March Madness!

March Madness couldn't be a better name for this month and we are only a week in! Even though, this is going to be a short month because of Spring Break, it is going to be jam-packed with lots of things going on in music class.

3rd grade: This week my 3rd graders learned lots of facts about Mozart, listened to his music and did an activity with the 12 Variations of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Mozart. Next week, my 3rd graders will be learning facts about J. S. Bach, listen to his music and following along to "Musette" with a listening map. The week before Spring Break, my 3rd grade classes will be playing a game "Mozart vs. J. S. Bach." These game are always fun, because the students get to see how much they have learned.
Ask your kids to tell you about one of these composers and see if they can teach you something. :)

4th grade: My 4th graders are working on the music for their 4th grade musical. So far, the students have discussed these artists and genres: Elvis Presley: King of Rock & Roll, Bob Dylan: King of Folk, Patsy Cline: Queen of Country, Bob Marley: King of Reggae. Before March is over, the students will also know Aretha Franklin: Queen of Soul and Mary J. Blige: Queen of R&B. The students are also learning songs by these artists for their program. It's a lot of work, but we know it will pay off.

Until next time...

Music in February

This month in music, because of missed days due to snow and other factors, my 3rd graders are still doing music stations, which they love. It is great to see how every time the students come to music I can see them consistently getting better with each station. 

The 4th graders started learning about "Music Royalty" and the different kings and queens of the different music genres. This week, the 4th graders learned facts about Elvis Presley: The King of Rock & Roll and Bob Dylan: The King of Folk. The students are working on their 4th grade performance coming up in May where they will be singing a song from some of the different genres by the kings and queens of music.

More to come later.....

Sweets and Songs: Hard Work Pays Off!

I'm in awe of the amazing job the 3rd and 4th graders did at Sweets and Songs. They sang their hearts out! It was phenomenal! This is the perfect example of how hard work really does pay off. I'm so proud of them. I hope they are proud of themselves and feel accomplished! 

We had a contest to see which class had the most students come to Sweets and Songs. The winning classes will receive an extra music class. 

3rd grade winning class: Mrs. Davis

4th grade winning class: Mrs. Gibson

I would also like to give a special shout-out to all of my soloists. They all did a fabulous job!

Kaitlynn Cochran, Charlie Hallcox, Canaan Jones, and Ella Kate Jones! What talent these students have!

Here are a few pictures taken at Sweets and Songs....

3rd Grade Performance:

4th Grade Performance:

Sweets & Songs Information!!!

Sweets & Songs Reminder

January 25, 2014

2:00 p.m.

*Students should arrive at the AHS Fine Arts Center at 1:30 p.m.

*Students need to wear their school shirt.

~Tickets are $10.00

~Last day for ticket sales at AES is Jan. 24, 2014

~1/2 of the proceeds from tickets purchased at AES will go to the AES Music Program

~Make checks payable to AES

~You may purchase tickets at the performance

Sweets & Songs Info

Parents,

I am sending home this letter with your child this week. Please make sure you check your child's folder on Tuesday. I will also be sending home a ticket order form. I will post the order form in a separate post.

Sweets and Songs: January 25 and 26, 2014

Albertville Fine Arts Center

Dear Parents,

Your child will be participating in our annual “Sweets and Songs” program.

This event features musical performances by students from BSLK School, AES, EES, AMS and AHS. 

AES will be performing Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 2:00 pm. Students need to be at the Albertville Fine Arts Center 30 minutes before the performance.  Students will be wearing their school t-shirt. Students may wear a long sleeve shirt under their school t-shirt if weather conditions permit. Please do NOT send coats or jackets with your child. If your child leaves anything backstage, AES will not be responsible for the items.

Two types of tickets will be available:

·      General Admission $10 (all three performances)

·      Reserved Admission $20-Saturday evening (includes 5:30pm Spaghetti dinner and reserved seating section) and Sunday matinee (includes 12:30pm Spaghetti luncheon and reserved seating section)

If you would like to purchase tickets, please send money and ticket order form in a sealed envelope with your child to school for them to give to Ms. Rogers.

If you would be willing to help monitor students, please contact Ms. Rogers through a note, email or call to the school.

A DVD of the performances will be available for purchase in the lobby of the AFAC.  Please be prepared to complete the order form with necessary funds and leave in the drop box.

Thank you for your support of this event.  We look forward to an amazing experience for our students.

Sincerely,

Tracy Rogers

AES Music Teacher

tracyrogers@albertk12.org

256-878-6611

Goodbye 2013! Hello 2014!

Music class in December has been a fun month of learning and excitement.

3rd Grade: The third graders have been working extremely hard on learning the songs for their "Sweets and Songs" Performance. They have also been learning about Peter Tchaikovsky, listening to his music, and watching some of "The Nutcracker" ballet. The students have been using their listening maps to "Trepak" from "The Nutcracker" and having a blast while listening and following along. This week the students are playing a "Tchaikovsky vs. Beethoven" game. The game is boys against girls. I will ask questions, if the girls miss, then the boys have a chance to steal and vice versa. There are tie breaker questions as well.

4th Grade: The fourth graders have also been working on their music for "Sweets and Songs." They have worked really hard on words, so now it's time to add some motions in there. We'll see how it goes. They have also been learning about Peter Tchaikovsky, listening to his music, and watching some of "The Nutcracker" ballet. They also have used the listening maps to "Trepak" from the Nutcracker and have done really well following along.

I also would like to announce the winners of the "Good Behavior Contest!" These classes have shown respect and great character to me, others, and themselves every time they came to music this first semester. You should all be very proud of your children. It shows what great examples you are being in their lives.

GOOD BEHAVIOR CONTEST WINNERS:

3rd grade: Mrs. Shankles and Mrs. K. Harris

4th grade: Mrs. Burns, Mr. Young, and Mrs. Stewart

December Composer of the Month

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. I had my gallbladder removed on the Monday before the break and I'm just now getting back in the swing of things. I can't believe that December is here and we're already talking about Christmas and our Sweets & Songs performance that will take place in January.

The 3rd and 4th graders are working on their music for Sweets & Songs. I'm am still waiting on conformation of the time of Sweets & Songs, but I believe the date is January 25th. I will be sending home letters with all of the information about Sweets & Songs as soon as I hear from the high school. I am ecstatic about the childrens' performance and I am confident you will enjoy it if you come and join us. Tickets are $10 a piece and half of the ticket sales come right back to your students for their music classes. I am really hoping we can earn enough money to buy 2 more iPads for our stations. So please come support us in January.

Since it's getting close to Christmas, I thought it would be a great time to have Peter Tchaikovsky as our "Composer of the Month." The kids have learned a lot about him this week. Each child has a music journal and they write the facts about the composers in them as I teach. We will continue this composer through the month of December. These are the facts that your child should know as of this week.

Peter Tchaikovsky:
*born and lived in Russia
*started piano lessons at around 5 years old
*parents did not want him to choose a career in music
*when he became an adult he decided to start a career in music anyway
*most famous for his music in "The Nutcracker" ballet

We have listened to "The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and the children seem to recognize this piece of music from the movie, "Home Alone" as well as commercials, "Tom & Jerry" and much more.

At the end of the class, if time has permitted, we have read and sang along to "Pete the Cat Saves Christmas."