REMINDER: Short performance TOMORROW!

Hi choir parents!

Just a reminder that students will be singing a few songs at morning assembly tomorrow morning at 8:45.   They should be there by 8:20 to warm up.  Each group will sing three pieces.  Some old and some new!

You won't believe the leap their sound has taken in the last few weeks.   I'm super excited.   Please contact me at ariccinto@summers-knoll.org with questions or if you know your SK Singers member will not be in school.

Thanks!   I appreciate you all!


Mr. Riccinto

NO 3-8 CHOIR TODAY - MR. R SICK!!

NO CHOIR TODAY - MR. R SICK!!!

Choir families,

Sorry for the short notice.  I have a nasty cold and will be out today.  I need to cancel choir for the K-2's as well.  Before care is available and can simply take the place fee-wise.

-Mr. Riccinto

Choir news and next performance

Hi everyone!

Spring is in the air and we're working on new material that we'll present on Friday, March 22 right before our break.  Please join us for a short performance at 8:45am!

Mr. Riccinto

Friday's lyrics posted

Per students request at rehearsal this morning, the lyrics for Friday morning are in the Lyrics and Documents folder.    :)

Performance Friday morning - FEBRUARY NEWS!

February 11, 20133


Hi everyone!   You will not believe how the choir students are sounding!   They need an audience and I was able to get us on this week's morning assembly!

SO....   both choirs will perform THIS FRIDAY starting at 8:45am.  Students should report to the music room 8:25 for a warmup.  

Thanks, parents for your support of the music program at SK.  I know getting students their early during the winter takes extra commitment.  

Due to school being closed, I'll see 3-8 students as normal tomorrow.  


- Mr. Riccinto

January Choir News

January 18, 2013


We're back in the swing of things and the SK Singers sound better than ever!  Depending on the group your children are in, you may be hearing songs like "Zippity Do Dah!", "My Favorite Things," "Old Dan Tucker," "Country Roads," "Are You Sleeping?," and "Side by Side."

The 3-8's are making the shift from using simple word sheets to the beginning stages of music reading.  This of course is old hat to some students but brand new to others.  We're using a set of books called "Get America Singing Again" that contains lead sheets (a melody line with chord symbols) of the tunes we're learning.

We are continuing to expand our vocal technique and range and in particular  to work with the gentlemen to find the head voice vs. the chest voice and use singing as a technique to ease the transition of the voice change.

The K-2's are continuing to expand their vocal range a bit and match pitch and sound character through imitation of the teacher and each other.   We're working to foster vocal independence by introducing rounds.


More updates soon including upcoming concert dates.   It's a true pleasure to sing with your children each morning!  

As always, please remember that you're welcome to join us at any time in choir or music class.


My best always,


Mr. Riccinto

Choir Registration - no need to do differently

Hi Choir families!


Hope everyone has had a marvelous break so far and enjoying their time off.   January 8th is fast approaching and we'll be right back with choir as normal.  

Shan Cook sent out registration information but the good news is that returning choir members do not need to do anything special.  New choir students will need to register but all current members will be automatically enrolled to save you all the hassle.

If there's a reason we should talk first, just drop me an email at ariccinto@summers-knoll.org.

Can't wait to start singing with you all again!


Mr. Riccinto

8:30 ARRIVAL TOMORROW

Hi Everyone!

Can't wait for our holiday sing-a-long tomorrow morning!   No need for choir students to be there extra early but they should be at school by 8:30 sharp for sure so they can sit together and lead the group.

It's been a pleasure singing with your children each morning.  Thank you for your commitment to your child's voice and to the program.


-Mr. Riccinto

This Thursday

Hi everyone!


Hope everyone had a marvelous weekend.  Just a note about this Thursday morning.  It will be less a "concert" and more the choirs leading the rest of the students in a sing-a-long.   All parents are welcome of course but be prepared to dust of your own singing voice and join us on some favorite holiday tunes!

Students should arrive 8:15am.


- Mr. Riccinto

Reminder: Concert Tomorrow morning!

Dear Choir parents,


Just a reminder that the SK Singers will be singing TOMORROW morning at morning assembly.  Students need to be at the cafeteria ready to warmup by 8:15, please.  The performance starts at 8:45 and will be loads of fun.  Please join us if you can!

THIS JUST IN.....


We'll ALSO be singing the Thursday we get out for winter break!   :)

Updates and next concert!

Hi everyone!

I can't believe it's been so long since the last entry.  Getting ready to take over the music program along with other activities has been super busy.

First off, there are two performances you'll want to be aware of.

First off, THIS WEEKEND will be the Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra's "Home for the Holidays" concert on Sunday at 3:30pm held at the Morris Lawrence Bldg on the campus of Washtenaw Community College.  The program will be conducted by yours truly and will be a fabulous family event featuring music from the Nutcracker, holiday pops favorites and the Erickson Elementary school choir!   Tickets are selling fast and are available at the door or online along with more information at www.ypsilantisymphony.org.  

The Summers Knoll Singers will be singing at morning assembly on Friday, December 7th.  Students will need to arrive at 8:15 for warmup and the performance will be at 8:45am the same as last time.


So what have we been singing in choir lately?

The K-2 group has been studying folk songs and learning some songs about the various holidays in November and December including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, and Kwanzaa including:

• Ach Shav!
• Over the River and Through the Woods
• Zumba! Zumba!
• Up on the Housetop

The 3-8 group has been continuing with musical theater with "The Wells Fargo Wagon" from The Music Man and driving into winter with Winter Wonderland.  We've continued our work on This Land is Your Land and The Water is Wide.

Winter is nearly here!   Let's all work together to be on time for rehearsal.  I know I've been flying in at 7:55 recently because of the shift in OUR family schedule so believe me I understand when someone in the household needs that extra nudge to get out the door on time.  It'll be worth it though....  trust me. :)

It's a pleasure working with your children and I'm looking forward to tomorrow's rehearsal!  Look for a new music class blog and more updates soon!

Hope to see you next Friday if I don't catch you before.

Mr. Riccinto

Halloween week/Student suggestions!

Stirring our brew!  :)



Also....   check out the Pumpkin Carols in the lyrics section for more Halloween fun!


Mr. Riccinto

P.S.  Students with song suggestions for choir can submit them to me via email at adamriccinto@gmail.com!   We have discussed what makes a good "cross-over" song from another genre into one that will sound good in choir.  Students should send the song title and ideally a link to a version they think might work for choir from YouTube!   

THIS WEEK IN CHOIR/Updates!

Hello choir parents!


By now you've probably heard your children singing a few new songs!   We are continuing to work on sound production and diction.   We're working to increase awareness of the diaphragm muscles (the root of good singing) by heading into more lyrical songs like Simple Gifts and The Water is Wide.  

As always, feel free to join us any time during rehearsal!  We'd love to have you!


UPDATE ON MORNING CARE:

• Remember that morning care for choir siblings is included in the choir fee.  However, siblings must be signed in to morning care by a parent. 

Stay warm!  :)

- Mr. Riccinto

What we've been doing lately........

Hi Everyone!


SO....   just what have we been doing lately in choir?


Leading up to our first performance we've been using songs from the following genres (yep!  Genre study in choir, too!  :)

• Patriotic - "America the Beautiful" - opening of class with 3-8 and "This Land is Your Land"
• Folk songs/Wartime
• "Viva' L. Amour" - (3-8)
• "May There Always Be Sunshine" (K-2)
• "The Thread Follows the Needle" (K-2)
• Musical Theater
• "Consider Yourself" from Oliver (3-8)
• "Do Re Mi" from The Sound of Music (all)

That's cool, but what SKILLS are they learning?    

Singing properly is as physical as any sport.  Learning to  use our instrument (body) effectively and efficiently   will train students to sing chorally but in all styles as well.

Good diction is important!  Without it, nobody understands our words.  Kinda' defeats the purpose of singing.  :)

Remember that you're welcome to visit us any time!

Mr. Riccinto

Check out our DEBUT!

Check out our debut performance from Friday, October 12th!

PERFORMANCE TOMORROW!

Hi everyone!

Just a reminder that the Summers Knoll Singers will make their performance debut TOMORROW morning at morning assembly!   The students sound great and are excited.

Please have students at school early enough to have them in the cafeteria by 8:20am.  We need to warm up and get used to the space.  

Concert will start at 8:45am sharp and last just about 10-12 minutes.   All are welcome!  Please feel free to record or take pictures (without a flash).

Dress - normal school wear is fine.

Thanks for all your support getting the SK Singers rolling!  


REMINDER :  If you haven't already, please sign up to get updates from the blog via email.  It will be my primary means of communicating with you starting next week.  Thanks!!   The address is sksingers.blogspot.com

-- 


My best always,
 
Mr. Riccinto
___________________________________
Choir Teacher, Summers Knoll
adamriccinto@gmail.com
734-678-8215
sksingers.blogspot.com

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Updates/PERFORMANCE FRIDAY!

Hi everyone!

Hope you all had an awesome weekend!   A couple of updates/reminders.

CHOIR BLOG: I updated the blog at sksingers.blogspot.com to allow you to follow it via email.  PLEASE subscribe to follow the blog if you haven't already.  This will ensure that you get all updates.

Also, I blew it and forgot to post some of the 3-8 lyrics on the blog.  Look for them shortly.

FRIDAY PERFORMANCE: Students will be performing THIS FRIDAY morning at morning assembly starting at 8:45am.  Please have students arrive in the music room by 8:25 for a short warm up.  The students are working hard and sound great.  They're looking super forward to singing for you!

ABSENCES FROM CLASS: If you're child will be gone from class, please give me a heads up via email or text at adamriccinto@gmail.com or 734-678-8215.  This has been working really well and let's me plan classes to maximize everyone's time.

On a personal note.....      I'm REALLY enjoying working with your children.  I love their energy and attitudes.  They're working hard and willing to try new things.  THANK YOU for making the effort to bring them in the mornings.  I know it's been a shift for families.  The effort/sacrifice to get your children to school at 8:00am is noted and appreciated by all of us in the Summers Knoll Singers!   I know you'll find this investment of time, money, and effort to be a worthy one!

As always, please don't hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns, or ideas!


Best,

Mr. Riccinto    

Week 2 update

Hi Choir families!

I can't wait to start our second week of choir with your children.  We're having a ball!

Grades K-2  have learned a "Hello To You", "The Thread Follows The Needle" and "May There Always Be Sunshine.

Grades 3-8  greet each other each day with "America The Beautiful" and are working on "Viva L'Amour", "Consider Yourself" from Oliver, and "This Land is Your Land."

I plan to record some more classes this week so you can see what we're doing but please also know that you're welcome to visit ANY class.  There's no need to schedule it with me.

Billing - Choir billing will being on your normal October statement.  Contact Matt Berg if you have any questions.

Performances - Thanks for your patience on this.  I'll get some stuff on the books ASAP.

Absences - Stuff comes up from time to time.  A quick text message to 734-678-8215 letting me know if your child will miss class would be awesome.

Text/Email/Blog - I find that I can usually reach people most reliably with a text message.  I'll be putting that list together soon.  I'll also communicate through email and our blog at sksingers.blogspot.com.

As always, please contact me directly with any questions, concerns or thoughts.   It's a pleasure singing with your children each day.  I'm humbled by your commitment to the program.


My best always,


Mr. Riccinto

Great week and some really important stuff!

Hi everyone!


The first week of the Summers Knoll Singers has been a ball!   35 students came to choir and I expect more next week!  

The combined group will meet tomorrow as promised but there will be some IMPORTANT (but super cool) CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM:

When I decided on the division of the groups, I based it on child development experience.  I knew a shift might be needed after I got to know the students a bit.

Starting Monday:

• 3rd graders will now be part of the Tuesday/Thursday group.  They'll be with their classmates and from what I've seen will fit in just fine.
• Because the younger class no longer has 3rd grade and I've learned just how much the K/1/2 teachers already work together, the younger group is open to ALL Kindergarten students!
• Enough parents have expressed an interest in a day off on Friday that it makes sense to honor the request.  SO..  there will be NO choir on Friday mornings.

To summarize.....

• Grades K-2 meet Monday and Wednesday
• Grades 3 - 8 meet Tuesday and Thursday
• No class on Friday.

"OFFICIAL" ENROLLMENT INFO:

• To make the paperwork clean for the staff, everyone will be enrolled automatically unless you instruct me otherwise.  Just email me if you've decided that choir is not a fit for your children
• Because of the Summers Knoll Singers being such a "team sport" the commitment will be for a minimum of the semester.  
• If you're "on the fence" or have any concerns at all please email or call this weekend.

Please email me at adamriccinto@gmail.com or call at 734-678-8215 with questions or concerns.

I'm looking forward to fun tomorrow and to starting "officially" on Monday.

Mr. Riccinto

P.S.  Have you checked out out class videos from this week?  :)