Taking Music Home

Did you know you can ask to take our music home with you at any time?  It's true!

As long as you bring it back within a week or two, you're welcome to take any piece that your class is studying home to look at or practice.  

And now...A SURVEY!! 

Do you think it's helpful to have practice tracks available?  Last year I made practice tracks on my computer, and anyone who was interested could bring in a blank CD to put the tracks on.  That way, students could practice Chorus music at home, just like they were in rehearsal.

If you think that's a good idea, leave a comment.

Enjoy your day!

Songs of the Season

I know, I know...I said I was only going to post about once a week.  However...

I was driving along today and a song came onto my iPod: "Holiday Romance," which the 8th grade chorus sang in the winter concert from 2007.  It got me to wondering what else we've performed in concerts over the last few years.  Can you help fill in the blanks?

Winter 2008: Winter Song (grade 6), Put a Little Love in Your Heart (all choirs), Gloria Deo (all choirs), Believe (grades 7/8)...what else?

Spring 2008 (last spring): Dirait-on (all choirs), When I Close My Eyes (grades 6/8), At the Beginning (grade 6)...what else?

Winter 2007: Cantar (all choirs), Holiday Romance (grade 8), Pie Jesu (grades 7/8)...what else?

Post a comment with a song we've performed in the past few years.  Whether you loved it or hated it, I know you remember!

Spring 2007: Joyful Joyful (all choirs), 

A Bad Performance: What to Do?

What makes a "bad" performance?  We've all had those concerts, assemblies, or even just rehearsals when we come away saying "Man, that was BAD."

How do you combat the badness?  What can you learn from it?  Can you turn a bad start into a good finish?

I'm going to answer this myself, I think.

Enjoy your day!

Welcome to "Chorus Notes"

Greetings from Watertown Middle School in Watertown, Massachusetts!

If you are a visitor here but not a resident of Watertown, here's a bit of information for you, dear reader.

• Watertown is located approximately 8 miles west of Boston, Mass.
• Watertown Middle School has almost 600 students.
• The school climate is diverse; there is a good mix of students from many backgrounds.

And now, some facts about the Watertown Middle School Chorus classes:

• There are currently 3 classes of Chorus (one each for grades 6, 7, and 8).
• There is one group open by audition only, Select Choir.
  
• Chorus class meets every other day, and Select Choir meets once or twice a week.
• Typically there are 2 concerts during the school year, in December and May.
• Each Chorus class has 25 students or more, with almost 40 in 8th grade!

Though I try to connect with each student throughout the year, it is very difficult in the large classes to make sure I ask a question of each person in each class. Therefore, I have decided that we can use this blog to communicate outside of school.

At least once a week, I will post a quote, thought, question, or recap of a rehearsal, and students can visit and respond. I have a few requests as far as responses go:

1. Please be respectful of yourself, each other, and me.
2. Be aware that anything you write can be seen by the entire world...think first!
3. You do not need to have a google or blogger account to post a response.
4. You can post more than one response, or respond to someone else's comment, if that comment adds to the discussion.

Thanks! If you have a question about our blog or comments, you may respond with a comment below, or ask me in school.

Enjoy your day!