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Meet Us in the Music Room 🎵
Mrs. Schwartz
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Week of September 02, 2024
Happy Labor Day weekend, families!
A reminder that there are no classes on Monday, September 2nd.
Also, get your tickets now for an exciting concert opportunity. More details are below:
This year, join Grammy-winning Artistic Director Zuill Bailey, violinist Kurt Nikkanen, and pianist Maria Asteriadou for an evening filled with the enchanting works of Ravel and Tchaikovsky. The program will include Ravel’s Sonata for Violin and Cello and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50—a performance not to be missed.
Don't miss the chance to witness what the BBC calls "a masterclass in musical expression" as these world-class artists bring these timeless compositions to life. The New York Times has praised the performers for their "technical brilliance and lyrical warmth," while the Los Angeles Times hailed their performances as "deeply moving and wonderfully nuanced."
Special discounts are available for music students aged 18 and younger, making this a perfect opportunity to inspire the next generation of musicians.
We can’t wait to share this unforgettable evening with you. Secure your tickets today!
https://vivenu.com/event/autumn-classics-in-wasilla-ravel-and-tchaikovsky-7hihx1
Week of August 26, 2024
What a wonderful first week of music classes we had!
At MCS this year, we have:
180 music students total
In 18 different classes
Ranging from Kindergarten, all the way to 12th grade!
We have:
50 K-2 Music students
30 Choir students
48 Piano students
63 Orchestra students
And more!
Your kids are amazing!
A couple of announcements:
1. SAVE THE DATE: Our winter concert will be on Thursday, December 19th from 12-3:30PM at Lazy Mountain Bible Church. All music students will perform in the concert. Block off 11AM-4PM for that day. More details to come soon!
2. There is NO CLASS this Friday, August 30th due to a professional learning day. See this semester's list of cancelled classes here.
3. Please make sure your student has their instrument, binder, and other supplies for class next week.
Enjoy the Fair and the beautiful weather!
Week of August 19, 2024
This week is our first week of music classes for the year! I have fun and informative lessons planned. A few things to note:
1. Please read through the class handbook for information about each class and the supplies your student will need for the first class.
2. Families are welcome to stay and watch the music class. I have a couch and a coffee cart in my room for that reason! Feel free to observe the class to see how you can continue the learning at home, or drop your student off.
3. A reminder that young students are not to be in the building by themselves before or after class time. If my classroom door is closed and you are dropping your student off to K-2 Music class or another class, please wait outside the room with your student until class begins.
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Intermediate and Advanced Orchestra students: join the Mat-Su Youth Orchestra! See the attached graphic for information about their registration.
Please email me if you have any questions! I look forward to seeing your students and sharing the joy of music with them this year!
Welcome to the 2023-4 School Year!
Welcome to a new school year, MCS music families! I hope it was a rejuvenating summer full of wonderful memories. My family had a wonderful summer full of roadtrips, hikes, soccer, and sun.
I am looking forward to the start of classes! A few reminders:
1. Our Back to School Open House is this Monday, August 12th from 10-2PM. I will be in the music room to say hello and answer any questions you have.
2. I will be holding office hours from August 13th-16th. Please sign your student up for a time slot or two if they would like a head start in their lessons with me before classes begin.
3. Music classes begin the week of August 19th. Please see my music class signup form here if you would like to see my schedule.
4. As I am writing this, we currently have 140 students signed up for music classes at MCS this year! How exciting. This also means certain classes may have waitlists at this point. Please sign up for classes soon and let me know if you would like to be added to a waitlist.
5. Please review the class confirmation emails I have sent out for information about what supplies to bring to our first week of class.
Can't wait to hear music in the room again!
Happy Summer!
Despite the back and forth weather, it is officially summer! Thank you for a fantastic year, families. What a rewarding year of growth and learning with your amazing kids.
As we wrap up the year, I made a graphic (attached) that highlights our students' accomplishments this year. Way to go, everyone!
My schedule for next year is live on the Mat-Su Central website, so please sign up for Semester 1 classes when you are able. Here is the Google Form for a direct link! Music classes will begin the week of August 19th.
To encourage students' musical growth over the summer, I made a slideshow with resources ranging from practice tools to private teachers to summer camp opportunities! Check it out here.
Have a wonderful summer, everyone!! See you next year!
Week of April 29, 2024
We are quickly approaching the end of the year, families!
Wednesday strings classes wrapped up this last week, as we have the Talent Faire this Wednesday and the MCS School Picnic the following week. Several music students are participating in the Talent Faire this Wednesday, and we are so excited to hear them!
A reminder that our last day of music classes will be Tuesday, May 7th. I will be holding office hours on May 8th for students who want help the day before our concert; the signup is below!
Keep up the practicing, students! We are so close to our concert. :)
Week of April 22, 2024
It was a wonderful week of classes, families!
Congrats to our 10 elementary string students who participated in the Elementary Honor Festival on Thursday, April 18th. They joined 35 other orchestra students from across the district in a performance at Palmer High!
Talent Faire
K-8 students are invited to participate in the MCS Talent Faire on Wednesday, May 1st. We need more performers, so please sign up here!
Advanced Orchestra
Similar to piano classes, we will have three levels of orchestra classes next year:
Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced. If orchestra students would like to be in Advanced Orchestra, they must send me an email (ruth.schwartz@matsuk12.us) with a video of them playing the audition materials here. Videos are due by May 22nd.
Practice Tracks
-Choir students, your practice tracks for the Spring Concert are found here.
-General music students, your practice tracks for the Spring Concert are found here:
Sleep, My Child
Office Hours
I will be holding a couple more sessions of office hours before the Spring Concert. Please sign up for office hours here to get one-on-one help with me. If all the time slots are taken and your student would like to work with me, send me an email and we can make it happen!
Week of April 08, 2024
Dear music families,
We are about a month out from our Spring concert!
Students were given MCS Music shirts (made by the amazing Mrs. Michelle Sande); please make sure they keep their shirt looking nice because they will be wearing them for the Spring Concert. I encourage your students to wear their shirts around town and classes to raise public awareness of our program, too.
Speaking of spreading the word, I would love your help advocating for our music program.
There is currently no music room or MPR in the plans for our new building, which is projected to be finished next school year. Our wonderful principals have been advocating and working diligently to find a way to have our music room put back in the building plans, as it was originally in the plans and was cut due to funding. Please reach out to members of the school board or attend a school board meeting to speak. Your voice matters. 🙂
Here are some informative points for you to consider:
Mat-Su Central offers 17 different kinds of music classes a week- K-2 elementary music class, strings classes, voice, guitar, and piano classes.
Mat-Su Central has over 120 students enrolled in onsite music classes. The music program alone offers the largest variety of on-site classes and has the largest number of students enrolled in the building.
Mat-Su Central music needs space to offer our 30-student strings classes, 10-keyboard piano classes, and the 20-student general music classes. Without proper space, storage, and an accessible location within the new school, music classes will not thrive in the same way, and the entire MCS program will suffer. We need a dedicated music room with space for our music program to grow and flourish.
In your emails, feel free to send videos or pictures of your students playing. :) It makes a wonderful impression!
Thank you!
Other than that, please see my April 1st post for details about our concert and the Talent Faire. :)
Week of April 01, 2024
Welcome to April, music families! We are getting closer to our Spring concert, and we are very excited.
Maker Show and Talent Faire at MCS
All K-8 students are invited to participate in MCS' Talent Faire on May 1st! Check out this link to sign your student up. If they would like help learning a song or act for the performance, please reach out to me. I would love to help!
HS Solo and Ensemble
Our High School Solo and Ensemble will be on April 9th, and we have 5 students participating! These students will perform solos they have been working on and will be evaluated and coached by guest judges. Students who earn a Superior rating will move onto State Solo and Ensemble in May. The details about Solo and Ensemble can be found here.
Elementary Honor Festival
Our Elementary Honor Festival will be on April 18th, and we have 9 students signed up to attend and represent MCS as orchestra musicians! The details about the festival can be found here.
Spring Concert
Please see the included graphic with details about our Spring Concert and reach out to me with questions. Piano and Masterclass students should be practicing and researching what song they want to do outside of class so we have class time to practice.
Summer Opportunities
As summer approaches, I wanted to share some musical opportunities with you. Explore their websites, as each camp has applications that are due before school gets out:
Alaska String Camps: We had a guest come and share about Alaska String Camps, which is held in Big Lake for Elementary (grades 4-6) on July 27-29 and Intermediate (grades 7-9) on July 30-August 2. These are overnight camps, featuring a mix of small and large group rehearsals, lessons, and recreational activities. Check out more information here.
Anchorage Chamber Music Festival: This day camp is held at UAA in Anchorage and is open to students ages 12-30 from July 27-August 3. Teachers place students in small groups based on playing ability and students receive feedback as they work on a piece of music. Check out more information here.
Sitka Fine Arts Camp: This camp is held in Sitka, AK and is also an overnight camp. I have had students attend in the past and they loved it! Their camps offer orchestra, as well as many different artistic experiences and classes. Elementary camp is from June 10-14; Middle School camp is June 16-29, and High School camp is June 30-July 14. Check out more information here.
Week of March 04, 2024
Happy Spring Break, families!
This week, we only have classes on Tuesday, March 5th and Wednesday, March 6th.
Spring Break is from March 7th- March 18th. The first day of Quarter 4 music classes will be Tuesday, March 19th.
Quarter 4 Class Signups
Quarter 4 Music Class signups are live, but it is not necessary for students who are currently enrolled in music classes to fill out the google form again. The schedule is exactly the same as this quarter. Families only need to reach out to me about classes if they want to change classes or do not want their child to be in the same class for this last quarter of the school year.
Quarter 4 Class Cancellations
Quarter 4 class cancellations can be found here. We have a lot of special musical events outside of the building as we approach the end of the school year, so please add these cancellation into your calendar.
MCS Spring Concert
SAVE THE DATE: Our Spring concert will be held at Lazy Mountain Bible Church once again! The concert will be on Thursday, May 9th. There will be two performances that afternoon with a reception in between. The first concert will be roughly from 12-1:30, and the other from 2:30-3:30 with a reception from 1:30-2:30. Please mark this in your calendars.
Have a lovely weekend!
Week of February 26, 2024
As the days get longer and feel warmer, our fun with music class continues to grow! We had a great week of music classes and have some exciting things up ahead.
For Solo and Ensemble students, I will be holding an office hours on March 4th during the school day so students get one more one-on-one time with me before they perform that evening. Solo and Ensemble students, please sign up for a 15-minute time slot here. Please only choose a time slot between 10 and 12PM if you need to rehearse with Mrs. Morris.
In preparation for Solo and Ensemble, instrumentalists should be preparing a one-octave scale in the key of their solo piece. Students can reach out to Mrs. Schwartz with questions. Vocalists and pianists music have their pieces memorized. All students need to have their measures numbered.
We are taking a field trip to a local nursing home for Intermediate/Advanced pianists and my Masterclass students next Friday, 02/23. Families, please check your email for more information!
Please see my previous post regarding signups for 4th quarter classes. :)
We will be having class informances during class time the week of February 26th. Families are invited to sit in on our class to hear their students' progress and get a feel for how our classes are. Be on the lookout for an email with more information!
A reminder that there will be no music classes this Monday, February 19th, as it is a Professional Learning Day.
SAVE THE DATE: Our Spring concert will be held at Lazy Mountain Bible Church once again! The concert will be on Thursday, May 9th. There will be two performances that afternoon with a reception in between. The first concert will be roughly from 12-1:30, and the other from 2:30-3:30 with a reception from 1:30-2:30. Please mark this in your calendars.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Week of February 19, 2024
We are wrapping up Quarter 3 quickly, families!
This week will be our last full week of classes before Spring Break. This week is a normal week of classes, and then we only have classes on Tuesday, March 5th and Wednesday, March 6th before break.
Spring Break is from March 7th- March 18th. The first day of Quarter 4 music classes will be Tuesday, March 19th.
Some other announcements:
Class Informances This Week
We will be having class informances during class time this week. Families are invited to sit in on our class to hear their students' progress and get a feel for how our classes are.
March 4th Solo and Ensemble
I will be holding an office hours on March 4th during the school day for Solo and Ensemble students so they can get one more one-on-one time with me before they perform that evening. Please sign up for a 15-minute time slot here. Please only choose a time slot between 10 and 12PM if you need to rehearse with Mrs. Morris.
In preparation for Solo and Ensemble, instrumentalists should be preparing a one-octave scale in the key of their solo piece. Students can reach out to Mrs. Schwartz with questions. Vocalists and pianists music have their pieces memorized. All students need to have their measures numbered.
Quarter 4 Class Signups
Quarter 4 Music Class signups are live, but it is not necessary for students who are currently enrolled in music classes to fill out the google form again. The schedule is exactly the same as this quarter. Families only need to reach out to me about classes if they want to change classes or do not want their child to be in the same class for this last quarter of the school year.
Quarter 4 Class Cancellations
Quarter 4 class cancellations can be found here. We have a lot of special musical events outside of the building as we approach the end of the school year, so please add these cancellation into your calendar.
Elementary Honor Festival Signups
I am excited to share about a district music event that is available to any 3rd through 5th grade students on April 18th- Elementary Honor Festival. The local orchestra teachers and I will be at Honor Festival working with all the string players in the district, and your student is invited to join!
Please fill out this Google Form if your student would like to participate.
MCS Spring Concert
SAVE THE DATE: Our Spring concert will be held at Lazy Mountain Bible Church once again! The concert will be on Thursday, May 9th. There will be two performances that afternoon with a reception in between. The first concert will be roughly from 12-1:30, and the other from 2:30-3:30 with a reception from 1:30-2:30. Please mark this in your calendars.
MCS Music Resources
I have a digital resource for students to access at home when they need guidance in their practice. Check out the resource here.
Have a lovely weekend!
Week of February 12, 2024
What a great week of learning in the music room!
Our K-2 Music class is growing and growing, and we are having fun learning how to make music with Boomwhackers. We also started playing the xylophone this week. It was so fun!
Our Masterclass students have been working hard on their solos in preparation for Solo and Ensemble. Students have all selected their song(s) to work on, and we have begun practicing the art of performing for one another.
Our piano classes have been progressing in the book and are enjoying performing for each other at the end of classes.
Beginning Orchestra had a guest join our class on Tuesday- Mrs. Renae! She is a local private teacher, a wonderful violinist, and director of the Mat-Su Youth Orchestra. We had such a great time working with her and listening to her play so beautifully. If your student is interested in joining Mat-Su Youth Orchestra, they rehearse on Mondays evenings at Iditarod Elementary during the school year. More information can be found here.
Quarter 4 Music Class signups are live, but it is not necessary for students who are currently enrolled in music classes to fill out the google form again. The schedule is exactly the same as this quarter. Families only need to reach out to me about classes if they want to change classes or do not want their child to be in the same class for this last quarter of the school year.
I will also be hosting office hours again next quarter. Please sign up for a time slot here.
We have five Mat-Su Central music students performing in a local production of the Music Man, and they are doing a wonderful job! You can go enjoy their performances this final weekend (02/09-02/11). Check out more information here.
Week of January 29 and February 5, 2024
We are nearing the end of January and also another great week in the music room!
Our K-2 music class started back up, and we learned how to make music with colorful musical tubes called Boomwhackers. The kids did great!
We have some new beginning pianists and orchestra students, and it has been wonderful to welcome them into our ensembles.
Our Masterclass students are working hard on preparing solos for Solo and Ensemble and other performances.
A reminder for Solo and Ensemble performers: the application and $10 registration fee are due to me by Monday, February 5th. Checks need to be made out to "CMS Music Boosters". Students must have their piece picked out by February 5th as well. If your student would like extra time with me, please sign up for my Wednesday music office hours.
Pianists and vocalists who will be doing Solo and Ensemble need to have their pieces memorized for the March 4th performance.
Have a lovely, cozy weekend during this cold weather!
Week of January 22, 2024
Thank you for a great week, students! So proud of the progress we are making.
This week, I will be passing out applications (found here) for Solo and Ensemble to 5th-8th graders who want to participate. $10 cash or check (made out to "CMS Music Boosters") are due to me by Monday, February 5th.
Here is information I sent out via email earlier this week:
Hello, MCS music families!
You are receiving this email because I recommend that your student participate in our district Solo and Ensemble event on ​Monday, March 4th. Here is a document with information about the event. It is a great performance and learning opportunity!
I will help your student pick their piece of music; please have them leave that part blank until we have decided the song together! For students who choose a piece they find online, we have to have a printed receipt to show we purchased the rights to use that song. I have the pianist from our winter concert lined up to accompany students for Solo and Ensemble. More details to come soon about rehearsal times with her!
Please make use of my office hours if your student would like extra support. You can sign up for a time slot here.
_________
Other than Solo and Ensemble updates, our Monday music classes will be starting up this week. I am excited to see more piano students and our littles in K-2 music.
Have a great weekend!
Week of January 15, 2024
Happy New Year, everyone! We had a great first week of Quarter 3 classes.
A few things to note:
I am now offering two additional Masterclass time slots this quarter. The new Masterclasses will be Tuesday or Thursday, both from 2-3PM. Masterclass is open to students in 5th-12th grade and is structured like a guided practice session. I help students select music and help them prepare for auditions or performances like Solo and Ensemble. It is a great class for a student to take in addition to one of my other music classes, as they get more one-on-one help from me.
See my updated class schedule here and email me if your student would like to sign up for Masterclass on either Tuesdays at 2PM or Thursdays at 2PM.
Speaking of Solo and Ensemble...I encourage any 5th-12th grade student to participate in this district-run event! It is a great performance opportunity and allows students to get feedback from other music teachers in the district. Details for Grades 5-8 Solo and Ensemble can be found here, and details for Grades 9-12 Solo and Ensemble can be found here. I help your student select the piece they want to learn and will be at the event itself to cheer them on and help!
Looking ahead to classes this quarter, there will be several days where there is no music class. They are:
Monday, January 15th: MLK Day
Monday, February 19th: Professional Learning Day
Monday, March 4th: Grades 5-8 Solo and Ensemble
Thursday, March 7th-Monday, March 18th: Work Day/Spring Break
Here are the dates in a document format for you to print out and refer to if preferred.
Have a great three-day weekend!
Winter Break 2023
Congratulations on a wonderful first semester of classes, MCS Music families!
Parents, I emailed you a link to a video of our winter concert earlier this week. Please reach out to me if you did not receive it or had any issues with it. Please share it with your loved ones!
I was so proud of our students and all their hard work, and it was such a joy to celebrate them at our winter concert. These last two quarters, we will be preparing for the district's Solo and Ensemble (more details below) and our spring concert that will be toward the end of the year. It will be so exciting!
Some announcements going into break:
A reminder that music classes will start back up on Tuesday, January 9th. Please make note that school will be closed on both Monday, January 8th and Monday, January 15th.
If possible, please encourage your student to practice their instrument over break to keep the muscle memory there.
I will be offering music office hours every other Wednesday morning next quarter. This is only open to students enrolled in music classes at MCS. Office hours are a time for students to sign up for one-on-one help with me on their instrument. Please bookmark this link on your browser and type your student's name next to a time slot any time you would like extra help for them next quarter.
Starting in January, I will be working with 5th-12th graders on preparing for MSBSD's Solo and Ensemble. This is an optional opportunity for students to prepare a solo or a small ensemble song (a duet, trio, quartet, etc.) and perform their piece for other music teachers to receive feedback. Elementary and Middle School students' Solo and Ensemble will be March 4, 2024 at Colony Middle School. High School students' Solo and Ensemble will be April 6, 2024 at Wasilla High School.
For more information about extracurricular music events available to all music students, please see the document I put together here.
I hope your break is full of rest, quality family time, and beautiful music!
Week of December 11, 2023
It's concert week, everyone! All MCS music parents received an email from Mrs. Schwartz on Thursday, December 7th with details about expectations for students on the concert day.
I am holding pre-concert office hours from 10AM-12PM on Wednesday, 12/13 for any student who would like to come in for extra practice. Please email me at ruth.schwartz@matsuk12.us if you are interested in getting extra practice time and help in.
This week will be our final week of classes for the quarter; we will pick back up with classes on Tuesday, January 9th!
Please see the Quarter 3 class schedule below to sign up for classes.
Week of December 4, 2023
Happy December, everyone!
We are two weeks away from our winter concert. So exciting!
Be on the lookout for emails from Mrs. Schwartz with details about the concert this coming week, especially regarding call time for students and the dessert reception.
We had a great week in music classes this week and look forward to next week when we will have our piano accompanist in our ensemble classes to rehearse together for the concert.
I am also putting together a field trip for all Tuesday class students! This is an optional field trip that I emailed information about, so be on the lookout for that. The Google form to sign up your student for the field trip was in the email.
Third quarter (January-March) class schedules are live. If you are an existing music class family, send Mrs. Schwartz an email to sign your child up for class! If you are new to music classes at MCS with Mrs. Schwartz, please fill out this Google Form to sign up for classes.
Week of November 13 and 20, 2023
Welcome to a snowy week, everyone!
This week, students are preparing for the winter concert, which is just a month out. For more information about the concert, see the Week of November 6th post.
Here are the songs that are planned for each group to perform at the concert for your and your student's practicing purposes:
K-2 General Music
Students will be singing the following songs:
If you are having issues with logging into MusicPlay Online to access Apples and Bananas and I Can Sing a High Note, you can use this time to create a login you can use for the rest of the year!
Here is the MusicPlay Online login information: Go to MusicPlay Online, then select "Student" and type in the following code to access all they offer: r401031
3-5 General Music
Students will be performing the following songs using our class handchimes:
If you are having issues with logging into MusicPlay Online to access the videos, you can use this time to create a login you can use for the rest of the year.
Here is the MusicPlay Online login information: Go to MusicPlay Online, then select "Student" and type in the following code to access all they offer: r401031
Piano Class
Piano students will be preparing 1 song to perform as a solo. We are fortunate to have a grand piano for students to use for the concert! In preparation for the performance, students should narrow down their song choices to 3 options so Mrs. Schwartz can help determine the best choice. Songs can be from the silver book or from elsewhere, upon approval by Mrs. Schwartz.
Choir Class
Students will be performing the following songs with piano accompaniment. You can access copies of the music here.
Happy Winter
Winter Fantasy
Sing We and Chant It
Beginning Orchestra
Students will be performing the following songs with piano accompaniment. You can access copies of the music here.
Mississippi Reel from the Beginning Orchestra Fall Packet
From the Stocking Full of Strings packet: Silent Night, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
Intermediate Orchestra
Students will be performing the following songs with piano accompaniment. You can access copies of the music here.
Medieval Kings
A Celtic Christmas Fantasy
From the Stocking Full of Strings packet: Up on the Housetop and the First Noel
Chamber Music
Students will be performing the following songs:
From the Easy String Quartets packets: Simple Gifts and Romanza
Mango Tango
From the Adaptable String Trios packet: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and O Come, All Ye Faithful
Upper Strings Class
Students will be performing the following songs with piano accompaniment. You can access copies of the music here.
From the Stocking Full of Strings packet: Good King Wenceslas and Joy to the World
From the Essential Elements book: Dreidel and A Mozart Melody
Lower Strings Class
Students will be performing the following songs with piano accompaniment. You can access copies of the music here.
From the Sixth Grade Orchestra Packet/Allegretto packet: Caribbean Festival and Ode to Joy
From the Stocking Full of Strings packet for advanced students: Away in a Manger and Deck the Halls
All students but the piano students are also learning Jingle Bells found in the Stocking Full of Strings packet. General music students and choir students are singing/playing handchimes, and the rest are playing.
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Week of November 06, 2023
Hello, families! It was such a fun week in music classes.
K-2 Music students worked on Grade 1, Lesson 4 in MusicPlay Online. Login information is found at the bottom of the newsletter.
3-5 Music students are working on learning the violin, so we learned how to hold our bows this week! We are working on handchimes as well and enjoying the beautiful music.
In strings classes and choir, we started sightreading new music for our winter concert. It has been so neat to hear music come to life and choose what we would like to perform.
In masterclass, we video called with a professional trumpet player and learned more about trumpet technique. It was a time of rich learning!
We are very excited about our upcoming winter concert on Friday, December 15th, from 1-2:30PM! See the graphics below for more information, and email Mrs. Schwartz with any questions you have.
With the concert being on a Friday, piano classes on the 15th will be cancelled as we set up for the concert.
Music classes will also be cancelled the week of December 18th as Mrs. Schwartz prepares for Quarter 3 classes.
Winter Concert Information 1
Winter Concert Information 2
Week of October 23, 2023
Thank you for a great first quarter, music families!! We had a stellar week in classes.
Piano students are progressing with reading music in their books and playing with chords.
Masterclass students are working on new music to prepare for auditions or just to learn.
Orchestra and chamber classes invited families into our music room to listen to us play, and it was a great success!
This week will be the first week of Quarter 2 classes. Choir class has been added to our class offerings, and there were some changes in the class schedule compared to first quarter. Please see the schedule below and email me if you have questions or interest in a class!
As we start Quarter 2 classes, I will be reading through our class handbook with students. The handbook details any supplies needed for the class, classroom expectations, and also offers an outline of my grading process for classes. Here is a direct link to the handbook to review with your student.
Thanks for all you do!
Week of October 16th, 2023
Dear music families,
Thank you for another fantastic week with your students!
This week will be our last week of Quarter 1 music classes. There will be no classes on Friday, October 20th due to a Professional Learning Day for the district.
If your student isn't already signed up for Quarter 2 music classes, please take a look at the schedule above and email me or stop by to sign them up for classes. This schedule will take effect the week of October 23rd and run through December 21st.
Orchestra and Chamber Music students will be holding an informance in their classes next Tuesday, October 17th. All families, friends, and staff members are invited to stop by our class and listen to what we are working on! See the fliers below. Can't wait!
Week of October 9th, 2023
Dear music families,
What a great week of learning we had!
Piano students are working hard at learning how to read notes on the musical staff and practicing more songs. For more resources about note-reading, review this video we watched in class together.
General music kids learned some new songs with new instruments, including the violin, maracas, and the tambourine! We are working on keeping a steady beat together and improvising rhythms.
Orchestra and string classes made great progress this week, as we learned how to put our left hand on the string to get notes that are different than our open strings! Students' homework is to practice in their Essential Elements from pages 6 through 8. As students practice, it is important for them to have good posture and technique so they don't learn habits they will have to break. Check out this slideshow I made with detailed pictures of how they should be set up and encourage your student to follow those guidelines.
A new survey was sent out this week for Quarter 2 Class Signups. Please sign up for the classes you would like your student to be in! Here is the link.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Week of October 2nd, 2023
Dear music families,
It was another great week of learning in music classes!
In piano class, students are continuing to work through our method book. We discussed how to read notes in treble clef and bass clef this week, which was an exciting step in their musical journey! Here is a copy of the practice sheet students fill out and show me each week. For more advanced pianists, here is a packet they can print out and practice if they'd like a challenge!
General music kids learned about tempo- the speed at which we play or sing music- and some basic rhythms. We had a fun time playing tambourines, drums, and violins in class.
Orchestra/string class students took an exciting step in their learning this week, as we learned how to hold the bow and put it on the string! We have progressed very well.
Masterclass students practiced performing for each other and giving feedback as they prepare for auditions. They are all such hard workers! Here is a copy of the practice sheet and goal sheet they use in class with me.
Guitar students have been consistently showing up to the guitar labs on Fridays with Mr. Winell and are progressing so well! We are looking forward to formal classes with Mr. Winell next quarter.
All orchestra students have access to the online version of their book through Essential Elements Interactive online. See the last two weeks of posts for more information. I also have a Google Drive folder full of resources about beginning orchestra- from fun music to pictures of how to hold your instrument, I encourage you to check it out with your student!
As we near the end of the quarter, Mrs. Schwartz will be sending out a survey to parents to sign up for classes in the next couple weeks. The times and days for some classes may look different, so please reach out with any questions as the schedule is shared.
Week of September 25th, 2023
Dear families,
I hope you soak up some sunshine this weekend!
High schoolers who wish to receive high school credit for any music classes at Mat-Su Central must complete the practice log found here. When a student has practiced for 65 hours, they receive a .5 credit for the class. Students will submit their completed practice logs to their advisor.
Piano students continue to have a weekly practice log to fill out as they practice in their books. The practice sheet can be found here.
For general music, we will be doing Week 2 and a little bit of 3 in our Music Play Online curriculum. See the post below for more details about our curriculum!
In beginning orchestra, we practiced plucking our strings more. It was so exciting!
If your student is interested in playing along to Essential Elements with fun background music that will help them as they play, they have an activation code in the front of their Essential Elements book with a website url. Follow this link to sign up for free and use the online version of their book: https://www.essentialelementsinteractive.com/register/Mat-Suor28
Week of September 18th, 2023
Dear families,
Thank you so much for an amazing week with your students! Your kids are fantastic. We had such fun learning new things together this week. It will be another great week of learning this week .
I sent piano students home with a weekly practice log to fill out as they practice in the books I gave them. The practice sheet can be found here.
For general music, we will be doing Week 2 in our Music Play Online curriculum. See the post below for more details about our curriculum!
In beginning orchestra, we started learning how to hold our instruments and pluck our strings. It was so exciting! Students in all strings classes were sent home with books and music to practice for the week.
If your student is interested in playing along to Essential Elements with fun background music that will help them as they play, they have an activation code in the front of their Essential Elements book with a website url. Follow this link to sign up for free and use the online version of their book: https://www.essentialelementsinteractive.com/register/Mat-Suor28
Week of September 11th, 2023
Dear families,
I am so excited to see your kids in class with me this week! If you need a reminder about the music class schedule, you will find it at the bottom of the newsletter.
I will be getting to know your kids this week and starting curriculum with them. In general music, K-2 students will be learning a lesson from Lesson 1 of First Grade Week 1 on MusicPlayOnline. 3-5 students will be learning a lesson from Lesson 1 of Third Grade Week 1 on the same site. Details about the website and at-home lesson supplements are also at the bottom of the newsletter.
For all others classes, I will be reviewing our class handbook, which includes basic expectations in my room and supply lists as needed, and getting to know your wonderful kids! Here is a sneak peek at the handbook.
Thank you to all the families who came by the music room on Friday to say hello! Everyone is so welcoming. I am looking forward to making music with your students!
Week of September 4th, 2023
Getting the Music Room Ready!
Dear MCS music families,
I am so thrilled to be your new music teacher! This week, I will continue to spend time getting the music room ready for classes. I have had some great helpers with me in this process. We have been working hard to inventory all our instruments, clean things up, and organize the space so it is friendly and welcoming for students.
A huge thank you to Carson Winnell and Shauna Kron for their help with getting the room ready!
I look forward to welcoming you all into the music room on Friday, September 8th, from 12-3 for our Open House.
Music Class Survey
Come Join Orchestra!
Dear families,
I am so excited to offer a kind of class that is rather unique in the Valley- strings. String orchestra is a fantastic class for any 3rd-12th grader who likes to learn fun songs, develop coordination between their hands, improve their reading skills, and learn how to work together as a team.
In addition to that, orchestral music is beautiful, and class is so fun! We learn Christmas music and play for our families. We learn movie music we love. We learn classical pieces like Haydn and Mozart.
Your student doesn't need to know anything about orchestra yet- just that they want to give it a try! I will demonstrate the instruments and walk families through the whole process as class begins.
I have been teaching orchestra for 7 years and have been in an orchestra myself for 22 years. I have a degree in cello performance from Chicago and am eager to share what I know with your kids. Check out these videos of me playing to get an idea of my experience with cello.
Are you interested in being part of something new and exciting? Sign up today!
Our Happy Music Room
A Welcoming Space
An Organized and Clean Feel
We have a subscription to a great music website full of amazing resources! When you navigate to Music Play Online, select "Student" and type in the following code to access all they offer: r401031
Advocacy Help
Dear MCS families,
Did you know that a music room is currently not in the plans for our new building that will be ready in a couple winters? As much as Mrs. Schwartz and MCS administration try to advocate, it is parents' and students' voices that are heard the most.
Please consider attending a School Board Meeting or contacting our Superintendent and Borough to advocate for a music room to be added to the plans so we can continue growing our musical experiences.
Reach out to Mrs. Schwartz if you are interested. The School Board meeting schedule and link to sign up to testify can be found here.
Our Class Schedule
Welcome!
I am a professional cellist and music teacher. I am also a wife and a mom to two little ones. My family and I live in Palmer, and we enjoy being outside in the summers and singing or playing music all year long.
I started playing cello when I was 8, fell in love with being part of an orchestra at a summer camp in high school, and I began teaching orchestra in Chicago while studying cello performance in college. I love that I have a job that involves working with young people all day as I help them pursue excellence in their craft. It brings a smile to my face to invest in students' musicianship and lives during such a pivotal life stage.