Get Your Blog in Tune

Everywhere, You Hear Music!

  Wow! What a busy season it has been! For the J. H. House Chorus it all started on Monday evening, November 28th, when they sang for the Rockdale Medical Center's Love Light Tree Lighting. They sang songs such as "Christmas...In About Three Minutes," "Share Your Goodwill," "Feliz Navidad," and "A Song of Peace." That same week, the chorus participated in the Hometown Holiday Parade in Olde Town Conyers. It was very wet and cold. My fingers and toes were frozen! However, we had a great time singing carols and tossing candy out to the parade-goers. We saw many people from our J. H. House family as well as our own families. Even in the wet and cold weather, there were so many people watching the parade. I believe I heard that it was the largest crowd anyone had ever seen. But that's not all, the chorus had a party here after school one day to celebrate the hard work of our first semester together. Finally, the chorus will help me lead a special "Sing-a-long" during the last week of school with the entire J. H. House family!

The 2nd and 3rd graders presented "Paint the Town December" for PTA and it was a fabulous performance. We had a dress rehearsal, of sorts, for the school during the day. This was to help us feel more confident and to know what to expect of an audience. They performed songs such as "Nes Gadol Haya Sham," "Siyahamba," "Rockin' on the Housetop," "Shepard Boy," "De Colores," and "Hearts Around the World." The audience gave them a "standing ovation." Do you know what that means? Do you remember what these songs were about? What celebrations do they come from?

Well, there were many students who had to do extra things for the performance. There were students who had speaking parts to learn and students who had solos to learn and sing. Do you know what a "solo" is? There were dancers and students who were responsible for the props like the "windows" and students who were dressed in costumes. There is so much to do in a musical. Have you ever performed in a musical at school or at church? Tell me about it. I would love to read what you remember about the experience!

And since the title of this post is "Everywhere, You Hear Music!" can you tell me about all of the places you have gone this Christmas season and heard music playing?

Patriotic Songs of America

During the month of September, the First through Fifth grades will learn interesting facts about some patriotic songs of the United States of America. Our nation's greatest patriotic songs express the hopes, desires and pride of the American people. This is a good month to remember and sing patriotic songs because of Constitution Day, the remembrance of the tragedy on September 11, and now this tragedy in the Gulf region of the country. It makes me feel good when I sing patriotic songs because it causes me to think about where I live, how beautiful and diverse the country is, and how blessed I am to have been born here. I think my favorite patriotic song is "America, the Beautiful." The author of the lyrics wrote, "and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea." What do you think that means? And what's your favorite patriotic song?

Anyone Tuneful Out There?

Okay, I'm a little nervous, but here I go...

Yes, that's correct, Mrs. Goode, the music  teacher has started her own "blog." It's exciting to be able to connect with you on a different level. I will try to write some of what is on my mind, musically, and what's coming up in the future for us at J. H. House, musically.

Do you ever find yourself singing a song just because someone spoke a word or phrase that made you think of a certain song? I do.

Do you ever make up songs while your doing your homework? Sometimes, I still do that. I haven't written any down, though. You should write down what you make up so you can remember them.

If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you are "tuneful." Let me know how "tuneful" you are.