Welcome to Music@SPARK for 2015-2016

Music Class

What do 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders need for Music?
4th/5th graders may re-use their Music binder from last year (binders or envelopes, please, not floppy folders). Students must bring the following to Music every week.

• 3 ring binder
• 10-15 sheets of paper in rings
• 3 ring binder pencil pouch with
• 2-3 sharpened pencils
• last year's flashcards (4th/5th)
• 15-20 index cards

Rulers and pencil sharpeners are not requested.

If you wish to begin the First Quarter Flashcard Project feel free to get started! I updated last year's post with this year's deadlines.

Students will complete one Music project each quarter
Each project is given 5-6 weeks before the deadline for submission. Students should plan to spend about 30 minutes a week on Music practice or projects.

First Quarter--Flashcard Project (vocabulary and note identification) deadline in late September
Second Quarter--ASO Composer Project (music history, vocabulary acquisition, research skills, creative product) deadline in late November
Third Quarter--Write, Read, Sing, Play (musical skill application) deadline in late Feburary
Fourth Quarter--Somewhere in Time deadline in early May

Band, Orchestra, Chorus, and AC

kids can:

1. Participate in EITHER Band, Orchestra (but not both)
2. Participate in NEITHER Band or Orchestra but will go to Extra Spanish/Homeroom during this slot

                            AND 

1. Participate in EITHER AC (Fridays after school until 4:30pm) or Chorus (during the school day) as a Performer which takes place during regular music specials weekly (and additional practice if AC or Performer is chosen)
2. Non-Performer--learns songs in Music but does not perform.

We will have a Music@SPARK Informational Meeting about Band,
Orchestra, and Chorus/AC on Wednesday, August 12 beginning at 5:30pm 

Band will meet in the Music room (Band parents who have Chorus/AC singers will stay after the Band meeting for general info)

Orchestra will meet in the Hirsch house (Orchestra parents who have Chorus/AC singers will come to the Music room for general info after the Orchestra meeting is done).

You may indicate your choices here:

Complete the 4th and 5th Grade Ensemble Survey Here!

PRINT the Ensemble Choice Form HERE!

Please welcome our new Band teacher, Ms. Sandy Wade! 



Ms. Wade and Ms. Valkova will be serving SPARK, Mary Lin, Morningside, and Hope-Hill, thanks to the support and advocacy of our Grady cluster parents and administrators!

Fourth Graders at SPARK have several choices to make for Music. 

5th graders who were in Band or Orchestra last year will be automatically re-enrolled in their chosen ensemble. Any changes require a parental note indicating this year's selections; however, switching from Band to Orchestra (or vice versa) is not permitted. The Music@SPARK staff encourages all students to stick with their choices and really give their training their best effort throughout Fourth and Fifth grades!

Ensemble Descriptions:

See the tabs at the top of the page for videos of performances by each ensemble!

Student's Instrumental Ensemble *You must choose one of the following. SPARK students who do not attend Band or Orchestra have Extra Spanish and Homeroom.

• Band--choose from Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, and some percussion
• Orchestra--choose from Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass
• Extra-- Attends Extra Spanish on Mondays and Homeroom on Wednesdays or Fridays

Chorus Choice *1. Advanced Chorus (meets after school on Fridays) These students are automatically part of Chorus as well . AC will begin on Friday, August 7th. We already have a gig at the Center for Civil and Human Rights on August 29! There is no audition--parents just need to send a note to your child's homeroom teacher to let them know the singer will stay every Friday. Rehearsal runs until 4:30pm this year and will take place in the Music room.2. Chorus Performer--completes all Music classwork, learns songs during Music class and/or Monday Chorus rehearsals AND attends performances in December and May (other concerts by invitation or interest) 3. Chorus Non-Performer--completes all Music classwork and responsibilities but is not expected to perform.

• Advanced Chorus --Performs with the Chorus AND attends after school rehearsals on Fridays until 4:30pm
• Chorus Performer--Learns Chorus music during Music Class or Monday Chorus rehearsal, performs in concerts
• Chorus Non-Performer--Learns Music during Music Class, but does not choose to perform

The Music@SPARK performance uniform for Band, Orchestra and Chorus is:

• The Green Music@SPARK polo
• black dress pants/skirt/shorts (uniform bottoms from French Toast is preferred, but not required)
• black dress shoes/socks