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
Friday, October 16, 2009
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
Monday, January 5, 2009
Welcome to 2009! I hope everyone had a wonderful and restful holiday season. Now it is time to get back to the grind and truck our way to the next concert.
As far as the Middle School Band, there is a piece which I have picked to play that will wind up being our Pirates from last year. The parts in and of themselves are fairly easy, it is when we put them together that it will be a daunting task.
For the beginners, we will again get back to some basics to reinforce any notes they may not be too confident on, and will continue going through book 1 of the Essential Elements series.
In Music Enrichment, we will continue to pursue our quest of recorders and will start to have performance quizzes every couple of weeks. This will simply consist of them playing individually for me, and I will judge them on how well they play (sound, how they play, correct notes, no squeaking), and will grade them based on a 12 point rubric. This is a system they are already used to, so there should be no surprises here.
I look forward to what will hopefully be a rewarding spring. If anyone has any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me here at school via email or phone. My email is mhowell@pca.k12.de.us, and my extension here at the school is 137. The email will be the best bet, as I do not always get an opportunity to check on my phone. As always, thank you for all your support.
Yours in Music,
Michael Howell
Band Director
Providence Creek Academy
As far as the Middle School Band, there is a piece which I have picked to play that will wind up being our Pirates from last year. The parts in and of themselves are fairly easy, it is when we put them together that it will be a daunting task.
For the beginners, we will again get back to some basics to reinforce any notes they may not be too confident on, and will continue going through book 1 of the Essential Elements series.
In Music Enrichment, we will continue to pursue our quest of recorders and will start to have performance quizzes every couple of weeks. This will simply consist of them playing individually for me, and I will judge them on how well they play (sound, how they play, correct notes, no squeaking), and will grade them based on a 12 point rubric. This is a system they are already used to, so there should be no surprises here.
I look forward to what will hopefully be a rewarding spring. If anyone has any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me here at school via email or phone. My email is mhowell@pca.k12.de.us, and my extension here at the school is 137. The email will be the best bet, as I do not always get an opportunity to check on my phone. As always, thank you for all your support.
Yours in Music,
Michael Howell
Band Director
Providence Creek Academy
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