5th Grade General Music
2024 Musical Production Notes
On March 20, 2024, we will present our annual musical production. Our show is titled "The Great Outdoors." It is a musical review composed by Teresa Jennings, with additional music by John Riggio. Students can find practice resources through our Google Classroom. Parents should look for a letter home during the week of January 24-26 (you can find the letter in PDF format here). We will perform at 7:00 p.m. in the Howenstein Auditorium at West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High School. Because each fifth grade student plays an important part in our production, all students must perform (performing is a required part of music class). Students who were not present for the group performance must complete an alternative individual assignment (unless medically excluded by the school nurse).
March 16 Update
Practice Resources:
Individual practice resources can be found in our Google Classroom. Students will need to be logged into Google with their school Google accounts (not a personal account) to access these files. The easiest way to reach this folder is for students to log in to Google Classroom, then follow the link from there.
Costumes:
Students will come dressed in school-appropriate clothes that hint at outdoor activities. Please, no large hats or high heels. Also, choose lightweight materials. It's hot under those lights!
Production Week Schedule:
Tuesday, March 19 -- Dress Rehearsal field trip in HS Auditorium @ 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Students will eat lunch early, then board busses for the HS.
Wednesday, March 20 -- Call Time for Performers on HS Stage: 6:40 p.m. for all cast members (including chorus).
Wednesday, March 20 @ 7:00 p.m. -- Showtime!
General Music Class
In 5th grade general music class, we study a variety of musical repertoire, including songs that tie in with classroom studies in U.S. History. Daily music activities include singing, playing Orff instruments (xylophones, drums, etc.), movement activities, some folk dancing, improvising, and composing our own music.
Note Names Practice -- Choose Your Level
Progress Report Form (Time to show my progress.) -- Use this form to share your progress report with Mr. Helgerman.
Treble Clef Only - Newbie Part 1 (You told me I could do this, but I'm not so sure.) -- Just the space notes, please, with helpers.
Treble Clef Only - Newbie Part 2 (That wasn't so bad, let's try the next step.) -- Mostly line notes, please (may contain some space notes), with helpers.
Treble Clef Only - Beginner Level (Who, me? Are you sure about this?) -- Lines and spaces, D to G, with helpers.
Treble Clef Only - Developing Level (I think I'm starting to get this. Let's add a little more challenge.) -- Middle C to High A, without helpers.
Treble Clef Only - Pre-Expert Level (I'm ready for the highest challenge, but without the timer) -- Low G to High E without helpers, including accidentals, no time limit.
Treble Clef Only - Expert Level (Do your worst! I know this staff.) -- Low G to High E without helpers, including accidentals, 3 minute time limit.
Bass Clef Only - Beginner Level (Uhh, not too fast. I'm not so sure about this Bass Clef stuff.) -- Low F to High B with helpers.
Bass Clef Only - Developing Level (Challenge me, if you dare.) -- Low E to High C without helpers.
Bass Clef Only - Pre-Expert Level (I'm almost ready for the expert level, but without the timer) -- Low A to High G without helpers, including accidentals, no time limit.
Bass Clef Only - Expert Level (I am a Bass Clef boss!) -- Low A to High G without helpers, including accidentals, 3 minute time limit.
Grand Staff Refresher with Helpers (Time to put it all together. Let's start slow.) -- Low E to High A with helpers.
Grand Staff Pre-Expert Level (I'm almost ready for the ultimate challenge, but without the time limit.) -- Low A to High E, including accidentals, no time limit.
Grand Staff Expert Level (You call this a challenge? I am a master of ALL the notes.) -- G to F without helpers, including accidentals, 3 minute time limit.
Alto Clef Only - Beginner Level (I'm learning to play the viola.) -- Low E to High A with helpers.
Alto Clef Only - Pre-Expert Level (Violists Unite!) -- Up to three ledger lines above and below.
Enrichment Level (I have already demonstrated Grand Staff Mastery, and desire a greater challenge.) -- Design your own exercises. Add clefs. Extend note ranges. Change time limits. Go nuts!
Note Construction -- Opposite Direction
Grand Staff Practice Level -- Full grand staff available. They supply the note name, you put it on the staff with appropriate accidentals.
What's New in General Music Class?
This year in music class, we are enjoying the return of many of our normal in-person music class activities, while maintaining a safe environment. We will remain moderately socially distanced, while adding in some of our favorite activities in a sensible way. We will continue to sing with prudent modifications to prevent aerosol droplets.
As always, we will continue to work on our skills with reading standard music notation, performing on a small scale during Talent Time, listening to great music, learning about musical instruments, and becoming more skilled composers with composition exercises. We will continue to monitor COVID-19 in the community as this remains a fluid situation. Our hope is to safely perform our annual musical production in the springtime. With thoughtful planning and careful action, we can enjoy many of our most rewarding musical activities.
Music Rules
Listen carefully.
Always try your best.
Be kind to people and things.
2023 Musical Production Notes
On March 22, 2023, we performed our annual musical production. We were pleased to return to a live in-person performance this year. Our show was titled "Rock Around the '50s." It is a musical review by Roger Emerson and John Jacobson featuring popular Rock & Roll music from the 1950s. Students can find practice resources through our Google Classroom. Parents should look for a letter home during the week of January 11-13 (you can find the letter in PDF format here). We will perform at 7:00 p.m. in the Howenstein Auditorium at West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High School. Because each fifth grade student plays an important part in our production, all students must perform (performing is a required part of music class). Students who were not present for the group performance must complete an alternative individual assignment (unless medically excluded by the school nurse).
March 7 Update
Practice Resources:
Individual practice resources can be found in our Google Classroom. Students will need to be logged into Google with their school Google accounts (not a personal account) to access these files. The easiest way to reach this folder is for students to log in to Google Classroom, then follow the link from there.
Costumes:
Students will come dressed in school-appropriate clothes that hint at what students wore in the 1950s. Please, no hats or high heels. Also, choose lightweight materials. It's hot under those lights!
Production Week Schedule:
Tuesday, March 21 -- Dress Rehearsal field trip in HS Auditorium @ 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Students will eat lunch early, then board busses for the HS.
Wednesday, March 22 -- Call Time for Performers: 6:40 p.m. for all cast members (including chorus).
Wednesday, March 22 @ 7:00 p.m. -- Showtime!
2022 Musical Production Notes
On March 22, 2022, we performed our annual musical production. We were pleased to return to a live in-person performance this year. Our show was called "Forward," and it is a musical review by Teresa Jennings organized around resilience in an ever-changing world. Students can find practice resources through our Google Classroom. Parents received a letter home during the week of February 14-18 (you can find the letter in PDF format here). We performed at 7:00 p.m. in the Howenstein Auditorium at West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High School. Because each sixth grade student plays an important part in our production, all students must perform (performing is a required part of music class). Students who were not present for the group performance must complete an alternate individual assignment (unless medically excluded by the school nurse).
March 9 Update:
We are in the home stretch for our musical production. As I shared in my February letter, all 5th grade students are required to perform. If your student will be unable to perform with us, please complete the Google Absence Form to report the conflict and request the alternative performance assignment. Please see the latest production notes below.
Practice Resources:
Individual practice resources can be found in our Google Classroom. Students will need to be logged into Google with their school Google accounts (not a personal account) to access these files. The easiest way to reach this folder is for students to log in to Google Classroom, then follow the link from there.
Costumes:
Students will come dressed in school-appropriate clothes that convey their sense of being confident and empowered. Please, no hats or high heels. Also, choose lightweight materials. It's hot under those lights!
Production Week Schedule:
Monday, March 21 -- Dress Rehearsal in HS Auditorium @ 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Students will eat lunch early, then board busses for the HS.
Tuesday, March 22 -- Call Time for Performers: 6:40 for all cast members (including chorus).
Tuesday, March 22 @ 7:00 p.m. -- Showtime!
As always, please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
2021 Musical Production Notes
WLIS fifth grade students traditionally perform a musical production during the week before spring break. This year's production was tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, March 10, 2021. As our response to COVID-19 continues to evolve, our annual musical production will be cancelled. Group singing in music class for preparation, and large-scale public performance in general, is unlikely to be safe enough in the near term.