Saturday, November 14, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Bach - Cello Suite No.6 i-Prelude
Here is another of the videos that we watched during the first few days of class. If this appeals to you, you may want to play the cello.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Violin Video
This is one of the videos that we watched on the first few days of class to demonstrate the instruments. If this sound interests you, you may want to try the violin. The performer is the famous Itzhak Perlman. He is playing a piece by Bach which was written for unaccompanied violin.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Mather Orchestra News 2009
Orchestra Activites/ Accomplishments 2008-2009
The Mather Orcehstra received a 500 dollar grant for the Target Foundation and a 3500 dollar grant from the READwELL organization at Northeastern University to host a Musical Residency at Mather. We collaborated with musicans from the 5th House Ensemble, a professional chamber orchestra. The Fifth House Members visited Mather ten times and worked with the kids on the subject of ethnic music styles. The students researched different ethnic music styles and composed their own pieces. The project culminated in a joint performance between the professional and student musicians.
The Mather Orchestra was selected to participate in the MusiCorps Program sponsored by the Civic Orcehstra of Chicago. We were visited twice by chamber music groups from Civic, who provided the orchestra and band classes with a lecture/demonstration/performance.
Students from the Mather Orchestra were selected, for the fourth year in a row, to participate in the SEED program sponsored by the Chicago Sinfionetta. The Sinfonietta provided two professional musicians who visited Mather four times to coach a string quintet. They also provided private lessons for two Mather students. On May 3rd, the quartet will perform with other CPS chamber groups at Symphony Center in Chicago
The Mather Orchestra competed in the Chicago Public Schools Band and Orchestra Contest on Saturday April 18th. The orchestra was awarded an "excellent" rating.
On Friday April 24th, members of the Mather Intermediate and Advanced Orcehstras will participate in a service learning project in collaboration with Clinton Elementary. Mather students will visit Clinton to mentor and tutor the Clinton musicians.
Members of the Mather Band and Orchesta participated in the 2009 Musical; "Life is a Cabaret"
Last fall, the Mather Orchestra was visited by Dr. David Eccles. Dr. Eccles, a noted string and orchestra pedagogue and professor at VanderCook college of Music, conducted the orchestra in rehearsal and met with interested students to discuss furthering their study in college.
The Mather Band, Orchestra, and guitar classes were pleased to receive a donation from The Gift of Carl foundation. The foundation donated several instruments to Mather including: violins, guitars, bells and flutes.
In Februaury, Mr. Smith attended a two day workshop in chicago presented by The Little Kids Rock organization. The organization then donated 24 new classical guitars to Mather to support its guitar program.
This year we have several students pursuing ouside music opportunities including studying at the Merit School of Music and participation in the Northside Youth Symphony, All-City Symphony and the All-City Jazz Band.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Russian Music Box by Soon Hee Newbold
This student is in one of the beginning orchestras!!!
Guess who...
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Computer Lab Assignment for Feb 17
The assignment for today will be to describe for me the form of any song you choose.
Please open Microsoft Word on your computer and create a new document.
For a song of your choosing please indicate
Your Name
Song Title
Song Band
Time Signature
Song Elements
Number of measures for each element
Song elements might include: Verse, Chorus, Intro, Solo, Outro or Bridge.
Save your project and email it to me
For an example of what I want, check out the part of this song analysis that says form.
My Email address is crsmith2@cps.edu
If you need someplace to search for and listen to music, try Rhapsody
Gale Library Database
NPR Music
You must email this to me today by the end of the period.
Extra Credit... if you find a good site that is accessible from school, respond to this post and tell everyone about it!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Mather Chamber Group Plays Brandenburg
D scale backing track for beginning orchestra
Mather Orchestra CPS Orchestra Contest 2012
CPS Band and Orchestra Contest 2012
Romanza Rumba
Mather Orchestra at Solo and Ensemble Contest
Pictures from 2012 Solo and Ensemble Contest
Winter 2012 Pics
Mr. Berg's Guitars
Mather Band 2012 Winter Concert
Mather Quintet 2011
Winter Concert 2011
Mather Trio Performs at Symphony Center
Same piece at the Spring Concert
Send an email to Mr. Smith
Check out the Mather Trio and the Advanced Orchestra in the Spring Concert 2010
Click Here Here's the beginning orchestra from the Spring Concert Click Here
Watch all of the clips from our Winter Concert Here