Hi all!
This is a big concert week for us here at ZWMS! The 5th and 6th grade concert was last night (Dec. 13th) and what a concert it was! All of the students played very well, and behaved even better! I'm extremely pleased with all of our students that performed last night!
The 7th and 8th grade concerts are tonight (Dec. 14th) and I'm expecting more of the same! I'm very excited to hear how they will perform, as I'm sure the students are very eager to get on stage. I hope to see you all at least once this week, so stop and say, "Hi!"
Tri-M induction is Thursday for all Tri-M members. We will introduce several new members into our "fraternity." It will be nice to see all the students in their best after Caroling for Cans last week!
What a week!!!
Have a happy holiday season everyone!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Time for an update!
Hi all!
It's been awhile, so I figured I would let you all in on what we have been doing in the classroom! We're all gearing up for our next holiday concert coming up on December 13th (for 5th and 6th grade) and 14th (for 7th and 8th grade)! Many of the pieces that we are playing are really starting to sound great! With our first snow on the ground, and holiday music being played in the classroom, it's really starting to feel like the holidays!
We are also getting ready for our ISSMA contest in February. There are more than 100 students participating in solo/ensemble this year, and getting music and groups together can be quite hectic! There is a light at the end of the tunnel though, and most groups should have music by the end of the week. I'm sure we'll all impress with our army of Zionsville West string students at Avon!
For 7th and 8th graders, we are starting to look towards our trip to Nashville. The first deposit will be due on December 1st, and that lets us know that you will be going on the trip with us! I look forward to seeing everyone come on this fun and exciting trip! Please make sure that if you are coming along, to make a $50 deposit on the website by December 1st!
All in all, it's been a very eventful and BUSY month of November! I look forward to seeing all of you at our concert here in a couple weeks!!
It's been awhile, so I figured I would let you all in on what we have been doing in the classroom! We're all gearing up for our next holiday concert coming up on December 13th (for 5th and 6th grade) and 14th (for 7th and 8th grade)! Many of the pieces that we are playing are really starting to sound great! With our first snow on the ground, and holiday music being played in the classroom, it's really starting to feel like the holidays!
We are also getting ready for our ISSMA contest in February. There are more than 100 students participating in solo/ensemble this year, and getting music and groups together can be quite hectic! There is a light at the end of the tunnel though, and most groups should have music by the end of the week. I'm sure we'll all impress with our army of Zionsville West string students at Avon!
For 7th and 8th graders, we are starting to look towards our trip to Nashville. The first deposit will be due on December 1st, and that lets us know that you will be going on the trip with us! I look forward to seeing everyone come on this fun and exciting trip! Please make sure that if you are coming along, to make a $50 deposit on the website by December 1st!
All in all, it's been a very eventful and BUSY month of November! I look forward to seeing all of you at our concert here in a couple weeks!!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Prep week before our concerts!
So here we are, one week before our concerts! All of the classes are very hard at work preparing for what we are going to play next week. The 5th, 6th, and 7th grades will all perform next Wednesday, while the 8th grade class is rehearsing next Tuesday, with a concert on Thursday.
We have all had practice forms due every week as well, and the practice has been showing in all of the classes! The fifth grade class has even started using bows! My "favorite" sound is that first day of bowed stringed instruments, yeesh! The sixth grade class has been working on their two pieces for next week as well, with much progress being made. The seventh grade class has even started sounding good on the "slow" piece that they are playing! And, of course, the eighth grade class have been preparing for the Crossover concert at the high school next week. I'm excited to see all of my past students at the high school next week!
We have also been composing stories to practice literacy the past few weeks. The students have been very creative in coming up with stories to accompany the music that they are listening to, and I love reading how they interpret some of the pieces being played for them.
It's been a very fun couple of weeks, and I'm very excited about our first concerts next week! See you all there!
We have all had practice forms due every week as well, and the practice has been showing in all of the classes! The fifth grade class has even started using bows! My "favorite" sound is that first day of bowed stringed instruments, yeesh! The sixth grade class has been working on their two pieces for next week as well, with much progress being made. The seventh grade class has even started sounding good on the "slow" piece that they are playing! And, of course, the eighth grade class have been preparing for the Crossover concert at the high school next week. I'm excited to see all of my past students at the high school next week!
We have also been composing stories to practice literacy the past few weeks. The students have been very creative in coming up with stories to accompany the music that they are listening to, and I love reading how they interpret some of the pieces being played for them.
It's been a very fun couple of weeks, and I'm very excited about our first concerts next week! See you all there!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Week After Labor Day!
Whew, what a couple weeks this has been!
The week started short, but it sure was busy! Breakfast Club was busy preparing for Fall Festival and the rest of the classes started really practicing their music for our upcoming October concerts. Theory Thursday contained new lessons as well, as the fifth grade students began reading notes in other clefs!
We also began a new lesson which will be common during Theory Thursday; creating a story based on music that is played. Students compose a story based on a particular piece of music played for them, but the story must make sense. This activity reinforces not only practice in listening to "classical" music, but also is an exercise in literacy!
The Breakfast Club had a great performance at the Fall Festival last Saturday! Some people may have been wondering why I wasn't conducting though. I had promised a friend of mine last year that I would play for her wedding the following year, and of course the two events are at the same time on the same day, ARGH! A big thank you to Mrs. Swayze for stepping in, and several parent volunteers who helped set up the stage so I could scurry over to the wedding!
What a busy week and a half, eh?
The week started short, but it sure was busy! Breakfast Club was busy preparing for Fall Festival and the rest of the classes started really practicing their music for our upcoming October concerts. Theory Thursday contained new lessons as well, as the fifth grade students began reading notes in other clefs!
We also began a new lesson which will be common during Theory Thursday; creating a story based on music that is played. Students compose a story based on a particular piece of music played for them, but the story must make sense. This activity reinforces not only practice in listening to "classical" music, but also is an exercise in literacy!
The Breakfast Club had a great performance at the Fall Festival last Saturday! Some people may have been wondering why I wasn't conducting though. I had promised a friend of mine last year that I would play for her wedding the following year, and of course the two events are at the same time on the same day, ARGH! A big thank you to Mrs. Swayze for stepping in, and several parent volunteers who helped set up the stage so I could scurry over to the wedding!
What a busy week and a half, eh?
Monday, August 29, 2011
Playing Test Time!
It's time to really start getting back into the swing of things! All grades will have practice forms due Friday morning, and all grades will also have a playing test on Friday! If you're unsure if your child turned in a practice form last week, please check grades. Several students forgot to turn these in, here's hoping EVERYONE gets a practice form in by Friday!
5th grade beginners club also starts this week, with rehearsals on Monday and Wednesday after school. Please plan on having your child attend if they are interested in participating! We play right after school until 3:30, when they can be picked up at door 4. I would love to begin a carpool, so if you are interested in participating in that, please let me know!
5th grade beginners club also starts this week, with rehearsals on Monday and Wednesday after school. Please plan on having your child attend if they are interested in participating! We play right after school until 3:30, when they can be picked up at door 4. I would love to begin a carpool, so if you are interested in participating in that, please let me know!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Week Two!
After a busy first week, it's down to business! All classes began playing last week, with the exception of 5th graders. This week begins our first week of buckling down and rehearsing our new music! This will also be our first week of the dreaded PRACTICE FORMS!! Almost everyone turned in a syllabus from last week, which makes for a much smoother second week! The fifth graders will also begin playing today, after "practicing" how to get ready for class and pack up at the end of class. More updates at the end of the week!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Welcome to class!
Hi students and parents and welcome to orchestra class! Summer has gone by so fast, and I hope that all of you enjoyed your time off. It's time to go back to work though, and I have big plans for us this year! For those of you that don't know me, my name is Mr. Plewa and I'll be teaching you orchestra this year. This will be my fifth year here, and I'm very excited at the possibilities of a new school year! I'm a cellist that performs with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, but I can play all of the stringed instruments that you will be bringing in to class. This year, the fifth grade class is the largest string class that has ever enrolled for orchestra! I have very high expectations this year for all of you!
This blog will be updated several times a week, including pictures and details of what we are learning and talking about in class. Please subscribe if you are interested in updates of how things are going in class! Also, let me know if you have any comments or helpful tips when it comes to blogging, as this is my first ever blog!
Parents, if you would like to reach me, please don't hesitate to email me or call me. My email is MPlewa@zcs.k12.in.us, and my phone number is 873-1240 ex. 10222.
Make sure to visit our website at http://www.zwmsstrings.org/ so you can check out the calendar for all of our upcomming events! I look forward to a great year with all of you!
This blog will be updated several times a week, including pictures and details of what we are learning and talking about in class. Please subscribe if you are interested in updates of how things are going in class! Also, let me know if you have any comments or helpful tips when it comes to blogging, as this is my first ever blog!
Parents, if you would like to reach me, please don't hesitate to email me or call me. My email is MPlewa@zcs.k12.in.us, and my phone number is 873-1240 ex. 10222.
Make sure to visit our website at http://www.zwmsstrings.org/ so you can check out the calendar for all of our upcomming events! I look forward to a great year with all of you!
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