Updates for March 28th

It's time for an update, to make sure that we're all on the same page with everything at school, in all classes, bands, choirs, etc. Here we go!

- All band practice charts for March are due BEFORE the Easter break. Please have them to me, with your minutes totalled at the top and a parent or guardian signature, by Wednesday, April 4th @ 3:30pm

- We have been joined by several of our Japanese students in senior music classes. In Senior Choir we have been working on the Japanese children's folk song, Hotaru Koi. I would like to look at Seasons of Love shortly in Senior Choir... stay tuned (no pun intended).

- Jazz Choir is working on Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King, in 4-part SSAA a cappella. It will be beautiful! And, for something completely different, get ready for a toe-tappin', knee slappin' good time with our newest piece, The Pop Bottle Hoedown. Yeehaw!

- IP 20/30 is submitting our Work2Live and SaskEnvironment video contest submissions before the Easter break. We will be putting them onto a DVD (using the iDVD program) next class so that we can mail them with the release forms, etc. before their respective deadlines (April 20th for Work2Live and April 29th for SaskEnvironment).

- IP 10 will be beginning a new project today.... the long-awaited MUSIC VIDEO! This will be a major project and will take several classes to complete. Given the time allotted to this assignment, it will also be worth a substantial portion of this term's grade. It's also going to be a lot of fun - and of course, there will be a "movie night" at the end of it all!

- Computers 9I are compiling the video footage for their news broadcast, which is due on Monday, April 23rd. We have had many class periods to plan, film, and edit this project, so no extensions will be permitted (unless extenuating circumstances require one, in which case, see me to make a plan).

- We have been doing some African drumming in Music classes this week. Rivier students have got rhythm! Our theory classes will turn into African drumming classes as we get closer to the end of the school year. That being said, those that have theory to do will need to use that time to complete all assignments and quizzes before the final June report card. Stay tuned for an African drumming ensemble sign-up sheet for the final concert!

- Rivier is in charge of putting together a choir for the Celebration of Life mass on Friday, April 20th (evening). I will be there to sing and play the piano, and I need as many of you with me as possible. It is a great opportunity to represent our school and our music program, and our talents are always so appreciated by everyone. There will also be a pizza party for all singers who are involved in this mass..... added bonus! I will be posting a sign-up sheet on my homeroom door asap.

- We (the IP 20/30 class and I) are looking for yearbook photos from ALL grade levels. We want candid shots of you and your friends and classmates, either on the outside school grounds or in the classroom, hallways at lunch, etc. If you want to be represented in the yearbook, please submit photos to us asap! We will do our best to represent everyone, but it is difficult to do without the help of the student body.

- Computers 8M is almost finished the photo editing unit. Soon it will be time to develop our photo editing e-portfolio by compiling our best work into an iMovie presentation, complete with titles, transitions, and background audio. When this assignment is complete we will be having a "movie night" class where we can see each other's work (maybe we'll even watch the iMovies that you made in Grade 7 Computers class that we ran out of time to watch!).

- Just a reminder that Parent-Teacher Interviews are tonight (Wednesday) from 4-7pm and tomorrow (Thursday) from 4-6pm. There are no interviews on Friday!

- Choral/Vocal Jazz 30 - there has been talk about doing a Grade 12 number for the final concert. At this point it is looking like "For Good" from Wicked. I may have a lead on an SSA version so that we can get a bit of extra harmony in there vs. the duet music that I have currently. We will work out a time to get together and learn it. It shouldn't take long at all.

- I will not be here on Friday, so Mrs. Moon is subbing for me. Choral 10/20/30, she will be teaching the music for Celebration of Life with you during your 3rd period rehearsal. Please consider signing up for the mass. I know it is a Friday evening which is a lot to ask, but your leadership and talents are so appreciated. (Plus, free pizza!) :o)

Whew! Lots to think about. I'm glad we are getting things organized. We only have a couple days left until Easter break! Time is really flying by. Before you know it, we'll be tightening up loose ends for our June concert, and then it will be Grad.... YIKES!

I'm thinking about an "Around the World" theme for our final concert. What do you think? So far we have:

- 3 Russian Folk Songs (Russia, of course!) - Senior Choir

- Pop Bottle Hoedown / Can You Feel the Love Tonight (USA) - Jazz Choir

- O'Leary's Ceili Band (Ireland) - Senior Band

- Walkabout (American swing jazz) - Level 3 Band

- Sakura, Sakura (?) (Japanese folk song) - Level 1 Band

- Cha Cha Del Sol (Spanish) - Level 2 Band

- African drums (Africa, of course!) - Various students

- Hotaru Koi (Japanese children's folk song) - Senior Choir

- Seasons of Love (American Broadway) - Senior/Jazz Choir

- The Steppes of Russia (Russian folk) - Senior Band

- The Happy Wanderer/Val-de-ree (USA) - Senior Band

- She's Like the Swallow (Canada) - Chandra, Quinn, Rebecca, Miss Campbell

- Prayer of the Norwegian Child (Norway) - Cassidy and Shea

This could be a lot of fun! Your thoughts? Any song suggestions?

*Edit* - I just thought of some more good ideas. O Canada for band (any level), plus possibly Pokarekare Ana (New Zealand) for any number of voices. It's easy, I've taught it to most of the senior students already (3-4 years ago, mind you), and it's a song near and dear to my heart, as I learned it when I was teaching on my internship in NZ in 2007. Also, when I was interning and singing with the Wellington Youth Choir, I did a really cool arrangement of O Canada with God Defend New Zealand, their national anthem. I arranged them as partner songs, meaning that they're both sung at the same time.... AND it would give us an opportunity to sing in the Maori language! That might be kind of cool for senior choir I'm thinking.

So many ideas! :o)

I hope you all had a great weekend. My weekend was full of alphabet photography (stay tuned!), and a great experience of singing with a group of you lovely people at Sacred Heart for mass this morning. Thank you to those of you who were there to share the gift of music with everyone. Your service is very much appreciated!

Also, in mostly unrelated news (although still on the topic of music.... surprise, surprise!), check out this SUPER cool group that Brenna pointed out to me. Apparently when they got together they could only afford one guitar, and necessity is the mother of invention, after all!

Welcome back!

Hi everyone! Welcome back to Semester 2. I hope you had a great break during semester turnaround and that you're ready to get started with new and wonderful projects in Term 2.

On the music side of things, please remember to bring your instruments for band again as we will be back into rehearsals starting today. That being said, Level 1 and 2 bands will be singing instead of playing today (I'm teaching you the new settings of the music for the mass - Gloria, Memorial Acclamation, Amen, Lamb of God). Level 4 will be rehearsing in the dining hall.

Computers 9I, your first assignment is to complete either a timetable of your Semester 2 subjects or a Bathroom Reader (for any month, as this is a practice trial run of creating one in Microsoft Word or Pages). Our assigned months will be April and June.

Rivier is responsible for the music ministry at the 11:00am mass this Sunday, January 29th at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Please sign up to sing - it will take about an hour, and will be so appreciated by everyone (especially me). You can use this time as service hours too, which is an added bonus for your Christian Ethics classes! Rehearsals for this choir will be today, tomorrow, and Thursday (as needed) at 12:00pm in the music room. Instruments are welcome too - djembe, violin, etc.

Sound of Music rehearsals are getting very intensive now, so it's very important that every cast member is present at all rehearsals. If you must miss a rehearsal, it is your responsibility to inform one of the directors with as much advance notice as possible so that we are not wondering where you are when rehearsal time comes. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. We have 2 weeks until the show opens, and lots of work to be done between now and then! Time to pull up those knee-high forest green socks! :o)

Sacred Heart mass thank-yous

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the music ministry at Sacred Heart this morning. It was a small group, but we sang (and played) well. It was wonderful to be able to make music with you and to serve together as we represented Rivier. Your participation is so appreciated. Thank you!

Science 7 HW check and Sunday mass updates

Science 7 homework (if questions not finished during allotted class time today): Pg. 298 #2(a), 2.3 Check Your Progress # 1, 2, 5, 6(a)(b), 7

For all musicians involved in the 11:00am mass this Sunday at Sacred Heart, please arrive at 10:30 with your music. I will bring the Spirit & Song books from the school so don't worry about those. Thank you so much for your service to the choir and to the mass this week - it is very much appreciated!

Calling all musicians

Hi girls! If any of you would like to join the Senior Choir in a mass choir for the 11:00am mass on Sunday, May 29th at Sacred Heart, please sign up on my door this week. All singers and instrumentalists are welcome.

If you are interested in applying for a scholarship for International Music Camp, please pick up an application form from me and have it back to me by this Friday. For more information on the camp, its programs, location, dates, etc. check out www.internationalmusiccamp.com.

Finally, if you would like to perform at the Good Sam's International RV event on Friday, June 10th at the Exhibition Centre, please sign up on my door. All acts are welcome - dancers, singers, instrumentalists, etc. Think of this as a Variety Night type event when deciding what you could perform.

For example, if you and a friend can do something this super cool (or even a fraction of its coolness), then you're in!:

Music for Sept. 17th mass

Hi Choral girls! Great rehearsal today! Your harmonies sounded so nice. :o) I am excited about the potential for this choir this year!!!

The music for the Sept. 17th opening mass is as follows:

1. Open My Eyes
2. Thy Word (Is a Lamp)
3. Our God is Here