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Welcome to Mrs. Hemenway's website
at Elk Plain School of Choice. Events Calendar: Check out the "Events" link at the left for performance dates that will be set for the 2009/2010 school year. Keyboard Classroom - Room 10   Students at Elk Plain School of Choice begin learning to play the piano in 2nd grade. Kindergarten and 1st grade students get a short introduction to keyboards in their music classes. Students may pass lessons independently and can advance at their own rates. This keeps classes interesting and challenging for students who may take private lessons. Practice Your Keyboard Lessons at Home! If you would like to work on piano lessons at home, all lessons are from the Alfred's Basic Piano Library series, which is available at most music stores. (Get the book with a CD for only $1 more!) Lessons 1-33 are in the Level 1A book, and Lessons 34-57 are in the Level 1B book. Click on the Documents link to download a list of songs to work on. You can even pass lessons and earn certificates at home by playing your songs correctly for an adult (who knows music) and bringing a note to school saying which songs you passed!  Band Information: 6th graders have the opportunity to join the band at Elk Plain. Instrument choices will include flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone, or percussion (snare drum & bell set.) Oboe and French horn may be chosen, but only if the student is able to take private lessons. Students will be introduced to the different instruments at the beginning of the school year, and they will have a chance to try them out. We also do an aptitude test to help select the right instrument for your child. I strongly suggest that you do not rent or purchase an instrument until that time unless your child is taking private lessons. (Sometimes incorrect playing habits are difficult to "unlearn.") Band information is sent home with 6th graders in September and is also available to view and download in the documents part of this website. The band performances include "Chocolate, Chimes & Cheer" and the district Band Festival. Choir Information: The Elk Plain choir is open to students in 5th and 6th grades. Rehearsals are one day a week. Students who are interested in joining the choir will see Mrs. Hemenway for auditions to determine voice range. Everybody who auditions will be in the choir. The choir performances include "Chocolate, Chimes & Cheer" and the district Choral Festival. After these performances, auditions will again be open for new choir members. Volunteer Opportunities: We are always in need of parent helpers in music classes. Parents may sign up to help for one or more 55-minute classes on a regular basis every week to listen to students play piano. Parent helpers with basic music skills are also needed to help in band rehearsals. We are also in need of an accompanist for the choir. Our students enjoy and appreciate all of our wonderful parent helpers that can help them learn and listen to them play. Attention Scrapbookers: I would like to make up posters with photos of each performance that we have had and display them on the bulletin board outside of room 10. If you are interested in making a scrapbook-style poster for display of one or more of our performances, please get in touch with me. I would like to get this started and keep adding to the collection to be displayed. Kids and parents love to see the pictures of their performances. This is a great volunteer opportunity for parents who are unable to come during the regular school day or who have small children at home. Mrs. Rivard has already started this project by completing beautiful posters of several grade-level performances. Thank you Mrs. Rivard! |