Congratulations to grades 4 - 8!

I am SO proud of all the students who performed in the Winter Concert last week. It was such a special event full of wonderful music, and it definitely put me in the holiday spirit! There are lots of wonderful photos and videos on the TCS facebook page, so please check those out. 

Thank you to all the students, faculty, staff, and parents who helped to make the night go smoothly...we could not do it without the amazing support of the TCS community!

Now we look ahead to Friday's Holiday Program. It's going to be spectacular to see every single student at TCS perform on that day, and I hope to see lots of families there to support their children. We will also be ending with our traditional sing-along of Auld Lang Syne, so please join us in song!

Here are the lyrics so you can practice at home before Friday:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind,
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and days of auld lang syne.                  

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne.

So here’s a hand my trusty friend, and give a hand of thine,

We’ll take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,

We’ll take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne.

Winter Concert = Thursday, December 11th!

Happy December 1st! The TCS Winter Concert for grades 4 through 8 will be held next Thursday evening. Details are below...

• When: Thursday, December 11th
• Time: Students arrive @6:30pm, concert begins @7pm
• Attire (Boys): Dress shirt and tie, dark or khaki dress pants, dress shoes (no sneakers). 
• Attire (Girls): Blouse with pants/skirt, or dress (appropriate length). No strapless, no spaghetti straps (wear cardigan if needed). 

*Band members: Please remember to bring your instrument, good reeds (woodwind players), and your music.

Mr. Cross and I are very excited about this upcoming performance. It's going to be a spectacular night full of band and choral music that will help to get us all into the holiday spirit!

Announcing this year's TCS Musical!

This year, TCS 7th & 8th graders will transform into high-rolling gamblers and dancing divas as they jump into roles for...

Mrs. Barber and I are so excited to get started! Below is all the important info:

Performance dates (mark your calendars now, students & families!): 

Saturday, February 21st

Sunday, February 22nd

Audition dates:

Thursday, November 20th (3:15-4:30)

Friday, November 21st (3:15-4:30)

Happy Halloween!

I know I'm a little late with this post, but I wanted to say a big "THANK YOU" to everyone who participated in the fantastic Halloween parade and sing-along we had on Friday here at TCS. I was really impressed by all the costumes, and it was great to see so many friends and family members waving to all the students and teachers as they marched proudly around campus. I also enjoyed being part of the parade as a mama tree for my little owl, Fiona! 

I know the students had fun singing all our Halloween songs over the past few weeks, so below are the lyrics to one of their favorites tunes, "Witches Brew" so you can try singing it together at home. Enjoy!

WITCHES’ BREW

Dead leaves, seaweed, rotten eggs, too.
Stir them in my witches’ brew.
I've got magic, Alakazamakazoo.

Spider webs, moldy bread, mucky mud, too.
Stir them in my witches’ brew.
I've got magic! Alakazamakazoo

ooo - My witches’ brew - ooo
What’s it gonna do to you? Boo!

Floor wax, thumb tacks, purple paint, too.
Stir them in my witches’ brew.
I've got magic, Alakazamakazoo.

Finger nails, lunch pails, apple cores, too.
Stir them in my witches’ brew.
I've got magic, Alakazamakazoo.

ooo - My witches’ brew - ooo
What’s it gonna do to you? Boo!

Wrinkled prunes, mushrooms, motor oil, too.
Stir them in my witches’ brew.
I've got magic, Alakazamakazoo!
I've got magic, Alakazamakazoo!

I've got magic, Alakazamakazoo!

Check this out!

From the catchy tune, to the perfectly timed and extremely impressive choreography, Okay Go's new video for the song "I Won't Let You Down" is quite an achievement. But this is nothing new for the 4-member band. Together they continue to imagine and create new ways to push the boundaries of what can be captured on film for all their songs (remember their first video on treadmills? Or the video of one huge Rube Goldberg machine?). 

Whenever I see a new Okay Go video, one word always comes to mind: STEAM!

Happy Tuesday!

Halloween Songs: "What Color Is Your Ghost?"

I've been singing lots of fun Halloween songs with my students this week as we prepare for the big Halloween parade & sing-along next Friday!

Here are some photos of a first grade class rocking out with scarves to "What Color Is Your Ghost?" 

Photos taken by: Kayla (grade 5)

Song by: Rachel Rambach

Musical Games!

Below is a link to some musical games I'm playing with my students this week:

Musical Games

The "Note Name Game" is great for note-reading practice, and each measure spells out a different word!

"Compose Your Own Music" is just what the title describes: YOU are the composer! The different options allow you to understand 4/4 time using whole, half, and quarter notes and rests, and the 4-measure melodies you create can actually be "performed" by the computer!

Rhythmic Stories: "We're Going on a Leaf Hunt" by Steve Metzger

I love this book for many reasons, but it's especially fun to read and act out in kindergarten and first grade music class while incorporating the concepts of tempo and accelerando. As we read each action sequence (example: "climb, climb, huff, puff"), we start with a slow, steady beat, and then say the words faster...and faster...and faster! The kids really enjoy echoing the lines and "hunting" for leaves together!

Overtone Singing!

Check out this incredible singer who can actually sing two notes at the same time using the overtone series. Watch, listen...and prepare to be amazed!

Good morning, Beethoven!

Look who greeted me in the music room this morning...one of my all-time favorite composers!

Welcome to TCS, Ludwig!

Happy Friday!

There are so many great people out there doing inspirational things through music. This video has been shared with me countless times already, and I feel compelled to share it here so that more eyes, ears, and hearts can watch some truly brave children sing and dance along to Cyndi Lauper & Sara Bareilles. Music is such a force of empowerment and joy, and cheers to Hoda Kotb for making it all possible. Enjoy!

Side note: I feel so incredibly proud to know that TCS students sang BOTH of these songs last year. 6th, 7th, & 8th graders sang "Brave" at the winter concert, and "True Colors" at the spring concert. Great songs with powerful messages!

And so it begins...

I just got a big order of possible songs for the winter concert & holiday program! I can't wait to try them out and make some decisions about our repertoire. It's time to start learning! Then later we'll practice, prepare, & perform in December!

Morning Meetings...

Today was our first WTCS morning meeting of the 2014-2015 school year! This time around, we have 5th graders joining us, which means that they will be hosting the show for the first few weeks to help ease the 4th graders into their new roles as hosts and tech crew for the remainder of the year. Seeing all the students together, and hearing their voices sing and share announcements really makes me know the school year is off to a great start!

We have also updated the lyrics to the Friends song, with a new line to include the 5th graders and some updated lines for every grade to reflect all the amazing things they learn about during the year.

The meetings, which include grades PreSchool through 5, are open to TCS families. Feel free to check in with your students and their teachers for more details if you ever want to attend...we'd love to have you join us!

"Be More Awesome!"

I've been a fan of Kid President for a while now, and we showed the whole school one of his recent videos to start the year off right. Check it out below, and follow his lead...this kid knows what's up in education!

Dreams can come true...

Watching this video of a young violinist brought me back in time to my own early years, learning and playing Lalo & Bach. Busking on the streets of New York City is pretty courageous for an 11 year-old! Watching Dylan play the Bach Double with his idol, Joshua Bell, is incredible too.

If you could sing or play with a famous musician, who would it be?

Happy First Day of School!

Yay! The day is finally here...and we're all so excited to get started!

In the spirit of setting ourselves up for success, I found a gift on my desk this morning when I got to school. The gift was from a TCS alum who graduated last year and was my go-to tech person. The HUGE microphone had a note attached (see photos below). Such a great reminder of how humorous and awesome our students are, and now I feel ready to take on the year. Thanks, Chris!

On a personal note...

This past weekend my band, Goodnight Blue Moon, played at the Haddam Neck Fair. It was a blast, especially when a tiny little fan approached the stage. Seeing my daughter dance along to music is such a cool experience, especially when I'm the one playing the tunes!

Also spotted in the crowd: the Zigmont family! So nice to have some TCS folks rock out with us!

Goodnight Blue Moon has a bunch of shows coming up next weekend, and throughout the fall. Check out dates, tunes, and more cool stuff on our website: www.goodnightbluemoon.com

Getting ready...

With only a few days left before the school year officially begins, I've been busy getting my room ready, which includes a major overhaul of my musical instrument shelves. 

Goodbye, messy clutter...hello, clean organization!

The end is near...

I can't believe we only have a few more days of school left! This year has flown by, and with it came lots of wonderful, musical learning experiences here at TCS. As we gear up for Country Stock, Field Day, Closing Ceremonies, Prize Day, and Graduation, I am connecting with different teachers about how to celebrate their students' learning through music. Here's a great song called "Apple Tree" by Justin Roberts that the Kindergarteners plan to sing at Closing Ceremonies on Monday:

This tune certainly encompasses the idea of growing up, and that's exactly what all our students do right before our eyes each year...and it's nothing short of amazing! 

Let's enjoy these final days together before summer begins!

BRAVO!!!

Congratulations to all students in grades 4-8 on a SPECTACULAR spring concert! 

I was so amazed and proud of everyone, and I think the audience really enjoyed the performances too.

Every time we have a concert here at TCS, I receive such kind comments and emails from teachers, parents, and students, and this time was no exception. Some even claimed that this was one of the "best concerts ever!" and I have to say that I agree. Choosing music that can connects with our theme of "Never Give Up" was really fun, and having the audience participate in sharing (or in one parent's case, singing!) our lyrics was certainly a risk worth taking! From the spontaneous clapping during "Lean On Me" to the thunderous applause and cheers for "You Make My Dreams," along with a lovely slideshow tribute to the 8th graders, I am so thrilled that the students went on this musical journey with me, and I look forward to many more!

Please check out the TCS Facebook page and the Little Hoot for links to the concert, or click below for photos and videos.

Concert Photos

Video of "You Make My Dreams" by Hall & Oates

 THANK YOU to everyone for making the concert such a powerful, energetic experience that won't soon be forgotten!

Theme Days: Bugs, Biomes, & Beyond!

Yesterday and today, TCS students in grades PreSchool through 3 took a break from their normal academic schedules for two fun-filled THEME DAYS of learning! This year's theme allowed teachers the freedom to explore many different ideas and create projects around "Bugs, Biomes, & Beyond!" 

We had a special author named Sarah Albee visit us to share her latest book called "Bugged: How Insects Changed History" (click here to learn more about Sarah and her fascinating research!). We also sang some fun bug songs together, took exploratory nature walks, and many teachers created STEAM projects to support our theme!

In my workshop, I shared time with MS English teacher Teresa Sullivan, who introduced some bug yoga poses to 2nd & 3rd graders. We were able to become ladybugs, butterflies, and even spiders!

Then, we watched a short video about David Rothenberg, a celebrated musician, philosopher, and author of the book "Bug Music: How Insects Gave Us Rhythm & Noise." Below is a video that details the music of cicadas, who come out from under the ground every 17 years to share their songs with the world. 

To learn more about the book click here and to hear previews of tracks from Rothenberg's Bug Music cd, click here.

As the Celebration of the Arts Concert approaches...

Hello Everyone!
Our Celebration of the Arts Concert is coming up on Wednesday, May 7th. The concert begins at 6pm, so students in grades 4 - 8 should arrive at 5:30pm. I will be sharing some of our songs with you here on the blog as the concert approaches. While we can't reveal all of our repertoire, I want to post a few of our songs because our theme for the spring is "Never Give Up!" so many of our songs connect with feelings of perseverance, acceptance, and encouragement. 
The first featured selection is called, "Nothing More" by Alternate Routes. This song will be sung by the 6th, 7th, & 8th grade chorus. Check out the lyrics and the youtube video below...enjoy!

NOTHING MORE (Alternate Routes)

To be humble, to be kind

It is the giving of the peace in your mind

To a stranger, to a friend

To give in such a way that has no end.

CHORUS:

We are love.

We are one.

We are how we treat each other when the day is done.

We are peace.

We are war.

We are how we treat each other and nothing more.

To be bold, to be brave

It is the thinking that the heart can still be saved

And the darkness can come quick

the danger’s in the anger and the hanging on to it.

CHORUS:

We are love.

We are one.

We are how we treat each other when the day is done.

We are peace.

We are war.

We are how we treat each other and nothing more.

Tell me what it is that you see

A world that’s filled with endless possibilities

Heroes don’t look like they used to. They look like you do.

CHORUS (vocals only):

We are love.

We are one.

We are how we treat each other when the day is done.

We are peace.

We are war.

We are how we treat each other and nothing more.

We are how we treat each other and nothing more.

We are how we treat each other.

HAPPY SPRING BREAK!

Here's a song to put you in a good mood as we all head off for two weeks. 

Enjoy the time and be safe!

CONGRATULATIONS, OKLAHOMA CAST!

Wow...I am still in awe of all that happened in the past week. Mrs. Barber and I are so impressed with what the students were able to accomplish to make the performances of "Oklahoma!" so spectacular. Even with the snow days and missed rehearsals, the cast and crew put on two AMAZING shows, and they should all be really proud!

THANK YOU to all the teachers for allowing us to take lots of extra practice time last week!

THANK YOU to parents for assisting with every part of the performance process from costumes and programs, to snacks and ticket sales, not to mention all the transportation to and from school and the fantastic cast party.

THANK YOU to the cast and crew for pouring your hearts and souls into what was truly a labor of love for myself and for Mrs. Barber. We really enjoy what we do, and we're so glad to share this experience with you!

"O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A, Oklahooooooooooooooma...YEOW!"

"Oklahoma!" February Schedule is POSTED!

Let the countdown to opening night officially begin! I have posted the "Oklahoma!" rehearsal schedule for February on the right side of this blog. Please check it out and email me & Mrs. Barber if there are any conflicts!
The show is only a few weeks away now, so we're excited to keep working on songs and scenes, along with acquiring costumes, sets, lighting, and sound. This show is going to be amazing, and the students have already put in lots of focused and creative effort. 
Please come and see the show February 22nd & 23rd!

Cultural Arts: SHAKESPERIENCE & The Reluctant Dragon

Shortly after returning to school, we had a lively visit from some wonderful actors who are part of Shakesperience Productions, a theater company in Waterbury, CT that brings stories to life. 

This year the actors from Shakesperience performed a play called "The Reluctant Dragon" based on the familiar tale of St. George and the Dragon. 

This story introduces the audience to several positive character adjectives that we also strive to achieve and practice here daily at TCS including respect, responsibility, and kindness. The play also teaches us all a lesson about environmental sustainability because the dragon in the story plants and protects trees. There were even some mathematical problems to solve and the actors used different sized blocks to create the appearance of a cave, a village, and trees.

 

THANK YOU for visiting us again this year, Shakesperience! Your kindness won't soon be forgotten! 

Happy 2014!

Welcome Back, Everyone!

Thank you to all who participated in the Holiday Program back in December. It was a wonderful morning full of joy, music, and holiday cheer, and I am so proud of all the students who performed!



Now that we are back, Mrs. Barber and I will be diving into rehearsals for "Oklahoma!" and we're so excited to start working with the 7th & 8th graders. 

The rehearsal schedule for January is now posted! 
Click on the page to the right called "Oklahoma Rehearsals January 2014" for a calendar view, and contact Mrs. Wepler with any questions.

Stay tuned for more info and fun stories from the cast as we embark on another exciting musical journey. Yippee!