Welcome Back!
I hope you all had a wonderful spring break. We now enter that rigorous few weeks time before the concert in which we prepare our students for what lies ahead. The next few weeks will consist of review and cleaning of the band pieces they have learned in order to be fully prepared to put on our concert in May. We have an exciting concert planned which I am sure you will enjoy.
Music enrichment classes our slowly going to be coming to a close as well. Fourth and fifth grades will be wrapping up their recorder unit and moving on to more singing experience. Second grade will be moving on from their unit on cannons, while third will be wrapping up after finishing up with "Dona Nobis Pacem"
I look forward to the last few weeks of school and hope that your children have truly had a great experience this year not only in band, but in music class.
Yours in Music,
Michael Howell
Band Director/Music Enrichment
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Well, things have been rather hectic around here because of the snow. I am happy to report, however, that the bands and general music classes have been doing just fine. We have 5 students participating in this years Kent County Honors Band. The first rehearsal is March 8, with the others being the 22, 26, and 27. The concert is on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at Lake Forest High School at 7pm. The PCA Select Ensemble will also be participating in the Junior High Band Festival at Caesar Rodney High School on March 31, 2010.
On the band end of things, there have been many great strides made. We are playing through some very rewarding music which the students have taken a great liking towards. It looks to be a very good concert which I am sure both parents and students alike will enjoy.
On the general music side of things, the students have been continuing their study of recorders in 4th and 5th grade, while those in 2nd and 3rd have been learning/reviewing musical rounds.
All in all, things have been going well in the Providence Creek Academy Band Department, and I look forward to seeing how the rest of the year will pan out.
Yours in Music,
Michael Howell
On the band end of things, there have been many great strides made. We are playing through some very rewarding music which the students have taken a great liking towards. It looks to be a very good concert which I am sure both parents and students alike will enjoy.
On the general music side of things, the students have been continuing their study of recorders in 4th and 5th grade, while those in 2nd and 3rd have been learning/reviewing musical rounds.
All in all, things have been going well in the Providence Creek Academy Band Department, and I look forward to seeing how the rest of the year will pan out.
Yours in Music,
Michael Howell
Monday, January 4, 2010
Welcome Back!
I hope you all had a wonderful break. Now it is time to get back into the groove of things and look toward the spring. We had a very successful concert on the 17th and I have no doubt that we will repeat that success coming up in May for our spring concert. With the new year comes new feelings as well as new approaches to things. I will be trying some new approaches to the music as well as with working with the students to see if it helps them connect more with what they are doing. If the students do not get anything out of what they are participating in, then there really is no point. I would rather them take something away from what they have accomplished, rather than going at it blindly and with no feeling. Here is to a great spring season!
I hope you all had a wonderful break. Now it is time to get back into the groove of things and look toward the spring. We had a very successful concert on the 17th and I have no doubt that we will repeat that success coming up in May for our spring concert. With the new year comes new feelings as well as new approaches to things. I will be trying some new approaches to the music as well as with working with the students to see if it helps them connect more with what they are doing. If the students do not get anything out of what they are participating in, then there really is no point. I would rather them take something away from what they have accomplished, rather than going at it blindly and with no feeling. Here is to a great spring season!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Happy Halloween Everyone!
It's been a great start to the year for everything with both band and general music. 2nd Grade has learned Who's That Tapping at the Window?, A-B-A, and Barnyard Song in which they sing about different barnyard animals and have to cycle backwards through the list each time. 3rd Grade has learned Penobscot Song of Greeting, Skip to my Lou, and they are starting to learn Are You Sleeping. 4th Grade has learned the PCA Alma Mater, Drill Ye Tarriers, and they are starting to learn America the Beautiful. 5th Grade has learned Simple Gifts, Red River Valley, and they are starting to learn When Johnny Comes Marching Home. Overall it has been a great experience for them and they seem to really enjoy it.
In the band world of things, we are doing quite well. Each band now has four selections they are playing. Some of the students whom are in both ensembles are playing 8 selections in total. We arlready have our couple of favorites as usual, and the students are really enjoying playing together. It looks like it will be a great concert. The biggest help so far has been the practice cards. Students are taking responsibility for their practicing and it is showing. Thank you to you the parents for helping push them in this area.
Below you will find a link to the lesson schedule. There is also a link on the main virtual classroom page for if anyone has "lost" their schedule.
Band Schedule
It's been a great start to the year for everything with both band and general music. 2nd Grade has learned Who's That Tapping at the Window?, A-B-A, and Barnyard Song in which they sing about different barnyard animals and have to cycle backwards through the list each time. 3rd Grade has learned Penobscot Song of Greeting, Skip to my Lou, and they are starting to learn Are You Sleeping. 4th Grade has learned the PCA Alma Mater, Drill Ye Tarriers, and they are starting to learn America the Beautiful. 5th Grade has learned Simple Gifts, Red River Valley, and they are starting to learn When Johnny Comes Marching Home. Overall it has been a great experience for them and they seem to really enjoy it.
In the band world of things, we are doing quite well. Each band now has four selections they are playing. Some of the students whom are in both ensembles are playing 8 selections in total. We arlready have our couple of favorites as usual, and the students are really enjoying playing together. It looks like it will be a great concert. The biggest help so far has been the practice cards. Students are taking responsibility for their practicing and it is showing. Thank you to you the parents for helping push them in this area.
Below you will find a link to the lesson schedule. There is also a link on the main virtual classroom page for if anyone has "lost" their schedule.
Band Schedule
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
WELCOME BACK!!!
It is a new year and a new start for all of us. I am very excited about what is in store for not only the band program but the general music portion of what I will be doing here at PCA. There are a few changes this year to the band program, all of which I feel will benefit not only the program, but more importantly the students. These include: being graded, playing tests, practice cards, higher student expectations. What I mean by higher expectations is the students will be expected to walk me through their music and I will simply help them along. This will allow them to have better command of their musical knowledge. For general music, Miss Waldron and myself have collaborated to make this year's music class duo more of extensions to one another. This will help the students to get the most possible out of their music experience. I look forward to a great year.
It is a new year and a new start for all of us. I am very excited about what is in store for not only the band program but the general music portion of what I will be doing here at PCA. There are a few changes this year to the band program, all of which I feel will benefit not only the program, but more importantly the students. These include: being graded, playing tests, practice cards, higher student expectations. What I mean by higher expectations is the students will be expected to walk me through their music and I will simply help them along. This will allow them to have better command of their musical knowledge. For general music, Miss Waldron and myself have collaborated to make this year's music class duo more of extensions to one another. This will help the students to get the most possible out of their music experience. I look forward to a great year.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Hello all,
Well, it's been a couple months and a lot has happened in that time. I want to thank all the help and support of the parents without whom this band would not happen. The concert went exceedingly well. I was very pleased with how the students did, as well as their support of the other groups. Now, we are on the eve of graduation, and some of the band has one more performance left. This year, we will be losing 11 8th graders. Fortunately, we are gaining quite a few 6th graders next year coming up from 5th grade, as well as a couple 7th graders, however, the 8th graders will sorely be missed. They have all done a lot for this band, and I could not be more proud of them all. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication over the past few years for this band, and especially from me for the past 2 years. It has been a true pleasure. Enjoy your summer and good luck with high school.
As for the band next year, we have a lot of exciting things going on. For one, we will be moving to the new building, with a brand new band room and stage/auditorium. I look forward with much anticipation as to what we will be able to accomplish. I wish everyone a safe and happy summer, and I will see you all in September!
Well, it's been a couple months and a lot has happened in that time. I want to thank all the help and support of the parents without whom this band would not happen. The concert went exceedingly well. I was very pleased with how the students did, as well as their support of the other groups. Now, we are on the eve of graduation, and some of the band has one more performance left. This year, we will be losing 11 8th graders. Fortunately, we are gaining quite a few 6th graders next year coming up from 5th grade, as well as a couple 7th graders, however, the 8th graders will sorely be missed. They have all done a lot for this band, and I could not be more proud of them all. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication over the past few years for this band, and especially from me for the past 2 years. It has been a true pleasure. Enjoy your summer and good luck with high school.
As for the band next year, we have a lot of exciting things going on. For one, we will be moving to the new building, with a brand new band room and stage/auditorium. I look forward with much anticipation as to what we will be able to accomplish. I wish everyone a safe and happy summer, and I will see you all in September!
Monday, March 9, 2009
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