Monday, December 3, 2018

December Update


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Because I am from New York, I absolutely love the December weather in Phoenix. It's chilly in the mornings but by the afternoon, it's the perfect temperature. The best part is that I never have to scrape ice from my windshield!!! :)

In music class this month we will be focusing on the music from The Nutcracker Ballet.
This is one of the traditions that the students enjoy every year. We talk about ballet, Mr Tchaikovsky, and hear the (abridged) story accompanied by a variety of musical selections. Below is the recording we have been listening to.

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We have also been working on our solfege singing (ear training), reading and performing rhythms, and identifying the difference between steady beat and rhythm.


Wishing you peace and joy during this holiday season,













Friday, November 16, 2018

Congratulations!

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Congratulations to our K-2 students for a beautiful concert! I was so pleased with their efforts last night. They did such a great job standing in their Perfect Singing Posture, using their most beautiful singing voices, and watching me for their cues. They really stole the show last night. I am so proud of what they have learned so far this year. A big thank you to all the families for your support of this event. I know that it is a long night for all of us. A special thanks to the families who showed their virtue through their actions last night. There were many families present who displayed patience and good will towards everyone around them. I applaud you for your citizenship and humility. I wish you all a restful, and peaceful Thanksgiving!


Save the Date: The Spring Concert will be on Thursday,  April 4th 

Monday, November 5, 2018

K-2 Concert Logistics Thursday, November 15th


All students arrive at 5pm


Parking Lot Assignments:      
v  K:  Lot 1              1st:  Lot 2                  2nd:  Lot 3


Kindergarteners:
v  Check In: Auditorium;   Pick Up: Little Theatre (see map)


1st Graders:
v  Check In: Little Theatre;   Pick Up: Courtyard Area outside (see map)


2nd Graders:
v  Check In: Courtyard Area outside;   Pick Up: Stage (see map)



Things to Remember:

v  Students will use the backstage entrance per Higley’s new policy. There will be staff members in the front of the building to walk them to their appropriate locations. Audience members will use the main entrance at the front of the building.


v  Out of respect for all of the students, please plan on staying until the end of the K-2 concert.


v  The 3rd-5th grade students will be arriving at 6:30pm. To avoid traffic jams, exit promptly once you have your student.



v  The concert will be professionally recorded by Esthetics in Motion. Please refrain from bringing recording devices. DVDs can be preordered for purchase here:  http://store.estheticsinmotion.com


Note to Families with Multiple Students:
·         Please keep 3-5 students with you in the audience during the K-2 concert and pick up the K-2 students before the 3-5 concert begins.


A Note from the Higley Center:

·         Please be patient in the parking lot, and be aware of your surroundings at all times because of the high volume of traffic.
·         Cellphones should be turned off upon entering the auditorium.
·         Please wait until the end of the song to applaud.
·         Late comers will be asked to wait to enter the auditorium until the end of the current song.
·         Out of respect for the performers and the camera crew, please exit to the lobby if your small child is causing a distraction.
·         Food and drink are not allowed in the auditorium.






Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Upcoming Fall Concert

Welcome Back! This week your scholars will be bringing home a YELLOW half sheet with the following information on it:



Greetings, Archway Lincoln Parents and Guardians!

Believe it or not, the fourth annual, mandatory Archway Lincoln Fall Concert is fast approaching. It will be held on              
Thursday, November 15th
at the
4132 E. Pecos Road Gilbert, AZ 85295.

The K-2 concert will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. with students arriving at 5:00 p.m.


Attire for concerts is as follows:
Boys: White dress shirt, black pants, black dress shoes, and black socks. Hair should be combed neatly.
Girls: White top, black skirt (black tights optional), or black dress pants, and black dress shoes. Hair should be styled neatly.
Working with your children is a delight and privilege. I look forward to enjoying this beautiful event with you. If you have any questions, please reach out to me:
 rboswell@archwaylincoln.org
Thank You,
Rachel Boswell
K-2 Music Teacher │Archway Lincoln Classical Academy

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Welcome, September!


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This month in music class we are beginning our concert songs!
(Fall Concert: Thursday, November 15th at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts)

Your scholars are starting to imagine what it will be like to be on the stage. Many of them have fond memories from last year's accomplishments. Some students have been sharing that they are nervous for the upcoming event. We have had conversations about what to do when we are nervous. I also shared with them that I will help them practice over and over and over again so that when they get on the stage, they won't forget everything. 😄

Kindergrten:
We are continuing to use our 4 voices in different ways. We are learning to stand when we sing our concert songs to make our legs strong. We are using vocabulary words to describe the music we hear (high, low, presto, largo). We are also getting better at moving to and playing the steady beat (sometimes with egg shakers!).


1st and 2nd Grade:
We are continuing to use our most beautiful singing voices, ear train with solfege, and practice our Perfect Singing Posture. We are discovering the difference between steady beat and rhythm, as well as reviewing how to read simple rhythm patterns. Our composer this month is the esteemed Johann Sebastian Bach or as we call him in class, Mr. Bach. Below is the link to my Spotify playlist. It includes the pieces we have been listening to in class, plus a few extra. 

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See you soon, 




Wednesday, August 22, 2018

August Update

We are really starting to get into the swing of things! Your scholars have been practicing and internalizing music room procedures and expectations. We are getting good at remembering our seats, finding our singing voices and walking (not running) into the room. 🙂🙂🙂

One goal for the weeks to come, is to become better listeners! We are working on listening when others are speaking and learning how to track the speaker. This is such an important skill for our young scholars as it will help them become better friends to their classmates, and respectful citizens of their school. I am right with them on this goal. I tell them that I like to talk and I need to remember to be a better listener too.


Kindergartners have been perfecting their High and Low. They have been singing, moving and listening-responding to high and low sounds. We listened to "Teasing" by Bela Bartok and listened for the changing pitch from high, medium low, to very low.

1st and 2nd graders have been learning all about Mr. Vivaldi and The Four Seasons.
They should know at least 3 facts about him so far. We practice saying the facts in complete sentences. They are becoming very adept at this. Here is a link to my Vivaldi playlist on Spotify. If you have an account, you should be able to access it. If you do not have an account, it will only let you listen to 30 second clips of the pieces. This should still be enough for your scholars to show you what they have been learning. Vivaldi Playlist








Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Curriculum Night

K-2 Curriculum Night is tomorrow night!

In an effort to save trees, the Specials Team will only have a few hard copies of their curriculum maps. Electronic copies are available on all of our blogs.

The K-2 Music Curriculum Maps are 
on the right hand side of my blog under "Helpful Links".   


See you soon!


Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Welcome Back!

Hello! My name is Rachel Boswell and I am the General Music Teacher for Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. I am a native of Rochester, NY and a graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College where I completed a B.S. in Music Education. As a member of the Founding Faculty, this will be my fourth year teaching at Archway Lincoln. A few of my hobbies are singing, playing guitar, reading, hiking and bragging excessively about my three year old niece.

I am looking forward to welcoming back our young scholars and meeting the new additions to our great school. In music class, students will explore and navigate the wonderful world of music. These early years are an essential time in your student’s development to introduce foundational musical concepts. My goal is to provide a rich environment that engages them in singing, playing, listening, creating, performing and responding to music.

We will cover aspects of:
    Music Theory - solfege, melody, rhythm, notation, form, articulation
    Singing - finding our singing voice, posture, breathing, volume control, song memorization
    Playing - technique for a variety of instruments, pitched and unpitched
    Music History - composer’s lives and works (1st and 2nd)
    Listening - getting familiar with timeless pieces of music and describing what we hear
    Moving - responding kinesthetically to the music we hear and the music we create
    Performing - an essential part of being a musician. Each grade level will have the opportunity to put on a concert for family and friends twice a year. The concerts are mandatory and part of their grade. The concert dates are:

Thursday, November 15th from 5:30- 6:15pm
and
Thursday, April 4th from 5:30-6:30pm
We will be performing at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
I look forward to our correspondence and a wonderful year ahead.

Sincerely,









Rachel Boswell

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Thank You


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I wanted to write a simple note to say “thank you”.
The sheer volume of kind words and gifts overwhelms me each year.
Thank you, parents for your generosity, kind hearts, and for entrusting your precious ones into our care.


Warmly,

Rachel Boswell

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Concert DVDs

If you ordered a concert DVD, they will be available for pickup starting on Monday, May 21st.





Monday, April 30, 2018

Phoenix Children's Chorus




Phoenix Children's Chorus

PHOENIX CHILDREN'S CHORUS AUDITIONS
for the 2018-2019 season are here!

Do You Know A Child That Loves To Sing?

Let them know about our upcoming auditions

In Phoenix:  May 9th, 19th, and June 5th @ The Phoenix Center for the Arts
In East Valley:  May 5th & May 21st @ Chandler-Gilbert Community College




What Do You NeedTo Know?

Who is able to audition?
Auditions are open to all boys and girls that will be in 1st through 12th grade in Fall 2018. Students entering first grade must turn 6 before September 1, 2018 in order to be old enough to participate in our Poco Voce class in Phoenix.


Where do the auditions take place?
The Phoenix Children's Chorus rehearsals take place at one of our two sites in either Phoenix or East Valley. The Phoenix Center for the Arts is located at 1202 North 3rd Street at the crossroads of 3rd Street and Moreland on the east end of Hance Deck Park just south of McDowell in Phoenix. A sign on the front door will give the room where the auditions take place in the building. Our new East Valley location is at Chandler Gilbert Community College 2626 E. Pecos Road Chandler 85225 in the Performing Arts Center.

Does my child need to prepare anything for the audition?
No. The child will go before the Music Directors who will ask the child to match pitch by playing a few notes on the piano for the child to repeat a cappella (without accompaniment). We now teach the child a new song that they sing for their audition. Then if the child can read music they will be given the opportunity to demonstrate that ability.

Does my child need to have a music background?
No, we are looking for children who have a clear and pleasant singing voice, love to sing and can match pitch. We are a choral music education organization and teach the child how to sing chorally.

May I go into the audition room with my child?
We prefer to hear the child alone. The music staff specializes in working with children and will put the child at ease, so that the child can do their best and have a fun experience.

How long will the audition last?
The audition process takes 1 1/2 hours. It includes an orientation about our program, a group sing and an individual audition. We ask that parents fill out some information for our files and be available to answer any questions about the organization that you might have. Please be on time so that we may keep to the schedule.

How will I be notified of the audition result?
Everyone who auditions will receive an email giving the audition results and possible choir placement for your child.



© 2018 Phoenix Children's Chorus


Friday, April 6, 2018

Courage, Perseverance, and a Job Well Done

It seems silly for me to say that last night was amazing because I say that pretty much every time. But I have to say, last night was really something special. Being at the Higley Center for the second time was a different experience than the first. This time, it did not seem as daunting or frightening. The feeling seemed to translate to the students as well. They were so ready to shine and show off their hard work. As the music teacher, you come to expect that the students will just get up there and perform- whether singing, speaking, playing instruments or adding that comedic touch to the music. But when I really think about it, I am amazed at their courage to stand in up in front of hundreds of people and do all those things.We have such brave scholars at Archway Lincoln! Another beautiful virtue that comes to mind is perseverance.  The weeks leading up to the concert are difficult for the students and they become frustrated at times when we have to practice over and over again. This is when I have opportunity (over and over again)  to remind them that having an amazing concert cannot happen without hard work! 
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And I think after last night, they know that it was worth it. 




Thanks to Esthetics in Motion, DVDs of the concert are available for purchase.
Click here to purchase a DVD: http://store.estheticsinmotion.com
Click here to purchase a digital copy: http://vod.estheticsinmotion.com


Have a great weekend! 


Friday, March 30, 2018

EDIT Concert Logistics


Greetings from the Music World!
There has been a last minute change in logistics concerning the Spring Concert on Thursday. We had made arrangements to use the Higley High School's cafeteria to house some of the students during transition times, and to spread out the grade levels to make pick up more efficient. A scheduling error on the part of Higley High School has made the cafeteria unavailable for our use. Because of this, there are a few changes to note.

-Kindergarten pickup: KA and KB from the Green Room; KC and KD from the stage of the Little Theater (coming out of the auditorium into the lobby it is to the right)

-1st grade pick up: from the seats in the Little Theater (coming out of the auditorium into the lobby it is to the right)

-3-5 students will check in at Portal G (enter from outside and go to the right in the lobby)

-3rd grade pick up: from the Little Theater (coming out of the auditorium into the lobby it is to the right)

-4th grade pick up: from Portal G (coming out of the auditorium into the lobby it is to the left)

-2nd and 5th will be dismissed from the auditorium stage as previously communicated


There will be signs and faculty present to direct the flow of traffic to and from these locations. We apologize for the changes and thank you for your flexibility and patience.
See you on Thursday night!