March 2012 Newsletter
There has been a lot of exciting learning going on the CIS Instrumental Music Department as we have been working our way through winter. Whether your child is a beginning fourth grader or an advanced sixth grader, our goal is to keep every child challenged and excited about learning to play an instrument.
The fourth graders are rapidly improving their skills. As the weather has been cooperating and keeping the snow days away, we have been able to work on reinforcing good habits in lessons. In band rehearsals, the children are now working on four pieces and doing quite well.
The fifth graders are making great strides in their development as well. One of the most difficult pieces the students are working on in band is entitled “Defenders of Freedom”. This exciting piece is a medley of all of the service songs of our country’s armed forces and includes parts which feature each section of the band. The students are on track to have this piece be a great highlight of their Spring Concert.
The sixth graders are working very hard as they enter their last trimester at CIS.
Many of the students are in the midst of their National Anthem Unit. In an attempt to warm us all up a little bit, they are improving their music literacy skills by learning the national anthems of countries in the Caribbean. We started out with the Bahamas and we will be moving through a number of islands such as Barbados and Cuba very soon. In band rehearsals, the students are doing outstanding work on some very challenging literature.
Please remember to encourage your child to practice on a daily basis. Thanks to everyone for supporting your child’s music education.
Mr. B.