September 2020

Music Handbook

You can see an updated copy of our Music Handbook here. I have included the Class Expectations for Zoom learning. 

Otus Lessons and Assessments

Each class is assigned a weekly Lesson in Otus. This lesson contains:

1) Week at a Glance: a brief overview of the weekly activities

2) Links to each song that we will be rehearsing and a the relevant sections we will focus on

3) A list of Assessments and Due Dates 

**Students do not need to mark the activities complete

Assessments are assigned 1-2 time per week. At this point, they are all formative as we work on our music foundations and practice navigating the new technology. 

Summative assessments will begin in another 1-2 weeks.

Time is always given during our scheduled lesson to complete these assessments. It is expected that students will complete assessments on time and during the class period they are assigned. If students choose not to complete the assessment during class, they will need to do it on their own time. 

Late submissions may not receive an immediate grade. 

Supply Pick-Up and Instrument Repairs

I will be on-site at Eich on Friday afternoons to hand out supplies, books, or repair instruments. 

Check in at the front office and I will get a call to meet you there. 

Although we have digital access to all of our music, some students have said they would prefer to have hard copies as well. I am working with our librarian to make these items available. Right now I  have the band books and choir music ready to deploy. Guitar books will take another week or two to prepare. 

Supplies Available: reeds, valve oil, guitar strings, picks, portable music stands (limited)

Books Available: Measures of Success 1 and 2, Band Ninja Packets (Guitar books coming soon)

Choir Music: hard copies of the songs we are working on in class

Live Class (Synchronous) vs Independent Practice (Asynchronous Time) 

We have been using a little over half of our class time for live learning. Typically we are finishing up with 10-15 minutes left in the class period. During this time students should continue to practice independently. Some days there are assessments to be completed in Otus and other times students are instructed to practice the material from the lesson. 

During the Independent time I encourage students to leave the Zoom meeting so that their computers will be able to run other applications (SmartMusic or MusicProdigy). I keep the Zoom meeting open until the scheduled end of class time. Students may stay or rejoin the meeting and use this time to ask clarifying questions and get 1 on 1 help. 

SmartMusic (Band and Choir) and MusicProdigy (Guitar)

We have begun using our practice applications in all classes. By now, students should have created accounts and be able to login. These accounts will be free for students to use as long as they are enrolled in a music class.  

The purpose of both SmartMusic and MusicProdigy is to allow students to access the music we are working on in class and receive feedback on the accuracy of their playing. 

Students should be using these applications daily. 

Concerts and Performances

At this time, we do not have any scheduled live concerts or performances. Realistically, it will probably be February or March before we can even begin to discuss the possibility. My hope is that we will be able to have some sort of Spring Concert before the end of the school year. Any potential performance will be aligned with state, county, and school district guidelines. 

Return to In-Person Learning and Music Making

  By now you have probably heard that our district is planning for a potential  Hybrid Model for in-person learning in early November. 

Current guidelines from the state prohibit band and choir rehearsal from taking place in an educational classroom. It is thought that these activities are "super spreader" events that could have the potential to release higher levels of aerosol particles into the air. 

There is currently a high profile study at the University of Colorado, Boulder that is researching the presence of  aerosols in music rehearsals and also testing ways to minimize those aerosols (masks for people and instruments!). 

I am staying current with the research and will keep you updated as we get closer to Eich reopening. 

In the event that we cannot rehearse in person, we will focus on music theory and composition during in-person instruction and will sing/play during the digital lessons. 

March 2020

Upcoming Events:

You can now view each ensemble's entire spring event calendar in the bar at the right side of the blog.                                                                                                                       -------------------->

Music Festivals for Choir and Advanced/Intermediate Bands

One of ways in which we measure the success and future direction of our music program it through performance at a local music festival. The festivals involve performing for highly qualified music judges who then rate our performance and give suggestions for improvement. After the performance one of the judges will run a clinic to give our performers rehearsal experience.
Each and every voice/instrument matters in our performances so while this is not a summative (graded) event we do count on everyone attending. 
**Science Olympiad members are not expected at our performance**

• Choir Festival: Saturday, March 7th @ Brown Elementary School
• Location: Brown Elementary School, MP Room
• Call Time: 9:00am
• Performance: 10:10am
• Dismissal: 10:45am
• Wear: Polo, Black pants/shoes/socks
• Cost: FREE admission
• Band Festival: Saturday, March 7th @ Woodcreek High School 
• Location: Woodcreek High School Theater
• Call Time: 3:30pm - meet outside the theater, at the back of the main parking lot
• Warm-Up: 3:55pm
• Theater Performance and Clinic: 4:20-5:00pm
•  Dismissal: 5:15pm in the cafeteria
• Wear: Polo and Black pants/shoes/socks
• Cost: Students/Seniors FREE, Adults $7 - admission required to watch our performance.

Grading Reminders

Practice Logs are collected at the start of each week. They are entered into PowerSchool as the "Work Completion" Learning Behavior. Musicians are expected to practice a minimum of 60 minutes outside of class each week. The music room is open before/after school every day and during lunch several days a week for students who wish to practice at school. 

All assignments, including written and performance tests, are submitted through our Google Classroom. Rubrics are also posted for each assignment in the GC. Class time is always offered for students to use school chromebooks to complete assignments. Students may also use their own devices.

Trimester 3 Summative Assignments:

• 2-4 Performance Tests
• Concert Reflection
• Process Journal

Run-4-Roseville - April 26th, 2020

Each year the Roseville Education Foundation hosts a run to benefit music education. The funds raised help to buy instruments for our elementary and middle school programs. It would be awesome to see lot's of Eich music families at this event! For more information and to register, you can visit the Foundation's website here: Roseville Education Foundation 

8th Grade Families - Communication from Oakmont

As you are transitioning into "High School" mode, I hope that you will continue to make a music a part of your schedule. Oakmont has an excellent Band, Choir, and Guitar program. If you have any questions about specific classes or ensembles, please reach out to me. 

Here are some communications from the Oakmont directors regarding next year's classes and performance schedule:

Choir: 

Classes and Performances

Band:

March 2020 Letter

Marching Band Schedule

Disneyland Photos/Videos

Here is a link to the Eich Disneyland 2020 Album. You may save any pictures or videos from the album. If you have photos or videos you would like to add, you can email them to me and I will add them. 

Choir Video Link. Mr. Eastman was able to record our choir performance and upload to a private Youtube link. This video is only accessible through the private link. 

Summer Music Camps:
If you are already looking forward to your summer plans, make sure to leave some room for music! We have several local summer camps to help you keep up your skills up over the break. 

Choir:

• Sierra Mountain Music Camp  
  Registration is happening for Sierra Mountain Music Camp, which is focused on chorus and string orchestra.  The camp is at the Diamond Arrow Retreat Center, just outside of Nevada City. It's a great option for kids who love to sing, are in school choirs, or just want to see what it's like to be in a music ensemble!  The string program is excellent, as well.  Rising 4th graders and up.                  

Band:

• Roseville Band Camp The Roseville Summer Music Camp is a day camp sponsored by the Roseville Community Concert Band and generously supported by a grant  from the City of Roseville Citizens Benefit Fund. Our summer music camp is open to students just finishing the 4th-8th grades and is held each June at Cooley Middle School in Roseville. Our camp instructors are experienced music educators and our counselors are music students from local high schools and colleges. Each week will finish with a free noon concert performance for family and friends!
• Donner Mine Donner Mine Music Camp (DMMC) is situated at the Zeibright Gold Mine nestled among the deep green trees and rustling creeks in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The location is generously offered to us by the Beatie family. The location is great for playing music in the great outdoors.
  
  The philosophy of Donner Mine Music Camp is to do everything possible in the space of one week to encourage and stimulate interest and growth in young musicians. Donner Mine Music Camp serves campers from the ages of 10-18 years old (entering 6th grade through entering the 1st semester of college in the fall proceeding camp)