Welcome to Instrumental Music
at shady side academy JUNIOR SCHOOL
Instrumental music overview
Shady Side Academy is proud to teach every student a musical instrument. Fourth and fifth grade students choose a wind or percussion instrument and begin with two private lessons with me before joining a small group for weekly lessons. Large group rehearsals (held with the entire homeroom) are also held weekly (Fourth grade will not begin large group rehearsals until January; fifth grade begins immediately at the start of the school year). Ensembles perform throughout the year and include Tuesday assemblies, Winter Festival of the Arts, Grandparents' Day, performing holiday music at a retirement village, our annual Junior and Middle School Concert, and Closing Exercises. I also bring in professional musicians for demonstrations and master classes. We've hosted David Sogg (PSO bassoonist), Rebecca Cherian (PSO trombonist), Penny Anderson Brill (PSO violist), Timothy Adams Jr. (former PSO timpanist), Kenny Blake (jazz saxophonist), Jim Guerra's Little Big Band, jazz great Roger Humphries (percussion) and Wendy Webb Kumer (Flute Academy). We invite you to visit us in our classroom or come by and hear us perform!
Third Grade also comes to the instrumental music room by entire homeroom once per week. They are introduced to the soprano recorder and learn to play it while also learning to read music. Not only does this help to prepare them for instrumental music in fourth and fifth grades, it also allows Ms. Price (General Music Teacher) to complete a standard Orff setting with students singing, playing barred (Orff) instruments, and playing the recorder.
Fourth Grade Goes to the Symphony!
Fourth Grade attended a Schooltime Concert at Heinz Hall performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The theme of the program was "Inspired By..." and featured music composed by Sibelius, Stravinsky, Mozart, John Williams and others. A fourth grade piano student from Upper St. Clair School District performed the final movement of a Mozart Piano Concerto with the orchestra! He was amazing! My students really enjoyed themselves, loved the trip into the city, experiencing Heinz Hall, and listening to a world-class orchestra. They were excited to find the musicians who were playing their instrument!
PK Visits the Instrumental Music Room!
The Pre-Kindergarten students have been studying Sound. As part of their unit, they came over to a fourth grade rehearsal to observe and hear the instruments and ask questions. We had a great time!
Fifth Graders in Rehearsal
Fourth Grade Large Group Rehearsals
Third Grade Recorder Students!
Try this exercise to improve your note reading. It's fun!
Fourth Grade Trombone Students!
Practice reading in the bass clef with this exercise!
Small Group Lesson Schedule for Fifth Grade - MAY, 2013
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Sunday
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1
C Flute
D Tr-T-Bone
E Clar/Rec
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2
F Alto Sax I
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4
Saturday
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5
Sunday
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6
A Clar/Rec
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7
B Flute
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8
C Alto Sax I
D Alto Sax II
E Percussion
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9
F Tr/T-Bone
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11
Saturday
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12
Sunday
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13
A Percussion
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14
B Alto Sax I and II
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15
Big Rehearsal
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16
Fifth Grade to Linsly
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17
Fifth Grade to Linsly
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18
Saturday
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19
Sunday
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20
Evaluation Day -
No classes
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21
B Tr-T-Bone
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22
Big Rehearsal
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23
Big Rehearsal
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24
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25
Saturday
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26
Sunday
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27
Memorial Day -
No Classes
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28
B Percussion
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29
FULL
IN
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30
REHEARSAL
GYM
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31
JS Conference Day - No classes
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Clar (Clarinet), Rec (Recorder), Tr (Trumpet), T-Bone (Trombone)
About me:
I earned my B.S. in Music Education from Edinboro University and have taken many graduate courses at Duquesne University's School of Music. I have an active interest in music technology and completed Level I certification from the Technology Institute for Music Educators through Duquesne University. This is my 23th year teaching at the Junior School, and I consider myself fortunate to be working in an environment where the arts are strong and are considered part of the curriculum.Although I can play every instrument that I teach, my main instrument is Flute. I've performed with several community orchestras in the Pittsburgh area and also have had a flute studio teaching privately since my college days. In 2001, I was awarded a Benedum fellowship to attend the Oxford Summer Flute School in U.K. and study with Peter Lloyd, former Principal Flute of the London Symphony Orchestra. What a wonderful experience! When I'm not making music, you'll find me working in my flower gardens or riding my bike on the rails to trails. I am a devoted animal lover, having had many wonderful dogs, horses, and cats.
Contact Information
Ruth Ann Modic
Voicemail: 412-473-4414
Email address: rmodic@shadysideacademy.org (preferred method of contact)
