Holiday Wishes!

Hello Everyone!

Hope you are enjoying the start of 2015! Best wishes for this New Year!
I am looking forward to seeing the children soon and starting some new material.

When we start back again, grades 1 & 2 we will be exploring RHYTHM and different music genres.
Kindergarteners will continue to explore pitched and non-pitched percussion, as well as doing lots of singing!

I also wanted to say a big THANK YOU to all those who wished me well this holiday season, especially to those families who sent their elves to deliver lovely gifts before the break. Thank you for making me feel so special!

Concert Songs

Hello again!

It's come time for us to start learning our songs for this year's holiday concert.
The show will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 10th with more info to come soon.
Although there is still no snow on the ground, we've already begun to get in the spirit of winter with some catchy tunes about the cold.

As I only get to see the students once a week, I ask that you please help them to practice their songs at home in order to be prepared for our time together. They are expected to know the words and be familiar with the tunes of their group's songs.

Please note that Dropbox is required in order to access the songs and lyrics. The students will be receiving a hard copy of the words shortly. Some lyrics or parts of songs may be cut or subject to change as we work through them together. Please refer to the typed lyrics provided for now.

Just click on your child's homeroom teacher's link below to download their songs!

Thank you for all your support and cooperation.


Mme. Lyne, Mme. Stevenson, Mme. Mollenthiel

Mme. Deziel, Mme. Royal

Mme. Martine, Mme. Bourassa

Mme. Sophie, Mme. Monique

Welcome to the 2014/2015 School Year!

Hello everyone!

Welcome back to my blog! With some much going on at the beginning of the year, this is my first post of the year. I'm so glad to be back at my wonderful school teaching music again!

To those who have never visited my blog, you can check out what we were up to last year in music and be sure to revisit it soon - as I'll be posting more info on what we are learning about in kindergarten and cycle 1.

I'm still pretty new to blogging and am trying to figured out how to organize this page a little better.

So far in cycle 1 we have reviewed a lot of basic music theory elements such as dynamics (volume), tempo (speed), articulation (the way the music moves) and form (organization). The students certainly have some new vocabulary to share...presto and largo anyone? Forte and piano? Staccato and legato?

Here's what our room looks like this year:

A little addition to the hallway shows all of the SJF Jr. Staff's favourite genres of music (something we will be looking at soon in cycle 1!)

Spring Spectacular Indeed!

Hi there!
Just wanted to take a moment to congratulate all of the students on an amazing concert. I was so proud of them for all their hard work.
The kindergarteners were awesome in their first stage experience and the choir's performance was bang on! Squirm went off without a hitch!

Here are the audio files from the show:

Concert Files - k and choir (matinee and evening)


Don't forget to download Dropbox so that you can listen.

It's really impressive! Way to go everyone!

CHOIR info - May 1st concerts

Hi there!

This is just to let you know that members of the choir will be coming home very soon (hopefully tomorrow) with papers telling them exactly what to wear for the show.
Be sure to check if they have specific pieces that they are requested to wear. However, here's an overview:

Children: A plain shirt that matches the colour of hat they will be given (it will be written...but it's either pink, indigo, dark blue, red or white) and blue jeans

Spiders: plain black or fray top, black pants
Brown Recluse spider: brown top and brown or black pants

Bats: Plain black top, black or grey pants

Worms: Plain pink or brown top and pink, brown or black pants

Snake: plain green top, green or black pants

Itsy Bitsy Spider: long-sleeved black (or dark) top to go under the shift she's being given or a tank top (if no long-sleeves). Black leggings, comfortable shoes and rain boots

Little Miss Muffet: Colourful sundress and nice shoes to match, wide-brim sun hat if possible

Please make sure that your child wears/brings his costume pieces to school for the dress rehearsal on April 30th (afternoon) and for our 2 shows on May 1st (afternoon and evening).

Girls: no high ponytails and skirts/dresses not recommended unless specified.

Keep practicing, we are doing very well so far! Students need to know what scene they are in (#) and have been encouraged to add gestures/expression to their text. Let them go all out and get a little silly with how they say their words. Have fun! :)

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you!

May 1st Concert - Choir & Kindergarten

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to remind you all that we have our Spring concert coming up for Kindergarten and the choir on May 1st.

Although I only get to see the kindergarteners for 1 30-minute period a week, they have been very busy practicing for this special upcoming event and are ready and excited for the concert.

I quickly (and very roughly - forgive me!) recorded the songs for them to practice to.
In order to download the songs, you must have Dropbox.
Click your child's homeroom teacher's name to gain access to their songs so they can practice:

Mme. Yolanda & Mme. Adrienne

Mme. Emond, Mme. Ziwani, Mme. Diane

Don't forget, the students are expected to be at both the afternoon show and the evening one (even if you don't attend...teachers will be there to supervise them). Reserve your 3 tickets quickly!

Kindergarten students are asked to wear a plain white top (no logos/writing) and blue jean bottom.

I look forward to seeing you there :)

Squirm - last song added

Click here to download Give a Bat a Call (our last song to learn):
Lyrics and Music


Everyone is doing an amazing job learning the songs. Many students were sent home with their speaking parts and hopefully they have been practicing over the break. We will be incorporating the text into our rehearsals as of this week! I know the students are nervous about performing, but they should be reassured that we will be practicing it often and soon their nervousness will subside. I am really seeing an amazing growth in their confidence, as they are beginning to feel more comfortable with each other. It's so great to see how much they love to sing and I know we have a few budding performers in our midst!

I am really excited that the songs are coming along well and that everyone is working hard at every rehearsal. So far, we're having a blast!

Good work everyone! Keep it up!