Bancroft’s choral and Orff ensembles are working hard to prepare for their winter concert, which will be held at school on December 12, 2017. This year’s concert will feature several popular Christmas, Hanukkah, and winter songs. They will even be sneaking in the popular “You’re Welcome” from Moana.
The chorus will sing in both English and Spanish, and the Orff ensemble will accompany them on drums and xylophones as well as performing their own standalone instrumental pieces. These groups have been working diligently since September and look forward to showing their classmates and family members what a little hard work can sound like!
“In general-music classes,” Mr. Green says, “Bancroft students get the opportunity to sing, dance, and play instruments in almost every 50-minute class! The xylophones and drums have been at the center of the music curriculum for years. However, we are very excited for a few new additions into the music classroom. Both music rooms have been outfitted with brand-new Polyvision boards for interactive technology-based lessons. And with the purchase of 12 new ukuleles, we now have enough of these fun string instruments for every student in any given class to have the opportunity to play together.”
Band teacher Mrs. Strickland adds that the band has 49 fourth and fifth graders participating this year. “Our focus is on music literacy, new notes and fingerings, and the embouchure—the facial muscles used in producing and sustaining a sound. You may not know that a correct embouchure is vital to playing any wind instrument and needs to be worked on daily so that growth may occur. I am excited for the students to share what they have been learning. My advice for all band students remains the same: keep practicing! Daily practice helps make permanent the skills you are learning to become a better player.”
The orchestra is working hard on preparing for their upcoming Winter Concert on January 23. The beginning strings students have been focusing on learning how to use the bow and are very excited to be playing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “Good King Wenceslas.” The second and third year classes have been perfecting their concert songs, which include a fiddle song, a holiday song, and our crowd favorite, “String Explosion.”
We hope to see everyone at the concert!
