Monday, August 27, 2018

Welcome to a New School Year in the Music Room!

Welcome Back!!!

Hello parents and students! My name is Stephanie Hanson, and I am the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade general music teacher at Carruthers. We are already deep into activities in the music room for the year. This blog will help keep you up-to-date on what is going on in the classroom. Here is a breakdown of what we have been working on and what you may need to know, by grade.

Grades in the Music Room

  • Students will receive a daily effort and participation grade in music. This will be the main portion of their grade. The grade breakdown for music is as follows:
    • 3 points-Student participated and showed effort all the time
    • 2 points-Student participated and showed effort some of the time
    • 1 point-Student participated and showed effort a little of the time
    • 0 points-Student did not participate or show any effort
  • Occasionally, you will see other grades for music activities completed in class. These will not be very often. Some of these will simply be a completed/did not complete grade, just for sharing with you.

3rd Grade


  • Students have begun to order their recorders for the year. 
    • Recorders are $3.25 each, and they are available in red, gold, green, blue, and purple.
    • It takes quite a while to collect money, order recorders, and get the recorders labeled correctly.
    • We will begin playing the recorders full-time just after our holiday concert.
    • In the future, look for info regarding the recorder karate music program, which will greatly encourage your child to progress on their instrument.
  • 3rd grade students will have a holiday music program on Monday, December 10, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium.
    • We will begin to work on music for this program in late September/early October.
    • Please be looking for information for solo/speaking auditions in October.
  • Quaver Music is the curriculum we use in the music room.
    • I have been showing students how to log in to their Quaver Music online accounts this week. The website for this is www.quavermusic.com. Once there, click on "login" at the top right corner of the web page.
      • There is a class code needed to access all materials. It is 59K8P.
      • Students who I formerly taught at GJAL (in kindergarten music): They will use their school username and password, WITHOUT the period on the username or initials on the password. Just ask your child, because they should know this information.
      • Students who are new to me this year: They do not have an account setup by me yet, but they will get one soon. Meanwhile, they can login using google. They will click on "login with google" and use their school username (firstname.lastname28@students.mhs.org) and password (1234567fl). They should have this memorized.
      • If your child is a former student, you may also login with google. Once logged in, link your google account to your current quaver account. The quaver system will guide you through this. Once this is used, it is so easy to login using your google account.
      • When prompted, click on the option to use with Flash, for full animations.
      • Enjoy the program! There are tons of fun and educational music activities for students to use.

4th Grade

  • The 4th grade musical will be Monday, October 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium.
    • The costume for the musical is the "On the Shoulders of Giants" t-shirt. All students will wear this t-shirt and nice pants. 
      • Students may get extra copies of the order form in the school office or from me.
    • We have already learned 3 of our songs for the musical, and the students seem to be really enjoying the music. I know a musical is not always for everyone, but I have found in the past 2 years of doing them, the students really bond as a group and they ALL enjoy it in the end. There have been students who have never seemed to have the slightest interest in music, who are begging to do another musical when we are finished.
    • Auditions for singing or speaking solos will be next week, the week of September 3. Anyone who receives a part will get the part to take home to practice and memorize.
  • 4th graders will be playing the recorder again this year. 
    • Most students left their recorder at school, so it is already ready to go.
    • Any students who need or want a new recorder, may purchase one for $3.25. I am putting an order in mid-late September. The colors available are red, gold, green, blue, and purple. I will send home an order envelope soon for any student who does not have a recorder at school.
    • If your child needs a new bag for their recorder, you can put it in a gallon size Ziploc bag, with the zipper top. Be sure to write the student's name on it.

5th Grade

  • 5th grade students will get the option to sign up for beginning band this year. Information will be going home soon.
    • We are looking at instruments in music class this week, so students are more familiar with what is available.
    • Students may select from the following instruments:
      • Woodwinds: flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
      • Brass: trumpet, trombone, french horn, baritone, tuba
      • Percussion
    • Band sign-up will be in the evening, the week after the Apple Festival.
  • 5th grade students will be performing in a Veterans Day concert on Thursday, November 8 at 6:30 in the school gymnasium.
    • Auditions for this program will be in the upcoming weeks.
      • Students will audition on The Star Spangled Banner and a short reading excerpt.
      • This audition will be used for a variety of parts.
        • Singing solos during the program
        • The Star Spangled Banner solo to open the program
        • Speaking parts for the program
        • Selection of students for the Illinois Music Education Association District 6 and All-State Elementary Choruses
      • Students will need to demonstrate that they have practiced the parts, as well as technique and artistry.
    • We have begun to talk about the military veterans of our nation. 
      • This week we are beginning with reading "America's White Table," which is in honor of our nation's MIA and POW. 
      • There will be information about an optional essay contest going home soon.
      • We will be exploring a variety of styles of performance of The Star Spangled Banner.
      • I have been talking to the students about and encouraging them to tell a military veteran "Thank You" for serving our country. This is a small, but very meaningful, way they can show their gratitude.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns as the school year progresses. My email is shanson@mhs.org, school phone is 618.687.3231, and Class Dojo is always a great way to contact me. I'm looking forward to a great year!