Notes From the Common School, September 2007

Notes from the Common School

  September 2007

Welcome back, Music students!

The Music Department is busy with activities for all.  During this summer the Fairfield Children's Chorus finished their part of Jazz Pianist and Composer, John Cassel's 2007 Christmas CD at West Street Digital right here in Fairfield.  The CD is to be released shortly!  Look for it in our local stores.  Lauren Howe, Andre "Mingo" Maquera, Rachelle Perrault and Branden McArtor are slated to appear with John on Channel 3's television show "Late Night Saturday" (11:30 pm Saturday nights) in December and are also preparing to record yet another CD with Mr. Cassel!  Congratulations, everyone!

Fairfield Band members presented an August concert as part of the Greater Saint Albans Middle School Band Camp at St. Albans City School last month readying themselves for our very exciting concert and cultural trip to New York City in June 2008...more to follow about this trip in the months to follow.  The itinerary and sign up sheet has been distributed to all eligible students, but if you don't have a copy, just let me know.

General Music classes have begun.  This is our opportunity for all classes, Kindergarten through Eighth grades, to study Music theory, learn and practice rhythms and begin some singing.  The excitement of the first week or so is calming down and we are making some serious progress.  Towards the end of October will redirect our focus to prepare for our December Holiday Concerts slated for Monday, December 10th (Band and Grades Five through Eight) and Tuesday, December 11th (Kindergarten through Grade Four) at 6:30 pm in the Gym. 

Instrumental Music students have resumed their lessons.  This year I am offering twenty minute private lessons on a rotational basis, so that no one misses the same classes repeatedly.  It seems to be a great success!  Please encourage your students to prepare for these short but intense lessons...everyone should be practicing at least fifteen minutes a day.  Later on in the trimester I will schedule some sectional rehearsals, but I will try my very best to keep these one-on-one lessons available.

Band rehearsals are during the school day!!!  Beginning October 1st, Concert Band will rehearse on Mondays and Wednesdays in the Common School from 2:00 - 2:40 pm and the Fairfield Jazz Ensemble will rehearse at the same time slot on Tuesdays.

ALERT!  The greatest Band in America is coming us!  "The President's Own"  United States Marine Band, conducted by "our own" Lieutenant Colonel Michael J. Colburn, son of Mr. Verne Colburn, Instrumental Music Director for 37 years at B.F.A. St. Albans (Uncle of our 8th grader, Sam Shepard) will be performing at the Collins-Perley Sports Center on Monday, October 15th!  This is a not-to-be-missed lifetime opportunity!  Free tickets are available by contacting the St. Albans Messenger.  Don't miss this one!!!!

Are you talented?  The  Enosburg Opera House will hold the 15th Annual Talent Search for the Junior Division (ages 5-14) on Friday, October 19 at 7:00pm and the Adult Division on Saturday, October 20 at 7:00pm.  Register at sarahjowilley@gmail.com or call Sarah Jo Willey at (802) 578-4173 or (802) 827-3297 for questions.  First place: $200; Second place: $100; Third place: $75.

In trying to keep it short for now, please check out the Music Department's Web Site & Blog (in it's infancy) at: http://ffcsmusic.blogspot.com.  There are a lot of local and nationwide links up already and many more to come.  I will keep working on it to provide everyone with lots of information about the Fairfield Music Department's activities and beyond.

Please feel free to contact me at school, 827-3071 or email me at messageforjoanne@yahoo.com.  I am trying to go as paperless as possible.

Always musically yours,

Miss Scott