Choir
Greetings! My name is Emily Miller-Amato, and I am the music and choir teacher for Anna McDonald! My musical interests include all genres of music, with a special emphasis on Rock and Musical Theatre, and those influences are definitely going to show in our choir.
Our rehearsals will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 3:00 - 3:30. In our rehearsals, we focus on healthy singing technique, learning the biology of how our voice works, music reading skills, rhythm and pitch skills, and specific singing skills like supported breathing, good posture, musicality, and diction.
Winter Concert Repertoire - Feb 15th
"Ah Poor Bird" arr. Shelley Cooper
"Can You Keep a Secret?" by Valerie Showers Crescenz, Herb Frombach
You may need to log in as a student using this code to watch "Sammy the Salmon". CODE: e926596
Christmas at the Round Barn
The choir has been invited again this year to sing carols at the Manhattan Park District's Chrismas at the Round Barn on December 1st at 6:00 - 6:30.
We'll vote on which songs we're singing at the next choir practice, and then I'll post them here for students to practice at home.
On the night of the event, students should wear fun, festive clothes and arrive at the Round Barn at 5:30 for a sound check.
I'm happy to announce that 5th Grade choir students have an opportunity to perform with other elementary students from around the state at this year's Illinois Music Educator's Association All-State Conference! This field trip will take place on Saturday, January 28th in Peoria.
School transportation not will be provided.
I have nominated 10 students from our choir, though some nominees may not be selected by the ILMEA organization. I will choose based on: singing skills, responsibility, and work ethic, as observed in rehearsals and in music class. Students must commit to attending extra rehearsals on Wednesday afternoons after school until 3:30, be responsible for their music materials, and be well-behaved while on the field trip. Extra rehearsals will begin after Thanksgiving break. Song selections are below:
Families, if your child is nominated, please respond to Mrs. Miller-Amato by emailing her A.S.A.P. Let her know if your child accepts the nomination.
Choir went to seaIn our first week of rehearsals, we talked about being a team of singers, so we did this clapping game, "A Sailor Went to Sea" to focus on singing AND moving as a team.
"I Don't know" by Bob Schneider
This is one of the songs we will sing for our concert, though our arrangement is slightly different.
"Is It Music?" by Nick Page
In this second silly song, two birds wonder if the noisy children are making music.
"Viva La Musica" by Michael Praetorius
The Italian lyrics of this very old song (written around the beginning of the 1600s) translate to "Long Live Music!". This will be our first attempt at singing in a round.
Choir Dates!
Fall concert, Nov. 7th at 6:30 in the Manhattan Junior High Gym
Manhattan Park District Christmas at the Round Barn,
evening of Dec 1st (6:00 - 6:25)
Illinois Music Educator's Association All-State Elementary Choir Festival
(select nominations), January 27 at the Peoria Civic Center
Winter Concert, February 15th at 6:30 in MJHS Gym
ILMEA District 1 Elementary Music Festival
(select nominations, location and date TBD)
Spring Choir concert, May 7th at 6:30 in MJHS gym
Choir recruitment tour at AnnaMcDonald, May 15th
(during the school day)
End if the year choir party (TBD)