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.