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 -