January 3, 2012

Dear Parents:

As a part of the district’s music curriculum, we will soon be learning to play the soprano recorder in music class. We are thankful that an organization, Music Counts, awarded a grant to our school to purchase a recorder for each student. This will make it more convenient so that students will always have an instrument to borrow at school. I would like to encourage students who do not already have a recorder at home to consider buying a recorder to leave at home for practicing.

Purchasing a recorder is fairly inexpensive. To make it more convenient and more economical, we will be happy to order the recorders for you. We will be ordering a recorder that comes with a storage case, cleaning rod, and fingering chart. The price is $3.00 (This is a soprano recorder from Sweet Pipes Recorders. This includes $2.75 for the recorder and $ .25 to help with shipping.)

When our unit is completed, we would like to continue using recorders throughout the rest of the year, to supplement other lessons. Please see the recorder information below. To help us place the order, please return the detachable form to your child’s classroom teacher with a CHECK made payable to Prairie Mountain by January 13. We really need all money by January 13 so that the recorder shipment will be in by the following week.

After we have begun our instructional unit on recorders, please encourage your child to practice!
Helpful practice hints:
1. Cover all the holes tightly – leaks cause squeaks!
2. The left hand is placed above the right hand
3. Blow gently with “warm” air.
4. Please label the recorder and its storage container with your child’s name.

Thanks for your continued support of your child’s creativity in music!
~Mrs. Strohman

Recorder Letter 12

This year’s Talent Show will be on Thursday, January 26 at 7 p.m.

Rules for Participants:                                           

1.  Any lyrics containing inappropriate or questionable material will not be allowed.

2.  Singers are encourageed to use an accompanist or pre-recrded music.  Singing over pre-recorded singers is discouraged.  Remember to bring the recording to your audition and have it labeled with your full name.  If it is a cassette, have the tape cued to your song.

3.  Performances must be under 3 minutes in length.

4.  No group can be larger than 8 performers.

5.  If you are selected to perform, you MUST attend the dress rehearsal on Wednesday, January 25, at 2:30.

6.  Your costume or attire must be appropriate for school and for your performance.  You must wear your costume for the dress rehearsal.

If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Strohman, Mr. Dillow, or Mr. Morton

The 4th grade is presenting their music program, Elfis Goes West with Lewis and Clark, on Thursday, 12/8 at 7 pm.  Students need to be in their classrooms by 6:45 while parents will head to the North gym to get their seat for the performance.  We are so excited to share this new and fun musical.  We hope to see you on Thursday evening.

~Mrs. Strohman and the 4th grade

The 4th grade music program is coming soon….December 8th at 7 pm.  Students in the 4th grade will be performing a musical called, “Elfis goes west with Lewis and Clark.”  Students will be coming in costume as Explorers, Elves, Native Americans, and Reindeer.  If you have any questions about costume ideas or the musical, please email or call me.

Kim Strohman, kstrohma@bethel.k12.or, 541-607-9849 ext. 2828

During the month of October, the music room transforms from songs of a major sound to songs of a minor sound.  All grade levels love the song, Skin and Bones, starring an old woman who lives by an old graveyard. Above is a student from Mr. Combs’ 4th grade class, dressed and acting out the song.

The Bethel Education Foundation hosted their annual Talent Show in October.  Some of Prairie Mountain’s own took part in the fundraising event and created a fun music video for the song, BABY GOT BRAIN. It’s an original parody of another song, written by some teachers here at Prairie Mountain.

Special thanks to the following teachers who helped make this act possible:

(in picture from left and around)                                                                      Laurie Meyer, Athena Imholt, Jennifer Russell, Jennifer Haliski, Helena Hafdahl,      Kim Strohman, Ann Burgess ( and Brenda Kame’enui; not pictured)

What a great start to the new school year!  Students in the music room have been busy.  Here’s a little insight to what each grade level has done so far.

5th grade:  Mrs. Rhoad’s and Ms. Meyer’s class have been busy reviewing basic rhythms.  We spent a lot of time last week playing Boomwhackers (pitched plastic tubes).  Students in the 5th grade are also reviewing the notes on the treble clef as well as learning the notes on the bass clef.  Don’t forget — Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge / FACE  and Grizzly Bears Don’t Fly Airplanes / All Cows Eat Grass

4th grade:  Mr. Combs, Mrs. Burgess, and Mrs. Lange’s class have been singing, dancing, and creating some very fun music.  We are gearing up for our upcoming music program in December.  I have a very fun idea for our winter themed music program…can’t wait for you to see it!  In preparation, students in the 4th grade learned to read a script, reviewed a little about acting and placement on the stage.  I’m very proud of the 4th grade because we had some opportunities to write our own music for our play and they came up with some awesome ideas.

3rd grade:  Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Elwood, and Mr. DeBow’s class have been learning all different types of songs.  We are singing, moving, and playing simple ostinatos.  The 3rd graders are amazing rhythm musicians.  They are always competing with each other for the Rhythm Champion spot.

2nd grade:  Mrs. Adkisson and Mrs. Carter’s class are getting into some fabulous fall music.  We are kicking off this wonderful unit with a fun story from the Magic School Bus about sounds.  Last week, students learned the story of Nathaniel Willy Scared Silly.  We created music to accompany the story and every student had a special part.  It was tons of fun!

1st grade:  Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Kohler, and Ms. Hanson’s class have been amazing during music class.  We have been learning new songs every day they come.  They are learning how to clap and say rhythms and are “natural” musicians.  We love moving, dancing, and scarf dancing too.  1st graders love to MOVE!

Kindergarten:  I have seen Mrs. Imholt and Mrs. Spark’s Kindergarten groups 4 times this year.  They are so much fun to have in music.  They are learning new songs each week and have added rhythm instruments, the autoharp and guitar to accompany these songs.

This summer has been a super busy wedding summer!  It began with my friend Julie’s wedding in San Diego.  My family and I flew down to L.A., California to visit some family and then drove down to be apart of the wedding.  We were able to hang out at the beach and watch lots of surfers.  After the wedding, we went back up to L.A. and went to Disneyland for a day.  I had never been and it was such a fun place to visit.

In early July, I had the honor of playing my oboe in Ms. DeBlois’ (now Russell) wedding.  And a few weeks later, I accompanied a beautiful singer on keyboard in Ms. Sullivan’s (now Imholt) wedding.  Both ladies looked magnificent!

In August, we traveled to Montana where we celebrated Sienna (my daughter’s) 2nd birthday.  I can’t believe she’s already 2!!  Sienna really likes DORA the EXPLORER, so we had lots of decorations and balloons to fit the theme.   It has been such a great summer!  In Montana, we canoed, swam in the lake, read books, and sat around some bonfires.  One of my favorite fieldtrips was going whitewater rafting.  I saw at least 5 eagles!

It was such a busy, yet fun-filled Summer vacation!  I enjoyed seeing my family & friends as well as getting quality time with Sienna.

With Summer coming to an end, I’m gearing up for my 5th year at Prairie Mountain…I just know it’s going to be the BEST YET!  See you all soon!