Music / Welcome

Welcome To the Music Department

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Welcome to the Forest Grove Music Web Page!

Music is an integral part of your child's education. Music and the arts provide a powerful means of engaging students in learning. In addition to developing children's musical skills, arts education will help them: think critically and aid them with problem solving and decision making; use their imaginations and create; freely express themselves; learn to develop self-confidence as well as self-discipline; and appreciate, understand, and be aware of different cultures and their values.

All students in grades 1 - 5 receive a thirty minute period of music instruction twice weekly. Students are actively immersed in music through singing (alone and with others), playing instruments (rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic), moving to music, reading and writing musical notation, listening, evaluating, and creating music. Our activities are aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning and the National Standards of Arts Education and all children are given ample opportunities for SUCCESS!

Because the voice is everyone's personal instrument, a major emphasis is placed on the development of every child's singing voice. Our classroom is well equipped with a variety of both pitched and unpitched percussion instruments (such as xylophones, melody bells, drums, triangles, maracas, etc.) which enhance the musical education of all our students. Students at all levels receive instruction on baritone ukulele. In addition, fifth grade students receive recorder instruction. Utilizing music technology is another one of our goals.

In order to give all children a chance to perform, we follow a basic performance outline from year to year. This allows all children the opportunity to perform in two grade level musicals as well as a variety of smaller performances throughout his/her Forest Grove years. Fifth grade students will present a musical in December while second grade will perform in May. Fourth grade students will host a choral concert in March in which all grades will have a small part. Other small performance opportunities may arise throughout the year (for example, all classes will be featured singing during our school's morning TV news program.)

The full-time music teacher at Forest Grove is Mrs. Donna Fiebert. She teaches two first grade classes as well as all second through fifth grade classes. Mr. John Barnes is our itinerant music teacher. He teaches Mrs. Charlish's and Mrs. Betty's first grade classes on Monday and Tuesday mornings, in addition to his classes at Sully Elementary. If you have any questions or wish us to know information pertaining to your child, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you have a musical interest or talent that you would like to share with our students, please volunteer. We care about your child and appreciate your support of the music program. We are looking forward to a wonderful year!

Last Modified on August 17, 2012