Congratulations to the Piano Recital Participants!!

Great Job!

I'm still open for makeups

Turn in recital credits

Get ready for finals 

and

Happy Holidays!

Have a great break

Week 12/12

I'm looking forward to all groups this week.

Pianists:  We will be preparing for the piano recital.  The recital will be on Monday, Dec. 19th during 5th period.

My theory classes will be preparing for the final.

Week of 12/5

Pianists:  We will not have groups this week, because we are in preparation for the vocal concert.
I will see you next week and I'm looking forward to hearing you.

Test re-takes are possible this week with an appointment.  Please see me.

Week of 11/28

Welcome Back!!  

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving Break!

We will begin preparation for the bi-annual piano recital.

All independent studiers should be fine tuning their repertoire.

Beginners:  We'll begin playing the C major chord with both hands.  You should get sheet music out of the green box and move ahead. 

The Piano Lab is open daily before and after school for your convenience.  I look forward to seeing you.

Week of 11/14

VOCAL STUDENTS

Congratulations on completing your All-State Choir auditions!!!

VC Piano Beg - 1st block - Brother John

VC Piano Beg - 4th block - Good king Wenceslas

We should have a few play on a class recital from the independent study groups.

RC 3 Theory - We will complete M7ths and m7ths. Your test will include 6th and 7ths and all previously learned intervals.

RC 4 Theory - We will complete primary chords and their functions in a cadence pattern.

Week of 11/7

Congratulations to all of the Showcase Participants!  

It was handwork, but a lot of fun too!

Fantastic Shows, both nights!

Get ready for GHP auditions and ALL-STATE!!

We will be reviewing all-state skills in all classes.
Tighten up your All-State Rep!   - correct breaths, dynamics, text
VC - Beg -- some of you need to play Jingle Bells again for me. Arrange a time to do that ASAP.
Check your ALl-State times and transportation.

Week of 10/30

Congratulations to the Solo Festival Participants!

VC Piano Beg. - Everyone should playing melodic and harmonic 4ths and 5ths

RC3 - Good job on your P4 and P5 Quiz. Let's move on to major and minor 6ths.


The Piano Lab is open for your convenience before and after school. I'll be very glad to see you.

Week of 10/24

VC - Class Piano Recital Participants:  Congratulations! Good Job!
I'm looking forward to hearing all of you this week.
Beg. are studying 4ths and 5ths.

RC 3 and 4 - I'm always available for test re-takes.  Stay in touch.

Week of 10/17

The Showcase Audition Schedule

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fzMZ2PLI0nXyEhlaEjLdts2tYvJM37aaCZaimhumQDM/edit?usp=sharing .

Week of 10/17

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Here is the link set up in order to gather information for students interested in private piano lessons with Ms. Lewis.

https://goo.gl/forms/XpmhU4HgiadRJ9xo2

This is Ms. Lewis' bio, if you misplaced your hard copy.

Biographical Sketch of Ella Lewis

Ella Lewis was born in New York, New York, but resided in Brunswick, Georgia most of her formative years. Ms. Lewis is a graduate of Morris Brown College and has done extensive graduate work at Georgia State University. She has currently completed 37 years as a teacher in the Atlanta Public School System, where she was a piano instructor and accompanist for the North Atlanta High School Performing Arts Dept. Throughout her tenure, she served as choral director for several schools, stage/jazz band director, show choir director, Handbell director, and assistant registrar. The subjects that she’s taught were Piano, Music Theory (all levels), Guitar, Handbells, IB Music, Ethnic Music Studies, Music Appreciation, and various Choral Ensembles. Along with duties in educating the children in Atlanta, she has been involved with church music. Although her early musical training was dual (piano/ specialization in woodwind instruments), her focus is now on classical organ. For 13 years, Ms. Lewis was organist and accompanist for several choirs at the Cascade United Methodist Church and organist at the Ben Hill United Methodist Church for 5 years. She was church organist for the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church for 18 years. At present, Ella is the organist and pianist for the Sandy Springs Christian Church and is in her tenure of 6 years.

Ella Lewis is an able accompanist, having accompanied in many master classes and recitals throughout the United States. She has served as accompanist for the Atlanta University Community Chorus, Opus, Onyx Opera Atlanta, Senior High All-State Choruses (State of Georgia), and several conventions of the National Association of Negro Musicians. Ms. Lewis has accompanied several groups, locally, nationally and abroad. She is the accompanist for the nationally known Uzee Brown Society of Choraliers, based here in Atlanta GA. She performed as accompanist and organist on several international tours, which included England, and Italy.

In June 2002, she traveled throughout Germany, Switzerland, and France and performed concerts, playing the organ in several major European churches, including the cathedral at St. Sebald in Neurnburg, the cathedral at Freiburg and St. Johnnes Kirche in Basel, Switzerland. Ella still travels extensively and concertizes on occasions.

She holds memberships in several organizations. Among them are the American Guild of Organists (AGO), Music Educators’ National Conference, (MENC), Georgia Music Educators’ Association (GMEA), Metropolitan Atlanta Musicians’ Association (MAMA), Delta Omicron.

International Music Fraternity (∆O), Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), the National Educators Association (NEA), and the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM) of which she is a former member of the Board of Directors. 

Week of 10/10

For those who recently played "A Tisket, a Tasket" ...check this out. Compare these 2 versions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_lrYzMvMYI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkSiPKC-8so


Listen to more Ella singing with jazz great Mel Torme..just for fun
These two videos are about 20 yrs. apart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju5NztMnQxE


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CbVy1NnB4g



RC 3:  Here is the music theory website we discussed in class.  You can identify intervals visually and aurally. Find the exercises.


https://www.teoria.com/en/exercises/

Week 10/3

Welcome Back!!!

Piano
VC Beg - I'm excited to get back to work.  We should be reading on the grand staff and playing with both hands.  "Rock-a-Long" is the 1st piece.

Make sure you ask for piano sheets and packets of your assignments to take home and practice.

Chamber - Let's get ready to sight-read on piano using Sight-Reading Factory.

VC and Chamber:

Check Synergy!  If you don't have a grade there is still time.
Chamber - scales should be completed by the end of the day
I appreciate the videos of you playing your scales.
 That's the way to get it done!!!

HAVE A GREAT FALL BREAK!!

These links are for students playing "Largo".  Another name for the piece is "Going Home".
Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASlch7R1Zvo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9smSP1dq-A
This one is long....  the 1st two minutes will give you the idea of the piece.

Chamber:  I'm looking forward to you completing your scales before Friday. You may check them off before or after school, or during your class.

VC Beg. Pianists:  I enjoyed reading your commentary on the Ode To Joy Flash Mob.  Remember to fulfill these requirements.  I only asked for a paragraph, but it is a grade.

Chamber:  Let's rap of the scales.

Invite your family and friends to our concert on Thursday, Sept 15, 2016 at 7:30 PM!!!!!  We need an audience!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbJcQYVtZMo

VC - Beg. Pianists

This is the link to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.  The previous post is for "Aura Lee".
Please watch this one and write one paragraph about your experience. This is due next week during your next piano class.

VC -  for Beg. Pianist playing Aura Lee this week:  Please watch the following:  Write a short paragraph about the similarities and differences of these two performances.  Which one did you enjoy the best and why? 

If you've completed Aural Lee, you may write about either of the videos.  Your choice.




www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYbjEp5kZko



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gzC29VwE1A&list=RD-gzC29VwE1A#t=0

Ladies and Gentlemen

We are now all in GROUP MODE, including VC.  Monday will be your first day.
I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing you.

Congratulations to the Nation Anthen Sing-Off Winners!!!

Here is the link to sign up for Showcase auditions

 https://goo.gl/forms/aGmfXVLvRRl0vJwj2 

Ladies and Gentlemen!!

Congratulations on a wonderful Workshop Concert

Now we're getting ready to get down to business.

Groups will begin this week

National Anthem Sing-Off will happen this week

VC:  National Anthem Unit

.

All Vocal Students:  Please continue working on you individual choir and Chorale repertoire.

Everyone except our new VC members should have completed their repertoire by this point, regardless of whether or not we've gotten to it in class.

I'm looking forward to groups after the concert.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

You should be reviewing all repertoire for your individual choirs and Chorale.  It's very important that you practice on your own, so that we can move at a faster pace in class. I'm looking forward to a great week of rehearsals  and progress.  Thank you in advance.

Vocal contracts  should have been turned in last Friday.

Welcome Back, VOCAL STUDENTS and THE BRAND NEW VC!!!!

I'm looking forward to making great music with you this year.

Chamber and RC3 & 4:  We will get right to it.  The concert is August 18th.
We begin rep today.

Practice, practice, practice!!!
Juries and finals are right around the corner.

Independent Study Pianists:  complete your pieces and get them performance ready.  Just completing a piece (playing the correct notes and rhythms) doesn't make it performance ready.  I need dynamics, articulations and style.

I'm so glad to resume Piano Groups!
I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing all of you.

Start thinking about your piano jury.

Beginners will play "What Can I Share?"

Independent Students - We will discuss your progress and decide what piece or skill you will be required to perform.

Chamber Senior Pianist - You have 2 choices for your piano final:

1.  You may play your completed piano piece
2.  You may choose 3 scales out of a basket to play, cadence pattern included.  You will have an      appropriate amount of time to practice during your session.

We will resume piano classes after the concert.

PLEASE REVIEW and be prepared.

Welcome Back!!

Please remember to turn in recital credits on time to get full credit.

Please begin looking forward to the Spring Piano Recital in May.
It will occur during one of our last 5th Blocks.

VC - advanced - We try to have some class recitals before that time.
Chamber - I would like those of you accompanying yourselves and others to perform.

Thanks to Chamber and my colleagues for being so accommodating for the Fox 5 recording today.  You are greatly appreciated.

VC Beg:  You should be completing "Mary Ann" and moving on to "Rockets".

Courtney Anderson played "Rockets" at the fastest tempo I've ever heard.  It was clean too!  Yea, Courtney!

 RC 3 & 4:  We will be beginning rhythm dictation this week.

We should be on schedule to have groups in all classes this week.
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and your progress.

Chamber:  I'm particularly concerned about you, since I've seen you the least.  Please continue to work on your individually repertoire.  You will be assessed according to your performance.

VC:  I'm ready to hear Mary Ann.

This is a "shout out" to the Chickadees:

Great job today in piano!! They are on the move!

VC - Performance tests this week

VC - Beg Piano
Watch this video.  This is Paul Robeson, famous opera singer in the early 20th century, singing "Going Home".  It has the same melody as Largo and Senior Men sang it at All-State.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9smSP1dq-A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASlch7R1Zvo

VC
Beg. Pianists:  Please check out this recording of "Largo".  If you haven't played it yet, we will this week.

Looking forward to getting back to groups this week in all classes.

We will have two days (Mon & Tues) of groups in 1st, 3rd and 4th Blocks this week.  We might squeeze in another group for 1st on Wed.  We will be leaving for Athens Wed afternoon.

Rep 3 and 4 - We will begin listening to descending intervals.

VC Beginners: I'm looking forward to watching you transition from C Major to G7.

Chamber : You will play for me and be graded this week on you completion and/or progress of your individually assigned piece.

RC 3 and 4:  You will be tested on interval identification this week

If you are interested in re-taking the tri-tone test or descending interval test you should talk to me immediately.

VC - Beg

• Please look at playing G7 with the lh.
• Merrily We Roll Along
• Look ahead to Largo

Chamber - I'm looking forward to hearing you this week.

       

VC - I'm looking forward to your progress this week.
Beginners - Please practice the C Major Chord for Lh and Rh.

RC 3&4 - If you had issues with the trip-tone quiz, please refer to your journal examples.

Alright!!  We're rolling again.

BEG. VC Piano - Please practice C Major Chord and continue to G7.  I'm looking forward to seeing you practicing in the Piano Lab before school.

RC - TRI-TONES

Keep practicing!!! I'll be back next week.

Welcome Back!!
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.

I will be out this week, but I'll see you next Monday...

VC - Please begin and/or complete "Jingle Bells" if you haven't already.  I know we're past the season, but it's still a fun piece to play.  If you'd like to move ahead - go on to "Brother John".

Chamber - I'm looking forward to hearing you accompany your soloist or yourself.  Please practice this week.

Everyone else - Keep practicing... I know you're rusty
See you soon