adding an Orff accompaniment to Sing Noel working on our mallet technique. This song also has us reviewing the rhythm patterns.
• Carol-fest is on December 18th at 2:1 5pm and so we are busy learning songs for it: Fum, Fum. Fum (Spain), Behold that Star (Bethlehem) and Go Tell it on the Mountain (African American Spiritual)
• Students readers are asked to continue their practice at home in front of a mirror of an audience to work on facial expression and eye contact.

Thanks for tuning in to our Music blog!

Warm regards,

Mrs. Martin