The Music in the Parks forms are available now! Even if you are in band and orchestra, please come and get a form so we have an accurate list of singers. All Show Choir and 7/8 Singers need a form! The schedule is arranged so that band and orchestra competition times are different than our Singing groups' times and everyone is at the same high school. There is only one fee to participate in all 3 groups. Please turn in your forms as soon as possible!

On Friday, February 2, and February 9, the musical rehearsal will continue until 6:00 PM. On the 9th we will rehearse in my room, because the MPR will be unavailable while the elementary school Science Olympiad is being set-up.

Lead Cast members and Crews should plan on also attending rehearsal on Friday, February 16 from 3:00 - 5:00. We have 18 rehearsals left until dress rehearsal.

Have a great weekend!

- 🎶 Mrs. Broeker

Here is the Link to buy the T-Shirt for 7/8 Singers and Show Choir. We will be using this t-shirt at our Spring Concert, field trip, and Music in the Parks competition. Many of you have already purchased this shirt! I am reopening the cart for the people who have not already purchased the shirt!

Families! We are looking for eight families who will purchase/assemble raffle prizes (two for each show) to help raise additional funds at the musical on March 8, 9, and 10. Please use this link to sign up for a basket today. We have included a few ideas to get you started, but feel free to get creative! Thanks for your support! Ideas:

• Spoonful of Sugar: Lots of candy! Sports drinks.
• Jolly Holiday: Park supplies - sidewalk chalk, bubbles, sand toys, picnic blanket, etc.
• Mary Poppins/British: English breakfast tea, Honey, Sugar cubes, British cookies or sweets, crackers (the party favors they give on New Year's /Birthdays)
• Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: Anything supersized! Big bucket for popcorn, jumbo candy bars, supersize gum packs.
• Practically Perfect: A modern "Mary Poppins" basket - mini-first aid kit, wipes, portable crafts, sunscreen, water bottle, etc.
• Chim Chimney: All the stuff to make S’mores. Marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate, skewers.

All funding for the musical comes from fundraising, private donations, and ticket sales.

The Musical Money pays for:

The Production Royalty Fee, Video License, and Scripts: $815 for Mary Poppins Jr

Costumes: expected expenditure $2500. Sounds like a lot until you divide that amount by the average number of cast members,120. Yes, we search for bargains, happily accept donations, and visit thrift stores. If I'm desperate, I even sew costumes. This is also why cast members cannot keep their costumes. I also repurpose costumes from previous shows.

That being said, sometimes the costumes from a previous show are not useable. For example, the former Mary Poppins were 5' and 5'2" tall, Miss Andrews was 4'8, and Bert was 5'4." The cast is never decided until auditions. At this point, I do not know whether or not I will be able to reuse the leads' costumes.

Props: The materials to make props for the show average $200.

Set Construction and Painting Materials average $450.

Sound Equipment: $14,986.20 New Sound System in compliance with federal regulations and hopefully resolving the feedback issues. Last year, we borrowed most of the mics from Maine East High School. We may still need to purchase new headsets because of breakage.

Lighting Equipment - no plans to purchase this year.

There is still time to get Drama 1 and Choir in your schedules for next year!! If you are making a change and adding it in you simply need to email you counselor and cc Dr. Keith (tkeith@maine207.org).

February 1 3:00 - 4:00 7/8 and Show Choir in the MPR

February 2 7:30 AM Musical Soloists

February 8 3:00 - 4:00 7/8 and Show Choir in the MPR

February 9 7:30 AM Musical Soloists

Maine South Eighth Grade Invitational Choral Concert-TBD

Maine South Choral Workshop with Matthew Hanes-TBD

March 8, 9, and 10, 2024 - Emerson Musical

March 15, 16, and 17, 2024 - Lincoln Musical

April (18, 19, 25?) - Maine East Choral Workshop at Emerson with Katie Lee-TBD

April Choral Tour to the Elementary Schools

April 26, 2024 Middle School Music Assembly

May 2, 2024 - Lincoln & Emerson Choral Concert 7:00 PM @ Emerson

May 4, 2024 Middle School Music in the Parks Festival (Choir, Band, Orchestra)

The Vocal Power Students performed Broadway and Hollywood Musicals. They applied the information they learned about vocal wellness in this unit, safely projecting their voices. The Digital Music Class learned about compositional devices: Switching Tonality between Major and Minor, Inversion, Retrograde, Repetition, and Imitation. They also created Meditation tracks and videos. The Music 6 class can now play 8 chords on the ukulele. In Keyboard class, students are mastering triple meter.

VanderCook College of Music is offering Free Master Classes starting soon. Vocalists might be interested in the Body, Mind, and Voice Master Class on February 13. All of the classes are free and held on zoom.

7/8 Singers meets on Thursdays from 3:00 - 4:00 in the MPR

Show Choir meets every Friday after school during the first and third trimesters! Our Show Choir performs throughout the Chicagoland area and competes in the annual Music in the Parks festival!

Please pay the choral fee at myschoolbucks.com

Thank you!

Email: tbroeker@d64.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/d64.org/emerson-general-music-with-mrs-broeker/homeeker
Location: 8101 North Cumberland Avenue, Niles, IL, USA
Phone: 847-653-3824

Instagram: emssingers678