Enrichment : Music

My name is Debra Johnson.  I am the Music Teacher.  I received my Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Texas.   I am a certified Kodaly specialist.  I am a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Choral Directors Association, the Organization of American Kodaly Educators, and the Choristers Guild. As the elementary chair for Region VIII of the Texas Music Educators Association, I am responsible for organizing professional development opportunities for music teachers of Region VIII. I have 3 children.

  e-mail address: debra.johnson@bisd.net

Welcome to Music at Leon Heights!  It is my delight and privilege to be your child’s music teacher.  My goal is to help your child develop a lifelong love of music supported by understanding and knowledge.

I teach musical concepts with a core of material derived from our rich heritage of folk songs.  Many of these folk songs have games and dances associated with them.  This makes learning fun!

Singing is central to the classroom.  We sing for the joy of singing, to develop a healthy expressive voice, and to learn about the elements of music: melody, rhythm, harmony, and form.

 

IMPORTANT NOTES

Wow!  We’ve got a large choir this year!  The sound is exciting, and I’m really looking forward to the coming year.

Honor Choir has received a tremendous honor this year.  Temple College has invited us to sing with them and the TC orchestra on their November concert.  We will be performing The Mass of the Children by John Rutter.  This is a major work and will require much dedication in preparation.  What a marvelous opportunity!

Listed below are dates to remember.  As we near the performance date in November, I may add some Thursday rehearsals.  I will try to keep that to a minimum.  The better the behavior in rehearsal, the less extra time we will need.

Honor Choir continues to prepare for the Mass of the Children concert with Temple College.  The music is both challenging and beautiful.  Again, what a tremendous opportunity for our choir

!Due to the dedication and hard work of Carol Holcomb and Rosie Montgomery, mothers of choir members Ben and Maggie, respectively, Honor Choir will be looking really sharp in red polo shirts and khakis.  Thank you also to the parents who sent extra money. 

A big THANK YOU to ALL!!

NOVEMBER CHOIR NOTES

Listed below are dates to remember.  Please note that, due to positive behavior at the last couple of rehearsals, I have eliminated the Thurs. Nov. 13 rehearsal.  Thank you for using such great self-control!

Please remind your choir member to turn in all school work.  Absences from choir due to ZAP will result in dismissal from choir.

I will have tickets for The Mass of the Children performance soon.  Regular price of the tickets is $10.  Honor Choir parents will be able to purchase tickets for $5 each.  All proceeds from this concert will benefit Child Help, Inc.

Poinsettia sales have been slow this year.  I realize the economy is suffering and times are more difficult; however, the slow sales are putting our trip to the East Texas Children’s Choral Festival in Huntsville in jeopardy.  I’m extending sales until Thurs. Nov. 6.  Thank you for all the hard work you do to make choir a success.

Tues. Nov. 4                Rehearse 2:45—3:45

Thurs. Nov. 6             Rehearse 2:45—3:45

Tues. Nov. 11              Rehearse 2:45—3:45

Thurs.Nov. 13th No Honor Choir Rehersal

Tues. Nov. 18              Rehearse 2:45—3:45

Thurs. Nov. 20           6:50—9:00 p.m.  DRESS REHEARSAL AT TEMPLE COLLEGE (wear uniforms)

                                    ATTENDANCE MANDATORY!!!!!!!

Fri. Nov. 21                7:00 CALL TIME; 7:30 PERFORMANCE AT TEMPLE COLLEGE (wear uniforms)

THANKSGIVING BREAK

Tues. Dec. 2                 Rehearse 2:45—3:45
Tues. Dec. 9               NO REHEARSAL
Thurs. Dec. 11            2:45—3:45 REHEARSE (RESCHEDULED FROM TUESDAY)
Tues. Dec. 16             6:00 HOLIDAY PROGRAM WITH 4TH & 5TH GRADES
Fri. Dec. 19                 Morning Tour to EDC, Administration Building, and The Temple Meridian.  We will return to LH by lunch.  Please wear uniforms with shirt tucked in.

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Dear Parents:

I have tickets for the TC performance of Mass of the Children by John Rutter.  Tickets are $5.00 from me or $10 at the door.  Checks can be made out to Leon Heights. The time on the tickets is 7:00.  THAT IS A MISPRINT.  THE CONCERT BEGINS AT 7:30.

Choir shirts arrived yesterday.  They will be distributed after choir rehearsal Tuesday Nov. 18.  Pants and skirts that needed to be re-ordered will also be here then.  I hope everybody has their shoes and boys have their belts.

Thursday Nov. 20 is the dress rehearsal at Temple College.  Parents should park in the back of Mary Alice Marshall Performing Art Center, and students should enter the building in the back and go to the choir room.  We rehearse our two songs at 6:50.  Please arrive at TC by 6:45.  After rehearsing our two songs on stage, all choirs will rehearse with the orchestra.  Rehearsal will conclude at 9:00.  Parents, PLEASE BE ON TIME TO PICK UP YOUR CHILD!  Please wear uniforms with shirts tucked in.

Friday Nov. 21 is the concert.  We report to the TC choir room at 7:00 to warm-up.  Again, PLEASE be on time and dressed in uniform with shirts tucked in.  I hope all parents will be able to attend the concert and all children leave TC promptly at the conclusion of the performance.

Again, this is an exciting event for Leon Heights and the choir.  We have worked hard to prepare the music.  I’m very proud of what the choir has accomplished.  This is a major work of music and not easy.  They’ve worked really hard, and now it’s time to enjoy the performance and let them know how proud of them we all are!

With a song in my heart,

Debra Johnson

 

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