Dear
Parents,
Welcome to the new 2008-2009 school year! I am so excited about working with your children this year.
At St. Clement, we believe that music is an integral part of our school community. Music increases social integration as well as individual aesthetic fulfillment. Music teaches us to love our neighbor as Christ taught, because without cooperation, ensemble would be irrelevant. Yet at the same time, music allows for each and every voice to be heard. In ensemble, every part is important, even if it only consists of three notes.
This year we will be exploring music through mediums such as our voices, melodic and non-pitched instruments, and movement. These avenues are vital because they provide different ways of learning music. Each child will thus get to use his/her strengths in music and learn how to develop new ones. The skills that we learn will not only develop proficiency with that particular medium, but will also create an understanding of how music fits together.
Here are just a few things that you can do to support our music program:
Pray
for our school community.
Come
to see our music programs.
Technology
is also a vital element to the St. Clement community. Visit the following
music websites with your child at home, where his/her musical understanding can
be strengthened:
Make
a musical instrument with your child at home (there are some great ideas at
www.dsokids.com). Allow your child to bring
the instrument to school where we can discuss its instrument family.
Visit
our website where you can find the latest music news, grading procedures, and
the music discipline policy.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail me.
Thanks for all of your support!
Sincerely,
Megan Gardner
Music
“Tell me, I forget, show me, I remember, Involve me, I understand.”
-Carl Orff