September, 2011
Hello to all H.E.S. Students and Families!
I am happy to be back at Huntingtown Elementary School as your Choral and General Music teacher!
I am very pleased with how things are going this new year. Student creativity and participation are both on the rise for music resource classes and for morning clubs. All levels of musicians have been learning new songs to sing, and then learning how to accompany these new songs on our classroom xylophones and percussion instruments.
Recorders will begin in mid October for all third, fourth and fifth grade students.
We are now placing the order for new recorders for our third grade students, as well as for those who are new to our school. Recorders are wonderful tools that encourage music literacy. Parents, please make sure your secondary student has a recorder by mid October.
Morning Music Clubs have already begun. We meet at eight o'clock each morning of the week. There is still time to join any of the choruses, but our Eurhythmics and Hand Bell Choir Ensembles are already full. I am so proud of our Monday morning Eurhythmics Club as they have already performed "Peace Round" on the morning HNN News show. In upcoming classes we will be exploring how to show this calming song in 4 part harmony using small groups and props such as streamers, body socks, and tennis balls.
Tuesday mornings are for Grade 3 Chorus. Our numbers are strong and so our our voices. I am really excited about our upcoming Winter Program which will take place at Huntingtown High School on December 16, at 7:00 p.m. Please make sure to reserve that night on your calendars.
The Hand Bell Choir has begun to learn a peace song as well. This song is one that both choruses will sing and possibly the Eurhytmics class will also move to. Hand Bell Choir requires a lot of patience and counting. We are one of the few elementary schools that have hand bells. We wear gloves so as to help preserve the beautiful finish on the bells. Wait until you hear how lovely they sound at the Winter Concert mentioned above!
The last several years I have been so proud of my Fourth and Fifth Grade Choruses! Sometimes I get goose bumps from their performances. I cannot take all the credit as I know that families sing at home, children sing along with Youtube and iTunes videos and songs, and shows like American Idol and X Factor encourage everyone to use their built-in musical instrument. It is a wonderful time for choral music in the United States!
Finally I would like to congratulate the following students who auditioned for me and made it into Honors Chorus. (Honors chorus is open to fifth grade students who show exemplary skills in singing and sightreading music. They must also have superior behavior to attend this special program.) This year's participants will be:
Samantha Fowler, Jake Armacost, Kirin Bheemaswarroop, Austin Fowler, Gabriel Ortiz, Molly Gall, Hannah Steele, Ashlyn Pearson, Molly Hancock, and Jessica Yost. Congratulate these students if you happen to see them. It is an honor for them to be in this Chorus, as some of our county's best singers will be represented there as well.
Thank you parents for sending us the very best! I love Huntingtown-for me it is a place of great joy!
Musically Yours,
Mrs. Jennifer Stawinski
