Well, the first month of the school year is over and it feels like just yesterday that the halls were filled with the excitement of the first day. It has been a fantastic start to the school year in our choir program. I have a lot of new things to talk about, so each week in my blog, I will take a moment to talk about them. In this week's blog, I am going to talk about our Choir Standards. This may seem a bit lengthy, but it is worth it in the end.
With BMS moving to Standards Based Grading next year, all of our departments have had to write standards to address what we would like students to know when they leave our classroom at the end of 8th grade year. I have based my standards on the National Standards for Music. If I were to adopt those standards, I would have to provide a dictionary for you to understand what they all mean. So, what we have done is to take the standards and write them in "Layman's Terms" so that you can understand what I expect from the students in my program. I am providing links here to each standard so that you can read through them and understand what they are. As I move through the school year, I will be providing grading rubrics for you to see so that you understand what the grade in the gradebook means.
With BMS moving to Standards Based Grading next year, all of our departments have had to write standards to address what we would like students to know when they leave our classroom at the end of 8th grade year. I have based my standards on the National Standards for Music. If I were to adopt those standards, I would have to provide a dictionary for you to understand what they all mean. So, what we have done is to take the standards and write them in "Layman's Terms" so that you can understand what I expect from the students in my program. I am providing links here to each standard so that you can read through them and understand what they are. As I move through the school year, I will be providing grading rubrics for you to see so that you understand what the grade in the gradebook means.
These standards are the basis of what everything we do in choir entails. It is my job to get students at least into the proficient category by the time they leave 8th grade. It would be great if we could get all students into the developing category by the end of 6th grade. Students who are not receiving and "A" in choir this year are not demonstrating the standards within my classroom. Throughout the year there will be assessments, in addition to concerts, that the students need to complete, including where they will be recording themselves singing and turning that in so I can evaluate them on how they are contributing within the entire choir. If you have questions about any of these standards, please let me know so we can discuss them.
As for choir classes this year so far, they have been outstanding. I am enjoying all of my work and the students have really been working hard on learning within all of the standards. Here is a breakdown:
6th Grade Choir: Students have learned the 6 elements to good posture, proper breathing techniques for singers, what a rehearsal is all about, and they have just started working more on music literacy as we have moved into a piece of music and they are about 3/4 of the way through that. This week, students will be looking at their next song.
7th Grade Choir: Students have been working for their first concert coming up on October 24. They are working on 3 pieces and they have also started their concert notes for these songs. I am hoping for some great outcomes from concert notes this year. Our choir trip fundraiser has started and forms and orders are due by Oct. 10.
8th Grade Choir: Students have been working extensively on connecting with the texts we are singing, and singing in a mixed formation as well. They have been working very hard and their work shows already. I can't wait for you to hear them on October 24. Our choir trip fundraiser has started and forms and orders are due by Oct. 10.
This has been a great start to the school year and I am looking forward to many more great weeks of fun and learning. Again, any questions, please let me know!!! Happy Fall!
Mr. Fritz
As for choir classes this year so far, they have been outstanding. I am enjoying all of my work and the students have really been working hard on learning within all of the standards. Here is a breakdown:
6th Grade Choir: Students have learned the 6 elements to good posture, proper breathing techniques for singers, what a rehearsal is all about, and they have just started working more on music literacy as we have moved into a piece of music and they are about 3/4 of the way through that. This week, students will be looking at their next song.
7th Grade Choir: Students have been working for their first concert coming up on October 24. They are working on 3 pieces and they have also started their concert notes for these songs. I am hoping for some great outcomes from concert notes this year. Our choir trip fundraiser has started and forms and orders are due by Oct. 10.
8th Grade Choir: Students have been working extensively on connecting with the texts we are singing, and singing in a mixed formation as well. They have been working very hard and their work shows already. I can't wait for you to hear them on October 24. Our choir trip fundraiser has started and forms and orders are due by Oct. 10.
This has been a great start to the school year and I am looking forward to many more great weeks of fun and learning. Again, any questions, please let me know!!! Happy Fall!
Mr. Fritz