January and February are music literacy months at Risen Christ!

Hello families and friends:

Welcome to the mid-winter blog update for music class at Risen Christ School.  First of all I want to thank all our wonderful families for the gift of your talented children.  They were magnificent at The Christmas Program and I was one proud teacher!  Over the course of these two months following  Christmas break the students, at various levels are focusing on music literacy, arranging and composing.
    For our kindergarten through second grade students, this means reading rhythms on flash cards, and creating musical phrases with notation manipulatives.  They are also singing, dancing using instruments with simple songs that they are able to read and decipher notation.
   Our 3rd graders are working on musical arrangements of more complicated songs, adding instrumental accompaniments that they must read and play as a class.  4th and 5th grade students are working hard at the recorder and reading notes on the treble clef.  They can play and read from middle C (the lowest note on the recorder) to D an octave and a note above middle C.
   Our 6th graders are reading rhythm pieces in 3 parts and playing them as a class, while our 7th and 8th graders are creating individual 2-part compositions for instruments of their choice.  These compositions will be performed for the class at the completion the of the unit.

Please take a look at some of the posted pictures of our students working hard in music.  Thanks again for checking in, and blessings to all our families and friends.

Tara Finne (Music Educator: Risen Christ School)

Winter is Here!

Hello families and friends of Risen Christ School!  Well the weather is changing and therefore our annual Christmas Concert is right around the corner.  The students have been working extremely hard for this performance and it promises to be fun for all!

All Risen Christ students will be performing at our concert which takes place on December 16th (Thursday) at 7:00pm at The Church of the Holy Name adjacent to Risen Christ.

Our performance will include singing, dancing, instrument playing, hoola hoops, black lights, and of course some holiday cheer!  You will have to be there to learn more!  Hope to see you at the show and don't forget to contact the school with any questions.

Enjoy some photos of the kids preparing for the show!

Tara Finne: Music Educator: Risen Christ School

Welcome Back to School!

Hello Risen Christ students and parents and welcome back!  Just a few quick updates on the music program for the start of the year:

1) 4th and 5th grade students will again have the opportunity to purchase recorders.  I will be handing out forms for the students to fill out with their parents and return to me in the music room or to their homeroom teachers.  Students are never required to purchase a recorder since we have a full classroom set, however some students enjoy having their own to use. 
The cost of the recorders is $5.00.  I will collect cash or checks made out to Risen Christ School during September and order all recorders.  Hopefully the kids will have them by the end of the Month or early October.

Curriculum Updates for September:

Kindergarten through 2nd grade students will focus on learning and practicing steady beat using singing, dancing and instrument exploration.

3rd through 5th grade students will be working with simpler dances, partner songs and rounds.  4th and 5th graders especially will be working with recorders and reading music in the treble clef.

Middle school students will be learning advanced xylophone pieces and percussion ensemble pieces as well as reading complex rhythms and percussion notation.

Have a wonderful month and enjoy the start of fall!

Tara Finne (Music Educator: Risen Christ School)

Happy Summer Risen Christ Families

Happy summer to all my wonderful students and families! I hope you are enjoying the beautiful and unpredictable Minnesota weather.

Welcome to my new blog. This is a place where students and families of Risen Christ School can stay updated on what is happening in music class every month of the school year, as well as find concert information, assignments for students, or upcoming events. The images and video on this post are of some students working hard in music class and preparing for performances this past school year.

Stay tuned in September and each month of the 2010-2011 school year for more information, pictures and videos of the amazing Risen Christ students engaged in making beautiful music! Take care and have a fabulous summer!