Students in Fourth Grade music classes just finished composing and notating original songs for the recorder in G pentatonic. This week they began their unit on Instruments of the Orchestra. Students will learn about the method of sound production for each instrument and will design and create their own woodwind, string, brass, or percussion instrument.

Recorder Karate is back in third grade!

Students in third grade are always delighted when recorder time hits. This year our formal evening concert will be at The Bear Tavern Evening of Fine Arts on Thursday, May 29th. More details on times will be sent home in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, please encourage your child to PRACTICE! Every recorder folder contains fingering charts, songs to work on and composition activities to inspire the composer within each of our third graders. Beginning next week, students may start working on earning their recorder "belts" by successfully performing the progressive belt songs they are receiving in music classes this week. In order to earn a belt, students must be able to perform the song with correct notes, fingerings, steady beat and rhythmic accuracy, and a clear tone. Please check your child's recorder folder for a copy of the belt song rubric. We encourage the students to logon to the following website for practicing at home:

Recorder Karate Dojo


When you click on the "streaming audio" link, located on the left side of the screen you will be prompted to enter the following credentials -

username: karate
The password is written inside your child's Recorder Folder

Third Grade Empty Bowls Concert was a huge success!

Last Thursday our third grade students put on a spectacular display of their artistic and musical abilities! Bear Tavern's 3rd Annual Recorder Concert/Empty Bowls Event raises hunger awareness and serves as a charitable fundraiser for Mercer Street Friends. If you have pictures to share from this year's Empty Bowls Concert please email them to me (bdominick@hrsd.org) and I will share them here and forward them to possibly be included in our yearbook. Thank you to 3rd grade parent and teacher Elizabeth Machado for sharing her video of our finale, based on Beethoven's famous melody from the fourth movement of his ninth symphony, "Ode to Joy." Click here to view on YouTube.

Recorders are BACK!

Third Graders are bringing home their recorders this week! Please encourage your child to practice regularly--it's the key to success! After our 12 week recorder unit, all third graders will perform in Bear Tavern's Third Annual Empty Bowls Charity Night on Thursday March 21, 2013. Students will create ceramic bowls in art class to be displayed and purchased for donations benefitting Mercer Street Friends, a Quaker-affiliated nonsectarian organization providing care and assistance to those struggling with poverty and health issues in the greater Trenton and Mercer County areas

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