"Summertime..."

"...and the livin' is easy" -Gershwin

Ella Fitzgerald is one of my all-time FAVORITES, and this song always comes to mind when another school year comes to a close. Enjoy this version of "Summertime" and try to find more great tunes out there that relate to my favorite season...there are so many fabulous summer songs!

It's been a fantastic year, and I'll see you all in the fall for more musical fun!

SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!

CONGRATULATIONS to the cast and crew of Mary Poppins! 

The students worked so hard to bring this show to life, and they had lots of support from faculty, parents, and the entire TCS community. As Mary says, "in every job that must be done, there is an element of fun," and there were countless fun elements during the entire production process from rehearsals to performances!

Cheers to a beautiful show, everyone!

Rhythm Patterns in 2nd grade!

2nd graders are working on rhythms and figuring out how many Ta and Titi patterns they can create within 4 beats (one 4/4 measure).

Using large, colorful popsicle sticks and paper, each partner group identified as many rhythm patterns and they could think of and wrote each one down to keep track.

As a class, we figured out that there is a way to discover exactly how many rhythm patterns we can create within our parameters...can you figure it out?

Monday motivator!

Happy 2019! Now that we're back in the swing of school, I thought it might be fun to share some positive quotes, lyrics, poems, and other musical motivators that cross my path sometimes...things that help me stay present in my job and my life, and also bring a smile to my face! Below is a quote that's in the music room, and it jumped out at me since I've had this exact experience countless times. Music truly DOES change our brains when we take time to listen, so put on an old song you love, or find your new favorite tune today!

A Window into the Music Room...

Big shout-out to Dave, our head of facilities, for installing a string swing for my guitar on the wall of the music room. Now Honey Pie is safe and readily accessible during my classes!

This photo also highlights some festive tunes we're rocking out to in the younger grade levels. "What Color Is Your Ghost?" uses scarves as the ghosts, and "Dem Bones" involves egg shakers.

Halloween is only one week away! Do you have your costumes yet? Last year I went as Maria von Trapp from The Sound of Music, and this year I'm deciding between a few different ideas...can't wait for the TCS Halloween parade next week!

Musical Hopes & Dreams

Every year, I ask my students to share their musical hopes and dreams for the year.

Grades 1-8 participate in this exercise. I am always surprised and delighted by their thoughtful, optimistic, and honest responses.

From gaining musical confidence or auditioning for this year's play, to starting a new instrument or becoming a famous pop star, our students have high hopes and big dreams for their musical futures here at TCS...and I can't wait to see what the future holds for all of them!

Welcome Back!

We're swinging into the new school year! 

The school year is off to a great start, and there will be lots of wonderful musical experiences happening across campus in all the different grade levels throughout the year. Visit the blog to see what's happening this fall in music! 

I'll be sharing some exciting announcements about our annual musical and Southern Regional auditions for middle school students in the coming weeks. In the meantime, students are currently working on their musical hopes and dreams for the year. Do YOU have any musical hopes and dreams you'd like to share? If so, please comment below! 

Utah!

This year I was lucky enough to go on the annual 8th grade trip to Utah for 8 days! It was my second trip out there with students, and I had SUCH an amazing time. Having a job that allows you to spend time with your students outside of the classroom in one of the most beautiful places on earth is pretty spectacular.

From rock climbing and hiking around Arches National Park, to spending a night in the La Sal Mountains and white water rafting down the colorado river, the trip was packed with adventure. Now my brain is full of wonderful memories, including this magical sunset from one of our last nights at camp.

Celebration of the Arts!

Check out the lovely photos from our spring Celebration of the Arts concert! HUGE thank you to our student musicians who participated in the choral portion of our program...they blew me away and added such a powerful, energetic sound to our songs.

The concert theme of "Bringing Us Together" was felt through the songs, through the lyrics read by audience members, and through the energy in the gym. THANK YOU for making this performance yet another reminder of how amazing our school community is!

Cultural Arts: Boston Baroque visit!

Last Friday we had some musical visitors come to The Country School for a special Cultural Arts event. Musicians from Boston Baroque (a world class Baroque ensemble with musicians that perform on period instruments) shared their "Classics for Kids" concert with us and played selections from Vivaldi's Four Seasons for grades K-3.

In addition to the beautiful music played by incredibly talented musicians, there was also a lovely narrator who introduced the students to each season through costumes and lively descriptions of the sounds that the instruments create: animals (birds, dogs, flies), weather (lightning, thunder, snow), and emotions (happy, sad, scared, etc).

The audience was mesmerized by the performance! After the show, students were invited to a special instrument "petting zoo" where they got to try playing a violin, viola, or cello with one of the Boston Baroque musicians as their guide.

There was also an interactive percussion table that got lots of attention from our curious young musicians.

This spectacular event was thoughtfully designed to appeal to our young audience members, and it gave us all an accessible window into the fascinating world of classical music. We hope it will inspire TCS students to listen and appreciate music on a deeper level. Maybe some will even want to begin studying an instrument on their own some day? Or perhaps go and see more live classical music performances in the future?

As a personal highlight, I got to see an old friend of mine who currently plays violin with Boston Baroque.

Julia McKenzie and I used to work together at Johnson String Instrument up in Boston, and I had not seen her for 10 years! It was such a joy to reconnect with Julie and hear her play.

Ultimately, being able to have these phenomenal musicians visit TCS was an unforgettable experience, and something we will treasure for many years to come. Thank you to the musicians, the coordinators, and the donors who helped make this event possible. One of my students summed up all our feelings perfectly when asked what they thought of the performance:

"I loved it...I wish I could see it again!" 

We love you, Boston Baroque! Come back and visit us any time!

Songs that inspire...

Have you checked out the new movie musical The Greatest Showman yet? It's in theaters now, and regardless of your interest level in musical theater, this movie (especially in the theater) is not to be missed. In my humble, musical opinion, I think the movie and specifically the music share wonderful messages through songs that are catchy, appropriate for all age levels, and powerful. I've been using them during my classes in different ways. Click on the song titles below to hear them!

1) Song: "The Greatest Show"
Use as: A pump-up entrance song to begin a middle school class.

2) Song: "Come Alive"
Use as: A brain break dance tune for learners who need to move!

3) Song: "This Is Me"
Use as: A song selection for our spring concert theme "Songs That Bring Us Together."

Part of my IDEA (Interpreting Diversity Education Through Action) workshop also used "This Is Me" as an inspirational way to discuss how being different is what makes us all great. The photos below are from a bulletin board with lyrics from the song, written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

 Students chose a line and drew their image of that line at the bottom.

 We also learned some simplified dance moves too. Ask them to show you!

I'm always searching for musical experiences to recommend to the TCS community that you can actually go and see with your whole family and enjoy together, so...

GO SEE THE GREATEST SHOWMAN!

Rocking Recorders with 3rd Graders!

This week was a big one for 3rd graders in music class: we began learning the recorder! Students each have their own instrument, and their learning started with a presentation about how to hold and play the recorder, followed by an introduction to their first note, B.

 So far things are going really well, and the classes are excited to learn more as the weeks continue!

Here's a question to spark conversation at home:

What is "BAG" and why is that word used when you first start learning recorder?

Look for more updates as the students begin learning new notes and rhythms!

CONGRATULATIONS, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy 2018, everyone! After two restful weeks of winter break, we are all back and ready to roll through the winter with more fun and exciting musical endeavors. However, I would be remiss if I didn't congratulate all the students who performed in the Winter Concert and Holiday Program back in December. It was such a joyful experience to see and hear so many voices and instruments coming together to share music. Below is a short video of highlights from both performances. Thank you for creating this, Mrs. Sullivan! I am proud of each and every performer, and feel lucky to do what I do as a music educator!

Winter Concert = One week away!

The TCS Winter Concert is only a week away! Students in grades 4 through 8 are gearing up for what's sure to be a fun way to dive into the holiday season.  More details are below for students who will be performing...

• When: Wednesday, December 6th
• 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 sweater if needed). 

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

PLEASE JOIN US on Wednesday, December 12th at 7pm!

NEXT WEEK: Musical Auditions for 7th & 8th graders!

TCS Musical Auditions

for 7th and 8th graders

Tuesday, November 14th 3:15-4:30pm

Thursday, November 16th 3:15-4:30pm

*All auditions will be held in the music room with

Mr. Merrill & Mrs. Wepler (directors)

*Please bring your signed audition form

Performances:

Saturday, April  21st @5pm

Sunday, April  22nd @2pm

Candy Rhythms!

I know Halloween is over, but in the spirit of fun (and leftover candy!) here's an activity that connects candy and rhythm.

Name some of your favorite Halloween candy (use the photo below for inspiration):

Take the names of those treats and see if you can identify their specific rhythms. For example:

Skittles = Ti Ti

Almond Joy = Ti Ti Ta

Starburst = Ti Ti

Lollipops = Ti Ti Ta

Students had a blast with this game, and we even created a chart to see how many candies have the same rhythmic patterns.

Bonus: Put a few pieces of candy in a row, and see if you can clap out the rhythm using the names. The possibilities are endless!

The Musical Ripple Effect

Several weeks ago, I noticed some new visual art hanging in the dining hall. The first reading project for middle school grades culminates in the creation of posters to advertise books that students read over the summer. I was immediately struck by the uniqueness of each poster on the wall. Some took me back to my own middle school reading days (Where The Red Fern Grows), and others piqued my interest as a reader (All the Light We Cannot See). One poster caught my attention for a specific reason: the book was called Sing It! and it was about the life of Pete Seeger, who happens to be one of my favorite musicians. 

I noticed that sixth grader Caleb Butler had made the poster, so I asked him about the book. He assured me that it was "really good" and that I should definitely read it. I ordered the book, read it cover to cover, and couldn't stop thinking about it.

A few days later, I was talking with Heather Butler (4th grade teacher and Caleb's mom) about the book, and she informed me that she had reached out to the author, Meryl Danziger. TCS, with the help of Breakwater Books, was inviting Meryl to visit the school to share her story with our community. I couldn't believe it! Once Meryl's visit was confirmed, I contacted her and we began corresponding about how we might play some of Pete's songs together as part of her presentation. I also decided to devote some time during my music classes to share Pete Seeger songs with my students.

Hearing students sing classic songs like "This Land is Your Land" (a Woody Guthrie tune that Pete sang countless times), and "The Hammer Song" was such a fulfilling and positive musical experience for them, and for me.

Meeting Meryl was magical. Hearing her share stories about Pete Seeger and singing a few songs together was something I will never forget. We even had a special afternoon edition of WTCS, and students interviewed Meryl to find out more about her and the book, before her presentation after school. 

You can sense Meryl's genuine love of music and children the moment you meet her. Her knowledge of Pete Seeger, her willingness to share personal, heartfelt stories about Pete, and her honesty about the book writing process is inspiring. Through Meryl's visit, I not only learned more about Pete, but I also gained a new musical friend. I hope to visit Meryl at her school called Music House in New York at some point in the future.

Perhaps the most powerful connection I discovered through this process was between the student who chose to share this book with TCS, and the musician who inspired millions of people. Caleb's decision to read and share the book Sing It! was like dropping a single pebble into a pool of water. The "ripples" he created from his poster project led others to read this special book, which led our school to invite the author to share her story of Pete Seeger with us. Pete Seeger, a man who is known by millions but liked to think of himself as just a man with a banjo, created similar musical ripples throughout his life, just by singing songs and sharing his voice with others. Pete also had this to say about music education: "Singing with children in the schools has been the most rewarding experience of my life."

After experiences like this one, I truly cherish what I do here at TCS. Thank you to Caleb Butler, Heather Butler, Meryl Danziger, the TCS community, and Pete Seeger, for connecting us all through an inspiring love of reading and music!