Glen Hills MS Music Department
March 2023
March is Music in Our Schools Month!
WSMA Solo & Ensemble 3/18/23
Orchestra News
6th Grade orchestra wrapped up the 2nd trimester learning the importance of correct bowings in their current piece called “Night Ride” and a new piece called “Jasmine Flower,” which features playing two or more notes in one bow, called a slur.
5th Grade is rocking it again with a new piece called “Aeolian Rock,” based on what’s called the Aeolian scale, which is a natural minor scale (I tell them it usually sounds sad).
4th Grade Orchestra was introduced to their longest piece so far, called “Ode to Joy,” which is based on the 9th Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven.
Chamber Orchestra is working hard at “Fantasia on a Theme from Thailand,” which they will be playing on March 18th at Homestead HS for the WSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival. Many of our 6-8 grade scholars have signed up for Solo and Ensemble as well for solos, duets, and even a violin trio. Solo and Ensemble logistics and exact performance times will be announced very soon.
Dates to Remember:
March 18th: WSMA Solo and Ensemble at Homestead HS (Grades 6-8 opportunity and Chamber Orchestra)
May 17th at 6:30pm: Spring Orchestra Concert Grades 4-8
Band News
The band room was in desperate need of a new sound system and we are pleased to announce that we were one of ten recipients for the Summerfest Let the Music Play Grant. As a result, we were able to better equip our space with a Yamaha Stagepas system and new condenser recording mics are on order. So grateful the great Milwaukee area is willing to support high quality music education in our public schools!
Dates to Remember:
WSMA Solo & Ensemble - Saturday, March 18th at Homestead HS 8AM-4PM
**Jazz Ensemble performs at 8AM - please arrive to Homestead HS Site 1 by 7:30AM wearing your Jazz T-shirt and Black pants.
Spring Band Concert Grades 4-8 - Tuesday, May 16th at Glen Hills MS 6:30 PM
Choir News
After a busy January and February choir scholars were able to reflect upon their performances for the Winter concert and at the Black History Month Program. Many scholars found joy in the unity and community involvement in the Black History Month Program. The combined efforts of Band, Choir, and Orchestra in ,Lift Every Voice and Sing, was extremely powerful for students.
March is Music and Theater in Our Schools Month! This month we will highlight the importance of the performing arts in the lives of our students! Did you know, Music is Math?! Music is rhythmically based on the sub-division of time into fractions. Trigonometry, algebra, and pattern recognition are elements of a musical understanding!
Fun Facts for Music & Theater in Our Schools Month
- Participating in musical & theatrical activities increases self-esteem and confidence. Students involved in drama gain an understanding of their voice as a tool for positive change in society.
- Music helps improve hand-eye coordination and spatial reasoning skills, which makes it easier to learn math, science and reasoning skills. Music also improves memory! Patients with memory loss can often remember songs and specific song lyrics. Doctors will often use music and lyric recall to help individuals retrieve lost memories. Certain music can trigger particularly unique memories- music from a specific time period will trigger memories from that time period.
Dates to remember:
May 18th 6:30 pm- Choir Concert 4-8th Grade