5-6 Choir Hall of Fame

We have a new Hall of Fame for 5-6 choir. Every rehearsal or performance I will name one or more students to the Hall of Fame, recognizing their participation in the rehearsal, their contribution of fine singing, of good ideas, of appropriate behavior, of Christian kindness.

Drum roll, please.
SUNDAY, JAN. 22
Natalie
Ben H.
Both worked very hard to lead the choir in learning "Come Follow Me Forever" in just four rehearsals

TUESDAY, JAN. 24
Caiden for contributing ideas about "ethereal"
Sophie for contibuting an ethereal "loo" to "O Gracious Light"

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25.Sing for chapel
Paige, Drew and Cameron for soloing.

THURSDAY, JAN 26
Drew and Katarina
Special thanks to Ms. Dennen for leading the rehearsal

Take a look at Thwacked

Watch the end of another group of kids' production of Thwacked.

How will our show be different?

Letter to parents and students

Dear Parents and Students,

I am looking forward to working with the fifth and sixth grades this year, in choir and in the fifth and sixth grade play this fall.

The date for the play is Friday, October 21. Mark your calendars! The evening performance begins at 7:00 p.m. There will also be a morning performance at 9:15 a.m. at which parents and guests are welcome. I’ll tell the kids more about the show in a couple weeks, but already I can promise it will have singing, dancing, acting, and comedy, as well as some things to think about.

In choir we will learn music that spans the centuries and the globe. Fifth and sixth graders are ready for musical challenges--I’m looking forward to accomplishing great things with this group of singers. Something new this this year--we will have regular tests, related to the music we learn for each performance.

The choir needs everyone to be present for performances. This is part of your student’s obligation to the school and to his or her classmates. When students fail to attend performances, it makes it harder for the students who are here to do a good job, and it makes it difficult for all of us to take pride in our work. Watch for reminders about when we sing for worship in the Friday principal note and in classroom newsletters. If your student is unable to attend a worship service when the choir is singing please let me know with an email or a note at least a week ahead of time.

Choir and dramatic performances are activities where students work together as a community. We bring different talents, different levels of ability to this process, but we apply our varied gifts to a common goal, supporting one another along the way. It requires focus and concentration. It isn’t easy, but it’s often fun--and it’s good practice for life.

Making music and putting on plays are also ways of praising God our Creator and imitating Christ’s Creative Spirit at work in the world. With God’s help, we will grow in grace and wisdom this year as we serve God’s people through the performing arts.

Ms. Gotsch
ggotsch@graceriverforest.org

Getting ready for the 2011-12 school year

The beginning of the school year is three weeks away. I'm still enjoying summer, but thinking about what the fall will bring--including a drama presentation by grades 5 and 6 on Friday, October 21, and the 5-6 choir's first performance in Sunday worship on October 30. I will be directing the 5-6 choir this year, and I'll also be directing the 5-6 play. Stay tuned! I'll use this blog, as well as the usual email and paper channels, to keep parents informed.

Meanwhile, listen to what kids' choirs can do!
Toronto Children's Chorus singing a Newfoundland folk song
Free downloads from the American Boychoir

And we begin . . .

Actually, we began working on the show several months ago--learning the music in choir and using drama elective time to work more on music and staging.

But now the clock is ticking. Can we put the show together in four weeks of rehearsal? How good can we make it?

Click on the link to the right to see the rehearsal schedule.

Looking ahead to Once on This Island

Once on This Island is the junior high musical this year. Performances are on Friday and Saturday, May 7 and 8. It's the story of Ti Moune (tee MOON), a poor girl who lives on an island in the Caribbean, where poor people live very different lives from the grandes hommes--the rich people. Ti Moune saves the life of a rich boy, Daniel, and falls in love. What is her fate? The people of the island, the birds, the trees, and the gods of earth, water, love and death tell the story.

Read about the show and listen to the songs here.

Here are links to some other junior high and high school productions of this show. Take a look--but remember--our production will be uniquely ours!

Opening: We Dance

Mama Will Provide

One of the slow songs: Part of the Human Heart

The big number at the end: We Tell the Story

Singing for Christmas

I heard this story on Chicago's NPR station (WBEZ, 91.5 FM) while driving to school this morning. Listen to a seventh grader talk about singing and especially, singing for Christmas worship services.