GHMS Music Department
October Update
Orchestra is Off to a Solid Start
Since the beginning of the school year, students have been working hard at learning new pieces at all levels!
4th Grade Orchestra has learned all of the open strings by plucking and using the bow with a rhythm called “Mississippi Hot Dog.” They now know how to pluck the first two notes with fingers on the A string.
5th Grade Orchestra is diving into learning new pieces that have different parts played together. They just finished learning a version of “French Folk Song” that requires three sections of the orchestra to play at the same time.
6th Grade Orchestra is working hard at playing more complicated pieces like “Fiddles on Fire.” They are focusing on listening and playing together as an ensemble.
7th & 8th Grade Orchestras are getting prepared to play a concert with Nicolet HS, Maple Dale-Indian Hill and Foxpoint-Bayside school districts on Tuesday, October 18th at 7pm right here at Glen Hills Middle School. Please congratulate the 7th and 8th grade in advance for learning four pieces in a month and a half!
Chamber Orchestra, which is a club for grades 6-8 will start Wednesday, Oct. 12th at 7:30am. This is for students who have played for at least a year, are very comfortable with reading music and want to play challenging pieces.
Thank you for a great start to the school year!
Mrs. Elizabeth Day elizabeth.day@gdrh.org
The Bands Play Their Way Through the Day
4th Grade Band has started their journey in instrumental music with recorders. We have learned our first 3 notes and are focusing our energy on note and rhythm reading. We are using FLIP, an online video platform, to record our progress this trimester.
5th Grade Band is making their first sounds on band instrument. The fresh sounds of flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone and bells fill the band room. While loud at times, musicians are working hard to develop their embouchures and mallet grips. We have learned our first 5 notes and are playing hits like Hot Cross Buns and Go Tell Aunt Rhodie.
6th Grade Band has demonstrated their fun loving and energetic personality through our work in the Essential Elements book and with Prehistoric Suite by Paul Jennings, a multi-movement piece we will perform along with the Maple Dale MS band on December 13th at Nicolet HS.
7th & 8th Grade Bands have also gotten off to a good start and have been working to learn the Star-Spangled Banner in the key of A-flat Major to perform at the Milwaukee Admirals Hockey game on Friday, October 28th. We are also working on full band pieces in preparation for the joint performance with Maple Dale MS and Nicolet HS on Tuesday, December 13th.
Jazz Ensemble will begin on Thursday, October 6th and will meet in the band room from 7:15-8:15 AM each Thursday morning. Students that play traditional jazz instruments were asked to submit an audition video and have been notified of their acceptance into the ensemble via school email.
Jazz Lab is open to all 6-8th grade musicians on any instrument who want to learn more about jazz style. We will meet on Fridays beginning on October 7th from 7:15-8:15 AM.
The legacy Mr. McCarthy has left behind looms large in the minds and hearts of our community. I want to sincerely thank everyone for their support and kind words as I take over the reigns of such an amazing program and become part of the Glen Hills MS family!
Ms. Cheryl Miracle cheryl.miracle@gdrh.org
Singing & stretching & sorting, oh my!
Choir has kicked off the beginning of the school year with many moments of singing and sharing our voices, getting our breathing and singing muscles tuned up, and learning where we feel most comfortable singing!
4th and 5th Grade Choirs have been learning all of the different body positions and vocal warm ups used to creating healthy vocal sounds that will be used the whole school year. We have been learning all about getting comfortable with our voices and how to use our breath to keep our voices engaged.
6th Grade Choirs have also been working on the same ideas as 4th and 5th grade, while also trying to determine which parts of their vocal registers they feel most comfortable singing in. This will help later sort them into voice parts so we can soon sing in 3 part harmony!
7th and 8th Grade Choirs have been building upon their warm up routines, learning the different vowel positions needed for diction in singing, while also getting opportunities to rehearse with the choir director from Nicolet High School!
Ms. Lauren Smrz lauren.smrz@gdrh.org
World Music & General Music
4th Grade We are off to a great start in General Music. Our scholars in 4th grade are learning to play different types of drums worldwide. We are also learning our notations, and instrument families, and practicing on the Djembe drums in our restorative circles.
5th Grade 5th grade is learning notations and is also learning the different instruments in Mali, Uganda, and Botswana. We are listening to sounds in various places and were Identifying patterns. We are using our vocabulary words to understand the different beats and call and response patterns from across the world.
6th Grade The 6th graders are starting off in a restorative circle with drums. We're getting to know each other and speaking with confidence while presenting in class. We are looking forward to listening to and watching them play the beats of the countries they are researching. I’m excited to hear all of their findings on how music is organized and communicated, through both instruments and research.
7th & 8th Grade 7th and 8th graders are excited about exploring how musicians improve the quality of their performance. They’re learning about the styles and traditions represented in the seven continents and the countries they are researching. The scholars are exploring the cultural traditions and music of various countries. We also had a great time with one of our guest speakers, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Percussionist Michael Saucer demonstrated some traditional Hispanic rhythms. It was such a delightful and powerful moment.
Mr. Andre Torrence andre.torrence@gdrh.org