Music and Drama News

SHELTON
ACADEMY
Music and Drama News
August and September 2016
August 31, 2016
The Importance of
Music in Schools
Everyone knows that music is part of
a well-rounded education. But did
you know that music could improve
your child’s learning?
It has been proven that music helps students get
better grades and perform better on standardized
tests. Music training enhances brain function. For
years in the United States, music was considered a
core academic subject just like reading and math.
Music students are more likely to achieve high
honors and awards. Music students are also more
likely to achieve higher math and verbal SAT scores.
Music could help students pay attention, persevere,
and solve problems.
-Teresa Jennings
Choir
Auditions
When: September 6th and 8th
@ 8:00 a.m.
Where: Music Classroom
Students who are interested in
joining Shelton Choir must
please write their names in the
sign-up list on the door of Mr.
David’s classroom.
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Mr. David Vélez
Music Teacher
Greetings to all of the Shelton Academy Family! I would
like to introduce myself to those of you who are new to
our community. My name is David Velez. The current
school year 2016-17 will be my nineteenth year as a music
teacher. This will be my third year teaching at Shelton
Academy.
El Maestro
I had the fortune of coming from a family of amateur
Saludos a toda la familia de Shelton Academy.
Quisiera aprovechar la oportunidad para
presentarme con todos los miembros de nuestra
comunidad y darle la bienvenida a las nuevas
familias Shelton. Mi nombre es David Vélez. He
sido maestro de música y teatro durante los
pasados diecinueve años.
musicians and singers. My grandfather played the
“cuatro” and the guitar; my father also played the guitar
and the mandolin, and so did many of my uncles and
aunts who harmonized to Puerto Rican and Latin
American songs in every family gathering, especially
Christmas. My grandfather made his mission to take me
to the acclaimed Escuela Libre de Música, where I
learned to play the piano and became a member of the
choir.
Not every one of my students have such a musical
background. For that reason, I feel it is my responsibility
to be able to provide that kind of opportunity for them to
experience with rhythm, tunes and with the beauty of
harmonization and hopefully experience the wonder of
playing an instrument. I look forward to a magnificent
and musical school year!
Durante mi niñez tuve la fortuna de provenir de
una familia de músicos y cantantes aficionados.
Mi abuelo tocaba el cuatro y la guitarra, mi padre
también toca la guitarra y la mandolina. De igual
manera tenía un clan de tías, tíos y familia
extendida que cantaban haciendo harmonía de
voces en cada encuentro familiar en especial en
Navidad. Mi abuelo se hizo de la misión de
llevarme cada tarde a la aclamada Escuela Libre
de Música en donde aprendí a tocar el piano y fui
miembro del coro.
No todos mis estudiantes tienen un trasfondo tan
musical. Es por esa razón que siento una
responsabilidad profunda de proveer esta
oportunidad para todos nuestros estudiantes.
¡Un feliz año escolar para todos!
Holiday Show Auditions
Audiciones para el musical Navideño
Would you like to act or dance in our
upcoming Holiday Musical Dear Santa?
Sign up for auditions!
Wednesday September 14th and
Friday September 16th at 8:00 a.m.
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2
DRAMA 1 (Electiva 6-8)
General Vocal Music
In the music class, students develop a number
Este semestre un grupo de estudiantes muy
of skills such as rhythmic response, sight
talentosos de nuestro “Upper Academy” estarán
singing, and intonation. Students learn to read
participando de un curso electivo de Drama 1.
notes and depending on the grade level, they
Esta clase es una introducción al teatro y sus
are able to play an instrument such as
elementos principals, tales como: la importancia
percussion instruments, hand bells and
de los personajes, los diálogos, el guión y sus
recorders. These are the standards that are
divisiones. También estudiaremos la importancia
followed:
de las escenas y la escenografía, la utilería y las
Creating. Students need to
1.
partes del escenario como tal. Los estudiantes
have experience in creating, to be
estarán interpretando obras cortas y estudiando
successful musicians and to be
un poco de la historia y personas destacadas de
successful 21st century citizens. Also
este arte.
Perform as singers, as
2.
instrumentalists, and in their lives
and careers. Students also need to
Respond to music, as well as
3.
to their culture, their community,
and their colleagues.
These are the Standards for Music
Education from the National Association
for Music Education (NAFME)
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¡Muchas Gracias! Muito Obrigado
We would like to thank our Shelton community for helping us raise the money to buy an
improved sound system for our school and our Performing Arts Department. With the money
obtained from our 2016 Spring Show tickets and the end-of-the-year raffle sponsored by the
SPTO, we made it to our goal!!! Thank you to all of our amazing SPTO, led by Mrs. Josette
Perez. We are very grateful!
Prepared by David Velez, Music Teacher
Shelton Academy