"It's December All Over the World" was the main theme for tonight's concert.  The children always come through with an excellent performance.  Can you say it's Decmeber 'round the World in 5 languages?   How about that Swahili????   Japanese?????   The concert included songs from Norway (Wondrous Star) and Germany (Silent Night) and - of course American.  Our readers read rhymes and told us a little about traditions from around the world.  Singers, recorders and bells helped to make the concert extra special as well.  And we can't forget all those working behind the scenes.  Thank you to all the staff that worked with me this past week with rehearsals, programs, noitces and attendance at the evening concert.  A special thanks to members of the Oxford Education Association for the beautiful decorations.  (I still can't get over that Globe).

September

September 2012.  Some things the same, some things different-
Of course - as usual - A LOT is going on in music class for all grades.  Kindergarten is singing songs, moving to the beat of the music.  They enjoy the rhythm stick activities and music that they can get involved with right away.  1st grade? Reading music?  They should be able to identify quarter note and quarter rest.  2nd - 5th grade are enjoying activities from Music Express - as well as reviewing and learning about rhythm notation.  WHO CAN NAME ALL 21 NJ COUNTIES??  Hopefully the 4th and 5th grade - as they discover that a melody can help you remember a list of facts.  5th and 6th grade are reading notation to play recorders, drums and xylophones in classroom musical ensembles.  7th grade continues with not only reading but writing and creating rhythm performances.  Can you think of 20 jobs involving music?  Hopefully our 8th grade can as they will be exploring various careers in music.
WHAT'S NEW??????  Look out for information about after school instrumental lessons.  We are hoping to give students that are interested in playing an instrument an opportunity to learn.  The lessons would be small group 3-5 students per class - classes would run from October - May - there would be a monthly fee to participate - students would need to either own OR rent the instrument they plan to play (you'll be getting more information about this within the next few weeks)  -the instruments would include band instruments (woodwind, brass, percussion) that would help to enable the students to be a part of not only opportunities to play at OCS - but when they get to WHRHS there would be many ensembles for them to be able to particpate.  Depending on interest - I may also be having a couple of classes for piano and guitar -
AND - Broadway Jr. is looking good - more info on that in a few months -

Do you hear that beat?  It's the sound of people entering the theater on the most famous street in the world.  It's Broadway!  On Wednesday, May 16th the OCS concert will feature music by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Meridith Wilson, and Stephen Schwartz just to mention a few.  The theme is Broadway!  Be prepared to hear music from some of your favorite musicals both old and new: Grease, The King and I, Music Man and Wicked. 

It's March and A LOT is going on in music.
1st - remember - Wednesday, MAY 16th is the SPRING CONCERT.
The theme - BROADWAY. Almost all of the music for the spring concert this year will be from a musical. The list includes, We Go Together from Grease, Seasons of Love from Rent, 76 Trombones from the Music Man, various excerpts from Sound of Music and more.
The children in grades k-5 are busy practicing to prepare for the concert.
4th grade parents have probably been hearing your children practicing their recorders. I have a lot of students on line every Friday for another Recorder Karate belt.
7th and 8th grade are finishing units on music history. 7th grade focus was on the Baroque and Classical eras and 8th grade have been learning about Jazz, and 20th century music, and have been doing their own presentations on 21st century musicians.
6th grade has been doing a unit on instruments and learning about the various instrumental families and sounds of instruments.
K-5 have not only been busy preparing for the concert, they've also been learning about composers, instruments, classical music (like Peter and the Wolf and Carnival of the Animals), notation and musical terms.