| Upcoming Events
Sunday, September 29th
Circle the City on Blue Hill Ave
From 1PM to 5PM
Saturday, October 5th
Play Me, I'm Yours
(see article for times and locations)
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| Conservatory Lab
Grades 3 - 7
25 Arlington Street
Brighton, MA 02315
617.254.8904 Grades K1 - 2 320 Washington Street Brighton, MA 02315
617.208.6200
www.conservatorylab.org |
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| Family Notes
September 27, 2013
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Dear Families,
Visiting the classrooms in our school this week the saying "Music is harmony" kept going around in my head. Viewing the way in which each of our students is engaged in the process of listening to music, making music and reflecting on the music they have heard and played, I am once again impressed by the uniqueness of the experience which our school provides to our students. Music can be a window through which to see ourselves and the world around us. Making music provides not only a mode of expression but an avenue for interaction with others which is a unifying force promoting harmony.
Recent research has shown that music engages the areas of the brain involved with paying attention, making predictions and updating events in memory. All of which contributes to the focus which I see growing in even our youngest pupils. The habits of mind, such as focus, which playing music strengthens are transferred to other areas of learning and reinforce the overall cognitive abilities.
And let me not forget to mention the joy that this kind of rigor and schedule promote. Naturally the children become more articulate and confident about their musical experiences and gain the ability to make cross references between their academic and their musical studies not only with each other, but also with their teachers and others as well. It gives me joy to see them all work with accord in sentiment and action.
Warmly,
Diana Lam
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K1 and K2 Move to the Music
The music curriculum at Conservatory Lab is designed to support comprehensive musicianship across grade levels. In K1 and K2, we place an emphasis on the ensemble experience - what it means to make music together, as a group. The vast majority of our music work takes place through singing. All students have a direct connection to making music with their voices, so it is with this instrument that instructors lay the foundation for future work with the instruments that make up an orchestra.
 We also practice using instruments confidently, respectfully, and above all, musically. These include egg shakers, castanets, hand drums, and many other percussion instruments. These experiences will not only lay a foundation for future orchestral instrument work, but will develop concepts of beat, pulse, and rhythm. Finally, we will be moving! Children experience music through their bodies and we create many opportunities for this type of exploration, through games, basic folk dances, and structured movement responses to great works of classical music. 
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Award Winning Early Childhood Music Educator Leads Demo Class
Lorrie Heagy, an expert in early childhood music and Alaska's 2011 Teacher of the Year, made her third visit to our school on Thursday, leading over forty 1st and 2nd graders in song. Lorrie is here in Boston to work with this year's class of Sistema Fellows, the program at the New England Conservatory that trains musicians and educators to start and lead new El Sistema inspired programs all over the country. Lorrie was a member of the first cohort of Fellows along with our program co-founders, Rebecca Levi and David Malek and made her first visit to the school when they were all still learning at NEC. This visit, she brought along the newest Fellows to show them how to lead young children in complex musical experiences.
The students started by singing Funga Alafia, a West African welcoming song that is often sung in early music classrooms. Lorrie taught them three different rhythms along with movements and, after she led them through many "levels", student leaders were in charge of each section as the group sang and tapped in three different patterns. Our teachers and the Sistema Fellows learned and sang along with the children. The class ended with a call and response read-aloud of Going on a Lion Hunt, a new twist on a familiar story. So much learning packed into 45 minutes! We welcome Lorrie any time she would like to use our classrooms as a demonstration space.
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Conservatory Lab part of Play Me I'm Yours Citywide Celebration
Our school is hosting one of the 75 pianos as part of the art project, 'Play Me, I'm Yours,' Street Pianos Boston festival, sponsored by The Celebrity Series of Boston. The location of our school's piano is Cunningham Park, corner of Sparhawk St. and Murdock St., Brighton. Local artists have volunteered to paint each piano and give it distinction.
Also, on October 5th, between 1p.m. and 3p.m., the brass section from the Dudamel Orchestra, will take to the streets in participation of this celebration. This 6-piece brass ensemble (ages 9-12), led by Resident Artist Chris Schroeder, will perform at Government Center at 1:00p.m., The State House at 1:40p.m., the Boylston T station at 2:00p.m. and finish up in Copley Square around 2:40p.m. This past year, Dudamel Brass has performed in a variety of musical settings throughout Greater Boston including the Hynes Convention Center, The Boston Conservatory, Boston College and the Ben Franklin Institute. Most recently, they performed a series of collaborative concerts with the Landmarks Orchestra Brass and were the featured artists for the North End Music and Performing Art Center's "Family Night."
 The Dudamel Clarinets, led by Resident Artist Juan Ruiz, will also perform as part of the Play Me I'm Yours celebration, following the same path as their Brass colleagues and arriving at each location one hour later. We are proud to help our city make music! Join us! 
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Middle School Discoveries
Marsh Musicala
Middle School students began the year with an integration in Science and Music investigating the ecosystem in the salt marsh and creating interactive melodies, rhythms, and movement to express the elements in the ecosystem. After an introduction to the salt marsh and hands on fieldwork at the Outward Bound Camp on Thompson Island with science expert, Raquel Hernandez, students created a musical "Salt Marsh Ensemble." They came back to the classroom and worked with Ms. Dwyer-Huppert to develop their skills as a scientist further with background research on the saltmarsh and recorded their observations in their science journals. They then worked in quartets and trios to create a narrative describing the interaction between their assigned salt marsh elements. Ms. Segal helped them expand their scenario using melody, rhythm, and movement. They then performed and videotaped their ecosystem "Marsh Musicala" in class and assessed their work.
Cultural Anthropologists
Seventh grade Middle School students were introduced to Culture through an integrated Humanities and Music determining the elements of culture and looking at the skills necessary to become a good Cultural Anthropologist, as they began their global studies for the year with Ms. Ting. To begin, they examined mystery images from a wide range of cultures and made observations. In addition, they listened to and analyzed contrasting musical selections from different parts of the world, including Mongolia, India, and The Andes Mountains in Peru. Students identified instruments and musical characteristics for each style, and then they were introduced to aspects of the culture through an interactive Powerpoint discussion and charted their observations.
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Wrapping Paper Fundraiser
 Our fall fundraiser with Innisbrook is now under way. The company sells gift wrapping supplies, gifts and chocolates. 50% of every sale will go back to our school!!! Our goal is to raise $4,000 for the school. To place your order online 1.Go to www.innisbrook.com 2.Select "Enter Catalog Orders from your Worksheet" and enter our school number (116992), continue to EZ and enter your child's name. 3.Enter the catalog codes for the items you want. 4.Print the voucher and return voucher with your payment to the school (make checks payable to Conservatory Lab Charter School). NOTE: Out-of-town families and friends can also participate online. You can send them emails through the Innisbrook website. They pay with credit card and the products will be shipped directly to them.
If you don't have access to the internet and/or a printer, you may also return the completed order form (work sheet) and payment to the school and I will enter the order for you. The voucher (or worksheet) together with your payment must be returned to the school no later than Thursday, October 10th.
If you have any questions, please contact Sabine Voigt: 617-953-1652 or sabine_voigt@hotmail.com Thanks for supporting our school!!!
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