Welcome Back...

Welcome Bach...

Bach

Bach

Bach

(Cue the Music...)

Welcome Back.....

No, you won't find Mr. Kotter, Horshack, Epstein or Barbarino, but you will find Mr. G.  You might have to look a little harder to find me if you are returning to Washington, I am in a new room.  Starting in a new room is kind of exciting because it is a fresh, new beginning.  The good memories from the last room will travel with us to the new room.  Now we can create even more good memories in a new space!

I will start back to school tomorrow and I am excited to see everyone next week.  New songs, new games and new technology are some of the things to look forward to this year.  The parent groups at the Middle School, Libertyville and Washington all chipped in to purchase a new Mimio machine for my classroom.  For those that are not familiar with this, it is technology that I can use with my computer, projector and whiteboard that allows for interactive games and activities with my students.  We might do races or play bingo or play Rhythm Tic-Tac-Toe or even do some matching games.  This puts the technology in the hands of the students and keeps them actively involved.

Concerts this year?  The 3rd and 4th Grade students will be having the Spring Concert this year and the K-2 students will be having a Winter Concert this year.  Each year the grade levels swap concerts, so this is where we are in the rotation.  In the last few years, the 3rd and 4th grade have performed at the Sondheim Center.  Again, we will look into this and discuss it at the school level.  It is a great place to perform, the only drawback is that we had "Standing Room Only" last year.  However, especially in the Spring when the temperatures are getting warmer, it sure is nice to have an air-conditioned facility to perform in and listen to.

The 4th Grade students will have the option to join me for 4th Grade Ensemble, and they usually perform at both concerts.  The 5th Grade students will also have the opportunity to sing in 5th Grade Ensemble, and they usually participate in the Winter Concert and Spring Concert with the MS Choirs.
In addition to those performing groups, I will be directing one section of the 8th Grade Choir each semester and expect that they will have 2 concerts per semester.

Last year my blog had some changes in what was posted and how often it was posted.  My goal is to return to what it was about 2 years ago where I will hopefully post monthly updates about what to expect for the following month.  I feel it keeps parents and students better informed, and it also helps me stay organized.

I hope all of your students are excited to come back and ready to sing and enjoy music this year.

See you all soon!!

Mr. G

Overture...Curtain.....Lights..... (action)

Come one, come all to a show you are really going to enjoy.  On Monday, May 22nd at 7:30 PM, the K-2 students and the 4th Grade Ensemble students, all from Libertyville and Washington Elementaries will be presenting their Spring Program.

The program will be presented at the High School Auditorium.  Please note the 7:30 PM start instead of the normal 7:00 PM start.  We have moved the time a half hour later to accommodate students and families that would also be involved with the Hershey Track Meet that night.

Please come, enjoy the concert and support your students and the elementary music programs at your individual schools.  The students have been working hard for the last couple months to prepare a show that they didn't understand at first, however, I know you will as their parents and friends.  I am sure many of you will know just what I am talking about when I say "Cartoon Day".  This is a concept these students didn't quite understand.  Times and TV have changed quite a bit from when we were all their ages.

Come to the High School Auditorium and enjoy a trip down Memory Lane to "Cartoon Day" in our childhoods.  Once again, the concert will be at 7:30 PM.

For any friends and family that might be out of town or even out of state or out of the country, we will be streaming the program live.  Please click on the text below to locate the site. 

Live Streaming of the Libertyville and Washington Spring Concert

Please pass that address on to friends and family that can't be here so that they could login and enjoy the concert live.  This is brand new technology for us, so please ask them to be patient if there are glitches.  We are really trying to include, through technology, many people who might not have been able to be included.

This technology was made possible by a grant through the Fairfield School Education Foundation.  Thank you to all of the members who helped to purchase this camera!!

On a similar note, I will be contacting some of our local Senior Housing and Assisted Living complexes as well as nursing homes to invite them to gather together to enjoy our concert live also.  This is very exciting and I hope that you share our anticipation.

Thanks for your support, and I hope to see you all on the 22nd of May.

Mr. G

A sneak peek into Munchkin Land...........

Four Big Shows!!!

Tickets still available!!!

Make Plans to Attend!!!

Enjoy the show!!!

*Photos provided with permission by Doug Martin

I Don't Think We Are In Kansas Anymore Toto!!!!

Looking for some fund entertainment this coming weekend or next?

Blow in to the Fairfield High School Auditorium for this years Spring Musical....

The Wizard of Oz

This production will feature talent from Fairfield High School, Fairfield Middle School and elementary students from Libertyville and Washington 4th Grade Ensemble as well as the 5th Grade Ensemble.

Join Dorothy as she gets caught up in a twister and decends into Munchkin Land.  Here she will begin her journey home to Kansas, but it will not be easy.  With the help of the Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion and Glinda the Good Witch of the North, will they smite the efforts of revenge from the Wicked Witch of the West?  Only OZ knows for sure.

Come and enjoy your students, friends and neighbors!!!

Rockin' wih the Stars!!

Have you ever wanted to have a chance to sit down and ask questions of your favorite singer or band member? Did you want to ask them if they eat bologna sandwiches and mac ‘n cheese?  What do you have to do to have a chance to do this?  The answer to the last question is simple……be a 5^th grade student at Fairfield Middle School!

Even though not everyone in each class will get to meet their favorite musician, they will have the chance to ask some of those questions of a famous musician that they have always wanted.  

 On Thursday, March 1^st, the students in Mr. Grunwald’s music class will have a special guest in class.  Through the use of modern technology, the students will hear about the career of Tommy Farese, former member of “Trans-Siberian Orchestra” and now one of the founding members of “The Kings of Christmas”.  Through his career he has performed with many well-known musicians from many different genres.

The purpose of his “visit” is to talk about and answer questions about his career as a musician.  Through his touring, he has worked with managers and agents, record labels and their companies, concert promoters as well as other performers.  He can discuss many of these music careers with our students so that they can see how they can have careers in music even if they are not keen on performing.  Hopefully they will also see, through discussions of his childhood, that you don’t have to be born into greatness to be great.  You don’t have to be born in to fame to be famous.  All you need to do is find something you really enjoy doing and work positively towards that final goal.

I hope the students will have an awesome experience with Mr. Farese and be inspired to chase their dreams, no matter how far away they may seem.

Success!!!

Sun, Sand, R and R.......Elves?......PIRATES????!!!!????!!!!

Yes, Pirates and Elves!!!  They all came together last night in a great show presented by the 3rd and 4th grade students from Libertyville Elementary and Washington Elementary.  With lots of work over the last month and a half and some expert help from the staff at both buildings, the show went really well for a full house at the Sondheim Center last night.  There were even people having to sit in folding chairs.

If you weren't able to attend, I will hopefully post some pictures and even some video in the next few days.  You will be able to relive the sun and sand, the rest and relaxation, the snoring and growling, and yes, even relive the "Interlude Dance"!

Thank you to all who helped, the students and you, the parents for a great show!  Keep checking back for updates in photo and video.

~Mr. G

Libertyville and Washington Winter Program 2011!!!

Calling all Parents, Friends, Neighbors and relatives!!!!!

The time has come for the Libertyville and Washington Elementary Winter Program!!!

The theme this year is "A Pirate Christmas".

Come see and hear what happens when Santa gives the elves a little time to relax on the beach in the Caribbean when they come across a group of scallywags.  These pirates mistake the elves for pirates with bags of treasure and Santa as the legendary pirate - White Beard.

The pirates and elves all travel to the North Pole to try to get the entire story straight.

This program will be presented by the 3rd and 4th grade students with a couple songs by the 4th Grade Ensemble.

The program will be on the stage at the Sondheim Center at 7:00 PM.  Please bring your students beginning at 6:30 pm.  The program should be done before 8:00 PM.

Hope to see you all there!!!

~Mr. G