Sponsored by the River Hill HS Dept of Music, this event will take place on Monday, November 23, at River Hill HS beginning at 6:30 PM. “So, You Want to Major in Music?” will cover topics including choosing a music school, how to prepare for an audition, degree choices, teacher recommendations, campus visits, financial aid, and what to expect.  Many of your students participated last year – the folks at RHHS hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity again this year.  Please visit their website at www.riverhillmusic.org for more information.

We are moving Tone Chime Choir to Thursdays because there are so many other intramurals running on Wednesdays.  Please see me ASAP if you are interested in joining; our next meeting will be next Thursday, November 12th.  ~Mrs. Mills~

Attention Patapsco Students: The Patapsco Music Department has purchased a new set of Tone Chimes!  Mrs. Mills is beginning a Tone Chime Choir Intramural. Tone Chimes are played like handbells and each player is responsible for playing one or two chimes as part of a group performance.

The only tools necessary are a good sense of steady beat and basic rhythm reading skills in 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures.  The Tone Chime Choir will meet on Wednesdays and will perform in an April concert, as well as accompany the Patapsco choirs.

There are a limited number of playing positions in this ensemble.

Any interested students should attend the INTEREST MEETING for the TONE CHIME CHOIR INTRAMURAL next Wednesday, November 4th after school in the Music Room, D-11.

Parents should pick students up from the meeting at 3:30 p.m.

Students: Watch AM Patapsco on Monday, November 2nd to see what it looks and sounds like to play Tone Chimes!

Listening Examples:

http://www.suzukimusic.com/education/tonechimes/

Click on the first Audio Example, “Bach BMV 147”

You can also listen from Video Example 3 or 6

Patapsco Chorus is taking a ride on the digital highway this year!  In order to save our precious in-school rehearsal time for working out finer musical details and performance practices, I have recorded all individual section parts for each Winter Concert and Choral Sharing Day piece and uploaded them onto the Wikispace!

Please trade off with your folder partner bringing the music home and rehearsing parts on your own time so you feel more comfortable with them and we won’t have to spend as much rehearsal time learning parts (while other sections become…. well, bored!

Remember, your colleagues in Band and Orchestra have been practicing on their own at home for YEARS.  It is time that we took a cue from them and rehearsed at home for the benefit of the ensemble.  Later in the quarter, practice charts will be sent home as homework so I can monitor your practice minutes.  For now, just work on the parts as frequently as you can.  It will become very obvious in rehearsal once everyone has taken the responsiblity to do some work on their own at home.

When at home, don’t forget about dynamics (which are not performed in the recordings) and other score markings.  Pure vowel shapes and low breathing are a must at all times!

Now, click on the Wikispace link and go get started!!  ~Mrs. Mills~

Patapsco Students and Families:  Join the Patapsco Music Boosters for Elton John and Tim Rice’s “AIDA” at Toby’s Baltimore on Thursday, November 5th.  Fill out the order form attached here and return to the front office.

TOBY’s AIDA ORDER FORM.  Hope to see you there!  ~Mrs. Mills~

Congratulations go to the following students, who were selected to represent Patapsco in the 2009 Howard County G/T Middle School Chorus:  Kristen DiStefano, Madeline Dennis, Ramya Harshavardhan, Erica Naglik, Paige Needham, Meg Ross, Kaeli Tilghman, Oznur Tuluoglu, and Sarah Uebersax!!   The group’s final performance is free and open to the public and will be held at Howard High School on Saturday, November 7th at 7 p.m.  Here’s to a job well done!

Click on the “COMMUNITY” link above to get lots of information about local concerts coming up in our area.  Thanks for supporting the arts in Howard County and encouraging your children to do the same!  ~Mrs. Mills~

GT audition times are now posted in the Choral room.  Please be sure whether your date is Tuesday (9/29) or Wednesday (9/30) and plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to your audition time, dressed in professional attire.  If your outfit could talk, it would say, “I worked very hard to get here and I want to make a good impression.”

Again, rehearsal dates are posted on the Wikispace under “GT & All-State Chorus.”  Best of luck, singers!  ~Mrs. Mills~

If you are planning to audition for the Howard County GT Middle School Chorus, registration forms are due to Mrs. Mills no later than Wednesday, September 16th.

Additional parent information, audition rehearsal times with Mrs. Mills, and all CD selections (.mp3’s) are now posted on the Wikispace.  Go to the right-hand side of this page and scroll down to click on “Mrs. Mills’ Wikispace.”  When you arrive at the Wikispace, you’ll need to click on “GT & All-State Chorus” on the left to reach these documents.

Please join us tonight– Wednesday, September 9th– at 7 pm in the Media Center for the first Patapsco Music Boosters’ Meeting of the school year.  You will get a chance to mingle with the directors, enjoy light refreshments, and discover exactly what the Boosters’ organization does to support our music department.

Can’t get to the first meeting?  This year’s meeting schedule is posted on my Wikispace (see link in the toolbar to your right) under “Chorus Handouts.”  Scroll down to Boosters’ Meeting schedule ‘09-’10.  See you there!  ~Mrs. Mills~