Program Update: Music with Kali

Mark your calendars! Spring Arts Night will be here before you know it. The music department’s final performance of the year will be on May 23 at 7:00 p.m. at Chief Sealth International High School. We request that students arrive at 6:15 p.m. Keep an eye out for the Spring Arts Night informational letter at the end of this month.

6th Grade:

In 6th grade band and orchestra, we are continuing to develop our musical skills on their selected instrument. Students have added several new notes to their tool belts and are playing full ensemble music in preparation for Spring Arts Night. Students are learning how to work on their independent parts but also figure out how their part fits into the entire group. Learning how to listen across the ensemble, play out when they have the melody, and blend in when they do not are all skills we are continuing to develop. The 6th grade band is working on two pieces entitled “Pirate’s Cave” and “Midnight Mission”. The 6th grade orchestra is currently working on “First Scale March” and “Arcoology”. We cannot wait to perform these for you at Spring Arts Night on May 23 at Chief Sealth International High School.

7th Grade:

In 7th grade music, we have once again upped the difficulty level by working on music that is up a grade level from Winter Arts Night. In addition to continuing to work as an ensemble, the band and orchestra are both implementing new articulations/bow techniques, dynamics, and working in new time and key signatures. Students have also been working on sight reading, where they play through a piece of music without practicing it beforehand. This skill is so important as a developing musician as it helps them to learn how to read music faster and more accurately over time. The 7th grade band is working on three pieces entitled “Dragon Dance”, “Dark Adventure”, and “Ghostbusters”. The 7th grade orchestra is working on two pieces, “The Blue Danube Waltz” and an arrangement of the main theme from “Pirates of the Caribbean”. We cannot wait to perform these for you at Spring Arts Night on May 23 at Chief Sealth International High School.

8th Grade:

In 8th grade music, we have been pushing our skills with challenging music. Each group is working on two pieces, with one of them being a combined band/orchestra piece. In addition to continuing to work as an ensemble, the band and orchestra are both implementing new articulations/bow techniques, dynamics, and working in new time and key signatures as well as learning how to lead and rehearse in sectionals. Students are continuing to work on using accidentals in music and how accidentals can completely change the tone of a piece they are working on. Seeing students being able to identify notes not in the key signature and how they carry through each measure has been fun to see and listen to. In band, students have been working on pieces entitled “Dark Ride” and “Danger Zone”. In orchestra, students are working on an arrangement of the First Movement from Mozart’s “Symphony No. 40” and “Danger Zone”. We cannot wait to perform these for you at Spring Arts Night on May 23 at Chief Sealth International High School.

All School Choir:

In our all school choir, students have been working on a variety of choir warm-ups and rhythmic games and also working on two vocal pieces. Students are continuing to develop their ever changing middle school voices and learn what it means to sing in a healthy manner. Our biggest work in progress is continuing to develop confidence in singing, as singing in front of your peers takes a lot of bravery! Students are learning how to project their voices to give the ensemble a full sound and without it running on the edge of shouting. We’re also working on bringing energy to our songs and using the marked dynamics within a piece. We cannot wait to perform both songs for you at Spring Arts Night on May 23 at Chief Sealth International High School.