Wonderful Music Websites

from Holy Cross music director, Mrs. Cain -

Here are some great sites on the web to check out for musical resources. Enjoy!

• NY Philharmonic Kids  (band)
  There is a composition workshop where students can put together their own minuet or decide the orchestration of a famous piece of music. There is a composer gallery with information of a variety of composers. There is also a game room with a variety of music/composer based games.

• DSOKids  (band)
  Instrument encyclopedia with information on the instruments of an orchestra.

• San Francisco Kids  (K – 5)
  Great activities on different music concepts.

• NSO Kids  (K – 5)
  All about the different instruments of the orchestra.

• Carnegie Hall Listening Adventures  (grades 3 – 5)
  Go under Explore & Learn and then Interactive Resources. The Listening Adventures have an interactive listening map for Dvorak’s Symphony 9 and a game for Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.

• Creating Music  (K – 2)
  Musical activities and games.

• The Music House  (K – 1)
  Matching percussion instruments by sight and sound.

• Virtual Thumb Piano  (band)
  Play a virtual African thumb piano and listen to thumb piano songs.

• Super Duper Music Looper  (grades 2  – 5)
  Make basic loop based songs.

• Music Mixer  (K – 5)
  Drag musicians onto the stage to make your own band.

• Interactive Keyboard  (grades 2 – 5)
  Press the keys to play the keyboard. Can have note names on/off, fingerings for scales, and view chords.

• 40 Essential Drum Rudiments  (grades 4 – 5)
  Lists 40 snare drum rudiments with sound files and videos to demonstrate techniques.

• Science of Music  (grades 2 – 5)
  Put together your own step dance routine (body percussion).

• Science of Music: Sink-o-Pation  (K  – 5)
  Put together your own kitchen band, like demonstrated in Stomp, by choosing which appliances/instruments you want to play.

• Interactive Boomwhackers  (K – 5)

• Huge Collection of Interactive Music Games  (K – 5)

Taking Their Show On The Road

from Holy Cross Music Director, Mrs. Cain -

The Holy Cross Junior High Band shared their talents around town last week by performing for the students and teachers at the Saint Benedict’s Children’s Center and Union Hill Day School.

We also learned about the wonderful world of Jazz and Baseball, visiting the American Jazz Museum and Negro Leagues Baseball Museums.

Photos from the tour….

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Join Us For The Spring Concert

from Holy Cross Music Director, Mrs. Cain -

Join us for the

Holy Cross Spring Concert

next Thursday, April 26, in the school gym!

Come experience…

The SIZZLIN’ 5th Grade Band

A Magical Skit about Harry Potter
written by our very own Murphy Obershaw & Emma Callahan

The ROCKIN’ Junior High Bell Choir

A Fun Skit by our Quirky Drama Class about a Doctor!!

The JAMMIN’ 6th Grade Band
Featuring Jacob Schneider and Jackson Gampper
on a Percussion Duet!

The SMOKIN’ Junior High Band
Featuring Holy Cross Alumni Mitchell Gampper
on a Saxophone Solo!

The SNAZZY Junior High Choir

BAND DETAILS FOR:

5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade bands,

Jr High Choir, Jr High Bell Choir and Jr High Drama:

REPORT TIME:
6:30 p.m.  (Dress Rehearsal will be at 1:30 p.m.)

REPORT PLACE:
5^th and 6^th Bands meet in Pflumm Hall
Junior High Choir meets in 8KR
Junior High Band will meet in 7WA
Bell Choir meets in 7FO
Junior High Drama meets in 8PA

WHAT TO WEAR:
Dress Clothes. All Band Gentlemen are required to wear a tie!

WHAT TO BRING:
Band Students need to bring instrument and music.

Aquinas Band Fest 2012

from Holy Cross Music Director, Mrs. Cain -

The 5th, 6th, and Junior High bands attended a day of music and fun at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Band Festival on Tuesday, April 3.

Throughout the day, the students rehearsed for a total of four hours on three select pieces in order to prepare for the evening concert.  The students  were able to work with a few Saint Thomas Aquinas Band members and listened to the wonderful STA Jazz Ensemble, which has two Holy Cross Alumni participating, John Bellau and Mitchell Gampper.

Ed and Judy Colson were the festival clinicians for the day and they offered over 30 years of band directing experience.  They did a terrific job!

There were over 240 students from 9 different area Catholic Schools represented at the festival.  The Holy Cross band members represented themselves in the best way and had a great day!

Below are a few pictures from the day. Find more at the Holy Cross photo gallery @ holycrossop.shutterfly.com. The password is holycrossop.

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Ready For A Musical Upgrade?

from Holy Cross Music Director, Mrs. Cain -

What?  ‘Soloist’ Instrument Night

When?  Monday, March 26

Time?  Anytime between 6 – 7 p.m.

Where?   Holy Cross Band Room

What is it?  This is the time, if you choose, to upgrade your child’s instrument. If you are renting from Meyer Music, a portion of what you have paid so far will go toward the ‘soloist’ instrument. If you are not renting from Meyer, you can usually sell your old instrument to them and the trade-in can go toward the new instrument.

Why?  The better the instruments, the better we sound!  Plus, your ‘soloist’ instrument will last through high school so no more ‘upgrading.’

Meyer Music, our partners in music education will be in the band room at Holy Cross School.  They will be assisting with questions about rental or purchase of these upgrade instruments.  I will also be on hand to answer any questions about how upgrading will benefit your child.

Words from Meyer Music:
It’s time to think about your child’s instrumental music future.  If your son or daughter is still playing on a beginner instrument, now is the time to continue your rent to own contract and move to a “Soloist” performance level instrument.  Your child will have an opportunity to play on the “Soloist” instrument during band class.

Save The Date: Book Fair 2012

from Holy Cross Librarian, Anne Anderson -

Holy Cross Book Fair 2012

Saturday March 24

Oak Park Barnes & Noble  

10 a.m.  |  6th grade band performance

11 a.m.  |  Storytime

afternoon  |  cookie decorating

other fun activities…

• Holy Cross art work will be on display

• “Holy Cross” drink available at the BN Cafe all day

• the fair will also run online March 24 – 30

• The Final Battle of the Books will be Tuesday, March 27, 6:30 p.m. @ the store

Check out pictures from last year’s Holy Cross Book Fair!

An Update From Mrs. Cain

from Holy Cross Music Director,
Mrs. Cain -

I am coming back on March 5, and I look forward to seeing all of the students’ smiling faces. I definitely miss sharing the wonderful gift of music with the students.

During my time off, I have been adjusting to becoming a mommy to Little Dominic Matthew. And I have been learning a lot!  He has already grown 5 inches and 6 pounds and is over 8 weeks old!

The beautiful weather has given little Dominic and me several opportunities to go on walks outside, which has been a lot of fun.  Little Dominic recently received the sacrament of Holy Baptism at Saint Joseph Parish, and we couldn’t be happier.  Along with walks, we have been staying busy singing songs, reading, saying prayers, and buying new clothes because he is growing so fast!

Although my time off is coming to an end, I have appreciated Mr. Watgen and his hard work in the music room.  He has been a blessing to the school and has made my transition super easy.

When I return, I look forward to Recorder Karate with the 4th graders, Saint Thomas Aquinas Band Festival on April 3, the 6th grade band performing at Barnes and Noble on March 24 (details coming soon), and the Spring Concert on Thursday, April 26.

Until then, pray often, sing loud and smile wide!

Holiday Concert Pictures 2011

The annual holiday music concerts at Holy Cross were impressive, as always. And with the help of baby Dominic, music director Mrs. Cain was able to lead the shows.  Thanks to Mrs. Cain, all the students who performed and all the staff and parent volunteers who made the shows a great success!

Click here to check out the pictures on our school Shutterfly photo gallery. You can download photos there to print, or order prints from Shutterfly. password = holycrossop

Other Holy Cross music blog posts -

• HC Band Selling Raffle Tickets
• Welcome to our Newest Little Baby Hornet
• And The Band Played On…
• More Than Just Music
• Jr. High Band Wows Band Festival

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Fotos del Concierto Navideño 2011

El concierto de música anual de Navidad en Holy Cross fue impresionante, como siempre. Y con la ayudad del bebe Dominic, la Directora de Música Sra. Cain pudo dirigir el show. Gracias Sra. Cain, y a todos los estudiantes quienes participaron así mismo muchas gracias al personal de la escuela y a los padres voluntarios quienes hicieron que el show tuviera un gran éxito!

Click here para ver las fotos our school Shutterfly photo gallery. Puede bajar las fotos para imprimirlas, o para ordenarlas con Shutterfly. password = holycrossop

HC Band Selling Raffle Tickets

from Holy Cross librarian Anne Anderson -

Since Mrs. Cain will be home with Dominic, I’m recruiting help for the HOLY CROSS BAND fundraiser, selling raffle tickets.  

We earn $5 for every ticket sold. 

The goal is to sell 200 tickets.   Last year, we raised more than $900 for our fabulous band program.

Can you help?  We need to sell raffle tickets after the January masses.
Please let me know if you can fill one of these time slots. We’ll fill out the list!

January 7-8	January 14-15	January 21-22
5:00-	5:00-	5:00-
7:30-	7:30-	7:30-
9:00- Jessica Staley	9:00-	9:00-
11:00- Claire L’Esperance/Justin Johnson	11:00- Greets/Kelsey Hillyer	11:00-

We also need help the night of Celebration,  Saturday, Jan. 28, for an hour or two.  Can you help?

Download here for more information about the raffle.

Click here to email me and let me know if you can help. Thanks!

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La Banda de HC Band esta vendiendo tickets para la rifa en Celebracion

De la Sra. Anne Anderson- Libreria

Como la Sra. Cain estara con su bebe Dominic en su cas, estoy ayudando a juntar voluntarios que ayuden a vender tickets para la rifa que la Banda de HOLY CROSS esta promocionando.

Estaremos ganando $ 5 por cada ticket vendido.

La meta es vender 200 tickets.  El ano pasado recaudamos $900 para el famoso programa de la Banda.

Puedes ayudar? Necesitamos ayuda con la venta de tickets despues de las misas en el mes de Enero.
Por favor Djeame saber si puede llenar uno de esto horarios. Estaremos llenando los espacios!

Enero 7-8	Enero 14-15	Enero 21-22
5:00-	5:00-	5:00-
7:30-	7:30-	7:30-
9:00- Jessie Staley	9:00-	9:00-
11:00-	11:00-	11:00-

Tambien necesitamos ayuda la noche de Celebracion, Sabado 28 de Enero de una a dos horas. Puedes ayudar?

Baja mas informacion acerca de la rifa.

Enviame un correo  y dejame saber si puede ayudar. Gracias!

Welcome to our Newest Little Baby Hornet

Congratulations to our Holy Cross music director, Mrs. Cain, and her husband Brian on the arrival of baby Dominic!

Dominic, who patiently waited until after the Christmas programs to join us, was born on Dec. 9 and weighed in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. and was 20 inches long.

Bienvenido a nuestro pequeno Bebe Hornet

Felicidades a nuestra Directora de Musica, Sra. Cain, y a su esposo Brian por la llegada de su bebe Dominic!

Dominic, quien pacientemente espero nacer hasta despues del programa de Navidad, nacio el dia Dic. 09 y peso 7 lbs y midio 20 pulgadas de largo.