Dear Students and Parents of St. Patrick’s,

Welcome back for another year of singing, learning, playing, dancing to and experiencing the joys of music! I am excited to be in my second year of teaching music at St. Patrick’s and this year promises to be full of new and exciting opportunities in music. I would also like to welcome Mrs. Ann Rasmussen to the music team as she will be teaching Kindergarten Music this year. This letter is an overview of just what to expect in music class in 2009-2010.

Throughout the school year in the music classroom, students in all grades will be exploring several different thematic elements of how music influences our day-to-day lives. Such themes will include, in no particular order, A Caroling We Will Go, Proud to be an American, Sizzlin’ Summer Camp, Forefathers and Folk Songs, Mesmerized by Music, Conceptualizing the Classics, Historical Halloween, “A B C, easy as 1 2 3, as simple as Do Re Mi,” A Rhyme in Time, Rocking the Recorder, Music Scales and Fairy Tales and “Can You Smell What the Rock ‘n Roll is Cooking?” Music Class this year promises to be full of exciting and fun educational opportunities!

In addition, I feel that a quality music education is measured by the quality of both public AND classroom performance. To ensure a balance between performance opportunities and classroom curriculum, each student in grades 1^st – 5^th will perform one public performance this school year. The 6-8^th grade will each be adding a second performance this year.

These public performances will be designed to entertain as well as to demonstrate the skills the students will be learning. On October 29^th, the 4^th and 5^th grade students will be presenting a “Fall Festival” music program.  Then, in December, St. Patrick’s music will be offering two Christmas programs with the 6^th-8^th Grade performance on December 15^{th and} the 2^nd and 3^rd grades singing on December 17^th. On March 4^th, the Kindergarten and 1^st graders will present the comedy children’s musical “Ei-Ei-Oops!” Finally, on May 5th, the Middle School students will again be hosting their Variety Show.

Secondly, there are several exciting musical opportunities in which to become involved outside of the music classroom. First, there is the Music in Catholic Schools, a collaborative program designed to give students the opportunity to participate in an instrumental ensemble with students from other Omaha-area schools. You can find a link to the MCS website from the Music Class webpage for more information.

Again this year, St. Patrick’s will be sponsoring a Show Choir for students in grades 5-8. In addition, after a year long hiatus, the popular Chime Choir will be making a comeback for interested students. Students will receive more information about joining either or both of these ensembles in the next two weeks.  In a change from last year, each group will meet once per week with rehearsals for both groups now taking place AFTER school. Chime Choir will rehearse on Tuesday afternoons at 3:30 – 4:00. Both groups will look to perform for various school functions as well as community service opportunities. As mentioned, more information will follow.

I am looking forward to a great year with all of you. Please feel free to contact me at kschjodt@stpatselkhorn.org.

Mr. Schjodt