Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Music Theory Games
A new link has been added to the "Sites You Might be Interested In" list on the right- Theory Games! The lady who wrote the page managed to make everything sound really boring, but some of the games are actually quite fun. Check it out, and let me know which ones you like!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Grades
I know many of you have questions and concerns about your grades.
As a general rule, first timester I grade the chorus as a group, on your ability to come together as a community and create music. (In 2nd and 3rd trimester I do give weight to performance, but not 1st trimester.) As a group, this chorus is not there yet- the grade that the vast majority of you received was a B+. I gave slightly higher grades to students who noticeably put in extra effort, and slightly lower grades to students who noticeably put in less.
If you received a B, you have been a frequent source of distraction in your section or frequently tardy. As soon as you becomes the singer and leader I know each of you can be, your grade will reflect that.
If you received and A- or higher, thank you for going above and beyond. You have stood out because of your commitment to chorus.
If you received a B+, you're doing just fine. Don't freak out. I still think you're great. But I bet if you think about our rehearsals so far, you'll agree that we haven't quite made it to the top of our game.
There are 75 people in chorus. If we aren't performing at an A level, then most people- not 2 or 3 or 5- most people aren't yet stepping up quite enough just yet. But it's just first trimester. We haven't even hda a concert yet. There's still time. So let's step it up!
(Today, many of you did- rehearsal was great! When most rehearsals are like today's, we will be an A choir.)
As a general rule, first timester I grade the chorus as a group, on your ability to come together as a community and create music. (In 2nd and 3rd trimester I do give weight to performance, but not 1st trimester.) As a group, this chorus is not there yet- the grade that the vast majority of you received was a B+. I gave slightly higher grades to students who noticeably put in extra effort, and slightly lower grades to students who noticeably put in less.
If you received a B, you have been a frequent source of distraction in your section or frequently tardy. As soon as you becomes the singer and leader I know each of you can be, your grade will reflect that.
If you received and A- or higher, thank you for going above and beyond. You have stood out because of your commitment to chorus.
If you received a B+, you're doing just fine. Don't freak out. I still think you're great. But I bet if you think about our rehearsals so far, you'll agree that we haven't quite made it to the top of our game.
There are 75 people in chorus. If we aren't performing at an A level, then most people- not 2 or 3 or 5- most people aren't yet stepping up quite enough just yet. But it's just first trimester. We haven't even hda a concert yet. There's still time. So let's step it up!
(Today, many of you did- rehearsal was great! When most rehearsals are like today's, we will be an A choir.)
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Caroling
A very merry time was had last Saturday, as Boston tried (and failed) to break the World Record for most people caroling at one time. The crowd was buoyed by freeeeeeeee hot chocolate, a brass band on a trolley (protesting the replacement of the live orchestra for the Rockettes with a recording, support live music, folks!) and the lively antics of Pops conductor Keith Lockhart.
(Side note: when I went to music camp for the first time in 35 BC, there was a girl in my cabin from Masachusetts (exotic! I thought) who put a poster up next to her bed of Keith Lockhart, because she loooooved him. I found this a bit mysterious at the time, but find it way more perplexing that today, approximately 1,000,000 years later, women of all ages evidently still swoon for Mr. Lockhart, because he is dreamy.)
Anyway, nobody in the crowd of 3000-plus people was more dashing than our crew. Here's proof!
The banner was made by Ms. Dailey-Smith, back when she was a music teacher. Snazzy, eh?
Oh, and I got into the BU newspaper- article here.
(Side note: when I went to music camp for the first time in 35 BC, there was a girl in my cabin from Masachusetts (exotic! I thought) who put a poster up next to her bed of Keith Lockhart, because she loooooved him. I found this a bit mysterious at the time, but find it way more perplexing that today, approximately 1,000,000 years later, women of all ages evidently still swoon for Mr. Lockhart, because he is dreamy.)
Anyway, nobody in the crowd of 3000-plus people was more dashing than our crew. Here's proof!
The banner was made by Ms. Dailey-Smith, back when she was a music teacher. Snazzy, eh?
Oh, and I got into the BU newspaper- article here.
Monday, December 6, 2010
BSO Family Concerts
Going to the BSO is generally quite costly, but the Feb. 16-18 concerts are only $10! More info here: http://www.bso.org/images/_images/brochures/YouthAndFamily2010_2011.pdf
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Holiday Gifts
The best presents are homemade, I think. The knitted socks, the handcrafted jelly, the Joseph cast list... but, if you must have store-bought, I like a thoughtful gift. This charming video does a fine job satirizing the video of Dynamite I posted a few weeks ago, AND is delightfully timely.
Also, the Maccabeats? Good name.
Also, the Maccabeats? Good name.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)