"Gearing Up for Great"

I've been seeing a lot of Office Depot commercials lately. All of which are dealing with the same topic: Back to School! Although I can't say that I was thrilled when I first spotted these commercials and ads in the first week of July (Personally, I believe we deserve a summer and should keep it school supply free until August), I will admit their tag line is really capturing my mood perfectly: "Gearing Up for Great!"
I am doing just that in Maple Lake right now. I am gearing up for an absolutely Great start to the 2016-2017 school year.
The music room will have a slightly different look this year with all new bulletin boards, displays, and posters! However, the REAL excitement comes from the changes that will take place inside the music room once the students have arrived back. As some of you might remember from last summer, I was blessed enough to further my music education by enrolling in the Kodaly Music Institute at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. (If you are not familiar, please see here.) I have completed my second year of the institute and am now certified in Levels I and II!
2nd and 3rd grade concepts are the focus of level II and I have been hard at work revamping my lesson plans and curriculum. Students in these two grades will have a more comprehensive, sequential curriculum which will allow for better retention of musical concepts and allow us to work with more complex elements!

Students will be doing much more folk dancing and instrument playing as part of goals that I have set for my classroom for the new year. Students will also be working on singing in cannon, part-work, and simple harmonization for concerts and school performances!

All in all, the music classroom is shaping up to be even more... well, MUSICAL!

I am so excited for the students to return in September but until then, I want to leave you with a few important pieces of information:

1.) I will be teaching K-3rd grade this year. This is a change from last year when I was only teaching K-2nd.
3rd graders will return to having their concert in the WINTER, not the Spring trimester.

2.) I will be accepting new piano students into my studio starting in October. All returning students have a guaranteed place if they choose to continue lessons, however, I have several new slots opening up each day of the week due to my new schedule. I will have a booth at Open House! Come check it out if you are interest!

3.) I am hoping to add some small musical performances for each grade level in the Spring, in addition to the Winter concert. I will be seeking parent/guardian feedback as the school year begins. Please be watching and voice you opinion!

4.) I will be sending out a Newsletter each month with musical happens and activities to share as a family from the music classroom. This is an exciting new addition to my classroom so look for the contact slip in the first few weeks of school!


Enjoy the final, fading days of summer! I am SO excited as the new school year approaches. Please visit in a week when I will be posting pictures as the music room comes together!

Music and Blessings,
Abby Hoselton