Welcome to Mountain View Music Headlines and thank you for checking out what's happening in your child's music program!
The beginning of each school year is always so exciting as we get to see one another again and meet new friends at Mountain View! I am always struck with what a privilege I have in getting to be a part of each student's life during their elementary career! My goal is for every student to have a fun and meaningful musical experience that will encourage him/her to become an active participant in music and/or to become an educated consumer/listener. Each week students will make music vocally and instrumentally and enjoy the creative process of performing through improvisation, composition, and notation!
5th Grade: Each 5th grader has been given a letter explaining our recorder program for this year. Students may purchase a recorder from the school store for $6.00. The school store is open in the mornings from 7:20-7:50 and is located in the corner of the cafeteria. Beginning the week of September 2nd, all 5th graders should bring their recorders and a 2-pocket folder each week to music class for the remainder of the school year. Students will receive copies of a fingering chart and the songs as we learn them in our Recorder Karate Curriculum. Each student should practice at home and come by the music room Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday mornings between 7:25-7:55 to play for me. I will give help as needed and award recorder belts as earned! I look forward to working with and preparing the 5th grade students for their middle school experiences! If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at school (770) 578-7265 between 9:00-9:30 any day or after 2:10 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
K-4th Graders are all getting acquainted through games involving koosh balls, drums, chants, songs, movement emphasizing steady beat, rhythms, cooperation, and team-building skills. Another area of emphasis is good tone production and vocal care. Each lesson is begun with vocalizations that focus on head tone and carrying that head tone quality down in each child's vocal range. By singing in the head tone, students will develop good singing and speaking habits, that will help them avoid vocal problems in the future such as hoarseness or even more serious, nodules on their vocal cords. Ensemble playing skills are practiced via activities involving iconic notation and standard music notation. Everyone is always encouraged to try his/her best and knows that perfection is not expected. The students and I are becoming our own best cheerleaders, reminding ourselves that practice means improvement and with practice, the skill becomes easier and eventually...a habit!
I look forward to our musical year and encourage you to take time to enjoy the areas of the fine arts with your children. Music, Art, Drama, and Dance enrich our lives and help develop the humanistic, passionate parts of our personalities. As children learn to express themselves creatively, then they tend to be happier and more balanced as they cope with school and peer pressures. Have a great year and visit this blog for future updates!
'Sing'cerely,
Pat Mason
