5th Grade The 5th graders are ready to show off their talents and patriotic pride at the Veterans Day Program. Please come see their hard work pay off! After Veterans Day, the 5th graders will begin working on reviewing rhythms as I hope to solidify their rhythm skills in preparation for middle school music classes and selection.

2019/2020 Concert Dates: ∗ Veteran’s Day (5th Grade feature): Monday, November 11th at 2:30pm ∗ 3rd and 4th Grade Holiday Concert: Thursday, December 12th at 6:30pm ∗ All School Holiday Sing-Along: Friday, December 20th at 2:45pm ∗ 1st and 2nd Grade Concert: Thursday, February 13th at 6:30pm ∗ Kindergarten Concert: Thursday, May 7th at 2:45pm ∗ Possible Musical? (4th and 5th Grade only): Sometime late May… ∗ 5th Grade Celebration: Thursday, June 4th at 6pm

Hello Meadowbrook Families! With such an early snowfall… it’s making things a lot easier with getting in the mood and spirit of listening and singing to holiday music. At least, for me, it’s getting easier with preparing for all the holiday music that the students and I will be performing. But, before that we have our very special Veterans Day Program to honor our brave men and women who fought for the freedoms that we have today. Please come join us if you are able! Also, please see some information at the bottom of this letter regarding District policy changes with visitors and assemblies. Thanks! Mr. Falk

Meadowbrook Music Class Newsletter

November 2019

1st Grade The 1st graders had worked on finishing up their rhythm unit. They took the basic things that we learned from Kindergarten, and then took some steps forward with learning the half note. They also had the opportunity to learn some fun Halloween music to put them in the spooky mindset! It was fun to move as different scary skeletons and play instruments as we searched for a witch’s house!

2nd Grade Our 2nd graders have been working on a variety of things this past month. We finished up in mid-October with a rhythm unit as they reviewed some old rhythms and learned a few new ones. I also took the opportunity to teach some fun Halloween music. There’s such great music for Halloween, and hopefully put the students in a spooky frame of mind!

Email Is the Best Way To Get In Touch With Me:

bfalk@waukesha.k12.wi.us

3rd Grade The 3rd graders have also been working on learning the music for the December holiday program, as they share this concert with 4th grade. The theme for the concert is “Ring In The Season”. I’m hoping that each grade will get a chance to showcase the new hand bells with a feature grade level song. Come see a wonderful celebration of the season on December 12th.

4th Grade Our 4th graders have been working on learning the music for the holiday program in December. The theme for the concert is “Ring In The Season”, as I hope to feature some new hand bells that were purchased for Meadowbrook last year. These kids will be sure to warm your hearts this holiday season with their concert on December 12th.

Concert Assemblies/District Policy

Iwantedtotakethisopportunitytomakeeveryoneawareofthedistrictpoliciesandhowthingswillbedifferentthisyearcomparedtoconcertassembliesinthepast.Asmanyofyouknow,Meadowbrook(alongwithmanyotherschoolswithinthedistrict)wentthroughsomemajorsafetyrenovationsthissummer.ThisbiggestchangeforMeadowbrookwasmovingtheofficetothefrontoftheschoolinsteadofhavingitinthemiddleoftheschool.Thiswastoensurethatvisitorstoourschoolgetchecked-inthroughtheofficebeforehavingdirectaccesstothestudentbody.Allgreatthingstokeepourstudentssafeandsecure!Thequestionnowthatmanyschoolsarefacingishowtohandlecheck-inprocedureswhenamassgroupofpeoplearecomingtoourschooltoattendassemblies.WeLOVEhavingourMeadowbrookfamiliescomeandsupportourstudents,andIcertainlylovewhenfamiliesareabletoattendourconcertsduringtheday!However,thedistrictpolicyisstillinplace,sowearehopingtomakethecheck-inprocessassmoothascanbe.Forourconcertassemblies,wewillbesettingupatablewithafewstaffmemberstoassistwithcheck-inssothatwecanhopefullygetpeoplethroughandintoourbuildingasquicklyandefficientlyaspossible.TheimportantthingtorememberisthatanyadultneedstoBRINGAPHOTOIDtogetchecked-inwiththeschool.Unfortunately,ifyouforgettobringone…wemayhavetoturnyouawayfromenteringourschool(thustheconcert).Remember,thesedistrictpoliciesareinplaceforschoolsafety.Theywillonlyapplyduringschooldayassembliesandnoteveningperformances,aseveningperformanceswillbetreatedastheyhaveinthepast.Ifyouhavefurtherquestionsorconcerns…IwouldcontactMrs.Barry.Thankyou!

Kindergarten In Kindergarten we took the opportunity to explore our voices using some creepy Halloween music. We did an activity using xylophones set up in a minor key, and were able to go up and down a scale to a ghost hunt song. I also introduced the famous song/book “There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly”. It’s a true classic that the kids love. I even remember my kindergarten teacher reading me that book! From here the kindergarteners are going to explore musical opposites… starting with some louds and softs (Forte and Piano).