Hello Williams Elementary community,
I have some unfortunate news. If you have heard about the budget cuts then you know what is happening. I will not be returning to Williams this year. I do have a position at Gainesville High School teaching 9th grade history. I have my certification in middle grades social sciences and it does fit in to what I eventually want to do with my music career. I have enjoyed my time at Williams and I will really miss the students, faculty, and staff. I hope that when the budget issue is settled, I can return to Williams as your music teacher.
Mrs. Hyatt will be your new music teacher for either the fall or spring semester. She is the music teacher at Idylwild Elementary. She is an excellent teacher and a great colleague of mine. I think you will have a great musical experience with her. Please show her the same courtesies as you would me.
Thank you for all your hospitality and support you have extended to me and my family. I hope to see you in 2009-10 school year
Mr. Thomas
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Music April-May
Hello,
Sorry it's been a while since I have updated the site. Here is what's been going on:
We began a music appreciation unit back in April once spring break was over. We have been talking about different styles of music and some composers. We first talked about the Classical music era and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. We talked about what makes classical classical and when the composers lived. We also talked and listened to their work. We took a quiz on it as well. If students felt like they did not do well then they are allowed to make up the quiz until next Wednesday.
2nd-5th also began a composition project. We learned how to make treble clefs, whole notes and rests, half notes and rests, and quarter notes and rests. This week we began writing the actual lines of music. The assignment was to write a single line of music. Depending on the grade level it should have either been 8 or 16 measures long. Some of the students that are in band are allowed to write for their instrument. Other students that play piano were allowed to if they choose. The other requirements were to use different types of notes along with rests.I was impressed by some of the work the students have done and I am looking forward to presenting them at Parent Night at the end of the month.
K-1 Have begun learning how to identify half notes, half rests, quarter notes, and quarter rests. They are ultimately learning how to distinguish between the notes and be able to clap the rhythms.
Next week we have our Spring Concert. It will be the last performance for the band and chorus. We will have a some meeting days to turn in instruments and uniforms. Please check the calendar.
Sorry it's been a while since I have updated the site. Here is what's been going on:
We began a music appreciation unit back in April once spring break was over. We have been talking about different styles of music and some composers. We first talked about the Classical music era and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. We talked about what makes classical classical and when the composers lived. We also talked and listened to their work. We took a quiz on it as well. If students felt like they did not do well then they are allowed to make up the quiz until next Wednesday.
2nd-5th also began a composition project. We learned how to make treble clefs, whole notes and rests, half notes and rests, and quarter notes and rests. This week we began writing the actual lines of music. The assignment was to write a single line of music. Depending on the grade level it should have either been 8 or 16 measures long. Some of the students that are in band are allowed to write for their instrument. Other students that play piano were allowed to if they choose. The other requirements were to use different types of notes along with rests.I was impressed by some of the work the students have done and I am looking forward to presenting them at Parent Night at the end of the month.
K-1 Have begun learning how to identify half notes, half rests, quarter notes, and quarter rests. They are ultimately learning how to distinguish between the notes and be able to clap the rhythms.
Next week we have our Spring Concert. It will be the last performance for the band and chorus. We will have a some meeting days to turn in instruments and uniforms. Please check the calendar.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Week 17-25 give or take
We have been very busy for the past several weeks. We have been studying a unit on Melody. The students have learned that the definition of melody is a line of single tones that move upward and downward by step or by leap. Also, we have been using stations to help reinforce the concepts. 3-5 have been stations include working on worksheets that work on melody contour, a listening station, reviewing rhythms, piano skills, and Guitar Hero. We have been using the piano and Guitar Hero to reinforce steps, leaps, and repeats, and how to recognize them. K-2 have worked on similar stations that included a listening station, xylophones, and Guitar Hero. Students were encouraged to come up with their own melodies and explore the concepts of high and low. The main idea of Guitar Hero is to be a simulation of playing guitar because I may begin to teach guitar next year with some of the older students. We have also reviewed in the recent weeks music vocabulary. 3-5 should know the following words:
Melody
RH
LH
Whole Notes
Half Notes
Quarter Notes
Whole Rests
Half Rests
Quarter Rests
Staff
Measure
Tempo
Time Signature
Forte
Piano
K-2 should know:
High
Low
Fast
Slow
Loud
Soft
Long
Short
We have also begun to get back to our grade level instruments: 4th and 5th are back on piano, 2nd and 3rd are back on recorder, and K-1 are singing. We may learn songs on the boomwhackers again.
FCAT begins this week and we will pause with our music lessons for the next two weeks. We will review concepts. We will still have band and chorus rehearsals during this time. We will be getting ready for a concert at the end of the month for Music in Our Schools Month.
Melody
RH
LH
Whole Notes
Half Notes
Quarter Notes
Whole Rests
Half Rests
Quarter Rests
Staff
Measure
Tempo
Time Signature
Forte
Piano
K-2 should know:
High
Low
Fast
Slow
Loud
Soft
Long
Short
We have also begun to get back to our grade level instruments: 4th and 5th are back on piano, 2nd and 3rd are back on recorder, and K-1 are singing. We may learn songs on the boomwhackers again.
FCAT begins this week and we will pause with our music lessons for the next two weeks. We will review concepts. We will still have band and chorus rehearsals during this time. We will be getting ready for a concert at the end of the month for Music in Our Schools Month.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Week 15, 16
Thank you to all for a very sucessful Winter Concert. Pictures of the performance will be up shortly. If you would like a DVD of the concert please let me know. Cost is $10.00. The DVD's are professionally done and are of excellent quality.
Last week we reviewed concepts before the break on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday-Saturday I attended the Florida Music Educators Conference in Tampa. I have many fresh ideas that I can not wait to try with the students.
Last week we reviewed concepts before the break on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday-Saturday I attended the Florida Music Educators Conference in Tampa. I have many fresh ideas that I can not wait to try with the students.
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