Ms. Bilunas

The last bus has left.  We have all waved and said goodbye.  I am reminded of this song the fifth graders sang at their “Moving-on Ceremony.”

Good by, farewell,

The time has come for parting,

Take care, stay well, 

I’ll see you in a while.

We have had a lot of happy memories,

And I guess we’ve had a lot of fun

And I hope the memories will linger on

Now that we’re through and done.

Goodbye, au revoir, ciao, farewell,

We’ve had a jolly time.

Goodbye, au revoir, ciao, farewell,

See you next year!

Now that third grade students have taken recorders home, some may wish to have a recorder music book.  Here is the information for the recorder book I used in music class:

Title:  Recorder Time, Book One, for Soprano Recorder

Author:  Gerald and Sonya Burakoff

Publisher:  Sweet Pipes, Inc.

Number:  SP2308

Website:  http://www.sweetpipes.com/

Cost:  $4.00 plus shipping and handling

There is an optional companion CD available, #SP2308CD.  

This recorder book is also available through http://www.amazon.com/  One of the local music stores may also be able to order this music book.

I hope the third graders enjoy playing their recorders.  It’s an easy instrument to play – anywhere.  It’s easy to pack and take with you, anywhere you go.  I do!

Spring Concerts presented during the Celebration of Learning went very well.  Congratulations to all the students. It is my great pleasure to make music with these  young musicians. Thank you to all the administration, faculty, staff, and maintenance members for their assistance.  Thank you to the twenty student videographers and ushers who worked at the concerts.  Thank you to the parents, family, and friends who attended and enjoyed the concerts.  Ms. Bilunas

One of our students created program cover art with the logo “Spring into a Concert.”  Students took some time in music class to draw possible program cover art.  It was a challenging job for me to choose artwork for the programs for the five upcoming concerts.  The students are ready to spring into a concert next week.  The music is learned.  The choralography learned.  The instruments ready.  They know how to smile and give you the big bow at the end of the show.  So come come join us and spring into a concert.  Concert times are posted  on this blog and also at “Coming Events.”

On Thursday evening, May 20, the TES Grade 5 Band performed in a Spring Concert at the Tyngsborough High School Auditorium.  The Band performed first on a concert with two other bands:  the TMS Grade 6 Band and the TMS Grade 7 and 8 Band.  All bands were under the direction of Mr. Eaton, Instrumental Music Director. The TES Grade 5 Band looked sharp the moment they walked onto the stage, dressed in black and white.  Students showed they were a sharp as they followed Mr. Eaton’s direction on “Regent Square.”  They showed they could present the classics with an arrangement of “Beethoven’s Ninth.”  Then there was a contemporary number with presence, mood, percussion moments:  ”Dark Towers.”  The rousing rhythms did not stop there.  The Band closed their section of the concert with “Rock-It.”  That’s exactly what they did.  They rocked it!  Well done, Grade Five Band.

Our TES 5th Grade Band students will perform in concert at the Tyngsborough High School Auditorium at 7:00 PM, on Thursday, May 21. Band members are asked to arrive by 6:30 PM.  The 5th Grade Band will perform first on the program. Following the performance, the students will be escorted into the auditorium, where they will listen to the performance of the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade band students.  All band students are under the direction of Mr. Matthew Eaton.

Here is a bit more information about the upcoming Spring Concerts.  Three of the grades will perform on Thursday, June 3, and two of the grades will perform on Friday, June 4, at the times listed below.

Thursday, June 3

9:30 AM      Grade 1 and Transition

10:15 AM     Second Grade

2:00 PM      Third Grade

Friday, June 4

9:30 AM       Fourth Grade

10:15  AM    Fifth Grade

Just a reminder, the classes performing are those who are currently having music classes.  All concerts will be in the cafetorium, free, and open to the public.

Pre-school students and kindergarden students are singing, dancing, and playing instruments in their music classes.  Anything a student does at home to help move to a steady beat is helpful at this age.  One can start with actions a child can do while standing still and progress to actions a child can do while moving.  We do many activities to use the voice in different ways.  Having children say with you  a nursery rhyme in a whisper voice, a singing voice, and a speaking voice is a good way to use one’s voice in different ways.  Singing with the “you-hoo” sound is very helpful. This is a great lead-in to singing. Our songs are usually within a 5-6 note range- easily accesible to the young voice.  In music class students have been using all the different percussion instruments in the room.  We use a variety of instruments in the class.  We’re quite the band!  You and your child can explore what you have at home and make your own instrument(s) and make your own band.  It can be great fun.

If your children are in  first/ transition through fifth grade and are having music class during this trimester, then your children are preparing to sing at the Spring Concerts in June.  You may be hearing songs being hummed or sung around the house.  This is great!  You may see some choralography along with the singing. This all goes with the singing.  If you have a metallophone or xylophone or drum around the house, that might also be played…Just kidding. These instruments are usually in schools. Yes, we’re preparing music for the concerts.  Students learn all instrument parts for song with accompaniments – and sing and play together. Third graders are memorizing one of their recorder pieces for the concert.  Things are shaping up very well.

Mark the dates of June 3 and June 4 on your calendars!  More Spring Concerts are set for Thursday, June 3, and Friday, June 4.  The concerts will take place as part of Celebration of Learning.  Concerts will be presented on stage in the cafetorium;  these will be open to the public.  On Thursday, June 3, Grade 1 and Transition will perform at 9:30 AM; Grade 2 will perform at 10:15 AM; and Grade 3 will perform at 2:00 PM.  Grades 4 and 5 will perform on Friday, June 4.  Concert times will be announced at a later date.