4th grade recorders are IN!

Thursday & Friday classes are receiving their recorders this week! I'm no longer taking money for recorder purchases, so if students still need one they will need to get their own. These are the ones that we are using in class:

Canto Soprano recorders

They're pretty tough; however, one has already been broken, so encourage your student to just be a bit more careful with their backpack when the recorder is in it. :)

Thanks!

Mrs Minch

1st grade musical program lyrics

Hello 1st grade parents,

Here is the link the the words of the songs for the musical program. I will also work on getting a recording of the songs here on the blog so students can practice singing at home. 

Lyric sheets will hopefully be sent home on Friday. 

1st grade song lyrics

Thanks,

Mrs. Minch

4th grade: Recorder update

We have started recorders this week in 4th grade! Unfortunately, one of our orders seems to be a little bit late. Because of this, Thursday & Friday classes will not be able receive recorders to take home this week. We will still be starting on a class set of recorders (that are sanitized of course!) to learn the basics and get going this week.

The good news is, students will have lots of new fun colors to choose from!

Sorry about the delay.

Thanks,

 Mrs. Minch

4th grade: Recorders

4th grade parents, 

Your students should be bringing home a letter on Friday about recorders. 4th grade will be starting recorders the week of October 21. 

Recorders can be purchased for $4 through the school, or students can provide their own. Either way, however, students need to return the recorder form. 

If you need another copy of the form, click the following link:

Recorder form

Please return the completed form with payment by WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16.

Thanks!

-Mrs. Minch

Trumpet help

5th grade trumpeters:

This video might be helpful to those of you who are having trouble with those first few notes on the trumpet. I suggest you follow the teacher in this video and pause as needed to practice what it is that he's talking about.

Weekly email

Here is what's going on in the music classroom this week!

5th grade:

Thursday is the big day! Our 5th grade musical performance, Let's Sing, America!, is this Thursday at 7:00pm. Parents, please make sure your students are in their teachers' classrooms no later than 6:40pm on Thursday! Students are encouraged to dress up in patriotic colors. Military & scout uniforms are also encouraged. (Please be sure that outfits are school appropriate.)

If your student has a speaking part, please check with them to make sure it's memorized!

3rd/4th grade:

We are starting our unit on our new composer of the month, Frederic Chopin, and his instrument of choice: the piano. 

We will discuss how the piano is a member of two instrument families: the percussion family & the string family.  Students will watch a video about how the piano is made. They will also learn about the waltz, a kind of dance rhythm that Chopin liked to use in many of his pieces. We will watch a video of the famous pianist Lang Lang playing Chopin's very fast "Minute Waltz". 

2nd grade:

We are starting our unit on our new composer of the month, Frederic Chopin, and his instrument of choice: the piano. 

Students will learn about a type of music Chopin liked to compose, called a nocturne. We will make connections between art and music, and then students will create their own piece of art inspired by a piece of music by Chopin. 

We will also sing the folk song "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush". Students will create with their own words and actions for part of the song. 

1st grade:

We are starting our unit on our new composer of the month, Frederic Chopin, and his instrument of choice: the piano. 

Students will learn about a type of music Chopin liked to compose, called a nocturne. Students will learn about connections between art and music, and then will color a picture of Chopin and practice writing his name while listening to a nocturne. 

We will also sing the folk song "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush". Students will create with their own words and actions for part of the song. 

Would you like a FREE private lesson with one of Tucson's best teachers??

Parents & students,

I wanted to make you aware of a great opportunity for a FREE private lesson coming up next Saturday at the U of A. If your student is in band or orchestra and could use some extra help, or would like to get ahead, I highly encourage you to check it out! It looks like a neat event and I'm curious to see how it goes.

5th grade program information!

(This letter is being sent home to 5th grade classes week, but in case it gets lost on the way... here it is again!)

Dear parents,

We are very excited for our 5^th grade musical program coming up! The program will take place on Thursday, September 19 at 7:00 pm in the Sycamore MPR. As is traditional, the 5^th graders will be singing a patriotic program about the USA. All 5^th grade classes will be participating.

There are a few things you can do to help! First, we would like all students to be dressed in something that sticks with the patriotic theme of red, white, & blue. Additional accessories (Uncle Sam hats, decorative hair bows, etc.) are welcome, as long as they don’t interfere with the student’s visibility or ability to sing, or hinder those around them. Please be sure that all outfits follow the school dress code.

Students are to be in their teacher’s classroom by 6:40pm on Thursday evening. This will be a large event, so I encourage you to get there early and scope out a good seat!

In final preparations, please help your child memorize the song lyrics from the lyric sheet that I sent home a couple of weeks ago. (Another copy of the lyrics can be found at sycamoreelementarymusic.blogspot.com.) If your child also has a speaking part, please help him or her in memorizing that part.

Parents, I hope you can be there! I know that your students have been working very hard and I have been amazed at their progress. They are excited to perform for you. J

Sincerely,

Mrs. Minch

Sycamore music teacher

5th grade song lyrics!

5th grade parents and students,

Our patriotic concert is coming up soon on September 19th! Our students are getting excited to perform for family and friends.

It's important for students to know the lyrics of each song, so I will be sending home a sheet next week with those words. In the meantime, if you would like to print them off and help your student get a head start, here they are.

Song: Let's Sing, America! 

There is a country full of dignity and life!
There is a country born of freedom, born of strife.
Of thee I sing! Of thee I sing!
Of thee I sing, America.
Of thee I sing! Of thee I sing!
Of thee I sing, America.

There is a nation in a land of liberty.
There is a nation where the people all live free.
Of thee I sing! Of thee I sing!
Of thee I sing, America.
Of thee I sing! Of thee I sing!
Of thee I sing, America.

America! America! The red, the white, the blue!
America! America! I sing this song for all of you!

I love my country, so I'll proudly take my stand.
I love my country, so I'll sing throughout the land.
Of thee I sing! Of thee I sing!
Of thee I sing, America.
Of thee I sing! Of thee I sing!
Of thee I sing, America.

America, America!

Song: The Star-Spangled Banner
Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh say, does that star spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

Song: Let's Sing, America! 
She'll be comin' 'round the mountain when she comes (Yee ha!)

She'll be comin' 'round the mountain when she comes (Yee ha!)
She'll be comin' 'round the mountain, she'll be comin' 'round the mountain,

She'll be comin' 'round the mountain when she comes (Yee ha!)

You're a grand old flag, you're a high flying flag,

and forever in peace may you wave;

You're the emblem of the land I love, 

the home of the free and the brave.

Every heart beats true 'neath the red, white, and blue, 

where there's never a boast or brag;

But should auld acquaintance be forgot, keep your eye on the grand old flag!

Oh when the saints go marching in,

Oh when the saints go marching in,

Oh, how I want to be in that number,

Oh when the saints go marching in!

Song: America Goes West

Let tyrants shake their iron rod

and slavery clank her galling chains

We fear them not, we trust in God,

New England's God forever reigns.

Lay down boys and take a little nap,

fourteen miles to the Cumberland Gap.

Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap,

Way down yonder in the Cumberland Gap.

Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark, fare thee well, I'm gone.

Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark, good-bye I'm gone. 

We've formed our band, we are all well-manned to journey afar to the promised land.

The golden ore is rich in store on the banks of the Sacramento shore. 

Then ho, boys, ho! 

To California go!

There's plenty of gold in the world I'm told on the banks of the Sacramento shore. 

(Westward ho!)

Song: We Remember

There was a day when freedom's light seemed very far away.

There was a day that looked like night; we dreamed of yesterday.

But even when the day is dark and rainbows hard to see

Heroes walk among us and people still live free, we still live free.

We remember the day we all stood strong.

We remember when we were one in song.

We remember, remember. 

There was a day when Americans chose to take a stand.

There was a day when the best of friends offered us their hand.

The world can still be beautiful, but even when it's gray

the sun will shine upon us and warm our tears away. And so we say,

We remember the day we all stood strong.

We remember when we were one in song.

We remember, remember. 

We remember, remember. 

Song: The Spirit of America

This great country, this great land, all together now we stand.

Proud and strong, straight and tall; Americans, one and all!

Every dreamer 'neath the sun shares one hope for everyone 

All live free, great and small; Americans, one and all! 

The spirit of America! 

The spirit of America!

The spirit of America is alive in me!

The spirit of America!

The spirit of America!

The spirit of America, America, is alive in me! 

Needed: Trombones, Clarinets, and Percussion!!

Attention all band students!

We have lots of students signed up to start band next week, and that is very exciting! However, as of right now the band numbers aren't very balanced.

If you are planning on getting an instrument this weekend, I'd like to suggest considering the clarinet or the trombone. We also have keyboard percussion. 

-Mrs. Minch

Weekly Email: 7/29-8/2

Here's what's going on in the music room this week!

5th grade: Band, orchestra, and choir forms are due this week! Please return forms to Mrs. Minch or your classroom teacher ASAP (but by Friday at the latest). Rehearsals start next week: band on Tuesday, orchestra on Wednesday, and choir on Friday. Band and orchestra times are after school (2:20-4:00) and choir is on Fridays during school from 12:45-2:10. 

Please remember that joining one of these groups requires a commitment. Students are expected to attend every rehearsal prepared and ready to focus, and in the case of an emergency to contact me ahead of time. 

-This week we are continuing to learn songs for the 5th grade music program, which will be on September 19th at 7:00 pm. All students are expected to perform. 

4th grade: Choir forms are due this week! Please return forms to Mrs. Minch or your classroom teacher ASAP (but by Friday at the latest). Rehearsals start next week. Choir is held Fridays during school from 12:45-2:10. 

Please remember that joining choir requires a commitment. Students are expected to attend every rehearsal prepared and ready to focus. This is not "free play time" to get out of the classroom. We will be having fun, but also working hard! In case of emergency please contact me ahead of time. 

This week:

-We will learn more about the composer George F. Handel. 

-We will hear more from our instrument of the month, the trumpet. Mrs. Minch will even pull one out to show the class! 

3rd grade: 

-We will continue learning about the composer George F. Handel. This week we will listen to the Hallelujah Chorus, from his most famous work, The Messiah. 

-We will hear more from our instrument of the month, the trumpet. Mrs. Minch will even pull one out to show the class! 

-We will learn the song "Going Over the Sea" with actions. 

-We will have our music treasure box drawing! 

 2nd grade:

-We will continue learning about the composer George F. Handel. This week we will listen to the Hallelujah Chorus, from his most famous work, The Messiah. 

-We will hear more from our instrument of the month, the trumpet. Mrs. Minch will even pull one out to show the class! 

-We will learn the song "Going Over the Sea" with actions. 

-We will have our music treasure box drawing!

1st grade: 

-We will continue learning about the composer George F. Handel. This week we will listen to the Hallelujah Chorus, from his most famous work, The Messiah. 

-We will hear more from our instrument of the month, the trumpet. Mrs. Minch will even pull one out to show the class! 

-We will learn the song "Going Over the Sea" with actions. 

-We will have our music treasure box drawing!

4th/5th grade Choir contract

Hello everyone,

The following document is the contract specifically made for choir. Some of the 5th graders may have already returned a band/orchestra/choir contract to me to sign up for choir- that is great! Those students do not have to return this one.

This document was passed out the 4th grade classes for those who would like to participate in choir this year. I also gave a few extras to the 5th grade teachers in case there were students who are interested in choir (but not band and orchestra) who have not returned a permission form yet.

Remember: all band, orchestra, and choir forms are due this Friday, August 2nd.

Click here to access choir contract.

2nd grade concert: update

We needed to move the date of the 2nd grade concert because of a scheduling conflict. 

The new date of the 2nd grade concert is Thursday, May 1, 2014 @ 7:00 pm in the MPR. 

-Mrs. Minch

Weekly email: 7/22-7/26

The following information will be in your classroom teacher's email this coming week:

5th grade: Students will be bringing home an information letter about how to join band, orchestra, and/or choir. Please read carefully and return the attached permission form by Friday, August 2nd. (Keep the letter- you'll need the information later!) 

This week we will continue learning about procedures in the music classroom. We will begin our unit on our composer of the month, George F. Handel, and our instrument of the month: the trumpet. We will also start learning our music for the 5th grade concert on September 19th. 

4th grade: Students will be bringing home an information letter about how to join choir. Please read carefully and return the attached permission form by Friday, August 2nd.

This week we will continue learning about procedures in the music classroom. We will begin our unit on our composer of the month, George F. Handel, and our instrument of the month: the trumpet. We will also begin singing folk songs and playing rhythm instruments. 

3rd, 2nd, and 1st grades: This week we will continue learning about procedures in the music classroom. We will begin our unit on our composer of the month, George F. Handel, and our instrument of the month: the trumpet. We will also begin singing folk songs and playing rhythm instruments. 

Please check out the Sycamore music blog for updates and music news: sycamoreelementarymusic.blogspot.com

-Mrs. Minch

5th grade info: Band, Orchestra, Choir

Due to some copier issues at the school this week, I wasn't able to get all of the info letters printed in time to get them into the Friday folders. My apologies! But, never fear, they should be going home on Monday.

Here is the information a little early anyway. It's a little annoying that pages aren't all bundled, but they are in order:

2nd grade concert

EDIT!

The 2nd grade concert will actually be held on on Thursday, May 1, 2014 @ 7:00 pm in the MPR. 

Oops! I made a mistake on the welcome letter and somehow forget to include the date and time of the 2nd grade concert! (Don't worry, there is still a concert...)

The 2nd grade concert will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2014 @ 7:00 pm. 

I hope that you've all had a wonderful first day of school!

-Mrs. Minch

Welcome to Sycamore Music!

Glad you found our blog! Click the images below for the official welcome letter, as well as the schedule for performances and concerts for the 2013-2014 school year. 

-Mrs. Minch