Georgia Tech gig THIS FRIDAY, September 21st!

SPARK kids have been invited to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" at a GEORGIA TECH Women's Volleyball game vs. Miami on Friday, September 21st! The game begins at 7:00pm, and call time is 6:00pm at O'Keefe Gym (map below). Friday Traffic is awful and this weekend is Music Midtown, so please plan accordingly and BE ON TIME. If you are heading from SPARK just go west on Ponce, take a Left on Juniper, then right on NORTH AVE, cross I-75 and take the first right onto Techwood Dr. Techwood will dead end right by the O’Keefe Gym. Please try to avoid 10^th St. if possible.

• Attire will be:

Ø  Music@SPARK green polo (if you haven’t ordered yet please have your child wear hunter green shirt OR SPARK logo wear)

Ø  Black pants/skirts/shorts and black shoes.

Further Details:

All student singers will get in for free. Family and friends of the performers will get in for the rate of $4.  The team plays at the Georgia Tech O’Keefe Gym which is located by 6^th Street on the Georgia Tech campus. After students sing please come to their singing area to retrieve them to sit with you. Ms. Turgeon cannot stay throughout the game to monitor students because she will be going to see the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl can't wait to see her. J

Any 4^th or 5^th graders who would like to sing MUST pass a word quiz with Ms. Turgeon, and anthem singers should plan to rehearse at the Advanced Chorus rehearsal on Friday, November 21^st from 3:00-4:30pm in the Music Room. 

Finally, Ms. Turgeon needs a volunteer to videotape the kids’ singing with her camera. Please let her know if you’re willing! We need a good video to send in to audition for the Braves and/or Gladiators (hockey). 

AC Songs

The performance will be at Inman Middle School:

Inman Middle School
774 Virginia Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30306

Thursday, September 13th 6:30pm (Call time 5:30-5:45pm--no later!)Advanced Chorus has been invited to sing at the Virginia Highlands Association 40th Anniversary Party! The area called Virginia Highland has been around since 1972, and the neighborhood has been here 100 years! Our kids will help celebrate by singing songs from 1972 and 1912!

These songs were chosen to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the formation of the Virginia-Highlands neighborhood AND the 40th Anniversary of the name "Virginia-Highlands" for this wonderful neighborhood! 

I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (1972)

click the title to go to the video

Amelia:
I'd like to build the world a home

And furnish it with love

Cate:
Grow apple trees and honey bees

And snow white turtle doves

Gwen:

I'd like to see the world for once

All standing hand in hand

Everyone:
And hear them echo through the hills

For peace throughout the land  

 D

I'd like to teach the world to sing

   E

In perfect harmony

    A

I'd like to hold it in my arms

    G            D

And keep it company

That's the song I hear

Let the world sing today

A song of peace that echoes on

And never goes away!

Rockin' Robin (1972)
click the title to see Michael Jackson as a little boy

He rocks in the treetop all the day long

hoppin' and a boppin' and a singin' his song.

All the little birds on Jay Bird Street 

love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet 

Rockin' Robin ....Rockin' Robin....

Blow Rockin' Robin 'cause we're really gonna rock tonight

Ev'ry little swallow, ev'ry chickadee.

Ev'ry little bird in the tall oak tree

the wise old owl, the big black crow

Flap their wings singin' "go bird, go!"

Rockin' Robin.....

A pretty little raven at the bird bandstand

taught him how to do the bop, and it was grand.

They started goin' steady and, bless my soul!

They out bopped the buzzard and the oriole!

Verse 1 repeat

Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1912)

click the title to go to the sound file

Come on and hear, come on and hear,
Alexander's Ragtime Band.
Come on and hear, come on and hear,
It's the best band in the land!
They can play a bugle call like you never heard before.
So natural that you want to yell for more!
That's just the bestest band what am, my honey lamb.
Come on along, come on along, 
Let me take you by the hand.
Up to the man, up to the man,
Who's the leader of the band!
And if you care to hear the Suwanee River played in ragtime,
Come on and hear, come on and hear,
Alexander's Ragtime Band!

oom pah oom pah hear the tuba oom pah pah
the clarinets, the clarinets doodle ooo doodle oo the clarinets
rat ta ta ta the bugle call ra ta ta ta call the best of all
that's just the the bestest band what am my honey lamb
ah ah hear the trombone ah
come hear the flute, come hear tweedlee tweedlee come hear the flute
If you hear the Suwannee River played in Ragtime...

September Gigs and "The Star Spangled Banner" Study Guide

We're already getting invitations for our Chorus to perform! Please note the following dates:

Thursday, September 13th 6:30pm (Call time 5:45pm--no later!)Advanced Chorus has been invited to sing at the Virginia Highlands Association 40th Anniversary Party! The area called Virginia Highland has been around since 1972, and the neighborhood has been here 100 years! Our kids will help celebrate by singing songs from 1972 and 1912!

Attire: since our new AC members do not have our Music@SPARK shirts we may wear black pants/shorts/skirts, black shoes and any SPARK wear. Ms. Turgeon is checking to see if we can do a rush order for shirts or borrow shirts from non-AC members.

Friday, September 21st 7:00pm game time (call time 6:00pm) ALL 4th and 5th graders (Chorus members or not) are invited to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" at the Georgia Tech Women's Volley Ball Game vs Boston College. It will be Alumni Night, so there's sure to be a crowd!

The Women's Volleyball Games are at  at O’Keefe Gym
 151 Sixth Street, N.W. Atlanta (right behind theTech Coliseum). 


Students who wish to sing should do a word-check with Ms. Turgeon before signing up. Former Chorus/AC members do not have to do the word check.
Students who wish to sing should plan to attend Advanced Chorus rehearsal on Friday, September 14th OR Friday, September 21st (game day) to rehearse with the entire Chorus!


Below are the words to "The Star Spangled Banner". Pay special attention to the words in bold. Those are the words folks mess up the most. Also, don't breathe during the title of the song!:

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

WHAT? Free Points?!

Kids, don't forget you get:
*4 free points when your parents fill out the surveys (linked at the top of the blog) 
AND
*2 free points for getting your white sheet signed! 

Practice

From the amazing Ms. Mobley (for instrumentalists and singers):

Happy New Year!

I'm excited to be starting a brand new school year at SPARK! If this is your first time on the blog please explore the links to websites and videos and accustom yourself with where you can find out about . Also, we have a separate website at http://musicatspark.weebly.com/index.html with more information and photos about the Music programs at SPARK.

I created the blog to support our kids, so I hope it will be useful for parents and students to use as a resource for dates, Agenda Info, and other stuff! The links at the top of the page are the ones that have the most pertinent information, and the links on the right hand side are for your information, including links to my favorite informational and fun sites for kids in Music.

I hope you find the blog to be useful, and that you'll come back whenever you need information about our Music@SPARK activities!

SUMMERFEST!

Don't forget to RSVP for the gig at Summerfest THIS Saturday, June 2nd! We will meet by the front doors of Inman MS at 1:30pm for warmup, and perform at 2:15pm at the beach volleyball area Kids Stage! Wear your Chorus shirt or other SPARK wear and shorts.

RSVP to Ms. Turgeon at bturgeon@atlanta.k12.ga.us

Career Day and Honor Chorus photos

Paige Mathis from Atlanta Young Singers conducts a class

 Mr. Pair's equipment as a Dolly Grip

 

Atlanta Public Schools Honors Groups Concert

Sunday, May 6th at Mays High School

The Urban Harp Ensemble 

The APS Elementary Honor Chorus prepares to go onstage 

Will DuBose, Second Row, top left &
Emily Blackwell, second row, second from the right.

Conducted by Ms. Henderson (Parkside), Mr. Marvel (Mary Lin),  and 

pianist Mr. Belloto (Morningside)

APS Youth Symphony, conducted by Natalie and Reginald Colbert

Correct Lyrics for "Shady Grove", Lucy's Lyrics, and "Simple Gifts"

Shady Grove
Cheeks as red as the blooming rose, eyes of the deepest brown,
You are the darling of my heart, stay 'til the sun goes down.

Shady Grove (unison)

Shady Grove, my little love, standin' in the door,
shoes and stockings in her hand and her little bare feet on the floor.

(Harmony)


Body percussion-->key change

Wisht I had a big fine horse, corn to feed him on
pretty little girl to stay at home, feed him when I'm gone.

Unison,
Harmony
Ending

Sail away, Ladies (with Lucy's Lyrics)

Ain't no use sit 'n cry  Sail Away, Ladies, sail away
You'll be an angel by and by

Chorus:
Don't you rock ‘em diedy-o

I got a home in Tennessee
That's the place I wanna be

Ms. Mobley takes a solo

Come along boys and go with me

We’ll go down to Tennessee

Hush little baby don’t you cry

You’ll be an angel by and by


Ms. Mobley takes a solo


Spilled your milk and made a mess
big wet spot on your blue dress


You fell down and scraped your knee
clumsiest girl in history.




Simple Gifts (listening) http://www.allmusic.com/album/simple-gifts-w185165

Lots of Photos--Inman Park Parade, Kids go to the ASO, Cool Spring Projects, and Card Activities

 Dedicated members of the Music@SPARK Chorus and other kids transformed themselves into the Green Kids to support Mr. R and the SPARK, MES, and Mary Lin band at the Inman Park Festival Parade!

 

Jamie and Tevy had a chance to meet Maestro Jere Flint, Richard Deane, and the actor who played Farkle McBride at the April 29th ASO concert for kids!

 Malachi created a TUNEABLE & UPRIGHT washtub bass!

 Murphy and Tye did a great lesson for first graders connecting Music and Math!

 Third graders use their Note Flashcards to spell words.

You Should Watch This

I'm so happy for Ms. Thomas.

Do you guys know this one?

Spring Project Options

Projects may be turned in any time before April 30th. Ms. Turgeon suggests that students should plan to turn in projects the week of April 23rd, if possible.


Please note, these projects do not need to be fancy or involved--this is just an opportunity for students to apply what they've learned in Music class.

As listed on the Music Binder form, students may choose any of the following options for their Spring Music Projects:

Music@SPARK Spring Project Options:
1. Research the history of Appalachian music and tell about its roots.
2. Make an Appalachian instrument (washtub bass, dulcimer, washboard, spoon set….) and play or accompany an entire song on it.
3. Create a project (or projects) that demonstrate that demonstrates your mastery of at least 3 of the MUSIC GPS.
4. Create a lesson connecting another subject to music (ELA, Social Studies, Math, Science, PE Art, Spanish, Reading…).
5. Learn an Appalachian song from scratch (you read the notes, and rhythms, practice it, and perform it with little or no help from a coach or adult)—Ms. Turgeon has some sheet music.
6. Create a current events folder about music (collect news stories about musicians, songs, or musical performances and write a paragraph about each item).
7. TWO (reduced from 6) Weeks’ Music Journal—writing about your musical ideas, favorite music or musicians, thoughts about what you’d like to be able to do as a musician, how you think professional musicians learned their skills….
8. Spring concert project--choose from the options below (you may not repeat a project you’ve done before).
--write and memorize an intro for TWO of our songs. Include 5 facts about the song or the composer.
--Be a stage hand (non-performers only), and write a tech plan (what things need to be on stage or moved off stage during the concert) according to the program order
--Audition for a solo (from a list of possibilities) after school
--conduct a song: requires 2-3 rehearsals with Chorus
--choreograph a dance to a song and teach it to the Chorus
--Write a song or a new verse to a song we are learning
--accompany the Chorus on an instrument or play a short solo on your instrument
--Design our Appalachian Spring Concert program cover
--create 2 poster and a 1 page press release or “commercial” with the concert information—you are responsible for posting items and taking them down after the concert
--write a news article about the music that will be performed on the concert

Appalachian Spring Concert

Monday, May 7^th 
Orchestra 
Call time at 5:30pm, 
Perform at 6:00pm 


Band 
Call time 5:45pm
Perform time 6:30pm


Chorus & AC 
Appalachian Spring Concert 
Call time-->5:00pm (students may stay after school with parent note)
Perform after the Band & set change (around 7:15pm or so) in the SPARK Cafeteria! 


Click HERE for lyrics sheet Our spring concert this year will focus on folk music, dancing, and instruments from the Appalachian mountains. The students will be learning about the geology and human history of the Appalachian region (Native Americans and settlers), including how the mountain range was formed and how the mountain range played part in the pattern of settlers in America. The music of Appalachia has diverse and unique pockets of development, based on the people who settled in different areas, including people from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Germany, and various African nations.

The website linked HERE is a clearinghouse of sheet music and tunes for lots of music. You can find Appalachian, Old Timey, Carter Family, and mountain music, notes, and tab for guitar and mandolin. These tunes can be played on any instrument. Check them out! http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/

The video playlist below has different versions of the songs we'll be performing, but because it is folk music our versions will not be exactly like any of these--we'll make it our own!

PRESS THE FORWARD BUTTON TO GO TO THE NEXT VIDEO




Other Appalachian dances, how to play spoons, hambone, and juba:

Chorus and Third Graders sing the National Anthem for the 5th Grade BB Challenge

Please pardon the buzzing sound from the lights--there's no way of getting rid of it!

Composer Project Festival!

You are invited to

The First Annual

Music@SPARK

Composer Project Festival

Friday, March 30^th

4:00-6:00pm

In the

Springdale Park Elementary Cafeteria

Featuring creative and informative projects designed by Springdale Park’s Music students, student performances, and special guests from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra!

ALL Entry forms are DUE BY Friday, March 23rd! 
No exceptions!

Students who wish to enter their project in the Festival should fill out THIS FORM 

and submit it by Friday, March 23rd! 


Students who wish to perform at the Festival should fill out THIS FORM 
and submit it by Friday, MARCH 23rd! 

Georgia Student Media Festival

NEW! GSMF forms!

Media Release
Copyright Compliance
Envelope Label
Entry Form for Music projects


In order for the projects to be evaluated for the GSMF please submit the following to
Media Services:

1. Copy of the project on DVD or CD-ROM, or website URL (for websites only)
2. Entry Form (Attached)
3. Entry Label (Attached): Affixed to the outside of the envelope the submission
(CD/DVD) is packaged in
4. Signed Media Release Form (Attached)
5. Copyright Compliance Form (Attached)

Students in grades K-12 whose projects score 96 – 100 in the Georgia Student Media
Festival will be automatically entered into the International Student Media Festival

Thank you and Good Luck




Students who created websites, videos, CDs, and PowerPoint presentations may be eligible to enter the Georgia Student Media Festival. The APS deadlines are coming very soon, so please check back for particular information!  


DEADLINE IS THIS WEDNESDAY!! March 14th!

Please check out the GSMF website for requirements, tips, and suggestions! Below are some Tips for Great Projects:

Tips for Great Projects!

• Test your project on a variety of machines before submitting to GSMF (PC and Mac, if possible)
• Save your project in a format that doesn't require specialized software to view
• Be sure to embed your audio with the project - listen to your project on several different machines before sending
• Include your Fair Use Statements, Credits, Bibliography near the beginning of your project (judges view the first 7 minutes of your project)
• Use the best quality Audio and Video possible
• Check for spelling and grammatical errors
• Follow Digital Safety Guidelines by not including full names in the project
• Include Media Release form for each student in the project packet
• Follow copyright guidelines and include permission from copyright holder

---

Follow Digital Safety Guidelines

Your project may be selected as a sample for the web. Do not include the last names of students on the project itself, unless there is a media release form signed by an authorized parent or legal guardian of the minor student..

Project Registration and contact information must be submitted by (date coming soon) using the navigational links to Student and Judges Registration.

All of the FORMS listed under Project Packaging must be filled out by each registrant.

=========================================================================================================

Also, if you're not sure how to embed audio check out these tips!

http://www.wikihow.com/Embed-Music-in-a-PowerPoint-Presentation

If you want to embed audio effectively you must convert MP3s and other formats to .wav files.  There is a free converter called winff that you can download here.

Once you've converted your sound file you can edit your sound file to a shorter version (or fade in or out) using the free audio editor called Audacity. You can download Audacity  here. Sound clips of songs that are longer than 30 seconds are not allowed in the GSMF submissions, according to the "Fair Use" policy. 

Awesome Projects 2012

Check out these websites!

3^rd Grader Nikhel K’s Reinhold Gliere website (this website is not from a template—Nikhel did all of the design himself):

https://sites.google.com/site/gliere9/

4^th Grader John C’s Manuel de Falla’s website:

http://johncentner.com/manuel-de-falla/

4^th Grader Lauren L’s Bright Sheng website:

http://brightsheng.wordpress.com/

OTHER PROJECTS

First Graders working on Instrument Projects:

Second Graders working on Composer projects:

4th Grader Sadie M's sculpture of Aram Khachaturian:

3rd Grader Nicholas D's poster:

4th Grader Zach E's sabre with info about Khachaturian's Sabre Dance:

5th Grader Lauren S's PowerPoint and portrait of Scott Joplin:

4th Grader Ali's powerpoint about Manuel de Falla:

4th Grader Amelia reading her illustrated book about Aaron Copland:

4th Grader Hannah-Rose's James Price Johnson keyboard presentation:

The facts are listed under the keys!

4th Grader JT's old-school record sleeve and disc about James Price Johnson:

3rd Grader Diego's "Brain Pop" PowerPoint:

5th Grader Remy's Bright Sheng poster:

3rd Grader Julie's Khachaturian Poster:

3rd Grader Sophia's Bright Sheng PowerPoint:

3rd Grader Hannah H's Johnson Jacks cereal box:

4th Grader Emiko's Scott Joplin composer-in-a-box:

Composers in clay (from left) 4th Grade Cate's "Scott Joplin", 4th Grade Sadie's "Khachaturian",
and 5th Grade Kate's "Bright Sheng and the Dragon (because he is from China)"

3rd Graders Aiden and Allen's Bright Sheng/Aram Khachaturian interview:

4th Grader Harper's Aaron Copland video:

4th Grader Amir's James Price Johnson video:

5th Grader Franklin's Montoya, um, Moncayo video:

5th Grader Alec's "The Bright Sheng Project"

Tye's interview with composer John Williams:

More coming soon!