Welcome to General Music at Walter Douglas!

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Students are fortunate to have general music in grades K-4 and have a choice of band, orchestra, or general music in 5th and 6th grades. The administration at Flowing Wells recognizes the importance of fine arts as part of a well-rounded education, especially for elementary students.

5th and 6th Grade – These students are privileged to be a part of the Upbeat Drumming Program which is associated with the University of Arizona. A doctoral percussion player comes 16 times a semester and teaches students drumming on tubano drums. Their learning is reinforced with Mrs. Baum on the days when the instructor is not scheduled to come. 

                                                                        
                                                                              Upbeat is provided, in part, by a grant from ACA

4th Grade – 4th graders are learning how to play the recorder. This instrument prepares them for being in band next year.  They will show you all sorts of wonderful things they have learned. Students also participate in Recorder Karate, a program where students can learn more difficult pieces and earn belts. Here are some interesting websites that will help them with their practice:

www.musick8.com
Login for Karate 1:
username: karate
password: rubric

Login for Karate 2:
username: karate2
password: blackb3lt

www.atplaymusic.com/our-apps/recorder
App for iPhone and iPad

www.joytunes.com/play
Can play on computer
Will need a microphone
Will need a flash drive from Adobe (free)

K-3 Grades – These grades focus on beat, rhythm, melody, singing, and moving!

Douglas Singers – Walter Douglas has an after school choir for 3rd – 6th graders. Students meet on Mondays after school until 3:00. We sing approximately 3 times a year.

• The Douglas Singers will be performing at Festival Under the Stars on Friday, March 2 at the High School under the Ramada outside the cafeteria at 6:20. Please meet Mrs. Baum in the cafeteria at 6:05 and please wear a Walter Douglas shirt with jeans/shorts.

• 4th Graders will be performing their Recorder Concert on Tuesday, April 17 at 1:00 and 6:00 pm in the MPR. Please arrive at approximately 5:45 to your child’s classroom. Watch for a letter coming out soon.

• The Douglas Singers’ program, “It’s Showtime,” will be on Tuesday, May 1st at 1:00 and 6:00. Keep coming to practice on Mondays after school until 3:00 p.m. Ask your children if they have speaking parts or solos. If they do, please help them memorize them.

• Upbeat Drummers are invited to perform a concert at the U of A on May 8th at 6:30. We hope we have great attendance from our very talented Bulldogs! Parents will bring students to the U of A concert location at 5:30 and stay for the concert. 5th and 6th grade parents – look for a permission form to be coming home this month!

• The Variety Show is coming up on Wednesday, May 16, and dress rehearsals on Monday and Tuesday, May 14-15 until 4pm. First auditions are March 13 in the music room – look for your audition time! Keep working on those acts (those who were accepted after the first round of auditions will audition again on April 10).

• Kindergartners will perform a program on Thursday, May 17 at 5:15! Talk to your kinder teachers for more information! 

Band and Orchestra

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