For parents
Here is where you'll find information about what's happening in your student's class with me. I'll seek to keep this page up to date with current class repertoire, any upcoming grades or other important information. For information about general grading and assessment for any class, please refer to the syllabi which are all posted elsewhere on this site. As always, when in doubt, contact me with any questions you may have over the course of the year.
For a-block concert chorale parents
October 4, 2014:
The A block concert chorale is buzzing right along. We had a great first performance at homecoming and we are energized and excited for the Fall Concert which happens on October 21 at 7pm. (Students need to be present for warm ups to begin promptly at 6pm on that date.) Please review the concert attire for this and other concerts in the 'concert attire' section of this website. Failure to show up on time for warm ups wearing the correct attire will result in a lower performance grades.
In terms of grades, we have had two folder checks, a composer page due and our first singing assessment trilogy. Midterm grades have been updated to the X2 portal.
Material for the Major Works concert will be handed out to the students in the coming weeks.
The A block concert chorale is buzzing right along. We had a great first performance at homecoming and we are energized and excited for the Fall Concert which happens on October 21 at 7pm. (Students need to be present for warm ups to begin promptly at 6pm on that date.) Please review the concert attire for this and other concerts in the 'concert attire' section of this website. Failure to show up on time for warm ups wearing the correct attire will result in a lower performance grades.
In terms of grades, we have had two folder checks, a composer page due and our first singing assessment trilogy. Midterm grades have been updated to the X2 portal.
Material for the Major Works concert will be handed out to the students in the coming weeks.
For b-block women's ensemble ("mixed" chorus) parents
September 6, 2014:
October 4, 2014:
The B block women's ensemble is also buzzing right along. We had a great first performance at homecoming and we are energized and excited for the Fall Concert which happens on October 21 at 7pm. (Students need to be present for warm ups to begin promptly at 6pm on that date.) Please review the concert attire for this and other concerts in the 'concert attire' section of this website. Failure to show up on time for warm ups wearing the correct attire will result in a lower performance grades.
In terms of grades, we have had two folder checks, a composer page due and our first singing assessment trilogy. Midterm grades have been updated to the X2 portal.
The Major Work has been handed out to the students of the B block women's ensemble. We will begin working at this on a more regular basis in the coming weeks.
October 4, 2014:
The B block women's ensemble is also buzzing right along. We had a great first performance at homecoming and we are energized and excited for the Fall Concert which happens on October 21 at 7pm. (Students need to be present for warm ups to begin promptly at 6pm on that date.) Please review the concert attire for this and other concerts in the 'concert attire' section of this website. Failure to show up on time for warm ups wearing the correct attire will result in a lower performance grades.
In terms of grades, we have had two folder checks, a composer page due and our first singing assessment trilogy. Midterm grades have been updated to the X2 portal.
The Major Work has been handed out to the students of the B block women's ensemble. We will begin working at this on a more regular basis in the coming weeks.
For Fifth grade parents
October 4, 2014
The fifth grade choruses at each school are all off to great starts. We have voted on current pop music to sing to balance off the folk songs I insist upon as a major part of the fifth grade choral curriculum. The choices vary from school to school but some popular choices so far are "Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift, "Counting Stars" by One Republic and "Chicken Fried" by the Zach Brown Band.
We have also started the process of learning solfeggi syllables and hand signals. These will aid us in the learning of new music and are important skills for any musician (not just singers) to have.
See the Fifth Grade tab for more information about the Fifth Grade chorus.
The fifth grade choruses at each school are all off to great starts. We have voted on current pop music to sing to balance off the folk songs I insist upon as a major part of the fifth grade choral curriculum. The choices vary from school to school but some popular choices so far are "Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift, "Counting Stars" by One Republic and "Chicken Fried" by the Zach Brown Band.
We have also started the process of learning solfeggi syllables and hand signals. These will aid us in the learning of new music and are important skills for any musician (not just singers) to have.
See the Fifth Grade tab for more information about the Fifth Grade chorus.
For evolution of Rock parents
Your kids are the only ones I see who aren't in a vocal ensemble. This fall's group is made up of almost entirely male students. I have to say, I'm thrilled with them so far. It's me and 9 of the sweetest, smartest, most polite young men I've had the pleasure of meeting in Hingham in my short tenure.
One thing that helps me better organize and tailor our class to the students enrolled in any given term is to have a solid understanding of what the student's favorite music is. I admit, some of the artists they come up with I know all about, and some of which I have simply never heard. It's helpful to me to be able to stay "current" (as much as I can) with the music that is important to your students.
October 4, 2014
We just had our first test in Evolution of Rock. The students performed very well with an average of 86%. The test was on everything covered in class to date: Alan Freed and the birth of the phrase 'Rock and Roll', the early rock greats such as Buddy Holly, Richie Valenz, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and of course, Elvis Presley. Also covered so far is the history and evolution of sound recording.
Coming up next...everyone's favorite 'Fab Four': The Beatles!
One thing that helps me better organize and tailor our class to the students enrolled in any given term is to have a solid understanding of what the student's favorite music is. I admit, some of the artists they come up with I know all about, and some of which I have simply never heard. It's helpful to me to be able to stay "current" (as much as I can) with the music that is important to your students.
October 4, 2014
We just had our first test in Evolution of Rock. The students performed very well with an average of 86%. The test was on everything covered in class to date: Alan Freed and the birth of the phrase 'Rock and Roll', the early rock greats such as Buddy Holly, Richie Valenz, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and of course, Elvis Presley. Also covered so far is the history and evolution of sound recording.
Coming up next...everyone's favorite 'Fab Four': The Beatles!