Here are some thoughts for our vocalists.  This is taken from a blog article that is largely aimed at music educators, but here are some thoughts for students to ponder.  For the link to the full article this is the link.

http://www.smartmusic.com/blog/why-dont-singers-think-they-can-read-music/

1. The Sheer Terror of Singing a Wrong Note

Singing in front of other people is scary. I think it stems from the popular fallacy that you’re either a Good Singer or a Bad Singer. No one expects to play the trumpet for the first time with perfect intonation and breath support, reading music notes correctly and with fluency. They have to learn how the instrument works and practice. The same line of thinking is not generally applied to the voice.

Somehow, because we are born with a musical instrument pre-installed, we are expected to be able to use our voices beautifully, with no training, or else to not use them at all. In this way, our students are encouraged to embrace their ignorance and lack of skill. For them, it’s safer not to know than it is to risk looking silly by trying to learn. They’d much rather parrot a popular song on the radio than experiment with their own unique sound. In the phrase “I don’t know”, they find an excuse instead of a challenge. But “I don’t know” is not an acceptable excuse in any area of discipline or study. Music is not an exception.

Singing is just like any other skill or craft, in that effective, guided practice, discipline and hard work will result in improvement. As simple as this idea is, your students need to hear you say it – and come to trust that you believe it by seeing you live it out.

Dismantling the myth of Good and Bad Singing is the key to giving your singers the courage to make mistakes. It begins with creating a culture of curiosity and mutual support. In a curious classroom, solo and small-group singing is common, and met with immediate positive reinforcement and specific feedback. Mistakes are addressed with authenticity and technical language instead of value judgments. Provide this model consistently; your ensemble will follow suit. Students take ownership of their improvement when they have the confidence and skills to self-evaluate without fear of judgment.

I have a lot of success with my singers when we approach the voice as an instrument. I want them to understand that, like trumpet players, they need to become familiar with their instruments before they can use them efficiently and beautifully.

Band Movie/Pizza Party

The orders from our recent fundraiser will be delivered on 11/10/2015, so please make sure that your students are prepared to take their orders home on that day. Each student's order comes in an individually packaged box with handles to make it easy to carry. Some boxes may be heavy though, and SOME STUDENTS MAY HAVE MORE THAN ONE BOX, so please make sure your student has a way to get their order home. Thank you! Plan to deliver the items to your customers within a couple days.

I plan to do something special this year for those students who sold items.  On the day of the delivery, Tuesday, November 10, 2015, we will hold a movie/pizza party.  Everyone who has orders to pick up should plan to stay after school to watch the movie.  Pizza will be delivered.  Students should be picked up following supper and the movie at 5:15 PM. I need a volunteer to pick up the pizzas and bring them to school at about 4:45 PM. Contact Mr. Haigh if you can help with this.

Music Update!

Today, the band started expanding their repertoire for Pep Band season and our Fall concert The choir is working on Veteran's Day and Fall Concert Music as well. Piano class is ready for their end of quarter recital Tuesday during class.

Come to the Fall concert on October 29, 2015 beginning at 7:00 PM in the high school cafeteria.

Our next parent Music Booster's Meeting will be held Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 6:30 PM to begin discussion planning for our Raider Classic. Choir parents are especially urged to attend this meeting.

Welcome Back!

It was great to see the halls full today in Raider Country!  I am excited to kick off my 30th year of teaching.  I guess that makes me old, huh?  We have lots of new faces in the halls this year.  In the music room several kids are trying band and/or choir for the first time, and I am excited to have you in the program.  Those of you who are veteran's in the music department,  I want to encourage you to welcome them in!  Nobody has to sit the bench in a music group.  Opportunity abounds for ways everyone can contribute.  I hope to encourage students and parents alike to help the program succeed.  I look forward to meeting many of you at our HS Open House on August 20, 2015 between 6 & 7:30 PM.  See the vast improvement in the music room facility and many other areas of our school.

Music Students Selling food at Auction

This coming Saturday, we are selling food items at an Auction in Keystone. Students who help will be paid a stipend in their incentive account. We currently have only 3 students, so if anyone else would like to work, the address is 10130 S Ohio Street, Keystone. Wear your band or choir shirt and come at 8:45 am. Message Mr. Haigh if you plan to come.

Spring Band Awards Dinner/Concert

Band Concert Reminder:

The Spring Band Awards Concert and Carry-In Dinner is next Monday, May 18, 2015.   The dinner is at 6 PM with the concert and awards following at 7:00.  The following is recommended dishes to bring to the carry-in by class.

The band fund will provide drinks, plates, napkins, and silverware.

Seniors: Pasta dish (such as spaghetti, lasagna, chicken alfredo, etc.)

Juniors: Pasta dish

Sophomores: Side Dishes (salad, vegetable, etc.)

Freshman: Desserts

8th Graders: Finger Foods (breadsticks, garlic bread, other)

7th Graders: Anything you would like to bring.

Counting Down or Building Up??

The SWHS staff has been challenged to finish the year strong by building up to a finale.  Prompted from a Tweet by Noah Geisel @senorG, I see it basically as an "is the glass half full or half empty?" argument, but believe it can make a difference!  I was initially convinced that with all of the challenges of being in a new position, how could I be blamed for counting down the days until the end of the year.  Then, I decided to accept the challenge and began to look for ways to build up to at least a "good" finale.  Some ways I am doing this include:

1. Getting to better know the musicians in my groups, so I can plan for more effective future instruction and performances.  This includes "Cover Projects" by members of the Junior High Choir.  Sight-Reading some new music with the Junior High Band.  And, sight-reading music with the HS Choir.
2. Holding brainstorming sessions with members of the HS Band and HS Choir to discuss things we can do better in the coming year, and reflecting on what we have done well this past year. This will include an analysis of the calendar of events for next year's concerts and other activities.
3. Putting together strong performances by both the band and the choir at this year's Commencement Program!  Both ensembles will include 7-12th grade students.

I am very proud of the growth that our students have had this past year.  But I also believe that we can be even better in 2016 and beyond!  Let's count up to a big finish to 2014-15 while looking ahead to the future!

Showcase 2015 Success!

The seniors in the choir put together quite a show for an appreciative audience this past Saturday night.  Much thanks goes to the underclassmen for your part in making the night one to remember.  Thank you to the catering company led by Chris Mossburg for a wonderful Italian dinner with desserts provided by Booster parents, Janetta Grover, Vivian Drennen, and Kelli Schriver.  Choir members served the meal to their guests with assistance from a few Junior High Choir members.  Thank you to Vanessa Haigh for providing the supper for the kids at their final evening rehearsal on Friday night and for picking up food between shows, Saturday.  Surely, next year's senior and other members of the choir are already generating ideas for Showcase 2016!!  Mr. Haigh is happy to have his first "showcase" behind him.  But, He is very excited for the kids that it went well for them!  Choir members from the class of 2015 include, Abby Gregg, Brooke Gephart, Codie O'Neal, Jessyca Baumgartner, Jasmine Lichtenberger, Kari Rains, Kelli Roush, and Lillie Hook

Kings Island Festival of Music - April 25, 2015

     Several of our music students participated in ensembles in an annual competition held at Kings Island.  Festivals of Music, Inc. hosts events across the country to support music education in schools through the sponsorship of a motivational competition format.  Each year, students in our music program look forward to this trip.  In Harmony has gone consistently for over 20 years, and in recent history, the Junior High and Senior High Students have enjoyed the experience as well.  Part of the proceeds from several fund raisers have been set aside to provide financial opportunity for the students to go on the trip during each Spring season.  The cost of the trip was $100.00 this year, and included charter motor coach transportation, ticket into the theme park, and contest entry fees.  Participants in fund raisers during the year have had money set aside into their incentive account maintained by the Music Boosters.

     We competed on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Loveland MS.  They performed very early in the morning and arrived at Kings Island upon the opening of the park.  Students enjoyed a rainy day at the park until 6:00 PM where they checked in with the directors and attended an awards ceremony.  Parents were invited to make the trip with us and several took advantage of the opportunity.  The directors, Jean and Mike, would like to thank those parents who "adopted" other kids during the day.  This helps us manage expenses and provide the necessary adult supervision while on the trip.

The two high school groups SW Festival Choir and SW Festival Band each received "Good" ratings at the festival and received first place in their respected divisions for their performances.  The band missed the goal of a Superior in their #quest4superior campaign.  But, I feel that they did their personal best even though they missed their mark with the judges!  I want to encourage everyone in the band and choir to push yourselves individually to work harder and expect more from yourself.  The Festival Choir performed well in light of the limited amount of practice time dedicated to the selections they performed!  Our focus has been on getting ready for #showcase2015 and failed to prepare adequately for the festival.  That was my call as director.
     I am entertaining the idea of putting together next year's Festival Ensembles in the fall season to begin working together on literature and performing at events throughout the year culminating with our performance at the Music in the Parks festival.  Ideas related to that concept are welcomed from parents and students in the coming weeks.

Showcase 2015

     The HS Choir is in full swing preparing for Showcase 2015.  Mr. Haigh wants to encourage the Seniors and underclassmen to continue your flexibility while working together to create a great show on May 2nd.  There will be an open dress rehearsal, that will replace the former Matinee performance beginning at 3:00 PM in the afternoon.  Admission to that will be a free will donation to the music department.  The performance will feature most of the acts found in the night show.
     Dinner is at 6:00 with the evening show beginning at 7:00 PM.  It will feature special tributes to senior members of the choir.  Those seniors are Kari Rains, Kelli Roush, Brooke Gephart, Abby Gregg, Lilly Hook, Jasmine Lichtenberger, Jessyca Baumgartner, and Codie O'Neal.  Tickets to the Dinner Show will be $13.00 each and will feature a choice of Italian Entree's Lasagna or Chicken Alfredo.  The dinner will include a salad, garlic bread, drink, and dessert all served to you at your table by members of the Junior High Choir.  Tickets are available from any choir member beginning Friday afternoon.

Senior Night & Pep Band Schedule Correction

     Mr. Haigh made a mistake in his recent communications about the Pep Band Schedule.  The Raider Force Pep Band really only has 2 remaining home games, not 3 as previously expressed.  They will next be in action during the boys game on Friday, February 20th.  Senior Night is Tuesday, February 24th. Along with some other team's senior recognitions, the band seniors will be recognized before the game with their parents!  Band seniors include: Daniel Schriver, Alto Saxophone; Vanessa Drennen, Trumpet; Josh Rhoton, Trombone; Codie O'Neal, Trombone; and Sara Crickard, Percussion & Tenor Saxophone.  Mr. Haigh appreciates their contributions to the band over the past several years, and he wishes them success in their future endeavors.

Illinois Loyalty

Union City Community (Illinois Loyalty) performed by the Illini Marching Band

Blogging Opportunity

     Hey music students!  Budding bloggers!  If you are interested, Mr. Haigh is opening up an opportunity for you to express yourself through the SWHS Music Room 201 Blog.  Got something that the band or choir is doing that you are especially proud of or an announcement that you would like to make.  Say it through our music blog!!  Mr. Haigh will be taking submissions for this immediately.  I am doing this to promote literacy across the disciplines, and maybe it will better promote the music department in the process.  You will be clearly identified as the author of the piece.  Due to the fact that these represent the music department, I will need to proof and approve the final publishing of all submissions.  But as a rule, I don't plan to sensor you.

Increased Band Spirit at Games

     One of the improvements that you may have noticed at ballgames recently has been the involvement of the band during time outs!  Mr. Haigh very much appreciates the extra time and effort that goes into this on the part of the band members.  We have tailored several of our pep band selections to fit into a shorter time window, so that they can be used during time outs of the ball games.  Some of these are as short as 7 seconds!  This is at times confusing to band members as to what version of a song we are playing.  And, having music ready to go at a moments notice presents its challenges as well.  Mr. Haigh uses cue cards to keep it straight.  These cue cards were designed by one of the band's resident artists, Vanessa Drennen.
     This past Saturday night was especially exciting with the last minute win by the Lady Raiders against Woodlan and about a week ago when the Men's team defeated Muncie Burris on a last second shot!  We hope to continue to expand our "time out" repertoire in the weeks to come.  The Raider Force will be in action this week as our teams compete in the Raider Dome.
     Next Monday, February 9th, the HS Concert Band will be performing in the South Adams Auditorium in the annual Winter Band Festival.  Guest conductor, Matt Conaway, from the Purdue Band Department will be conducting a combined ensemble of students from the Bellmont, South Adams, and Southern Wells Bands.  That concert takes place at 7:00 PM in the South Adams Auditorium.  The public is invited to this free event.

Music Booster Meeting on Thurs, February 5

     The monthly meeting of the Southern Wells Music Boosters will be held on Thursday, February 5th at 6:30 PM in the HS Music Room 201.  Items on the agenda will include, Taco Salads at the girls sectional games hosted here at Southern Wells.  Other monthly business and reports will be conducted as well.
     The incentive accounts have been updated and are posted online.  Click the link under "quick links" to see your balance.  To withdraw money from your account for music expenses, click the Incentive Account Withdrawal link.

Winter Interruptions

     Winter in Indiana is often unpredictable and rough, causing disruption to everything from travel to school, from work to the heat budget. This winter has been no different.  As I sit home on yet another snow related 2-Hour delay, I am reflecting on a recent event hosted by the Southern Wells Music Department.  Our annual Raider Classic event held the second weekend of January is often hit or miss when it comes around each year.  The days leading up to January 10th were wicked cold with snow and icy roads, cancelling school for two days!  Fortunately, students and parents were allowed to come in as able late Friday afternoon to set up for the event. Saturday, though cold, was sunny and overall a great day to host a competition! All of the schools scheduled to participate in this year's Raider Classic were able to make the trip to Southern Wells for this year's event.  Over 500 students, parents, directors, chaperones, bus drivers and Southern Wells volunteers converged on the elementary gymnasium and classroom areas beginning at about 7:15 am.
      In the small mixed show choir competition, Opening Knight, from South Dearborn HS came in 1st place followed by the Crestview's Knight Vision in 2nd place.  3rd place awards went to Bellmont's Brave Generation and East Noble's Knight Rhythms came in 4th.  The outstanding choreography and instrumentals award went to South Dearborn.  The Brave Generation Tech Crew won the award for that caption.    A solo competition was held concurrently with the show choir competition.  That competition was won by Bella Chorvas from Crestview.  The Southern Wells Singers performed two selections for the audience followed by the 3 top scoring solo competition performers while final tabulations of the results were being done.
     I was very proud of the music students who hosted the event.  It was a true team effort by members of the entire music department, both choir and band doing everything from home room hosting to changing the stage set up for each choir to serving lunch.  Thanks to the video crew from S'Dub Hub and their sponsor Ben Burman for producing the videos of each of the performances.  Many thanks go as well to Music Booster parents and to Tracy and Jean Hughes who assisted with many aspects of the pre-planning and helping that day to ensure that the competition went smoothly.  We hope to see everyone next year at Raider Classic 2016!  - Mike Haigh