Reach for the Stars

In 2013, I wrote this song with Ryan Miller for our school and we have been enjoying singing it for the last several years.  Even though we can't sing it right now in the classroom, we are learning the movements.  The message is still the same as we care for ourselves and each other, coming here to learn new things.

 

O Canada ASL

We are so excited to be learning a new way to do O Canada this year.  Because we have some singing restrictions because of Covid-19, we decided we needed to figure out how to do O Canada every morning without singing.  We are learning American Sign Language.  Thank you to the Manitoba School for the Deaf for providing us with this video of your signs.  Thank you to Mrs. Bowering for teaching us.  We have been enjoying learning it together and look forward to the day when our whole school can gather again in an assembly to sing and sign our national anthem together. 

Winnipeg Music Festival

All Grade 3/4/5 choirs have been busy learning their songs for the Winnipeg Music Festival which is coming up on Monday.  Parents, please see the note that was sent home today.  We will have their performances available at parent conferences as well as we will be performing out our Stevenson Idol Talent Show on Wednesday, April 29.

Have It All

Grade 3/4/5 classes are working on this for our year end song. 

Hymn to Freedom

We will be learning this historic song, by Canadian composer, Oscar Peterson.  Here is Hymn to Freedom.

Here's a more recent version performed with Oliver Jones in 2004.

Here is some more information on the song, Hymn to Freedom by Oscar Peterson.  Click here for more on Hymn to Freedom

Here is a recording of the song with the lyrics:

101st Winnipeg Music Festival

Congratulations to our choirs on outstanding performances to the Winnipeg Music Festival yesterday.  It was a beautiful day of making music and listening to other choirs from around the city.

Choir United

Golden Voices

Singing with the Phil

Just a little taste of the day singing with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir on December 16.  Thank-you to Maestro Yuri Klaz, Adrienne Weibe, Cheryl McNabb, Brenda Marinelli and the Phil choir for inviting us.  It was a most memorable experience.

Lighting it Up

Congratulations to all students for your amazing work this year with our holiday shows.  We hope our families enjoyed the performances and may everyone have a safe and happy holiday.  See you in January!

Christmas with the Phil!

Today and tonight, we are singing with the Phil!  Come on down. Tickets are going fast.

Here are some pictures of our rehearsals this week

Concert Note

Note coming home today.  Please read carefully!

CONCERT PREP

We are now underway with preparations for our Winter Concerts on December 12.  Songs, speaking, dancing, acting, transitions, staging, props, backgrounds, solos, auditions and more... it's a huge deal and every student is involved in one way or another.

We are looking forward to sharing with you the sounds of the season.  

Please stay tuned for notes going home in the next few weeks in regards to details on costumes, times, etc.

NOTE: songs for rehearsals and notes going home are under the tabs up above 

- CHOIR: Singing Sabres, CHOIR: Room 3/4/5, CHOIR: Room 9/11/12, K-2 Concert

We Remember

Thank-you to students and staff for a very simple yet beautiful reminder at our Remembrance Day assembly this week of those who served in WWI and WWII and continue to maintain peace around the world.  Our choirs sang beautifully in remembrance of those who stand for peace, hope and love.  We shall remember.

St. James Children's Choir on the Air!

So proud of one of our outstanding elementary music teachers in our division, Mrs. Neufeld, and this wonderful high caliber divisional children's choir.  We had one student from Stevenson representing last year.  Congratulations Hannah, the choir team, their director, and Ms. Amanda Hahn-Tomchuk, their amazing accompanist!  We are so lucky to have you here.

BORROWED FROM SJASD Website News
During the week of October 15, 2018, CBC Radio One featured the activities of the St. James neighbourhood. As part of their coverage, they featured the SJASD Divisional Children's Concert Choir. Director Heather Neufeld submitted a recording from the choir's performance at the Winnipeg Music Festival in March 2018. Below is the audio clip from the program that aired Thursday, October 18, 2018. (Picture from a 2018 performance in St. James-Assiniboia)

Excellent Singers...

Remembrance Day

Our classes are now busy preparing for our upcoming assembly on November 7 for Remembrance Day.

CHOIR UNITED & GOLDEN VOICES SINGING

DONA NOBIS PACEM (Give Us Peace) Arranged by Margaret R. Tucker

Here's a bit of a different version of the song but gives voice to the three parts in canon.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS Words By Dr. John McCrae  Music By John Jacobson and Roger Emerson

KINDER / GRADE 1/2:

Singing Sabres Choir

I am so excited to introduce you to 35 remarkable kids who are going to represent Stevenson this December at a very honoured event.  Stevenson has been asked to sing with the prestigious Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir.   These students were auditioned in June and we will now begin rehearsals on Thursday, Sept. 13, after school (3:40-5:00) in the music room.  Parents of choristers, please see the tab, CHOIR: Singing Sabres for updates and information.  Tickets have gone on sale and can purchased through this link to tickets or at the McNally Robinson Bookstore.

It is important that your child is at ALL rehearsals as we have a lot of music to learn and missing even one practice will put them behind and cause us to be less prepared. 

For our first rehearsal, please bring - healthy snack - water bottle with your name labeled

If you haven't returned the purple form that was handed out in June with information, please print off here and return to Ms. Rempel ASAP.  CHOIR FORM

Another Year...

Grade 5 girls singing and dancing.  I am sure gonna miss you!

This is my 9th year end at Stevenson.  It's been a really low key year and I've needed a break from all the business and events.  We've had some lovely moments this year and also learning to adjust to our split classes has been both joyful and challenging.  Split classes are always difficult in music as we often build on previous years, with certain music skills and concepts that are age appropriate.  This year there was a large gap in the span and a variety of abilities.  We want all students making music but also knowing and understanding concepts, communicating effectively and appropriately, and gaining proficiency in skills and confidence in individual and group tasks such as reading, writing, playing, performing, music listening/appreciation, and improvising.  This is an unending huge task and my students didn't disappoint as I saw many grow through failure and triumphs.

To my Grade 5s - thank you for the years of making music together.  I hope and pray that you continue to find nuggets of life and joy through music making experiences and will look back on your years of plays, choir, Orff, games, dances, solos, and drumming with fondness.  I look forward to seeing you in the future bands, choirs, and ever appreciating the vast colorful wonders of music throughout the rest of your lives.

See you at our final assembly at 10:00 a.m. in the Stevenson gym.

Have a wonderful summer and see you all in September!

Kinders exploring sounds

Making a band

Grade 5s who have passed and surpassed their Level 1 Recorder Karate tests.  Congrats!

Performing for our peers

Outdoor Music - Drumming station

Room 5 Tapping our Potential Music Monday performance

Orff Club performing pieces from our story plays

Music Monday 2018

Come and join us at Stevenson as we celebrate Music Monday 2018.  Most students are performing a song or two and we have a variety of songs lined up.  Hope to see you there!

Wizard of Oz Hit Songs

Follow the Yellowbrick Road / We're Off to See the Wizard

If I Only Had a Brain

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Munchkin Welcome Song

It Really Was No Miracle

Grade 1/2 Choir Sings!

Congratulations Grade 1/2 choir on a great job singing last night at our Music Celebration 2018 at Sturgeon Creek United Church.  They did a great job and we are very proud of your work!

Here is our evaluation of our singing.  Stars and wishes!