Congratulations to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Graders!

What a wonderful morning!  The first, second , and third grade concert really got me into the holiday spirit this morning!  Thank you to all the faculty and staff for their help  putting  this concert together, and thank you to all the parents for their support.  To the students: You all did a wonderful job, you should be proud! Be sure to keep a look out for video on the Mr. Lyon’s Blog!

Congratulations Fourth and Fifth Graders!

I just wanted to write a short note saying how happy Mrs. Rzasa and I were with the concert last night.  All of the students sang wonderfully, it couldn’t have been any better!  I enjoyed every  minute, and it really helped me get into the holiday spirit. You are all Music Stars! Thank you to all who participated, and especially to Akiko Corum for being our accompanist. 

Good Job!  I’m looking  forward to the Spring Concert!

Update: Video is now on Mr. Lyon’s Blog! http://pineglenprincipal.blogspot.com/

Concert Attire

Several parents have been curious as to how and why we choose concert attire for the students.  There are two main factors that are considered before making this decision.  First, the age and expereince level of the children is taken into account, and second, the formality of the concert itself. 

Young children, like our 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders, who are embarking on their first performing experiences, need to feel confident and sure of themselves.  For many children, the prospect of standing up in front of a room packed with adults in order to sing  is very daunting and scary at first.  For that reason, these concerts are generally less formal than those performed by older students, so they are allowed to wear a nice, dressy outfit of their choosing for the occasion that will help them feel both comfortable and special.  This choice also helps them understand that a music performance  is a one time, special event that should be treated as such.

For older children like our 4th and 5th graders, because of their age and experience they are ready for a more formal concert.  This includes singing or playing more difficult music, and learning about concert etiquette.  In the music world, formal concerts always have a dress code.  This dress code is in place so that the visual appearance of the performers does not distract from the musical experience.  In addition, wearing a predetermined outfit or uniform also helps the members of the performing group feel, work, and perform as a team, just as in organized sports.  If a performing group does not have a designated uniform, wearing black and white is the most common and universally accepted alternative.  If the students continue performing at higher levels, this is a practice that is also followed at the middle school, and high school.

If anyone has any further questions, please feel free to call me.

Winter Concert Reminders

Concert week is coming!  Here are the dates and times to remember:

4th and 5th Grade Chorus and Band Concert: Tuesday December 14th @ 7 p.m. Students should arrive at 6:45 wearing  black and white.

1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade Concert: Friday December 17th @ 9 a.m. Students should come to school wearing their dress-up outfit for the concert.

The performances will be wonderful.  Don’t miss it!