This site is maintained by Mr. Aaron Booz, music and band teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School in the Bethel Park School District in southwestern Pennsylvania. You can always contact me with questions at booz.aaron@bphawks.org.
To learn more about music in all levels of the Bethel Park School District, visit our Music Department Website.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
by Mr. Booz
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! Each month, I will make a blog post on this page about what is new and exciting in your child’s Lincoln Elementary School music classes, grades 1-4. Here are a few updates to get us started in this new year of music-making:
Around the second week of each month, all year long, I will be sending home with each student an “Ask Me…” page. This will provide you the opportunity to ask your child to tell you (or demonstrate for you) something they’ve learned in music class, whether that is a song, some musical knowledge, or a little bit of music for them to perform for you. The first of these will be coming home around the second week of September.
Over the next month, Mrs. Sheffer will be starting the first lessons with her Fourth Grade Strings students, and I’ll be starting with the Fourth Grade Band. Those families can check their email to find details from us, and I have Band information also at this link. We’re excited to get our fourth graders started on instruments!
The Pittsburgh Youth Chorus is an excellent local program that many of our Lincoln and Bethel Park students have enjoyed in the past. There are opportunities for students in grades 1 through 4, and they are having open rehearsals now, so students can attend and see if they’d like to join. No audition is necessary, and I would encourage any of our students in those grades to try it. Visit www.pittsburghyouthchorus.org, and check their fliers about their Neighborhood Training Choir, Youth Choruses, and special needs programs for more information.
In elementary general music classes, students are assessed on a variety of musical activities, and students will receive grades on the "Achievement" section of their quarterly report cards. Bethel Park School District has just this year updated its grading levels to the following:
3 - Exceeds Expectations
2 - Meets Expectations
1 - Approaching Expectations
0 - Does Not Meet Expectations
At our Lincoln Open House evening on Thursday, September 4, all families are welcome to stop by the music room and say hello, and to ask any questions you have about music at Lincoln!