Mrs. Schoen 651-6893-6969 #93730 lisa.schoen@district196.org

2008-2009 Concert Schedule

Da Capo Choir

Da Capo Choir is a fun after-school class offered through District 196 Community Education. If you love to sing, share your passion for music with others! Da Capo Choir is a non-auditioned choir that focuses on vocal technique, music reading and artistic expression in a fun and education setting. This feeder program will allow students the opportunity to audition for the District's Dakota Valley Singers held in May.

Da Capo Choir will begin on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 and run for eight weeks (skip October 28 - conferences). Rehearsal dates are as follows: 9-23, 9-30, 10-7, 10-14, 10-21, 11-4, 11-11, 11-18. Classes will begin after school and end at 3:45 pm each Wednesday. There will be a final performance for family and friends during the last class on November 18. Look for a flier to come home during the first weeks of school with information about registration. Registration information for Da Capo Choir will also be found on the Discovery Classes webpage. (Note: Busing will not be available for Da Capo Choir. This class does not coincide with other Discovery Classes held at Deerwood.)

What's Happening in Music?

All students in grades one through five have vocal music. Students in all-day kindergarten also have vocal music. The music teacher designs lessons to encourage curiosity about patterns in sound, in movement, in words and in names. Noticing patterns is the key to unlocking our ability to hear and identify sound, which is the key to understanding music. The children study through song games using their voices as the primary instrument. As their pattern detecting ability develops, they use percussion instruments, xylophones and recorders. The playful study supports self-esteem, allows mistakes and "second tries," challenges creative thought and fosters fun!

Students in grades two through five will participate in one vocal music concert each year. Performances are an important part of a student's musical development; therefore, these experiences are considered part of students' participation grades on their report cards.

Music involves the whole child:

Mentally
Remembering and detecting patterns of words, pitches, rhythms, and being able to describe them involves many thinking skills. These skills carry over into all of learning.

Physically
Locomotion and static motion are used by children to show what they notice in the music they sing and hear. Kinesthetic activity enhances learning for almost every elementary school child. Students learn by moving.

Socio-emotional
Working in the large group, in small groups or with partners involves many social skills and changes the level of involvement for the students. When functioning in the large group, children have many watching turns, but in a partnership, they must be actively learning immediately.

Aesthetically
Singing together, playing musical instruments in ensemble, and listening to masterworks, all present beauty in sound...the aesthetic experience. Making beautiful musical sounds and responding to them is one of the ways in which people feel united and yet, notice their uniqueness.

Musically
Through listening, creating, playing instruments, moving, and creating notation, the students build musical skills for life.