Hello parents, and happy fall break! While your students are out of school for a few days, I thought I'd share a few online resources for you to check out if you'd like to further your child's interest and involvement in music.
While Quavermusic.com is an excellent resource, it's not the only one out there! I was just looking at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra website for kids, called DSO Kids. You can learn more at http://www.dsokids.com/
Here are some other great sites below. Let me know if I can help in any other way.
Thanks!
Mr. Wray
wrayb@usd231.com
www.dallassymphony.com (The main web site for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra)
www.nyphilkids.org (The New York Philharmonic's educational website for children)
www.sfskids.org (The San Francisco Symphony's educational website for children)
www.artsalive.ca (National Arts Centre in Canada's educational website for children)
www.artsaliveinc.com (Integrated arts program for children of all ages)
www.nsokids.org (The Nashville Symphony's educational website for children)
http://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org (Carnegie Hall's Online Resource Center - Games and Listening Guides)
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Friday, September 27, 2013
Quavermusic news for 9/27/13
Hello Nike Parents! Our year is off to a great start in music! We are all enjoying the hour-long class periods for 1st-4th grades, and looking forward to all that we are going to learn this year!
Today through next week we are in the flex lab, and using Quavermusic to learn about music styles, musical time periods, and much more. As a reward for their good behavior, I am "unlocking" different parts of the website that they choose as a class. Hopefully, they will come home and tell you about what they have learned, and you may learn a thing or two as well!
Kindergarten classes are learning how to use their login information to get on the computers, and hopefully during the second semester they will be able to use that information to use Quavermusic as well. You can help your student by practicing how to type their last name, followed by their first initial, and middle initial, no spaces (for example, John William Smith = smithjw). This is the school computer login as well as the Quavermusic login. Their password is all the same, (music1). We have created each student's account, and it would be great for you to practice logging on at home! Just go to www.quavermusic.com and click on the "Log In" window. Then you can get familiar with the website and explore together!
If you were at Back-to-school night a few weeks ago, you may have seen a signup sheet that you could initial for Quavermusic. This was to grant permission for me to enter your child's first and last name onto the secure online gradebook portion of Quavermusic. If you didn't see that sheet, or were unable to attend, please send me a message saying "OK" and I will add your child's name to my gradebook. It makes things easier for me to keep track of when giving assignments. If not, please respond "No" and I won't add that information. No problem!
I would love to see you at Parent-Teacher conferences in October! This would be a great time to ask any questions you may have about upcoming performances, Quavermusic, private lesson teachers, or anything else. You can always send me an email at wrayb@usd231.com as well. Have a great day!
Ben Wray
Music Teacher, Nike Elementary
Today through next week we are in the flex lab, and using Quavermusic to learn about music styles, musical time periods, and much more. As a reward for their good behavior, I am "unlocking" different parts of the website that they choose as a class. Hopefully, they will come home and tell you about what they have learned, and you may learn a thing or two as well!
Kindergarten classes are learning how to use their login information to get on the computers, and hopefully during the second semester they will be able to use that information to use Quavermusic as well. You can help your student by practicing how to type their last name, followed by their first initial, and middle initial, no spaces (for example, John William Smith = smithjw). This is the school computer login as well as the Quavermusic login. Their password is all the same, (music1). We have created each student's account, and it would be great for you to practice logging on at home! Just go to www.quavermusic.com and click on the "Log In" window. Then you can get familiar with the website and explore together!
If you were at Back-to-school night a few weeks ago, you may have seen a signup sheet that you could initial for Quavermusic. This was to grant permission for me to enter your child's first and last name onto the secure online gradebook portion of Quavermusic. If you didn't see that sheet, or were unable to attend, please send me a message saying "OK" and I will add your child's name to my gradebook. It makes things easier for me to keep track of when giving assignments. If not, please respond "No" and I won't add that information. No problem!
I would love to see you at Parent-Teacher conferences in October! This would be a great time to ask any questions you may have about upcoming performances, Quavermusic, private lesson teachers, or anything else. You can always send me an email at wrayb@usd231.com as well. Have a great day!
Ben Wray
Music Teacher, Nike Elementary
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Summer is here!
Hello Nike Parents! Hope you are ready for summer because here it is! I wanted to mention that your students have been enjoying Quavermusic this year, and it would be a great free time activity for them this summer as well. Some areas of the website use Quavernotes, which you can purchase for them if you like, but most do not.
I have tried to verify all of the students accounts, and have used the email address nikemusicman@gmail.com for that purpose. However, if you want to upgrade their account or purchase Quavernotes for them, you can still do that. If you need assistance please let me know.
If I can be of assistance in any way over the summer, please let me know! Thanks!
Ben Wray
Summer is here!
Hello Nike Parents! Hope you are ready for summer because here it is! I wanted to mention that your students have been enjoying Quavermusic this year, and it would be a great free time activity for them this summer as well. Some areas of the website use Quavernotes, which you can purchase for them if you like, but most do not.
I have tried to verify all of the students accounts, and have used the email address nikemusicman@gmail.com for that purpose. However, if you want to upgrade their account or purchase Quavernotes for them, you can still do that. If you need assistance please let me know.
If I can be of assistance in any way over the summer, please let me know! Thanks!
Ben Wray
Monday, April 22, 2013
Allegro Children's Choir
Hello Parents! I wanted to let you know about an exciting opportunity for your students that love to sing! There is an amazing choral group for students in 1st-11th grades called the Allegro Children's Choir. I had the privilege of hearing this group in 2010 and took some classes alongside one of their directors. They are amazing, and will provide world-class training for your student. I recently received a poster and some postcards from them about auditions for the upcoming year. There are 5 performing ensembles available for different age groups, and they rehearse in Bonner Springs one night per week from August through April.
Auditions are this week (sorry for the late notice!). If you'd like more information, check out their website at at www.allegrokc.org.
Have a great day,
Mr. Wray
Auditions are this week (sorry for the late notice!). If you'd like more information, check out their website at at www.allegrokc.org.
Have a great day,
Mr. Wray
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Quavermusic Reminders
Hello Parents! Just a reminder that your child can log on to Quavermusic.com at home to enjoy the many features that the site offers. Each of the grade levels has participated in some way in Quavermusic, whether by watching a DVD episode, using the interactive whiteboard activities, or going to the flex lab to complete assignments and other music activities.
If you have never logged in to Quavermusic, I encourage you to give it a try! Your child should have an account created, and their quaver name is identical to their computer login name in most cases. When you get to the website, click the window that says "Log In" and enter that name. The password is "music1" for all students. If for some reason it doesn't work at home, please give me a shout and I"ll see what the problem is.
Your child will have a great time personalizing their avatar, playing music games, writing songs, and so much more. I'd like for each of them to try it at home just for the practice of logging in, if nothing else! Our Kindergarteners have recently been using their username and password in computer class, and so it's good practice to do it on Quavermusic as well! Just remember that the password is "music1", not "ne" like they do in computers.
Have a great day!
Mr. Wray
If you have never logged in to Quavermusic, I encourage you to give it a try! Your child should have an account created, and their quaver name is identical to their computer login name in most cases. When you get to the website, click the window that says "Log In" and enter that name. The password is "music1" for all students. If for some reason it doesn't work at home, please give me a shout and I"ll see what the problem is.
Your child will have a great time personalizing their avatar, playing music games, writing songs, and so much more. I'd like for each of them to try it at home just for the practice of logging in, if nothing else! Our Kindergarteners have recently been using their username and password in computer class, and so it's good practice to do it on Quavermusic as well! Just remember that the password is "music1", not "ne" like they do in computers.
Have a great day!
Mr. Wray
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Talent Show Auditions
Hey parents of 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders! It's time for the Nike Talent Show! May 3, at 1:30 pm in the Gym.
Tryouts are this coming week, April 17-19 during specials. Here are some of the guidelines:
1. Students may audition as a soloist and as part of a group. Singing, playing, dancing, juggling, pogo sticking, drama, dance, and magic tricks are good examples of talent show material.
2. Groups are limited to 5 students or less, and may have students of different grades.
3. Participation is optional.
4. All acts must be under 3 minutes in length, and school appropriate in nature.
5. All clothing must be school appropriate as well and approved by the judges.
6. Karaoke tracks will be allowed, but students who wish to sing a solo or duet will not be allowed to lip-sync or sing along with the original singer. I will be happy to help you find a track to use that is appropriate, or accompany you on the piano.
7. If you can't be there during the audition slots we can arrange to set up a separate time.
8. The decision of the judges is final, and not all acts will be accepted due to time considerations.
Please have your child come prepared on the specified days ready to audition. We look forward to lots of great talent!
Let me know if you have further questions! Thanks!
Mr. Wray
Tryouts are this coming week, April 17-19 during specials. Here are some of the guidelines:
1. Students may audition as a soloist and as part of a group. Singing, playing, dancing, juggling, pogo sticking, drama, dance, and magic tricks are good examples of talent show material.
2. Groups are limited to 5 students or less, and may have students of different grades.
3. Participation is optional.
4. All acts must be under 3 minutes in length, and school appropriate in nature.
5. All clothing must be school appropriate as well and approved by the judges.
6. Karaoke tracks will be allowed, but students who wish to sing a solo or duet will not be allowed to lip-sync or sing along with the original singer. I will be happy to help you find a track to use that is appropriate, or accompany you on the piano.
7. If you can't be there during the audition slots we can arrange to set up a separate time.
8. The decision of the judges is final, and not all acts will be accepted due to time considerations.
Please have your child come prepared on the specified days ready to audition. We look forward to lots of great talent!
Let me know if you have further questions! Thanks!
Mr. Wray
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