One Last Word...

(July 7, 2017)

“My experience participating in the Gifted & Talented Music program was enjoyable.  I had a ton of fun attempting to learn and play the french horn; it was challenging but extremely fun!  If I were to do it again, I would, however, I am an 8th grader and am going to the Fryeburg Academy next year.  i would suggest having the groups meet more often if possible, but other than that, I would keep the program the same.  I will miss this and I hope that it will continue so other children/students will be able to have as much fun and learn as much as I did.  Overall, I loved GT and working with all the other people.  Thank you!” – Sharlah-Mae D.

A Few MORE Words from our GT Students

(July 7, 2017)

Here are more student experiences for you to read!

“Hi! I’m here to talk about my experience with the GT Music Program, and more specifically, the group I am in is composing. Not only was it fun, it was also very informative, as of we had to search for keys and clefs different instruments were in. Also, it also was super amazing because we got to use our imagination to create our composition. We could pick from piano and voice to two different instruments. It was very helpful and I hope to continue GT Music next year! Not only do you learn, but you learn in a creative way and have fun while doing it!” – Rachel F.

“I had a lot of fun at GT. It was worth doing the work even if it is hard. I wish we could have had more meetings, so I can’t wait for GT next year! I was in the singing group, so our group mostly did sight reading, which is my favorite thing. If you get into GT music, you’re definitely going to have fun.” – Ayannah W.

“So far, GT music has been amazing for me.  I have improved with intervals, sheet reading, and ear training with my voice.  I love learning the new possibilities for me to practice and master.  It always gives me great joy to share what I have learned with others, and possibly teach others.  I have been given numerous opportunities to take, and I am so grateful I have been able to take them up.  It gives me confidence in myself to be able to do things that challenge me; and I have the GT music program to thank for that.” – Willow C.

“Even though I only went to two of the GT Music meetings, I still enjoyed my time in GT Music! My focus for GT was to learn more about the instrument I am playing (the violin) and Mr. Bosse helped me do that. My GT Music teacher helped me learn about grace notes, which were a little challenging but fun to play. I really enjoyed GT Music because I got to learn more and it gave me more time to practice my violin and have a little lesson. Overall GT was a great experience and I’m very excited to continue with GT Music next year!” – Grace S.

“Through my experience with GT music, I have learned more than I ever thought I would in eighth grade. Though it was difficult at times, the music theory topics were very interesting to me. I especially liked working with chords because it enhanced my song writing abilities, which I really wanted to improve on. I am also excited that I know more for Camp Encore Coda in the summer, so that I can be in a more advanced class. In essence I really enjoyed the time that I spent working with Mr. Bosse.” – Brendan S.

” During my time in GT, I have learned several things about percussion and myself. I learned that I work better without the pressure of someone hanging over my shoulder [ *cough* Mr. Bosse, Mrs. Frum *hacking*] and that my interest in percussion wasn’t just some random phase I was going through. GT validated that I was actually doing something that I was decent at, and wasn’t all in my head.” – Samantha S.B.

A Few Words from our GT Students

(July 7, 2017)

Here are a few words from our GT students and what their GT Music experience was like this year.

“In the GT music program, I have learned to play the Alto Sax. We always meet up on Friday’s to practice the skill we chose and practice that skill. I’ve been teaching my friend Haden, who is also in GT, and he has been teaching me to play the Sax because that’s his main instrument.” – Ian B.

“This year in GT music, I focused on the singing aspect of my musical life. We practiced sight singing. Sight singing is when you look at a piece of music or notes and you sing it. We also learned intervals, starting out with just the majors, then adding in minors. I really enjoyed being in GT, I used to go to Lake Region and they had a GT program there, but I came here and they didn’t have one yet. So I was very excited to audition for it.” – Olivia M.

“Although I did not have much time in GT Music because I joined near the end of the year, I really enjoyed my time in GT. I feel like I have learned so much more about music. For example, I didn’t know how to transpose or compose but now I do and really enjoy it. I actually plan to compose a piece to play at the academy with Brendan Simkins. I really wished I could have had more time in GT but I really enjoyed my time.” – Jaden F.

“I thought that GT was fun and I really enjoyed it. I learned how to read the bass clef. I learned how to read music when playing just take it slow. I am a singer and so I kind of knew what I was doing and I have had experience with piano before, but I couldn’t read notes. When joining GT, I learned to read notes which really improved my singing. So I did GT for piano but it also improved my singing and my note reading.” – Svea O.

“GT Music this year has been a fun experience. Practicing vocals and learning how to tell what a note would sound like and to try and learn the timing to sing. All and all, I think I will probably keep going to GT Music and possibly try and learn an instrument.” – Aiden M.

“In GT music, it was an amazing experience because I learned the trumpet that would help the band out and I have three teachers, Ian, Mr. Bryan and Bosse.  I can continue with more and more instruments and be a better band student and if I wanted I could be a band teacher one day.” – Haden F.

District II Overview

(July 7, 2017)

Over the 2016-2017 school year, there were three festivals that our students participated in, and they are the Middle School Instrumental/Vocal Festival, the Elementary Instrumental/Vocal Festival, and the Honors Jazz Festival.

I would like to congratulate the 11 students who made it into the 2017 District II Music Festival; 9 students who made it into the Vocal Festival and 2 students who made it into the Instrumental Festival.  The instrumental festival took place at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School on Friday & Saturday, January 20 & 21, 2017.  The vocal festival took place at the Wyndham High School on Friday & Saturday, January 27 & 28, 2017.  I would also like to congratulate the 9 students who made it into the 2017 District II Elementary Festival; 1 student for the orchestra, 3 students for the band, and 5 students for the choir.  The elementary festival took place at the Lewiston Middle School on Thursday, March 30, 2017.  Lastly, I would also like to congratulate 2 students for making it into the District II Honors Jazz Festival which took place at our very own Fryeburg Academy on Tuesday & Wednesday, April 25 & 26, 2017.  Of the students who made it into the festival, we had 11 of them as part of our GT music program!  Congrats to all!

Interview with Mike Stockbridge

(April 17, 2017)

On Tuesday, March 28, 2017, I had an interview with my guitar instructor, Mike Stockbridge. Mike is a music educator that has been teaching for more than 20 years. He is also a multi-instrumentalist who went to Berklee College of Music and to the University of Maine. He teaches at Phillips Exeter Academy and teaches privately at the North Conway Music Shop. Finally he used to perform actively in the past, but due to him starting a family, he hasn’t been performing as much recently.

The first question I asked Mike was where he grew up and his response was “I grew up in Ossipee, New-Hampshire.”

The next question I had for him was, “What got you interested in music?” He responded with, “In my childhood there was a lot of music in my home in terms of I had two older siblings who listened to music. My oldest sibling is ten years older than me and listened to what they call New Wave music or Punk music, but also like Classic Rock and Roll. My mother was a big influence as well. At home she would listen to Folk music from other countries or Bach. My dad appreciated vocal music or country music. The first thing that caught my attention was a Led Zeppelin album that my brother had called, “House of The Holy.” The desire to do this kind of stuff was never put aside my folks.”

Another question I asked him was, “Is there any advice that you would give to people who maybe want to get involved in music or learn how play an instrument that don’t really think they can do it?” Mike replied with, “I think that people who have an opinion that they can’t do it, is really invalid” and “If you have a desire to do it, your gonna do it, I think you have to be really excited about it.”

~Jaden F.

Choosing the Right Instrument for Me

(April 14, 2017)

When I was young, (about eight or nine years old) I started developing a passion for music. I would often times just sit down and play on our piano, simplistic songs that I had heard, from memory. Other times, I would make up my own tunes in my head. At this age, I was very unaware of all the other variety and options that music had to offer. I was only ever given the opportunity to actually learn an instrument in fourth grade. I can recall being quite indecisive when it came to finding an instrument that I wanted to learn. At first, I wanted to play percussion, from seeing people in the school band playing. I also enjoyed seeing other people play the trombone, and later decided that I would rather play that.

After trying the trombone for a little bit, I decided that it probably wasn’t the right instrument for me. I just wasn’t enjoying it as much as I thought I would, and it was very difficult learning all the slide positions. Beginning to think more seriously about my options, I considered the trumpet because how easy it looked to play, and how it stands out from the rest of the band. Fortunately for me, my father had much experience with the instrument, and was there to help me out when I needed it. After trying the trumpet out, it had become very clear to me that that was what I wanted to stick with. I was ahead of all the other trumpet players in the fourth grade and I absolutely loved the sound it made. If I had not chosen the trumpet, I think that I would not be as good a musician as I am today. As for looking in the future, I plan on expanding my skills as a trumpet player, as well as branching out to other instruments and learning the banjo.

~ Brendan S.

Music is My Social Life

(April 14, 2017)

I would like say how much music has effected my life. It’s effected my life by giving me a thing to focus on and it gives me something social to do, like, chorus and awhile ago, guitar practice.

~ Aiden

Music in the Family

(April 13, 2017)

Hi! My name is Rachel and I’m in the GT Music Program. I got to love music because of my mom. She plays the piano, (I play a little bit) sings, plays saxophone, etc. In my opinion, I think she knows every single song in the world. Whenever the radio music is on, she’ll be singing along! But, she’s very cool. I love to sing, and I also compose a few songs myself, although I never share them with anyone. In my free time, I’m usually found reading, writing, baking, watching TV, or humming a tune. So far, being in the GT Music group has been very helpful for me, and it has been a lot of fun.

Boy Was I Wrong!

(April 5, 2017)

This quarter, I have been attempting to learn how to play the french horn. At first I thought that it’d be easy, to say the least, I was very wrong. Playing this majestic instrument is extremely difficult. I am a woodwind player, not a brass player (yet), so the task of making a nice sound to come out of it was tremendously challenging, at first. However I’ve been practicing and trying my best to make sounds (normally good ones) with it. With my family’s support and my own determination, I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it soon enough.

An interesting thing I’ve found, just by playing around with it, is that my particular french horn doesn’t have a spit valve, though I’ve researched and found that some do come equipped with one. I have also found a decently effective way to empty out all of the collected liquids in the horn, this is to take off all the slides and turn/ shake the french horn. Most of the time it clears the spit or condensation from it so that a clear sound can be heard when played. When there is spit in the horn it makes a buzzing or staticky/gurgly sound, which is very unpleasant when you’re trying to sound good. 

Another thing I’ve discovered is that in order to play certain notes your embouchure has to change and if it changes while you are trying to stay on a single note it will change drastically. Which is exceedingly frustrating, in my opinion. However with all the mishaps and hindrances I have faced while learning, I am having fun and am able to play some really nice notes. I am so thankful to Mr. Bosse for teaching me and taking the time for myself and the other students to have this opportunity at all. 

Until next time!

~ Shar

A Few Introductions

(February 17, 2017)

Here are a couple of introductions from our GT Music students:

“Hello, my name is Ian and I’m in the GT (gifted and talented) music program. The program is for kids who can play amazing pieces of music. In GT, we chose a skill from learning a new instrument or reading music more fluently. I have chosen to learn a new instrument, the alto saxophone. I can play with a little help from my friend Haden, who is also in GT. I can play many pieces on the sax. That’s what the GT program has taught me thus far.”

“My name is Grace and I play the violin. In my spare time, I play my violin and find new popular songs that I can play on it to! I also read a lot. I began to really learn about and play music when I was 5 years old because my mom wanted me to play an instrument and she gave me a few options. Now it’s been 6 years and I’m in GT Music! Honestly without music I think I wouldn’t get to know all sorts of people like my violin teacher and even some of my friends through music lessons. There is music in everything so to know a little bit more about it is really important to me!”

“I’ve been playing music basically since I went to school, and I am not in the 8th grade. I try to play music whenever I can because I like it.” – Simon