Hello! I am from the Seattle area, where it almost never snows, and when it does we get perhaps a half inch, enough to cancel school for three days. Because of the scarcity in my hometown, I am still mystified by the winters in the Northeast. Sure I get made fun of for being starstruck by snow, but with the right music, a warm place to hunker down it makes the darkest season of the year feel special. I'm excited to share what your students have been working on below, as well as alert you to some upcoming concerts and projects to keep your eyes out for! Happy Winter!

Students in the advanced modern band are working on the next holiday classic with their December songwriting process: students will host a "Winter Wonderjam" in the tent with cookies, hot cocoa and a mix of original and covered holiday songs. Check out "upcoming dates below" for more information, or listen to this early version of "Ehhmazing Winter Wonder Holiday"

With only one instrument left to go this semester (voice!), students tackled piano to round out their rock band instrumental knowledge. These students are working on learning warm up strategies, individual songs through iconic notation and chord construction formulas. These students below are "locked in"!

Students began learning a cornerstone of rock and roll with power chords! Requiring only two fingers to play, these chords are featured in songs like Nirvana's "Smell's like teen spirit", the Ramones' "I don't want to grow up" and most rock music that you'll run into. Check out these chord charts to get an idea of what they're working on!

After thinking about how music can reflect or even CHANGE the mood of a visual medium, students composed short soundtracks to clips from a claymation movie series called Wallace and Gromit. Check out some student work below by Chris Hardy and Max Hartshorn!

The first ever WINTER WONDERJAM

Student bands will gather in the Moxley Tent for some cocoa, cookies and live music to celebrate the upcoming break. If your student is interested, this is happening DECEMBER 18th DURING L BLOCK!

Semester I Concert!!!

The first semester concert of the year is happening on Wednesday, January 15th at 6:00pm in the Middle School Auditorium. It will feature all of the guitar and modern band classes, as well as some special appearances from the morning club band and the "Life Longer Learners", WHS's very own staff band.

Klein's Winter Playlist

Check out what I'm listening to during the dark and cold!