Dear Kindergarten and 1st grade Parents,
My name is Esther Bolzman, and I will be instructing your
child’s music study over the next year. I’m so excited for the opportunity to
teach your child about my favorite subject, music! Over the next few months, your
child will be exposed to many great pieces of music, and learn about composers
such as Bach and Mozart. While learning how to listen to music is important,
your child will also learn about performing and what it takes to make music.
Students will learn about steady beat, rhythm, and tempo; defining dynamics, and
high and low pitches. Students will learn how to aurally distinguish between speaking,
whispering, shouting, and singing voices.
Each month, the students will be learning a different
patriotic song. In addition to learning lyrics and melodies, the students will
learn about the history connected with some of our country’s most influential
songs.
Every student will have a chance to proudly present their progress in the concert at the end of the year. This year, the K-1 concert will be December 2ndat 5:30 P.M. This concert will be a celebration of Western traditional music. We ask that all students wear black and white performance attire for the concert. The boys should be wearing black pants and shoes with a white shirt. The girls should wear black pants or shirts with a dressy white top. I will update the class website with more details as information becomes available.
I will be updating the class website on a weekly basis to
keep you updated on what we are learning in class. I do not plan to send
practice work home with the students, but may ask you to practice with your
student if he/she is struggling with lyrics and time is running short before
the concert. Another thing you will be able to find on the class website is a
list of the classical music your student will be listening to that week. I will
be adding the pieces as we listen and discuss them together. Feel free to
listen with your child at home and ask them what they learned about the piece
in class.
Thank you for your involvement in your child’s music
education. I look forward to meeting your student and walking with them through
the weeks and months as they discover the world of music. If you have any
questions or concerns, feel free to e-mail me at ebolzman@archwayarete.org and I will get back with you by the end of the next school day. Please
visit the class website weekly to keep updated on important information. The
link is http://aretemusic.blogspot.com/.
Looking forward to a great year!
