Rowland

Music Room News Spring 2009

Varner Elementary School musicians are very busy this spring. The 4th and 5th graders are currently learning to read a play melodies on the recorder. The kindergarten through 3rd grades students are learning to use dynamic and tempo changes to add expression to the music they sing and play.  Kindergarten through 2nd grade students are also learning to identify classroom instruments by sight and sound. 3rd grade students are learning to identify the orchestra instruments. Third grade is having a wonderful time listening to the music of Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

Vocaliers Spring News

We have had a wonderful year so far in Vocaliers. I am so proud of the students who participated in the Large Group performance and scored a superior rating. This rating is the highest! Great job, singers! We have done so much but our year is not over yet. We still have two major performances to present before the end of this school year.

 

On Wednesday, April 15, we will be performing the Star Spangled Banner at the Atlanta Brave’s game. This is a very exciting event as we get to stand on the field, be on the jumbo screen, and stay and enjoy the game. We are required to buy tickets for each student and parent who attends (including the singers) but we get them for ½ price. The cost of the tickets is $11.00 per person (outfield seats). We will meet at Turner Field on Hank Aaron Drive and be escorted in as a group. Each student must be brought and supervised by an adult. Families are encouraged to stay and enjoy the game after we sing. If you would like for your student and family to attend, please order and pay for your tickets by Friday, March 20. Make out checks to Varner and turn in money to the Varner safe(s).

 

Our final performance of the year will be presented on Thursday, April 30 during the Evening with the Arts at Varner. Please mark your calendars and make plans to attend that evening. We will be presenting a program entitled Gotta Be Jazz.

 

We will have our final picnic/party Tuesday, May 5. We will need parent volunteers to help set up and clean up for this event. The party will be our last meeting of the year. Let Mrs. Rowland know if you would like to help.

Musically Yours,

Mrs. Rowland

Deborah.rowland@cobbk12.org

Vocalier News

Vocalier News February 17,2009

 

Our field trip performance is this Thursday, February 19.

 

We will meet in the cafeteria at 8:30 with our lunches. We will be wearing our Vocalier shirt and our BLACK pants (or skirts).

 

We leave Varner at 9:00 and will sing at

Piedmont

Church

at 10:00 a.m.

 

We will return to Varner and eat lunch at approximately 1:00.

 

Please bring your permission form if you have not, so you will be allowed to attend this trip.

 

DO NOT BRING: candy, gum, ipods, DS, or anything that you are not allowed to have at school.

 

DO BRING: Your best singing voice, best citizenship, best concert behavior, and best attitude.

 

NEEDED: TWO MORE CHAPERONES!!!!

Please email Mrs. Rowland if you would like to chaperone.

Deborah.rowland@cobbk12.org

 

This performance will be a great experience for our chorus! Have fun and show your personal best!

 

Musically Yours,

Mrs. Rowland

Recorder Karate is beginning next week!

The 4th and 5th grade students here at Varner Elementary will be beginning recorder karate during the next music specials rotation. The students will be learning songs and passing them off to earn a "belt" for their recorder. Each song is progressively more difficult so practice at home!

The kindergarten students are learning to sing matching pitches and rhythm patterns. They will also be learning to identify instruments by sight and sound. In addition, they will be identifying contrasts in music they hear, sing and play.

The first, second, and third graders will continue to practice singing matching pitches.They are also currently learning to read, write, create, and play rhythmic patterns. They will also study contrasts and instruments. The second graders are playing and identifying steps and leaps on the keyboards and barred instruments (such as xylophone).

Vocalier Performances December 2008

‘Tis the Season for Performances!

Our performances are this week! They are as follows:

Friday, December 5^th in the Varner Gym  8:45 and 9:30

Wear your Vocalier shirt and jeans for this performance.

Saturday, December 6^th in the Varner cafeteria  1:00

Meet in the music room at 12:30.

Wear your Vocalier shirt and black pants for this performance.

Bring a small paintbrush for both performances.

Remember our party is next week. Bring a snack to share:

Last name a-f, bring something sweet

Last name g-m, bring something salty

Last name, n-z, bring waters or juice pouches

We will not meet on Tuesday, December 16. Happy Holidays!

Mrs. Rowland

Deborah.rowland@cobbk12.org

Music Room News November- December 2008

Right now in the Varner music room we are enjoying playing Orff instruments with mallets. We are using the glockenspiel, xylophones, and metallophones to play songs and rhymes. We are learning to use the musical elements of melody, harmony, expression,  timbre, rhythm, and form while we play. We are using instruments and methods created by the composer and educator, Carl Orff. To learn more about Carl Orff go to http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/orff.html. Enjoy!

Vocaliers News Dec.2008

‘Tis the season to perform!

Our Vocalier performances for December are as follows:

·        Friday, December 5 in the Varner Gym @ 8:45 and again at 9:30. We will perform for the students at these times. Parents are welcome. (Remember to sign in at the front.)

·        Saturday, December 6 at Varner in the cafeteria. WE will sing at 1:00. Meet in the music room at 12:30 for warm up and line up.

·        BRING FROM HOME: Each singer needs a small 2-3” paint brush to use as a prop for the performances. Please bring one from home if possible.

Party time!

Our holiday party will take place Tuesday, December 9 during our regular rehearsal time (2:30-3:45). Please help by bringing something to share:

If your last name begins with A-F, bring something sweet

If your last name begins with G-O, bring something salty

If your last name begins with M-Z, bring in juice/pouches or boxes.

Take a day off J

We will not rehearse on Tuesday, December 16. Rehearsals resume Tuesday, January 6. Happy Holidays

Vocalier News

Vocalier News Fall 2008

Vocalier rehearsals are now in full swing. We are learning vocal techniques and how to sing in blended harmony together.

We have a few needs that need to be addressed:

1. We need a volunteer coordinator for the Vocalier volunteers. This person would make phone calls/e-mails to coordinate rehearsal monitors and party helpers for the year. This would not involve being at every rehearsal. See Mrs. Rowland if you can help in this area.
2. I need to order Vocalier shirts so please send in your child’s money and size. (I need both before I order.) Order forms are outside my door.
3. At this time about one half of the Vocaliers have paid their fees. These fees pay for our supplies and music for the year. If a shirt is needed, the fee is $41.00 for supplies and music. If no shirt is needed (you have one from last year or a sibling), the fee is $25.00. Please send in the payment asap. Make out checks to Varner and write Vocaliers on the envelope. Place all money in the school safe.   

Our first performance will be Friday, November 14 at Barnes and Noble. Details will follow when plans finalize. Also, please mark your calendars for our performance Saturday, December 6. The performance will take place during the day. I still have not been given the time.

Lastly- I have attached another copy of the Vocalier schedule for the fall. Please post it in your family communications center (mine is the fridge). Thanks for allowing your student to participate in Vocaliers.

Musically Yours,

Debbie Rowland

Deborah.rowland@cobbk12.org

Vocalier Schedule Correction

Our Holiday party for the Vocaliers will be Tuesday, December 9. (This was previously listed as a Thursday.)

Varner Musicians September 2008

Varner Elementary musicians are having a wonderful time of learning in music class this fall.

The kindergarten and first grade students are practicing using four types of voices. They are the singing, whispering, talking, and calling voices. They are also playing and moving to the steady beat.

The 2nd and 3rd graders are practicing singing pentatonic (five notes :do-re-mi-sol-la) patterns and playing beat and rhythmic patterns on the drums.

The 4th and 5th grade students are playing the beat,  creating rhythm patterns, and finding the groove in drumming ensembles.