Mrs. McGowan’s Music Blog

Please go and look at the rhythm of the day page so that you can say it in class for a cougar key.  So be the first to tell me the right rhythm.

Sorry that it has been so long since I have posted.  Lots has happened since Christmas.  We lost my father to a stroke over the Christmas holiday and it was a real shock.

I got married in March and am now Mrs. McGowan.  It was a beautiful wedding and when I get the photos back from the photographer we hired I’ll put one here.

I’m going to try to have a rhythm of the week on our blog starting today.  If you can say it correctly during your music class you will receive a Cougar Key.

We are learning about the different winter holidays.  Which holiday song is your favorite? 

Mr. Rosas sent this site to me and it is great fun.  You have to know the rhythm of the song to play the melody on the bottles.

http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/shockwave/jar.html

Have fun!

Miss Wallace 

4th and 3rd grades were able to use the Classroom Performance System (clickers…smile) this week.  I’m very proud of the classes that were able to have fun and learn while taking care of the equipment and controlling the class at the same time.  It was really fun for me to see what everyone knew as well as watching other learn it for the first time.  I hope to have more time with the system.

Miss Wallace

We are working on our music for Veterans Day Celebration for this year.  Because of the construction we are going to have to scale down the program but want the celebration to be the best yet. 

Our 5th graders are going to be leading the celebration that will happen on Nov. 9th at 1:00 PM.  We hope that everyone can come and join us in thanking all of those who protect our freedom.

Miss Wallace

We are getting ready for our Veterans Day celebration and I wanted to know who has friends and family members that are Veterans.  Also tell us whom you know that are actively serving in the military. 

Please let us know what branch as well as the name and relationship of the person you know that preserve our freedom.

For example:

My father, uncle and brother were in the Air Force.  My father, aunt (my father’s sister) and another uncle were in the Army. My future husband was in the Navy.

Miss Wallace

We are studying brass instruments in class and I was wondering what is everyone’s favorite brass instrument.  If you know someone who playes a brass instrument let us know too.

Remember brass instruments are those that you have to buzz your lips to make a sound.  For example:  Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Tuba, Sousaphone, or Baritone.

Have fun!

Miss Wallace (6 more months and that changes to Mrs. McGowan)

We had a first rehearsal of the Pasadena Philharmonic Orchestra on Tuesday and it was wonderful.  I really enjoy making music on all levels.  It’s great to be playing the bass clarinet with some very talented people.  We are practicing “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin, “The Wedding March” and a French Horn concerto by Strauss that will be performed by one of our French horn players.  She is a high school student in DPISD.

One of our new violin players was one of my students when she was in 4th grade.  It was neat to know that she is still making music and a cool treat to be able to join her in the orchestra.

Put the name of the instrument, what family the instrument is part of, the person’s name you know that plays this instrument and their relationship to you.

Examples:

Piano/ Percussion/ Mrs. Johnson/ Friend

Baritone/ Voice/ Mr. Smith/Friend

Ask your family and friends and let us know where the music is found.

Week two is over and construction is so much fun. It’s an adventure, you never know what you are going to find when you walk in the room each day.

I was able to go up to the building last Saturday and Monday to get some more unpacked and now have some things on the wall, which helped make the room feel better. I’m still looking for a few boxes with some teaching tools in them. I know that they are there somewhere but there is just not enough time to unpack everything yet. Smile.

This is going to be a fantastic year. I love my classes, the kids are all so respectful and responsible, as well as very talented.

It was good to see all the students back this week.  We have some wonderful singers and dancers here at DWE.  The music rooms aren’t finished yet but all the kids were really nice and understanding about the rooms not being ready.  We are slowly getting everything unpacked and put away.  I’m still missing some of my teaching supplies.  I know that I packed them away very carefully but I can’t seem to find the right box.  Oh well, there is always next week.  Smile.

They are putting the floor covering in today.  The new music rooms are beautiful and the gym is so nice.  I love the windows in the gym.  It makes it such a bright, happy place.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they will be finished in time for me to decorate before school starts.

We have three different choirs at DWE. One for each grade level. More information will be here as soon as we know that is happening with all the construction.

I hope that everyone had a great and long summer. As we get closer to the beginning of school the construction at DWE is still on going. I was able to go in to the new music rooms yesterday and it looks like they are close to being ready for us.