A2SO's Maestro Lipsky to visit SK THIS FRIDAY!

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Thanks to a thoughtful sponsorship from the Godwin family, Summers Knoll students will have the opportunity to meet and hang out with Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Music Director, Arie Lipsky!

Photos by Czarnecki/Dempsey

Maestro Lipsky is a great musician and fabulous human being.  He will be with us on Friday for two sessions in the music room as follows:

1:00 - 1:45pm for the 3rd - 8th grade

2:00 - 2:45pm for the K - 2nd grade

The music of Beethoven - concert opportunities!

Lately our "S.Q.U.i.L.T." (Super Quiet Un-interrupted Listening Time) have focussed heavily on the music of Beethoven.  We've heard some excerpts from symphonies, string quartets, and some piano music so far.  3rd and 4th grade students have been studying Beethoven in more depth through the book "Beethoven Lives Upstairs" by Barbara Nichol:

Though we've been checking out video on YouTube and the Berlin Philharmonic's Digital Concert hall, there is nothing better than going to a concert LIVE!

Here are some special opportunities during the next month where students can hear Beethoven's music:

• Sunday, February 17, 3:30pm - Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra's "Ypsi's Got Talent" will feature several soloists and Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, "Pastorale".  Tickets and more information available at www.ypsilantisymphony.org

• During the month of February, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra will have a "Beethoven Festival" featuring ALL NINE of his symphonies, many concertos, and a bunch of chamber music.   Here's the schedule!   DSO's Beethoven festival

A few photos from our first two months together.....

Our first few months together have been an adventure into different styles of music, movement, literature, and a whole bunch of things!   Here are a few scenes from class!

Kindergarten students make their scarves "look like the music they hear." 

Analyzing "Shooting Star" by techno band, Owl City.  (Featured artist in October 2012 issue of our class magazine series "Music Alive.")

 "Owl City" goes unplugged

I brought in my Roland Juno-106 vintage analog synthesizer from 1984 and we experimented altering the sound wave and comparing it to the digital Alesis QS8 from 14 years later (now a "vintage synth itself". (Sorry for the stock photos, lost the action shots in a phone upgrade. :( )

Fifth and Sixth graders explore a new issue of Music Alive.

First and Second graders play Pass the Bean Bag.

Singing in the music room version 2.0!   Then analyzing our performance.

Third and Fourth graders discover some elements of Jazz with  piano great, Vince Guaraldi

Where can you practice your guitar in front of two 1200 watt Behringer loudspeakers?  Yeah...  the music room...  :)

The cast members of the performing group Stomp show us that there are TONS of things we can use to make music in all kinds of creative places!

What do J.S. Bach and heavy metal band Mountain  have in common?   We used the tunes "Mississippi Queen and "Prelude in C" to find out.

Coming soon....   photos from 5th - 8th grade's drum circles!  (I need to reshoot them because they got lost when I upgraded my phone.  :(   )

Welcome to the music program blog!

Dear Summers Knoll families,


Welcome to our new blog!   It's been a pleasure teaching at Summers Knoll these first couple of months and I've been having a marvelous time getting to know your children.   We've been up to lots of musical mischief in class and you'll see lots of pictures and even some video soon.

Parents are welcome any time in the music room for a visit and I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas!   Many of you have been eager to learn more about the school-wide curriculum and you'll see a tab at the top of the blog or you can click here for the outline.

January 2013 assessments will a contain a grade level summary of things we've been doing in your child's class as well as notes for each child.

The quickest way to contact me is at ariccinto@summers-knoll.org or you can always stop by for a visit.

Also, please consider following this blog from the main page to stay up to date on our activities!



Warm regards,

Mr. Riccinto