This will be my SIXTH year teaching Music in the Bath School System. I have been a working musician for a long time! I have been a keyboardist/vocalist in many bands, an accompanist for musicals and an organist/choir director for church. My teaching career began as a classroom teacher rather than a music teacher because there were no music jobs available in the Connecticut public schools. I was very lucky to finally begin teaching Music nine years ago in the Maine public schools.

Our classroom music at Fisher Mitchell will focus on singing, reading music, instrument playing and movement. Each grade will explore orchestral instruments through a composer's major work, such as Grieg's "Peter Gynt Suite".

Chorus will be exciting with new music, new choreography and a year of fun! I've ordered some terrific music which encompasses different styles (ballad, 60's, and rap). I know we have some super singers here in the third, fourth, and fifth grades! I just can't wait!

We are all singing up a storm. Instrument playing, movement and musical games are this fall's highlights.

Grades 1 & 2: Have been learning to sing with hand signals on Sol and Mi! We're moving and playing a beat. "Engine Engine #9" and "Clickety Clack" have been our favorites. Rhythm sticks, guiro, cabasa and xylophones are being enjoyed by all.

Grade 3: Are very strong singers this year! "Yankee Doodle" and "London Town" are sounding wonderful. Concentration on playing xylophone descants have been a challenge.

Grade 4: We've been copying music symbols, practicing treble clefs and writing our descant individually. Playing the descant on xylophones and metallophones while we alternate singing has been our goal.

Grade 5: Music boards have been a hit! We're reading, writing and learning basic music concepts. Grade 5 has awesome singers. Harmony is being played on instruments as well as being sung.

CHORUS UPDATE

This year's Holiday Concert is December 17th at 6:30, so mark your calendars. This year's group is very motivated. We've had perfect attendance so far. Lots of harmony, different styles of music including jazz- yes, jazz- are part of our learning this year. We are having a great time! (Well, I am anyway.....)

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