We are currently working on a group of concert pieces. Later this semester, we will take a one-day trip to elementary locations to perform. We are continuing to work on posture, breathing technique and tone quality. I am pleased with the progress most students are making.
The Christmas Concert is behind us, and we are working on repertoire for the second semester. We continue to stress good tone and breathing techniques.
We plan to travel to some of our elementary locations to perform is just a few weeks. The Freshman Chorus is also preparing for the Jr. High Festival coming in late April or early May. They will be ready by the end of the semester to audition for the A cappella.
Scripture memorization assignment sheets have been given to the students. The following scriptures are to be memorized this quarter.
Jan. 11 Philippians 4:4-7
Jan. 18 I John 4:7-12
Jan. 25 Hebrews 12:1-2
Feb. 1 Isaiah 6:1-3
Feb. 8 Isaiah 6:4-5
Feb. 15 Isaiah 6:6-8
Feb. 22 I Corinthians 13:1-7
Feb. 29 I Corinthians 13:8-13
March 3 Quarter Exam: all 3rd qtr. scriptures
Mr. Chester will meet after school, 3:20 to 4:30 by appointment with students who need extra help.
We are now on the downhill side of the school year. This semester is filled with A cappella performances. Last night was the first of our Wednesday night concerts. The students were apprehensive, but came through in grand style. We still have much to work on, but it was a good first performance. You can
find the schedule on the chorus blog created and maintained by former student and current mom, Sheryl Ragland. Tell everyone you know about the
grand finale (Spring Concert) on April 26. This concert will be on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with a reception to follow. We scheduled it on Saturday to
allow for alumni who may be traveling some distance to attend this final concert before Mr. Chester retires.
The Disney performances were so exciting. I was very pleased with the concerts at Epcot. The students and parent chaperones seemed to enjoy the trip.
January 26 All-State Octet testing. 1:00 p.m. Kingsway Christian Church
We have had a quiz or two, but the first major test was 8/31, a timed test on treble clef lines and spaces. On the whole students did very well. Grades are available on K-12 Planet. Tomorrow, 9/7, we will have our big music vocabulary test. Students are responsible for the following vocabulary words, abbreviations and symbols:
A cappella = unaccompanied
Allegro = a fast tempo
Andante = a walking tempo
Largo = a slow tempo
piano - soft
forte - loud
mezzo-piano - medium soft
mezzo-forte - medium loud
pianissimo - very soft
fortissimo - very loud
dolce - sweet
dolcissimo - very sweet
crescendo - gradually louder
decrescendo - gradually softer
accellerando - gradually faster
ritardando - gradually slower
sempre - always
A tempo - return to the original tempo
fine - the end
staccato - short and detached
legato - smooth and connected
Da Capo - return to the beginning; repeat
Dal Segno - return to the sign; repeat
They must be able to recognize the symbols for treble clef, bass clef, fermata, crescendo, decrescendo and the symbol for repeat.