American Academy Music
(posted by Mark Middlebrooks; 08/20/10)
Welcome to Music at American Academy! To visit the Music Pages, click on the respective teacher link on the left. For Mr. Curran's music classes, click on Elementary School Music. For Mr. Middlebrooks' music classes, click on Middle School Music. Visit these pages often to keep up with activities in the classroom, get updates about extra curricular activities, and link to cool fun music stuff. Hope to see you here often!
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Piano Marvel Class
(posted by Mark Middlebrooks; 08/21/10)
Piano Marvel Class Filled!
Thanks all of the interest in the piano coaching sessions after school on Thursdays. I regret to inform you that we could only accept 11 students, equal to the number of keyboards, and the class is full.
The good news is that there are other options!
1. If there are enough interested piano students who are able to get the hardware setup (this includes a keyboard, headphones, and connection cable - $200) and are able to subscribe at $12.00 per month per student, I will consider opening up a second class at a different time. If you can do this, simply email Mr. Middlebrooks and I will start working toward a second class.
2. I do have some traditional piano lessons available from my private studio in Highlands Ranch. Times are Saturday mornings at 9, 10, or 11 am. Lessons are $30 for ½ hour of private instruction and ½ hour of individual computer time (on piano marvel). I only have four openings and those are the only times unfortunately. If you are interested in starting those, please let me know asap. I have availability right away and I teach using the Hal Leonard method.
3. I can make referrals to other teachers including one other teacher at American Academy who is interested in giving beginning lessons from her home in Highlands Ranch as well.
4. Consider joining the band (4th-8th) or guitar class on Wednesday mornings (2nd-8th) as an alternative musical opportunity. Email me for more details.
Band Info
(posted by Nicholas Curran; 08/25/10)
BAND!!!!!
Thank you to everyone who has shown interest in instrumental music!
If you are interested in being involved in band, here is some important information.
*The cost of band is $125.00 per semester ($250.00 for the year) bring check to first rehearsal
*Band will start 9/2/2010 from 3:45-4:35pm
*Rehearsals will be every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:35-4:35pm
*No musical experience is required, but the later a student joins, the more catching up they will have to do.
*For private lessons, contact Nick Curran to arrange a time. The price of lessons is $30.00 for 30 minutes of instruction.
*There will be one concert first semester on Dec 3.
*The beginning band book we will be using is Standard of Excellence Book 1 enhanced.
*If you are interested in renting an instrument, I recommend contacting Flesher-Hinton music co. aldavis@flesherhinton.com
Let's Make a Scene!
(posted by Mark Middlebrooks; 08/21/10)
Fall Performance "Let's Make a Scene"
December 3rd, 7:00 pm in the school gymnatorium. Details below about every possible scenario you could imagine!
Details
This year, we are expanding our fall performance to include more than just Broadway Scenes, so the official title is “Let’s Make a Scene” and there are several ways students may participate this year in our Fall Program on December 3rd. Read on!
Join the Band!
4th – 8th Graders can join the band and the performance on December 3rd. If you have never played an instrument, or even if you have had some experience, Mr. Curran is looking forward to getting this program rolling! Rehearsals are T/Th after school and if you are interested at all, come to the Band Open House on Tuesday, August 24th between 5 and 7pm to try out all types of instruments and to get more information. This is the most exciting thing happening in music at American Academy this year!
Middle Schoolers audition for a one-act play!
Check out the details on Mr. Middlebrooks' webpage.
Middle School Girls Dance Team!
Audition for the Middle School Girls Dance Team. For more information contact MS. Donahoe.
Email Ms. Donahoe
Learn to play the Guitar!
Mr. Ben Cantu is back with us this year as he continues his pursuit of his Doctorate in Guitar Performance at CU Boulder. He will be teaching interested students how to get started and continue growing in guitar studies every Wednesday morning from 7am-8am.
Enroll for Guitar Class
To enroll in the Guitar class, please contact Mr. Middlebrooks and indicate your interest. You should have an acoustic guitar of your own and be in 2nd grade - 8th grade. Cost is $100 per semester for 10 classes. Classes begin on September 1st!
Fractured Fairy Tales
Ms. Merkling who has her Master's Degree in Children's Theatre will be looking for 3rd-5th graders who are interested in writing and acting out their own Fairy Tale Dramas. For more information about signing up, contact Ms. Merkling.
Email Ms. Merkling
Finally...Broadway for all ages!
And finally, he Broadway scenes. This is set up differently this year in that all of these scenes must be chosen and rehearsed by the students themselves (with parent help). Students of any age may participate but we will only have limited time for scenes this year, so I will be looking for students who have chosen scenes that feature larger numbers of students with acting, singing, dancing included and with appropriate material. Once the students have chosen a scene and have found students to join with them in their scene, they may begin rehearsals and then schedule a time to present a rough version (does not need to be performance ready) of that scene to me (before Oct 9). Students should have an idea of how the scene will be staged, costuming, choreography, etc.
Broadway Scenes Coaching
Once a scene is chosen for inclusion in the December 3rd performance, I will schedule coaching sessions with each group to help them reach their fullest potential.
Ideally, this is a student driven effort and I’m really looking for students who will take initiative to recruit and rehearse for their scenes on their own (again with parent help if necessary). If you are looking for suggestions, the best bet is to go the library and find books that contain scenes or songs from Broadway Musicals. Remember that content must be appropriate for elementary through Middle School age, so make sure students choose material carefully! Time is also a consideration so no more than five minutes long (negotiable if larger numbers of students are involved).