Music

Music

In the music program, students listen to and perform, read and describe, create and appreciate, a multicultural variety of songs, melodies, and rhythms. Elementary students learn about the five elements of music – pitch, rhythm, expression, form, and texture – with new layers of musical understanding building each year as students progress from one grade to the next. Through instrumental instruction in grades 4-8, chorus in grades 3-5, and the Middle School choral program, students apply what they learned in the early grades. Now they rehearse for performances, in which they aim to master tone quality, pitch, tuning and intonation, and rhythmic and melodic perception. Students who participate in Chorus, Orchestra, Band or Jazz Band will have opportunities to share their skills with the community through public concerts and competitions.

Click here to read more about Kiddo!’s award-winning music programs in the Spring 2008 newsletter.

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Recent Awards:
In April of 2010, the MVMS Music programs attended the Music in the Parks Festival Series. Here are the results:

The MVMS Band competed in the Music in the Parks Festival at Great America in Santa Clara. They competed against bands from throughout the U.S. including Texas, Nevada and Oregon.

Here are the awards they received:
Wind Ensemble- 2nd place
Advanced Jazz Band- 2nd place
Intermediate Jazz Band- 3rd place
Advanced Percussion Ensemble - this is a unique ensemble and was the only percussion ensemble allowed to perform at Music in the Parks! 
They played extremely well and received a lot of praise from the judges.

The MVMS 6th grade Orchestra, led by Phoebe Dong attended the Music in the Parks Festival at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. They played for judges and received an Excellent rating, earning first place in the competition!

The 7th and 8th grade choirs, led by Jessica Nicholson, accompanied by Nora Thomas & Beverly Rodgers, attended the Music in the Parks Festival in Anaheim California. The students performed a concert in Disneyland on 4/23, as part of the Disney Performing Arts program. On 4/24, the choirs participated in a competition called Music in the Parks. In this festival, 24 instrumental groups and 24 choirs competed in a variety of categories.

The MVMS Choir won 7 Awards!
Here are the highlights of the festival:

Concert Choir received a rating of “Excellent” and 1st place
Boys Chorus received a rating of “Excellent” and 1st place
Bel Canto received a rating of “Superior” and 1st place
Chamber Choir received a rating of “Superior” and 1st place
(and also received the second-highest score of all 24 choirs, including both middle school and high school groups)
Max Bayer was awarded Best Overall Student Piano Accompanist
Bianca Capretta was awarded Best Overall Vocal Soloist
MVMS was chosen as the “Esprit de Corps” winner!
This is the very top award given at the festival, and it is awarded to the school
that demonstrates the most respectful, professional behavior, and positive attitude. MVMS received this award out of ALL 21 schools represented at the festival (including both high school and middle schools, instrumental and and choral groups.)

Congratulations to the 6th Grade Orchestra & the 7th/8th Grade Choirs!
See our May/June newsletter for great photos of these events!