As we are approaching the end of Fall semester, we encounter performances and Holiday events. Here is a report on late November progress and December events.
Music/Drama Boosters: meets this week, Thursday, December 2nd, at 7:30pm in the Faculty Dining Room (FDR), which is in the front of the school, to the west of the PAC and the cafeteria (double blue doors). Interested parents welcome.
Holiday CONCERT: Tuesday, December 7th, 7:00pm in the PAC. CALL time 6:15, dressed. Beginning Choir and Varsity Singers will perform, also Esquire and Men's and Women's choirs. Concert should last approx an hour. Attire is formal—choir dresses, comfortable, low-heeled shoes, and tuxes for VS and all black elegant wear for BC--same as for the Veterans Tribute. Effectively a final exam. Lots of points! Small admission charge and all donations welcome!
DRESS REHEARSAL: Monday, December 6th, 2:30-4:00pm in the PAC. Attire is casual. Purpose is setup, sound checks, run-through, cue-to-cue. We may finish early since it is only choir (not combined with band and/or orchestra) and I have a training class starting at 4:00.
Facebook page: Please join our Pioneer Choirs facebook page: type "Pioneer High School Choir" in the facebook search field and Join Group. Photos of your singers are there.
Christmas in the Park: Varsity Singers is scheduled to sing at Christmas in the Park in downtown San Jose on Sunday, December 12, at 2:00pm. CALL time 1:30. Beginning Choir singers and all parents, please come out to the park to hear them and enjoy the displays. I think there's a tree decorated by Pioneer's art students. Attire is "festive." Brightly colored, comfortable, warm clothes. Hats, scarves OK. Mittens maybe not so singers can turn pages. They will hold binders.
The latter half of November found Varsity Singers learning lots of new music for the Holiday concerts, including carols that can be sung at holiday events such as Christmas in the Park, retirement homes, and parties. We have been accepted to sing at Christmas in the Park and have also been invited to carol at a retirement home near school. I will notify everyone when that gets scheduled. Caroling is also planned at school; not sure yet exactly when that will happen.
All choir students are required to attend two outside choir concerts that they are not performing in and to write ONE one-page critique of one of the concerts. The critique is due no later than Friday, December 17th. I have provided students with a graphic organizer to structure their paragraphs and also a list of concerts I know about in the nearby area. Any choir concert is acceptable: middle school, high school, church, professional, college, community. Performers need audience members for their concerts and I would like our students to see and hear groups who sing different literature and do things differently than I/we do. I want my students to get some perspective on choral music performances. The listening samples and paragraph writing we do in class contribute to students' increased ability to discern musical elements in compositions, choral tone, vocal techniques that choirs use, and programming choices. This practice plus the graphic organizer should be useful to them in constructing their performance critiques.
The Beginning Choir has decided to re-adopt the name "Mustang Chorale." They are performing a wide variety of songs for the holiday concert. One day we spent at least half of a class period solving two issues: getting to know each other better and trying to establish a more productive learning environment. I asked each person to say their name and one thing they liked about choir and one thing they would like to change. The next person had to echo the previous person's three points, then offer their own. A lot of good listening occurred and several students were quite articulate and all were respectful. Some common threads were that many students like choir because they like to sing and/or because they have made friends, and/or because it's a very different class or environment from their other classes. In terms of what they wanted to change, most said they would like disruptive students to stop talking at inappropriate times and to show more respect for others. Some also are interested in singing more modern music. I have taken notes on all their ideas and will use it to decide the new repertoire to introduce after the Holiday concert to be performed at our Valentine and Spring concert. I also emphasized to them to take personal responsibility for their behavior and to respect others' wishes to be allowed to sing more during class and be more efficient with our time.
The singers who are seniors are looking very tired lately and many have taken a few sick days. Please encourage them to take good care of themselves, get as much sleep as possible, eat healthily, and not to stress out. Life is a (hopefully long) journey and they would do well to think long-term. Good luck to all who are applying to selective colleges. I hope each gets accepted to one of their top choices.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
November 1st-15th, 2010
The first half of November was quite busy for the Pioneer Choir students. The Women's choir practiced extra hard to have Dance on My Heart ready for the Women's Choral Exchange at Saratoga High School Monday, November 8th. At Saratoga, choirs from Harker, Homestead, Los Altos, Mountain View, Saratoga, Pioneer, and Valley Christian performed their own numbers and then everybody learned two songs from the opera "In Windsor Forest" by Ralph Vaughn Williams to perform as a mass choir to end the concert. In our 20-30 minutes per week of meeting, I thought we did well to learn Dance on My Heart. I felt the women performed it with spirit and the best I had heard it yet in the concert.
Also, on November 4th, my friend Aero Joo, who was visiting from Korea, came to Pioneer HS to teach us the proper Korean pronunciation for a song the entire Varsity Singers will learn for the Spring concert. It's mostly straight-forward and like Italian, but there are some unusual sounds in Korean compared to English, so it was wonderful to hear the pronunciations straight from a Korean speaker.
Wednesday, November 10th, the choral, instrumental and drama departments combined to perform a Veterans Tribute concert and invited the community to join us for an evening of gratitude for service to the country. The audience numbered around 500; some people had to stand in the back. The choirs looked and sounded very professional, the jazz band was outstanding, the orchestra had a very admirable first performance, wind ensemble played a variety of wonderful pieces, and the dramatic readings were very moving. The sheer numbers of attendees speaks to the value to the community of this performing arts event.
One of the Varsity Singers, Jennifer Moore, qualified, practiced and performed in the American Choral Directors Coastal Region Women's Honor Choir Saturday, November 20th. The performance was at Palo Alto's First United Methodist Church and was packed with parents and other audience members. I hope she found this a valuable experience--the repertoire was quite advanced and enjoyable for the audience and the guest conductors/music directors were wonderful ambassadors for the glory of choral music.
Meanwhile, choir students are preparing for the Holiday Choral Concert on Tuesday, December 7th. Also, we have been scheduled to sing at Christmas in the Park on Sunday, December 12th at 2:00pm. Singers in both choirs are learning music in many languages: English, Hebrew, Spanish, Latin, and German for this concert which promises to usher in the Holiday season. We also will have some guest instrumentalists join the choir for the holiday performance. The Holiday Band Concert will be Thursday, December 9th at 7:00pm. Hope all can attend.
Also, on November 4th, my friend Aero Joo, who was visiting from Korea, came to Pioneer HS to teach us the proper Korean pronunciation for a song the entire Varsity Singers will learn for the Spring concert. It's mostly straight-forward and like Italian, but there are some unusual sounds in Korean compared to English, so it was wonderful to hear the pronunciations straight from a Korean speaker.
Wednesday, November 10th, the choral, instrumental and drama departments combined to perform a Veterans Tribute concert and invited the community to join us for an evening of gratitude for service to the country. The audience numbered around 500; some people had to stand in the back. The choirs looked and sounded very professional, the jazz band was outstanding, the orchestra had a very admirable first performance, wind ensemble played a variety of wonderful pieces, and the dramatic readings were very moving. The sheer numbers of attendees speaks to the value to the community of this performing arts event.
One of the Varsity Singers, Jennifer Moore, qualified, practiced and performed in the American Choral Directors Coastal Region Women's Honor Choir Saturday, November 20th. The performance was at Palo Alto's First United Methodist Church and was packed with parents and other audience members. I hope she found this a valuable experience--the repertoire was quite advanced and enjoyable for the audience and the guest conductors/music directors were wonderful ambassadors for the glory of choral music.
Meanwhile, choir students are preparing for the Holiday Choral Concert on Tuesday, December 7th. Also, we have been scheduled to sing at Christmas in the Park on Sunday, December 12th at 2:00pm. Singers in both choirs are learning music in many languages: English, Hebrew, Spanish, Latin, and German for this concert which promises to usher in the Holiday season. We also will have some guest instrumentalists join the choir for the holiday performance. The Holiday Band Concert will be Thursday, December 9th at 7:00pm. Hope all can attend.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
California State Standards for Music
1.0 Artistic Perception
Processing, Analyzing, and Responding to Sensory Information Through the Language and Skills Unique to Music
Students read, notate, listen to, analyze, and describe music and other aural information, using the terminology of music.
Read and Notate Music
1.1 Read an instrumental or vocal score of up to four staves and explain how the elements of music are used.
1.2 Transcribe simple songs when presented aurally into melodic and rhythmic notation (level of difficulty: 1 on a scale of 1-6)
1.3 Sight-read music accurately and expressively (level of difficulty: 3 on a scale of 1-6).
Listen to, Analyze, and Describe Music
1.4 Analyze and describe the use of musical elements and expressive devices (e.g. articulation, dynamic markings) in aural examples in a varied repertoire of music representing diverse genres, styles, and cultures
1.5 Identify and explain a variety of compositional devices and techniques used to provide unity, variety, tension, and release in aural examples
1.6 Analyze the use of form in a varied repertoire of music representing diverse genres, styles, and culture
2.0 Creative Expression
Creating, Performing, and Participating in Music
Students apply vocal and instrumental musical skills in performing a varied repertoire of music. They compose and arrange music and improvise melodies variations, and accompaniments, using digital/electronic technology when appropriate.
Apply Vocal and Instrumental Skills
2.1 Sing a repertoire of vocal literature representing various genres, styles, and cultures with expression, technical accuracy, tone quality, vowel shape, and articulation written and memorized, by oneself and in ensembles (level of difficulty: 4 on a scale of 1-6)
2.2 Sing music written in three or four parts with and without accompaniment.
2.3 Sing in small ensembles, with one performer for each part.
2.4 Perform on an instrument a repertoire of instrumental literature representing various genres, styles, and cultures with expression, technical accuracy, tone quality, and articulation, by oneself and in ensembles (level of difficulty: 4 on a scale of 1-6)
2.5 Perform on an instrument in small ensembles, with one performer for each part.
Compose, Arrange, and Improvise
2.6 Compose music, using musical elements for expressive effect.
2.7 Compose and arrange music for voices or various acoustic or digital/electronic instruments, using appropriate ranges for traditional sources of sound.
2.8 Arrange pieces for voices and instruments other than those for which the pieces were originally written.
2.9 Improvise harmonizing parts, using an appropriate style.
2.10 Improvise original melodies over given chord progressions.
3.0 Historical and Cultural Context
Understanding the Historical Contributions and Cultural Dimensions of Music
Students analyze the role of music in past and present cultures throughout the world, noting cultural diversity as it relates to music, musicians, and composers.
Role of Music
3.1 Identify the sources of musical genres of the United States, trace the evolution of those genres, cite well-known musicians associated with them.
3.2 Explain the various roles the musicians perform, identify representative individuals who have functioned in each role, and explain their activities and achievements.
Diversity of Music
3.3 Describe the differences between styles in traditional folk genres within the United States.
3.4 Perform music from various cultures and time periods.
3.5 Classify, by genre or style and historical period or culture, unfamiliar but representative aural examples of music and explain the reasoning for the classification.
4.0 Aesthetic Valuing
Responding to, Analyzing, and Making Judgments About Works of Music
Students critically assess and derive meaning from works of music and the performance of musicians according to the elements of music, aesthetic qualities, and human responses.
Analyze and Critically Assess
4.1 Develop specific criteria for making informed critical evaluations of the quality and effectiveness of performances, compositions, arrangements, and improvisations and apply those criteria in personal participation in music.
4.2 Evaluate a performance, composition, arrangement, or improvisation by comparing each with an exemplary model.
Derive Meaning
4.3 Explain how people in a particular culture use and respond to specific musical works from that culture.
4.4 Describe the means used to create images or evoke feelings and emotions in musical works from various cultures.
5.0 Connections, Relationships, Applications
Connecting and Applying What Is Learned in Music to Learning in Other Art Forms and Subject Areas and to Careers
Students apply what they learn in music across subject areas. They develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and management of time and resources that contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. They also learn about careers in and related to music.
Connections and Applications
5.1 Explain how elements, artistic processes, and organizational principles are used in cimilar and distinctive ways in the various arts.
5.2 Analyze the role and function of music in radio, televions, and advertising.
Careers and Career-Related Skills
5.3 Research musical careers in radio, television, and advertising.
Processing, Analyzing, and Responding to Sensory Information Through the Language and Skills Unique to Music
Students read, notate, listen to, analyze, and describe music and other aural information, using the terminology of music.
Read and Notate Music
1.1 Read an instrumental or vocal score of up to four staves and explain how the elements of music are used.
1.2 Transcribe simple songs when presented aurally into melodic and rhythmic notation (level of difficulty: 1 on a scale of 1-6)
1.3 Sight-read music accurately and expressively (level of difficulty: 3 on a scale of 1-6).
Listen to, Analyze, and Describe Music
1.4 Analyze and describe the use of musical elements and expressive devices (e.g. articulation, dynamic markings) in aural examples in a varied repertoire of music representing diverse genres, styles, and cultures
1.5 Identify and explain a variety of compositional devices and techniques used to provide unity, variety, tension, and release in aural examples
1.6 Analyze the use of form in a varied repertoire of music representing diverse genres, styles, and culture
2.0 Creative Expression
Creating, Performing, and Participating in Music
Students apply vocal and instrumental musical skills in performing a varied repertoire of music. They compose and arrange music and improvise melodies variations, and accompaniments, using digital/electronic technology when appropriate.
Apply Vocal and Instrumental Skills
2.1 Sing a repertoire of vocal literature representing various genres, styles, and cultures with expression, technical accuracy, tone quality, vowel shape, and articulation written and memorized, by oneself and in ensembles (level of difficulty: 4 on a scale of 1-6)
2.2 Sing music written in three or four parts with and without accompaniment.
2.3 Sing in small ensembles, with one performer for each part.
2.4 Perform on an instrument a repertoire of instrumental literature representing various genres, styles, and cultures with expression, technical accuracy, tone quality, and articulation, by oneself and in ensembles (level of difficulty: 4 on a scale of 1-6)
2.5 Perform on an instrument in small ensembles, with one performer for each part.
Compose, Arrange, and Improvise
2.6 Compose music, using musical elements for expressive effect.
2.7 Compose and arrange music for voices or various acoustic or digital/electronic instruments, using appropriate ranges for traditional sources of sound.
2.8 Arrange pieces for voices and instruments other than those for which the pieces were originally written.
2.9 Improvise harmonizing parts, using an appropriate style.
2.10 Improvise original melodies over given chord progressions.
3.0 Historical and Cultural Context
Understanding the Historical Contributions and Cultural Dimensions of Music
Students analyze the role of music in past and present cultures throughout the world, noting cultural diversity as it relates to music, musicians, and composers.
Role of Music
3.1 Identify the sources of musical genres of the United States, trace the evolution of those genres, cite well-known musicians associated with them.
3.2 Explain the various roles the musicians perform, identify representative individuals who have functioned in each role, and explain their activities and achievements.
Diversity of Music
3.3 Describe the differences between styles in traditional folk genres within the United States.
3.4 Perform music from various cultures and time periods.
3.5 Classify, by genre or style and historical period or culture, unfamiliar but representative aural examples of music and explain the reasoning for the classification.
4.0 Aesthetic Valuing
Responding to, Analyzing, and Making Judgments About Works of Music
Students critically assess and derive meaning from works of music and the performance of musicians according to the elements of music, aesthetic qualities, and human responses.
Analyze and Critically Assess
4.1 Develop specific criteria for making informed critical evaluations of the quality and effectiveness of performances, compositions, arrangements, and improvisations and apply those criteria in personal participation in music.
4.2 Evaluate a performance, composition, arrangement, or improvisation by comparing each with an exemplary model.
Derive Meaning
4.3 Explain how people in a particular culture use and respond to specific musical works from that culture.
4.4 Describe the means used to create images or evoke feelings and emotions in musical works from various cultures.
5.0 Connections, Relationships, Applications
Connecting and Applying What Is Learned in Music to Learning in Other Art Forms and Subject Areas and to Careers
Students apply what they learn in music across subject areas. They develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and management of time and resources that contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. They also learn about careers in and related to music.
Connections and Applications
5.1 Explain how elements, artistic processes, and organizational principles are used in cimilar and distinctive ways in the various arts.
5.2 Analyze the role and function of music in radio, televions, and advertising.
Careers and Career-Related Skills
5.3 Research musical careers in radio, television, and advertising.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
October 18th-31st, 2010
The second half of October started out with a free clinic from Lou De La Rosa at Pioneer HS. He came over to work with the advanced choir to help us to get ready for the festival at West Valley College October 22nd. He listened and gave pointers for improving sound, diction, and posture. He also taught us that singing patterns using solfege hand signs (do-re-mi, etc.) is a way to start reading music because it's reading symbols used for pitches and remembering them (i.e. remembering where "do" is). Beginning choir singers seemed especially interested in learning the hand signs and we practice solfege patterns in beginning choir every day. Lou is director of Choral Studies at West Valley College and he used to teach at Pioneer HS. If any Pioneer students are interested in possibly attending WVC and/or singing while there, he left information with me about WVC college and music options.
On October 22nd, the entire advanced choir (which has decided to again be called Varsity Singers) attended West Valley College Invitational Choral Festival. It was the first opportunity for singers to wear their formal dresses and tuxes and we discovered a few minor costume items that were all fixable. Everyone had a ride, thanks to wonderful parents who signed up with the school to drive, and who took time out of their Friday morning to transport students to WVC in Saratoga. A few parents stayed and watched the performance. Our choir participated in the morning session; there was also an afternoon session. The festival clinician was Dr. Buddy James, from CSU East Bay. The format for this festival included a group warmup led by the clinician, then individual choir performances in the order on the program. Seven choirs from six schools performed, including WVC's Chamber Singers. Pioneer was second on the list, which had been revealed only when we arrived to make sure everyone planned to stay for the entire morning. I felt the experience was very positive as all choirs listened to all performances and the clinician's helpful suggestions for improvement were audible to everyone in the audience. Such an event is not competitive and the clinician's comments are designed to address specific areas each choir can improve in. Each choir comes to such an event in different stages of readiness for performance, depending on their individual choir program needs. We heard a wide variety of repertoire and suggestions for improvement and I came away with ideas for future repertoire and teaching singing. Pioneer was fortunate to have my friend Lindsay Jones-Serdar accompany us during the performance.
The last week of October was Homecoming Week, Happy Birthday Pioneer (Friday, 29th), and Halloween (Sunday, 31st). Advanced Choir/Varsity Singers sang the national anthem at the Homecoming Rally on Friday for the entire school. Many positive comments from teachers and students...
November brings us to the Veterans Tribute concert, Wednesday, November 10th, 7:00pm. This will be an event coordinated by Drama, Band, and Choir. I hear it is usually well-attended, so if you plan to come, come early. (Students have a holiday on Thursday, November 11th and no school on Friday November 12th because of a staff development day.)
The Innisbrook fundraiser officially ends November 10th, as well. Until 11/10, students receive 50% profit/credit on everything they sell. Innisbrook offers wrapping paper, Helen Grace chocolates, and gift items. Students need to take orders, collect money, and turn it in to me to get the 50% profit. AFTER November 10th, the products are still available online and the profit/credit is 40%, credited to the account of each student. We will have other fundraisers available as well, but students who feel comfortable selling the high-quality items from Innisbrook should take full advantage of this opportunity to help their tour fundraising. I welcome suggestions and comments about selling stuff and fundraising in general, sent to my email: mary_hamilton@sjusd.org or mary.hamilton@comcast.net.
On October 22nd, the entire advanced choir (which has decided to again be called Varsity Singers) attended West Valley College Invitational Choral Festival. It was the first opportunity for singers to wear their formal dresses and tuxes and we discovered a few minor costume items that were all fixable. Everyone had a ride, thanks to wonderful parents who signed up with the school to drive, and who took time out of their Friday morning to transport students to WVC in Saratoga. A few parents stayed and watched the performance. Our choir participated in the morning session; there was also an afternoon session. The festival clinician was Dr. Buddy James, from CSU East Bay. The format for this festival included a group warmup led by the clinician, then individual choir performances in the order on the program. Seven choirs from six schools performed, including WVC's Chamber Singers. Pioneer was second on the list, which had been revealed only when we arrived to make sure everyone planned to stay for the entire morning. I felt the experience was very positive as all choirs listened to all performances and the clinician's helpful suggestions for improvement were audible to everyone in the audience. Such an event is not competitive and the clinician's comments are designed to address specific areas each choir can improve in. Each choir comes to such an event in different stages of readiness for performance, depending on their individual choir program needs. We heard a wide variety of repertoire and suggestions for improvement and I came away with ideas for future repertoire and teaching singing. Pioneer was fortunate to have my friend Lindsay Jones-Serdar accompany us during the performance.
The last week of October was Homecoming Week, Happy Birthday Pioneer (Friday, 29th), and Halloween (Sunday, 31st). Advanced Choir/Varsity Singers sang the national anthem at the Homecoming Rally on Friday for the entire school. Many positive comments from teachers and students...
November brings us to the Veterans Tribute concert, Wednesday, November 10th, 7:00pm. This will be an event coordinated by Drama, Band, and Choir. I hear it is usually well-attended, so if you plan to come, come early. (Students have a holiday on Thursday, November 11th and no school on Friday November 12th because of a staff development day.)
The Innisbrook fundraiser officially ends November 10th, as well. Until 11/10, students receive 50% profit/credit on everything they sell. Innisbrook offers wrapping paper, Helen Grace chocolates, and gift items. Students need to take orders, collect money, and turn it in to me to get the 50% profit. AFTER November 10th, the products are still available online and the profit/credit is 40%, credited to the account of each student. We will have other fundraisers available as well, but students who feel comfortable selling the high-quality items from Innisbrook should take full advantage of this opportunity to help their tour fundraising. I welcome suggestions and comments about selling stuff and fundraising in general, sent to my email: mary_hamilton@sjusd.org or mary.hamilton@comcast.net.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
October 1st-15th, 2010
Welcome back to Pioneer HS after the Furlough Week. Real Men Sing, a men's choir event organized by Lou de la Rosa of West Valley College and Charlene Archibeque of San Jose State and hosted at SJSU on Friday, October 1st, was a real success according to the guys I have talked with. Some quotes:
"We learned our part really fast with all those singers around us."
"The [youthful] barbershop group Tenacious Q was amaaaaazing."
Seven of Pioneer's men were able to participate and they all had positive comments afterward.
This week has been one of refreshing memories from the week off, re-warming up the vocal apparatus, honing our songs, and getting ready for the West Valley Invititational Choral Festival next Friday, October 22nd.
Our entire Advanced Choir is planning to attend the morning session: 8:45-11:20. We will perform three songs and receive a clinic by an invited conductor/clinician. This is highly valuable because the performance and session are all about improvement and learning. We also should be able to listen and watch other choral groups performing. This is also a great way to learn about performance techniques and style.
Tonight was the monthly Drama/Music boosters meeting in the Staff Room at PHS. If you are a parent reading this, please consider attending next month's D/M boosters meeting Thursday, November 4th, 6:00-7:00pm. The D/M boosters would like to elect some officers such as President, Vice President, and Choir Representative, among others. But you are more than welcome to attend even if you don't have the time or energy to serve on the board.
Friday, October 29th, is the 50th anniversary/birthday celebration for Pioneer High School. The celebration is from 4:30-6:30pm at PHS. Please plan to come. Advanced Choir will sing the national anthem at the beginning of the homecoming rally that morning, and possibly in the evening at the celebration, and there will be a Drama/Music boosters table and fund-raising opportunities there. Speaking of fund-raising, choir is kicking off their fall fund-raiser this week: Innisbrook Wrapping Paper. Please encourage anyone you know to support the choir student or program with an order of wrapping paper and/or chocolates.
Veterans Tribute is November 10th and that is our next performance. Please stay tuned. Invite all your veteran friends to the performance at PHS Nov 10, 7:00 pm.
--Mrs. Hamilton
"We learned our part really fast with all those singers around us."
"The [youthful] barbershop group Tenacious Q was amaaaaazing."
Seven of Pioneer's men were able to participate and they all had positive comments afterward.
This week has been one of refreshing memories from the week off, re-warming up the vocal apparatus, honing our songs, and getting ready for the West Valley Invititational Choral Festival next Friday, October 22nd.
Our entire Advanced Choir is planning to attend the morning session: 8:45-11:20. We will perform three songs and receive a clinic by an invited conductor/clinician. This is highly valuable because the performance and session are all about improvement and learning. We also should be able to listen and watch other choral groups performing. This is also a great way to learn about performance techniques and style.
Tonight was the monthly Drama/Music boosters meeting in the Staff Room at PHS. If you are a parent reading this, please consider attending next month's D/M boosters meeting Thursday, November 4th, 6:00-7:00pm. The D/M boosters would like to elect some officers such as President, Vice President, and Choir Representative, among others. But you are more than welcome to attend even if you don't have the time or energy to serve on the board.
Friday, October 29th, is the 50th anniversary/birthday celebration for Pioneer High School. The celebration is from 4:30-6:30pm at PHS. Please plan to come. Advanced Choir will sing the national anthem at the beginning of the homecoming rally that morning, and possibly in the evening at the celebration, and there will be a Drama/Music boosters table and fund-raising opportunities there. Speaking of fund-raising, choir is kicking off their fall fund-raiser this week: Innisbrook Wrapping Paper. Please encourage anyone you know to support the choir student or program with an order of wrapping paper and/or chocolates.
Veterans Tribute is November 10th and that is our next performance. Please stay tuned. Invite all your veteran friends to the performance at PHS Nov 10, 7:00 pm.
--Mrs. Hamilton
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Pioneer High Choir: August 16-September 30
Hello singers & parents,
Well, it's now about one and a half months since we started this journey together. And I have created this new blog, so I hope it helps us to communicate with each other. Feel free to respond, comment, or ask questions...
I would like to update all of you on some major milestones that have transpired during this event-filled time.
Real Men Sing is happening tomorrow, Friday, October 1st, at SJSU, and is a wonderful festival for 475 men. It is co-sponsored by SJSU and West Valley College, and will open with performances by a combined choir of SJSU and West Valley singers, then rehearsals with college and HS singers, culminating in a combined concert from 11:45-12:30/12:45. Seven PHS men will participate; more would have, but an injury and AP classes and exams have intervened. Pioneer Men have been rehearsing every Tuesday at lunch to learn the music for this festival: Streets of Laredo, Man of La Mancha, and Exsultate Justi in Domino.
Our women are rehearsing during lunch for a Women's Choral Festival at Saratoga HS November 8th. More information as the event nears. Their musical selections are Dance on My Heart, Hotaru Koi, and Fa Una Canzona plus the festival group piece In Windsor Forest by Ralph Vaughn-Williams.
Upcoming scheduled full-choir performances at Pioneer HS are the Veterans Tribute November 10th and Holiday Concert December 7th. We will also probably perform at Christmas in the Park and do some outreach at retirement homes. Singers have been learning music for all of these performances and are well prepared.
One of PHS's Advanced Choir singers, Jennifer Moore, auditioned last Saturday at Saratoga High School for the ACDA (American Choral Director's Association) Coastal Region Honor Choir and was accepted!!! She learned an Italian Art Song (completely new to her), sang it memorized with CD accompaniment for an audition, and also sang scales, chromatic passages, arpeggios, and sightread a passage in order to be accepted. The Coastal Honor Choir performance will be on: Saturday, November 20th, at First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto. Carpools can be arranged to attend this event.
The entire Advanced Choir is attending West Valley College Invitational Choir Festival October 22nd, either morning or afternoon (schedule still tbd). More information as the event nears. Songs for the festival are Cantate Domino, Shine On Me, and Danny Boy.
Next week is furlough week for the SJUSD. I hope your students rest, catch up on homework, or otherwise use the time to their advantage.
--Mrs. Hamilton
Well, it's now about one and a half months since we started this journey together. And I have created this new blog, so I hope it helps us to communicate with each other. Feel free to respond, comment, or ask questions...
I would like to update all of you on some major milestones that have transpired during this event-filled time.
Real Men Sing is happening tomorrow, Friday, October 1st, at SJSU, and is a wonderful festival for 475 men. It is co-sponsored by SJSU and West Valley College, and will open with performances by a combined choir of SJSU and West Valley singers, then rehearsals with college and HS singers, culminating in a combined concert from 11:45-12:30/12:45. Seven PHS men will participate; more would have, but an injury and AP classes and exams have intervened. Pioneer Men have been rehearsing every Tuesday at lunch to learn the music for this festival: Streets of Laredo, Man of La Mancha, and Exsultate Justi in Domino.
Our women are rehearsing during lunch for a Women's Choral Festival at Saratoga HS November 8th. More information as the event nears. Their musical selections are Dance on My Heart, Hotaru Koi, and Fa Una Canzona plus the festival group piece In Windsor Forest by Ralph Vaughn-Williams.
Upcoming scheduled full-choir performances at Pioneer HS are the Veterans Tribute November 10th and Holiday Concert December 7th. We will also probably perform at Christmas in the Park and do some outreach at retirement homes. Singers have been learning music for all of these performances and are well prepared.
One of PHS's Advanced Choir singers, Jennifer Moore, auditioned last Saturday at Saratoga High School for the ACDA (American Choral Director's Association) Coastal Region Honor Choir and was accepted!!! She learned an Italian Art Song (completely new to her), sang it memorized with CD accompaniment for an audition, and also sang scales, chromatic passages, arpeggios, and sightread a passage in order to be accepted. The Coastal Honor Choir performance will be on: Saturday, November 20th, at First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto. Carpools can be arranged to attend this event.
The entire Advanced Choir is attending West Valley College Invitational Choir Festival October 22nd, either morning or afternoon (schedule still tbd). More information as the event nears. Songs for the festival are Cantate Domino, Shine On Me, and Danny Boy.
Next week is furlough week for the SJUSD. I hope your students rest, catch up on homework, or otherwise use the time to their advantage.
--Mrs. Hamilton
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