Help for Elementary Choir and 3rd & 4th grade Soloists or Small Groups

Hello!  Here are recordings of our elementary choir song, as well as 2 verses from "La Marimorena."

This is a recording of "Campana Sobre Campana" that might help Elementary Choir students and those performing the verses for our concert:

1. “Campana Sobre Campana” Verse 1- SING IN SPANISH (English is translation is here to help):

 Part 1:

Recogido tu rebaño                        (Your flock is gathered)
a dónde vas pastorcillo?             (Where are you going, little shepherd?)

Part 2:
Voy a llevar al portal             (I’m going to the stable)

Requesón, manteca y vino.             (to bring cottage cheese, lard, and wine)

2. “Campana Sobre Campana” Verse 1- SING IN SPANISH (English is translation is here to help):

 Part 1:

Caminando a media noche             (Walking at midnight,)

donde va mira el pastor             (Where are you going, shepherd?)

 Part 2:

que llevarte y a cuidarte             (to the Child who’s being born)

como Dios mi Corazon            (As to God, I’m bringing my heart)

3. “La Marimorena” Verse 1-- SING IN SPANISH (English is translation is here to help):

En el portal de Belén hay estrellas, sol y luna  (At the entrance to Bethlehem are stars, the sun,                                                                                                 the moon,)
La Virgen y San José, y el Niño que está en la cuna. (the Virgin, Joseph, and the Child in the                                                                                                             cradle.)

4. “La Marimorena” Verse 2-- SING IN SPANISH (English is translation is here to help):

En el Portal de Belén hacen lumbre los pastores, (At the entrance to Bethlehem shepherd make                                                                                                 a fire)
Para calentar al Niño que ha nacido entre las flores. (to warm the Child born among the                                                                                                                         flowers.)

ROUGH RECORDING OF "LA MARIMORENA" VERSES:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5TBCWMdEbygazI3SXc1WVBsY0k/view?usp=sharing

3rd Grade Concert Preparation

All third graders have a music packet with the lyrics to their Christmas songs and some recorder materials.  Not all will play recorder at the concert, but all will certainly be comfortable to perform later in the year.  Here are some rough recordings of their songs to sing along with:

NAVIDAD, NAVIDAD

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5TBCWMdEbygUXlPMUVRandNWVU/view?usp=sharing

BRING A TORCH, JEANETTE ISABELLA

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5TBCWMdEbygUjN6dkpMUnJNRUk/view?usp=sharing

HALLELUJAH  (3rd Grade will ONLY SING 4th and 5th VERSES)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5TBCWMdEbygd3l0aG4wdWpnZGs/view?usp=sharing

FELIZ NAVIDAD...

Hope everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving!  I'm looking forward to making the final concert push soon after.  3rd Grade sounds great!

Thank you,

Ms. Fox

Work on Getting a Good Sound on the Recorder?-- Yes, please!

Hi there, students.  We all know that it can be tough to get a sound we really like out of the recorder.  I was actually just trying to make a recording of my playing and decided I could really use some practice getting a good sound myself.  Here is a video I found that is a great refresher for the things we have learned.  I especially like how she explains the kind of "warm" air we should be using to play.

Go ahead and watch!:

3rd Grade is Pumped to Play Recorders

3^rd grade is rockin’ on their recorders!  Or, at least, they are on their way!  I will soon send a note home explaining the plan and care for these instruments.  If they take them home to practice, they need to bring them back for music classes each Wednesday.  To be sure each student has their own recorder with them for the next couple weeks, I will have them store their instruments at school beginning this week on the 30^th. 

To Continue, yes, along with singing and playing bells and other percussion, 3rd graders will learn how to read music while playing the recorder.  Our first public performance will be at the Christmas concert.  The kids are very excited and eager to play!  Some even have older brothers and sisters at home who have kindly helped them get ahead of the game.  Please encourage them to play when they are at home, even if you need to ask them to go in another room and shut the door.  :)  It takes time to be able to play quietly with good tone, but the only way they will learn is by practicing.  Along with learning the value of practice, students will also learn the rules for this particular instrument, how to control their breath, and how to manipulate their finger muscles to cover the correct holes while reading notes and rhythms.  This is all a terrific introduction to playing instruments in general.  I am psyched for them to show you the progress they’ve made at various points this year!

It's a New Year!

Hello!
We are a few weeks into our new school year, and it is going great!  Every Friday I plan to update this blog.  I will most likely write more than one post in that same day.  I will label them each with the appropriate grade level or levels so that you are able to click on a label to the right and read the information most relevant to you.  For example, I would usually label this post "All School Music Information."  This time I will attach all grade level and choir labels to it in order to start things flowing.

Notable events coming up:
                                             Our 1st FAMILY MASS-- Sunday, September 20th, 11:30
                                                                                       St. Sylvester Church
                                           *Every 3rd Sunday of the month, we encourage St. Sylvester           families to attend this mass, and I direct our school choir members down front.  It's a great opportunity to represent our school community!


Beginning Friday, September 18th, I will write posts about the music classes our PK-8th graders are experiencing.  In the meantime, know that I am at the school for full days on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  I am also there Mondays after 2:00pm.  If you leave me a voice mail or send an email, I will aim to respond at the end of the day, sometimes after I am done with after school activities.  The school phone number is 773-772-5222 and my extension 305.  My work email is efoxmusic@gmail.com.  Feel free to come down to the music room to visit!

Looking forward to a fantastic year!
-Ms. Fox

Additional Information...
CHOIRS: 
Older... 
5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders auditioned to be a part of our older choir.  They sang a short bit of The Star Spangled Banner and a brief section of a song of their choice.  Then they needed to show great effort and behavior in a mass performance the next morning.  We are currently 37 strong!  Each choir member has signed a choir contract and should be bringing a detailed letter home for families to read and sign, sending back the bottom portion.

Younger...
The 4th and 3rd graders showed me their best behavior and effort in a first meeting of those very interested in joining the younger choir.  We will add interested 2nd graders as of October 7th.  Because our school continues to grow and we have many students excited about singing, I have decided to split the younger choir into two groups that will alternate weeks.  This way all younger choir members can be part of the entire group all year long, but by having only 24-28 kids each week instead of 48-56, we will be better able to maintain a fun and comfortable environment in order to focus and learn how to make a choir work.  All choir members will end up signing a choir contract to show they understand expectations, and I will send a letter home to families to read and sign.  This should happen within the first week of your student's first official choir practice.  We meet on Wednesday afternoons.  The groups are "Blue" and "Orange."

3rd Grade Concert Prep Materials

Here are some helpful videos from YouTube...

The Little Drummer Boy (This is much faster than we do it, but these are the right words):

O Come O Come Emmanuel (Remember, you are doing the 3rd and last verses):

Don't forget to also practice "The Wassail Song" and your recorder song "Good King Wenceslas."

You have been doing great work!!

Update on Music Class for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd

First grade music classes have been off to a great start.  Students are learning to read rhythms and beginning to become more familiar with musical tones that go well together.  We’ve even started to record some of our work with bells so that I can soon post it for families to see.  Ask your child to give you a sample of “Sarasponda!”

The second graders and I have been working a lot with rhythm.  They are learning to read music notes using simple syllables that break things down and make drumming, singing, and bell playing possible.  Last week we sang a traditional Canadian folk song called “Land of the Silver Birch” and divided into 3 different instrument groups.  Each student took turns playing bells, shakers, and hand drums.  It is a special thing to watch students learn to connect cues they hear in the music with their own instrumental part, rather than playing for the entire song.   We will continue to explore creating a classroom “band” whenever we can!

Third graders are learning to groove on their recorders!  So far, “Hot Cross Buns” and “Buns Cross Hot” have been our main tunes.  Learning an instrument is a special thing.  And learning to read music is a leap even beyond that.  The third graders have begun to read notes on the musical staff.  They are really starting to connect concepts.  Everyone should look forward to hearing the third graders’ recorder work, as well as their fantastic singing.

3rd Graders are Rocking Some Recorder!

The third graders will make you proud at our 2012 Christmas concert!  Here are some lyrics and links to help them get prepared:

Recorder help for Ode to Joy:
TIPS: 1. Practice slowly first.  2. Practice one measure at a time.  3. Remember to shape your mouth like you are saying "dah."  4. If you're recorder is squeaking, you may not be covering the holes all the way or your lips may be too tight-- try relaxing a little. 
Here's a video you can play along with-- we only do the beginning parts:
(http://youtu.be/AV7hrusF0_w)

SONG OF THE STABLE

(http://youtu.be/ZVRls0XQglo)

Verse 1

Chill of the nightfall

Lamps in the windows

Letting their light fall

Clear on the snow

Bitter December

Bids us remember

Christ in the stable

Long, long ago

Verse 2

Silence of midnight,

Voices of angels,

Singing to bid night

Yield to the dawn

Darkness is ended,

Sinners befriended,

Where in the stable

Jesus is born

(We are skipping verse 4)

Verse 3

Glory of daybreak!

Sorrows and shadows

Suddenly they break

Forth into morn

Sing out and tell now

All shall be well now

For in the stable

Jesus is born!

Vamos Pastores Vamos

(http://youtu.be/ZamEj9tCar8)

Vamos pastores vamos, vamos a Belén

a ver en aquel niño la gloria del Edén

a ver en aquel niño la gloria del Edén

la gloria del Edén, la gloria del Edén

Oh qué precioso niño yo me muero por él

su boquita me encanta, sus ojitos también

el padre lo acaricia, la madre mira en él

y los dos extasiados contemplan aquel ser

contemplan aquel ser

Si

Vamos pastores vamos, vamos a Belén

a ver en aquel niño la gloria del Edén

a ver en aquel niño la gloria del Edén

la gloria del Edén, la gloria del Edén

Es tan lindo el chiquito

que nunca podrá ser que su belleza copien

ni el lápiz ni el pincel

pues el eterno padre con su inmenso poder

hizo que el hijo fuera inmenso como él

inmenso como él

Si

Vamos pastores vamos, vamos a Belén

a ver en aquel niño la gloria del Edén

a ver en aquel niño la gloria del Edén

la gloria del Edén, la gloria del Edén