Concert With Jejy Orchestra and Choir February 28
Our students have been invited to perform a concert with the Jejy orchestra and choir at the Dome RTA Ankorondrano, on Saturday February 28th. The concert is open to the public, and parents are invited. The concert will be televised.
Students will perform with professional musicians and other students from around Antananarivo. It will be a grand spectacle with sting orchestra, band and choir performing together. This year our students will perform a number of traditional Malagasy songs arranged for orchestra.
There will be a bus leaving from the ASA at 12:30 on the day of the concert. The concert will start at 3:00, but the performers will have to be there at 1:00 for a soundcheck and dress rehearsal.
All band students from grade 6 through high school are invited and encouraged to participate.
There will be rehearsals on Fridays from 4:00- 6:00.
Happy Holidays
Fourth graders having some fun with xylophones
Christmas Gift Idea
One of the best things a band student can do (aside from practicing) is listen to professionals play their band instruments. This Christmas try buying your child a recording on iTunes. Choose something that features your child’s band instrument. This will help inspire your child to make music, expose them to new genres, and will give them something to strive for on their instrument. Exposing your child to new kinds of music will also help them develop broader and more sophisticated tastes in music. If you are unsure of what album to buy, just email Mr. McMath for suggestions.
An interesting note..... Bands in History
In 1890 it was estimated that as many as 10,000 bands were active in the United States. Bands were found in schools, universities, department stores, churches, amusement parks, prisons, seminaries, and asylums.
These bands provided music for parades, civic ceremonies, concerts, and dances. By 1920, bands were waning in popularity due to other forms of entertainment such as recorded music, and movies.
What is Orff Schulwerk?
Schulwerk literally means "schoolwork," but the Orff approach
should lead to a sense of playful discovery rather than work. Originally developed by Carl Orff of Carmina
Burana fame, this holistic approach to music education has been drawing in
children with nursery rhymes, chants, and xylophones for more than 60
years. At the core of the Orff approach
is the ancient Greek idea of Mousike- a seamless combination of music, poetic
word, and physical movement.
Carl Orff wanted to bring what he called “elemental music”
into the classroom.
“Elemental music is near the earth, natural, physical,
within the range of everyone to learn it and to experience it, and suitable for
the child…
It is music that one makes oneself, in which one takes part
not as a listener but as a participant…”
-Carl Orff
-Carl Orff
Below is a little example of our 3rd graders combining
music and rhyme to play an Orff inspired piece.
Middle school band performance at Betikara orphanage and school
On Tuesday November 4th the middle school band
will travel to Betikara orphanage and school near lake Ivato. Some student volunteers will use their Malagasy
language skills to introduce and demonstrate the individual band instruments. Then we will perform a short concert for
about 200 elementary school students. We
will leave after first period and return during lunch. This will be an exciting day for our band
students. If any parents would like to
attend please email me and I will make sure there is space for you on the
bus.
Congratulations on a great trip middle school band trip!
Our students performed as an ensemble and demonstrated the individual band instruments to an audience of about 300 students.
After the performance students enjoyed a picnic lunch in a beautiful setting.
Congratulations on a great trip middle school band trip!
State Department Jazz Ambassadors Visit the ASA
As part of the Madajazzcar festival the US State department brought the great jazz vocalist Joan Minor and her band to Madagascar. Before their concert they jammed with the fourth graders in the music room. Everyone sang and played an old jazz tune called "Old Man Mosie", and did a Gospel version of "This Little Light of Mine." Joan quickly had the kids scat singing and improvising with their voices.
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