WELCOME TO MY PAGE. THIS IS MRS. SUSAN KLEINER, INSTRUMENTAL TEACHER, BAND AND JAZZ BAND DIRECTOR, AND AS OF RECENTLY, THIRD GRADE GENERAL MUSIC TEACHER AS WELL. PLEASE REFER TO MY WEBSITE WHENEVER YOU WOULD LIKE. IF THERE IS EVER A QUESTION OR CONCERN, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT WEST SIDE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. I AM HERE AS OF 7:20 A.M. EVERY DAY. 

 GROUP LESSONS FOR GRADES 4, 5 AND 6:

EACH CHILD IS GIVEN ONE LESSON PER WEEK FOR A HALF HOUR. OUR LESSON SCHEDULE ROTATES FROM WEEK TO WEEK. THIS WAY A CHILD DOES NOT MISS THE SAME SUBJECT IN CLASS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN ONCE EVERY EIGHT WEEKS. EACH STUDENT HAS HIS OR HER OWN WRITTEN SCHEDULE FOR THE YEAR. 

ENSEMBLE REHEARSALS FOR GRADES 5 AND 6 :

EARLY MORNING REHEARSALS TAKE PLACE AT 7:50 A.M. AS SHOWN BELOW:

 MONDAYS-ALL 5/6 WOODWINDS

 TUESDAYS-ALL 5/6 BRASS 

 WEDNESDAYS-FULL BAND REHEARSAL

 THURSDAYS-5/6 PERCUSSION

 FRIDAYS-5/6 JAZZ ENSEMBLE REHEARSAL

ALL STUDENTS SHOULD PLEASE REPORT TO OUR REHEARSALS , INCLUDING BOTH SECTIONALS AND FULL ENSEMBLES. AS WE APPROACH OUR CONCERT SEASON, THE SCHEDULE WILL CHANGE SLIGHTLY. ALL PARENTS WILL RECEIVE NOTIFICATION VIA EMAIL REGARDING ANY CHANGES.

HOME PRACTICE 

STUDENTS ARE EXTREMELY BUSY NOWADAYS, BETWEEN HOCKEY, BASKETBALL, TENNIS, HORSEBACK RIDING, DANCE, ICE SKATING, COMPETITIVE SWIMMING, RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION, ETC. STUDENTS SHOULD PRACTICE FOR APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN TO TWENTY MINUTES PER DAY. THIS WOULD BE A WONDERFUL BEGINNING SO AS TO ASSURE SUCCESS AND ENJOYMENT AT LESSONS AND ENSEMBLE REHEARSALS.

CONCERTS-GRADES 5 AND 6

OUR WINTER AND SPRING CONCERTS ARE AS SEEN BELOW:

JANUARY 23,2019-WINTER

MAY 29,2019-SPRING

   IN ADDITION TO THE EVENING PERFORMANCE, CHILDREN IN CHORUS, ORCHESTRA AND BAND/JAZZ BAND WILL PRESENT DAYTIME PERFORMANCES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY FOR THE WEST SIDE STUDENTS, GRADES 2 THROUGH 4.

CONCERTS-GRADE 4

 AS OUR FOURTH GRADERS ARE TRUE BEGINNERS, THEY WILL PRESENT THEIR CONCERT IN EARLY JUNE. THE EXACT DATE WILL BE JUNE 4TH, 2019.THE CHILDREN WILL ALSO PERFORM FOR WEST STUDENTS DURING THE DAY ON THE 4TH AS WELL. EARLY MORNING REHEARSALS FOR FOURTH GRADERS WILL BEGIN IN LATE APRIL/EARLY MAY. ALL PARENTS AND STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE NOTICE SEVERAL WEEKS IN ADVANCE REGARDING THIS MATTER.

NYSSMA

FOR THOSE FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADERS WHO ARE INTERESTED, WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO PARICIPATE IN THE SOLO/ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL IN MARCH (2019).STUDENTS WHO PERFORM WILL PREPARE A SOLO, SEVERAL SCALES AND SIGHT READING STRATEGIES FOR LEVELS 1,2 3 AND 4. IN ADDITION , SIGHT READING IS GIVEN TO PARTICIPANTS. I WORK WITH ALL NYSSMA STUDENTS DURING THEIR REGULAR LESSON TIMES. IN ADDITION, I OFFER 8:30-9:00 AND LUNCH/RECESS TIME SLOTS FOR EXTRA HELP AS NYSSMA PREPARATION. FORMS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED SHORTLY REGARDING FURTHER NYSSMA DETAILS. 

3RD GRADE INSTRUMENTAL EXPLORATORY/INTRODUCTORY PROGRAM

THIS PROGRAM ACTUALLY BEGAN IN THE MID 1950'S ! WE ARE THE ONLY DISTRICT ON LONG ISLAND THAT STILL OFFERS ITS STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE EXPOSURE TO ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTAL FAMILIES AS WELL AS PLAYING EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. MS. DANIELS-ROSENBLATT AND I TEAM TEACH THE FOLLOWING UNITS/INSTRUMENTAL FAMILIES: 

WOODWINDS

BRASS

STRINGS

PERCUSSION

THROUGH OUR TEACHING, WE ARE ABLE TO ASSESS WHICH INSTRUMENT IS SUITABLE FOR EACH STUDENT. DURING THE SUMMER, FOLLOWING OUR ASSESSMENT, PARENTS RENT AN INSTRUMENT FOR THEIR CHILD . AS OF SEPTEMBER OF FOURTH GRADE, STUDENTS WILL BE A PART OF THE WEST SIDE INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES WEEKLY LESSONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND A CULMINATING PERFORMANCE IN EARLY JUNE. ( JUNE 4TH, 2019) DURING THEIR LESSONS, STUDENTS LEARN MUSICAL NOTATION, RHYTHMIC STUDIES, PLAYING SKILLS AND TECHNIQUE, MELODY, HARMONY AND PERFORMANCE SKILLS, BOTH IN A SOLO AND ENSEMBLE SITUATION.

THIRD GRADE GENERAL MUSIC

IN THIRD GRADE, CHILDREN ARE INTRODUCED TO MANY FACETS OF MUSIC. HERE ARE SOME OF OUR UNITS WHICH I WILL BE COVERING:

1. INTRODUCTION TO ALL INSTRUMENTS

2. READING BASIC MUSICAL NOTATION

3.RHYTHMIC PERFORMANCE

4.RECORDERS ( INTERACTIVE "RECORDER MONSTER" PROGRAM )

5.UKELELES !!! NEW !!! STUDENTS WILL WORK IN PAIRS AND LEARN BASIC PLAYING SKILLS 

6.INTERNATIONAL DAY-SONGS FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD WILL BE PREPARED, GREETINGS IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES WILL BE TAUGHT IN CONJUNCTION WITH SOCIAL STUDIES UNIT IN CLASSROOM

7. PITCH RECOGNITION

8. SINGING !!!!!!!