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Fifth Grade Shatekon musicians are very busy. Many boys and girls already participate in the Shatekon Orchestra and the Shatekon Chorus. Students who did not join the Chorus in Fourth Grade, but would like to join, are welcome to do so. Continuing Orchestra students will have group lessons once a week with Mrs. Tallman, and will join in weekly rehearsals as well. Beginning Band students will be involved in weekly group lessons with Mr. Schwartz. Chorus students will participate in weekly rehearsals. In addition to all of those activities, Music classes will provide numerous opportunities for singing alone and with a group, playing the recorder and rhythm instruments, learning about the lives of famous composers, writing recorder music and song lyrics, and, finally, preparing for the excitement of the Moving Up Ceremony in June. Songs related to the Fifth Grade curriculum, particularly Social Studies, provide a link between the Music class and the regular classroom. For example, students will study popular songs of the South, the North, and Slavery.

Towards the middle of the year, boys and girls will receive a form for parents to complete indicating their child's choice for Music during their upcoming Sixth Grade school year. Students may opt to participate in General Music only (a 10 week course required of ALL Sixth Graders), or they may also choose to join the Chorus, Band, or Orchestra. Prior to Sixth Grade, boys and girls were welcome to be members of both the Chorus and an instrumental group. However, in Sixth Grade, students may only belong to either a choral or an instrumental group. This is an important choice. Students who perform well musically and in the classroom can request permission to join the Chorus during the second semester, with a parent's or guardian's permission, and the approval of a Music teacher. 

Middle school opens the door to new and exciting musical activities for your child. There are extra-curricular singing ensembles, and there is an annual musical. Auditions are necessary, of course, to sing in the select groups, or in the musical. However, students who are uncomfortable auditioning might enjoy assisting with stage crew, set design, or several other jobs required to stage a fantastic musical. The possibilities are endless!

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