The sixth grade band students were invited to perform in a combined concert with McPherson Middle School and McPherson High School.  The evening began with a lasagna dinner prepared and served by the high school band students.  The guests were then treated to a concert featuring the sixth, seventh and eighth grade bands from the middle school as well as the high school concert and jazz bands.  The St. Joseph band students performed several sections with the middle school band. As a finale all the bands performed the McPherson High fight song together.  St. Joseph sixth grade band is directed by Laurinda Porter.  Members of the band include:  Anna Bahr, McKenzie Becker, Michelle Carrillo, Sky Creed, Daniel Fallis, Leigh Hughes, Amanda Linden, Janae McKinney, Aaron Porter and Hannah Stecklein.

6th Grade Band

We are off to a great start with band.  We are enjoying our 30 minutes of instructional time three times a week.  I expect the students to make good progress this year.  If you haven't already seen it, the practice sheets are coming home.  The students received their second pracitce sheet in band today.  It is very important that the students get adequate practice time in each week to be successful. 

I am very excited to be working with Kyle Hopkins, the band director for the middle school and high school McPherson programs.  I am in the process of planning a field trip to watch a high school marching band rehearsal and one middle school band rehearsal.  Mr. Hopkins also invited our students to play in their 6th grade concert in Feb. 

I appreciate each and every one of your students.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with them!

New Music Web links!

Check out my new music web links on my home page.  The 3rd and 5th grade classes have had to opportunity to listen to classical music and participate in learning activities associated with those pieces online.  The Classics for Kids website is very informative.  It has listening examples, stories about composers and fun activity sheets. 

The 2nd, 4th and 6th grade classes are learning about the instruments of the orchestra through the Carnegie Hall website.  The story is The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.  Students can do this one at home.  All you have to do is register with your user name and password and it is totally free.  It is an interactive tour through the instrument families of the orchestra.  There are games for each instrument and pleny of listening examples along the way.  I am grateful to have a new lap top in my classroom.  It has enabled me to use the computer and projector during class to enrich our learning environment.

Check out these fun websites!!

New Classroom

Welcome back to school.  I am so excited to be in a new area.  Since we have a mobile computer lab, I am able to use the new space for my classroom. We more than doubled our floor space!  This year we will be doing a pilot for the Music Assessment for Catholic Schools of the Wichita Diocese.  I am excited for the new opportunities for more creative music material this presents.  We will be utilizing our new computers and projector for some of our instructional time.  Check back for more information!