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Music News
May 2024
Welcome to our LAST issue of Music News! I can't believe how quickly the school year has flown by! As we wrap up our last units in the music room, I am so proud of our students' accomplishments and hard work this year!
This month, we all had an opportunity to listen to our LAST planet in Gustav Holst's suite; this movement is called "Neptune, the Mystic". Ask your student about the hidden instrument that Holst included in this movement! (Hint: you can hear it beginning at around 4:45 in the video below).
What Else Have We Been Up To?
Kindergarten
Our kindergartners have been doing a great job getting ready for their upcoming concert! We look forward to singing our program, "Seasons of Fun!" with you on Thursday, May 9th, at 6:00 PM. As a reminder, students should report to their classroom around 5:45 PM and are encouraged to dress nicely for the performance.
1st Grade
First graders have been exploring and comparing different styles of music, including marches and lullabies from around the world. We have also been re-visiting the idea of melodic direction (where the notes go up and down) and singing some new songs with so, mi, and la. Ask your student to sing "Pizza, Pizza, Daddy-O!" or "Lucy Locket" for you at home!
2nd Grade
Our second graders wrapped up our dynamics unit and are ending the year with some fun multi-cultural game songs. We learned about the "Holi Song" from India, the folktale "Abiyoyo" from South Africa, and we will be performing a tag game/song from Ghana called "Che Che Koolay".
3rd Grade
Our third graders have been working hard at reading notes in the treble clef. Ask your student to share the strategies we've learned to apply to our space and line notes (FACE in the spaces, Every Good Boy Does Fine for the lines). We've also been singing several songs that have two parts, including a traditional Australian round called "Salamanca Market" and a fun partner song, "Summer is Coming!"
4th Grade
Fourth graders wrapped up their recorder unit last month with a final composition project - students did such a wonderful job on their songs, and many of them chose to perform in front of the class to share their musical ideas! Way to go! We have been singing many songs in rounds and two parts this month, including "The Ghost of John", "This Pretty Planet", and one of our all-time favorites, "The Cat Came Back!"
5th Grade
Our fifth graders have been working hard on our concert songs, and we have so enjoyed rehearsing as a full choir once per week! I challenged our students with a variety of two-part and even three-part songs, and students have stepped up and learned to sing out independently and confidently. We look forward to sharing our music with you at our concert on May 9th at 7:00 PM! As a reminder, band students should report to the music room at 6:45 PM, while students not in band can report directly to the gym by 6:55 PM. Students are also encouraged to dress nicely for the performance.
5th Grade Band News
Our band students have worked so hard this year, not only in their small-group lessons, but also in our full band rehearsals! We have enjoyed putting the various parts of our concert songs together as a full group and are excited to share these songs with you at our final concert on May 9th!
Our band schedule for the final weeks of school will be:
Friday, May 3rd - FULL BAND (ALL students need their instruments and music!)
Tuesday, May 7th - DRESS REHEARSAL IN GYM (ALL students need their instrument and music!)
Thursday, May 9th - BAND/CHOIR CONCERT - 7:00 PM
Monday, May 13th-Thursday, May 16th - Final Band Lessons (see link below for when your student is scheduled)
If your student plans to continue playing their instrument next year, I will send their instrument home with them after their final lesson with me. I HIGHLY recommend that students sign up for Summer Band Lessons with Mr. Petersen - there will be a registration link sent home next week (this is a separate link from the regular summer school class registration.) If your student is NOT continuing with band next year, then I will return the instrument to Ward-Brodt with our sales representative. If you have any questions, please let me know!
Upcoming Music Department Events
May 9th
Kindergarten Concert - 6:00 PM
5th Grade Concert - 7:00 PM
May 13th
DHS Band/Choir Concert
May 22nd
6th-8th Grade Band/Choir Concert
May 24th
Middle School Band @ Kalahari Band Festival
Contact Me!
K-5 Music Teacher
Email: meyera@deerfield.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.deerfield.k12.wi.us/faculty/meyera
Phone: 608-764-5442