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!

Cultural Arts: Arabic Music & Dance

Last week we had the honor of hosting a talented teaching artist here at TCS for a Cultural Arts performance all about Arabic music and dance. Karim (which means "generous" in Arabic) taught us about several different Arabic instruments, showed us on a map where the music comes from, wrote out different words in Arabic, and also demonstrated various techniques on each instrument by performing for us. 

One instrument we learned about is called the "duff," a round drum with strings on the back of stretched skin and a thumb hole so you can spin it on your hand. This instrument is used for celebrations, and below is a video of Karim performing on the duff:

He also showed us other instruments including the "rik" (tambourine), the "Sajat" (finger cymbals), large rhythm sticks called "Alaya," the "Buzuq" (a small string instrument shaped like a guitar), and the "Tablah" (a large drum made from recycled aluminum cans and recycled dental x-rays!). 

Karim played all of these instruments like an expert, and also shared lots of interesting information with us about each instrument and how it relates to his Arabic culture. It is rare to find someone who is both an accomplished musician and a talented educator, and Karim made us learn and have fun at the same time while we listened to him talk and perform!

Thank you for visiting us and teaching us about Arabic music, Karim! You are welcome back to TCS any time!

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone enjoyed the parade and WTCS radio show last week in honor of...

HALLOWEEN!

There are lots of fun Halloween songs that we learn together in music class here at TCS, and while many students have different favorite tunes, one of the most popular songs we sing is called, "Witches Brew" and it's a song I've known since I was in elementary school. I've never forgotten it! The lyrics are below. Have fun singing the song and "stirring up" all the yucky ingredients as you sing!

WITCHES’ BREW (by Hap Palmer)

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

Spider web, 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.

I had a great time playing and singing songs with all the students, and even Fiona got to join in on the fun this year as a ladybug!