What a year it's been so far...

Well, what a year it's been so far. It's been crazy few months of exciting performances, interesting listening assignments and intensely rewarding rehearsals!

DECEMBER

DEAR SANTA
So, we had three amazing performances of 'Dear Santa!', our annual Christmas show. Every grade effortlessly performed with absolute panache and class. The Eighth grade gave fun, exciting accounts and the Seventh Grade did a stella job or ensuring that everyone knew where to sit, where to go and when to sing!

You can see more pictures of this show by clicking below:

Gallery 2013/2014

LIGHTS, CAMERA, CHRISTMAS!
The Cabaret Troupe rose, once again, to the occasion and performed 'Lights, Camera, Christmas!', Cabaret Troupe's annual Christmas present to their parents. Grades 6 and 7 sounded and looked both amazing and classy as they explored the idea of different film genres, from Adventure and Western, to Film Noir and Musical Theater!

You can see more pictures of this show by clicking below:

Gallery 2013/2014

JANUARY
January starts our Spring season of Musical Theater, with the 8th Grade Graduating class performing Aladdin Jr. and the Cabaret Troupe performing Xanadu Jr. We are so pleased to have the 5th Grade join the Cabaret Troupe as the Greek Chorus. It is going to be a show of epic proportions - how apt for a Ancient Greek stylized musical! Mr Tubb has been extremely busy behind the scenes creating new lighting and sets for these shows!

The dates for these performances will be:
Aladdin Jr. --- May 14 & 15 both at 7pm
Xanadu Jr. --- June 4 & 5, again at 7pm.

Tickets will be available shortly, and will be available online. A note will be go in the Tuesday Folder.

As for the lower school we have also been extremely busy...
Kindergarten have been learning songs from the classic - Free to Be You And Me - learning how songs can coincide with actions. 1st Grade have been looking at Music and Emotion/Colors. 2nd Grade have started the difficult task of reading music. 3rd Grade have been writing their own stories based upon Prokovief's Peter and the Wolf. 4th Grade have just finished a really fun and interactive unit on African Drumming, and are now going onto Brazilian Samba!

- Mr. Tubb

What's going on in February?

So, in one of our shortest months of the school year - what's going on in the Music Department?

Lower School
Well, the lower school are working on each of their individual topics through singing, theory, games and performance!

Pre K & Kindergarten are both working on Music with Movement. Pre-K are experimenting with tempo and dynamics by playing fun rhythm and movement games, whereas Kindergarten are doing selections from 'Free to be you and me' with really fun actions to go alongside!

1st Grade are continuing with their Music and Color project. They've just finished creating their masterpieces and this month we will be 'translating' them into music with classroom instruments. Super fun!

2nd Grade are hurtling head first into musical theory. Through a variety of ways we're learning the treble and bass clefs, creating our own rhymes and we'll continue with our partner songs, instilling the idea of two-part singing!

Brazilian Samba!

3rd Grade are continuing with the Carnival of the Animals. They're doing a super fun composition project based upon fantasy animals that they created. They will also continue their listening of Saint-Saëns' masterpiece!

4th Grade have just been to Africa. They're now visiting NYC with a little taster of Broadway music, and the next stop on our whirlwind journey is China followed by Brazil (which is really exciting as we actually have a student with Brazilian heritage in our class) and Samba!


The lower school are all working towards a performance in June, where we show what we've learned to all the parents!

Middle School

Grades 5, 6 & 7 are getting on really well with their instrument. Especially the 5th, who have only been learning for a few months. They're sounding great, and we can't wait to play for the parents in June!

In addition to brass banding - we are also learning all about key signatures, time signatures as well as improving our listening week after week!

8th grade have started rehearsals for 'The Little Mermaid Jr.' and they are doing swimmingly well (I apologize for the pun!) and it is shaping up to be an amazing performance! The dates are May 8th and 9th (7.30pm) if you need to write that in your diary.

Extracurricularly we are doing amazing things. A brand new JUNIOR CABARET TROUPE has just been created for the 5th grade, and we are learning some really hard music which will be great. Cabaret Troupe is doing a great job on Honk Jr. and chapel choir are simply stunning - the best we've had in the last few years!

Have a lovely rest of February!

- Mr. Tubb

CHAPEL CHOIR UPDATE

Dear Parents and Students!

Sorry for the miscommunication, my blog was wrong, Chapel Choir will be starting again next week (Tuesday the 18th)

We are currently calling those people back who enquired today.

Sorry for any confusion!

-- Mr. Tubb

Chapel Choir

Hi Guys,

So, if I've configured this right, this post should display on Tuesday Sept 4th. If I haven't, then who KNOWS when it'll display itself.

Chapel Choir is open from Grades 3 - 8. 8th graders, be aware that there is the 'Saint Cecilia' Award for Choir Participation. Which is a very nice achievement!

The first choir rehearsal will be on Tuesday Sept 11th - it will be in the music from 2.45-3.45pm. Dismissal will be from Ridge Blvd.

There is no audition for choir, however misbehavior, lack of singing or silliness may end in you being asked to leave, so don't take that chance!

Can't wait to see you all!

- Mr. Tubb

Welcome 2012!

Hi Girls,

Welcome to Music 2012/2013, I hope you're as excited to be back as I am.
This year will mark my second year, and I hope you're ready to learn!

This trimester we will focus on our individual topics, as well as gearing towards the Christmas Show (don't ask me about it - I haven't even CHOSEN it yet!).

Cannot wait to see you all!

- Mr. Tubb

First Holy Communion

Chapel Choir are singing at 2nd Grade First Holy Communion.

The mass starts at 11am, you are due there at 10.30am.

Thanks!

- Mr. Tubb

Mother/Daughter Brunch

Chapel Choir

Dear Parents,

As you’re aware, your daughter is a member of the chapel choir and they are participating in the Mother/Daughter Mass on Sunday, March 18^th. Please ensure your daughter arrives between 9.30am and 9.45am, as mass will promptly start at 10am. As always, they need to be dressed appropriately for church. If they are alter serving they must remain downstairs, however, if your child is reading they may begin the service in the congregation before making their way to the loft after their reading.

There is the Visitation Academy Mother’s Club Mother/Daughter Brunch immediately after the service in Staten Island, if you have bought tickets.

Musical regards,

Mr. Tubb

What a Successful Christmas Advent Lighting

Dear Chapel Choir members,
You did a great job - well done. You sang great and your behaviour in the choir loft was good, so well done!

Remember, no chapel choir on Tuesday as it's Parent/Teacher night!

- Mr. Tubb

HUGE congratulations

Visitation Academy Girls,
You should be EXTREMELY proud of your efforts these past two days.
It's been hard work, it's been hot and tiring, but Mrs D'Auria and I are so pleased with what you have achieved. We have a lot of work ahead of us mixing all the tracks together and adding effects, but we should have an awesome CD ready to hear before Christmas.

Once again, THANKS: you are awesome and I'm so proud!

- Mr. Tubb

Wowzers.

Dearest Chapel Choir,
You may have been slightly small in numbers (and it was quite a last-minute performance) but you did great. I received compliments about your singing from so many different people, including many of your fathers. They especially loved the two part singing in 'Seek Ye First'.

So - a huge CONGRATULATIONS and WELL DONE from me!

See you all on Tuesday @ 2.45pm - 3.45pm.

- Mr. Tubb

Chapel Choir next rehearsal

Hi girls,
The next chapel choir will be the Father/Daughter communion at 9am on Sunday 16th October 2011.
You need to be there at 8.45am dressed nicely!


- Mr. Tubb & Mrs. D'Auria