U P C O M I N G C O N C E R T KHS Music Musings DATES: FEBRUARY 2018

 Naugatuck Community Band Benefit Concert, March 15th, 7:30PM KHS Auditorium From the Podium  Solo and Small Ensemble Recital, Tues- February has begun with a it. Plus, I want to use this song will include Lord Licorice, day, 4/10/2018 7:00PM great deal of excitement and a as a way of pushing their musical Gloopy and the Molasses Swamp, KHS Auditorium whirlwind of chaos. We have endurance, something they will Princess Lolly and King Candy. seen the flu epidemic cause ma- need for what is shaping up to be Each section will be it’s own  Spring Concert, Tues- jor problems with attendance a longer Spring Concert than we short song, but the whole 4 day, 5/15/2018 7:00PM, and as a result the group seems have had in quite a few years. movement suite will clock in as KHS Auditorium to be trapped on a musical tread- The students have grown quite our longest song of the program.  Memorial Day Parade, mill. excited about some additional The Jazz band has gotten start- Sunday, 5/27/2018 12:00 To add to that difficulty, we music that we will be tackling ed this year, but hasn’t made Freight Street Water- have just started working on our next. Every year I write one much progress yet due to snow bury hardest song of the year, Aztec song for the band to perform at days, sickness, the fundraiser, and Fire. The song is presenting a their concert as a world premier, one cancelation. I am looking to very big challenge for the band, this year, the band has already get things back on track in the pushing their range, endurance, gotten two songs, and now I am coming weeks, as they have a and musical confidence to the putting the finishing touches on a goal of learning 2 songs with max. I told them I want to begin third that I am very excited solos before the Small Ensemble this piece now because it will about. The song is based on the Concert in April. Looking for- take quite some time to get it characters and locations found in ward to a better end of Febru- together and I don’t want to rush the board game Candyland. This ary! -Mr. Knecht

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Composer 2 Choral Notes Biography February has moved through so the group “Fun.” This song was has been featured in tv shows like Jazz and 2 fast but the chorus seems to be featured on the show “The Sing Scrubs, Family Guy, South Park, Conducting keeping pace. With three songs Off” and includes the songs “Some Community, and New Girl. The learned since January, the choir is Nights,” “We Are Young,” and fifth song is still undecided at this Small Ensem- 2 already in really good shape for “Carry On.” Like “Seasons of point, though the group has several ble Concert May’s spring concert. The group Love,” this song also has a few pieces they are looking through. has decided to theme this concert featured soloists. The Men’s and Women’s choir Music Comic 3 program with songs from stage and Another song the choir is work- have begun rehearsing weekly this Strip screen. ing on is the title song from month in preparation for their The first song the choir has “Phantom of the Opera.” While concert on April 10th. The groups Stupid Music 3 learned is a classic from the show there are no solos in this particular are working with a 50’s/60’s Humor “Rent.” “Seasons of Love” is al- song, there are several students theme. They will perform sepa- ready a group favorite. The song interested in trying the ending – rately and hopefully combine for The Mount 3 Rushmore of? will have several featured soloists – including the very high ending note. one or two songs. Besides the which students are also very excit- The group will add at least two concert they will also plan another Monthly 4 ed about. more songs to round out the pro- performance at The Cheshire Awards The next song the group is gram. We are currently looking at House – an elderly rehabilitation working on is an a cappella ar- a really interesting a cappella ver- home. rangement of a medley of songs by sion of “Africa” by Toto. The song -Ms. Pape P A G E 2 Musician of the Month

Louie Armstrong (also trumpet to earn money. He He started recording known as Satchmo) was a pio- performed on Riverboats and some Jazz combo recordings neer of the swing Jazz era, and various other venues to earn while in Chicago that made is most well known for his cash, but his career didn’t take him a household name. He playing ability on the trumpet. off till 1922. It was then when would also revolutionize jazz Armstrong was a troubled kid Armstrong was invited to with a technique called scat throughout his youth, and even move to Chicago to perform singing, where he would use spent 3 years in a youth prison with his idol, Joe Oliver’s Cre- non-sense words to improvise after firing a gun into the air. ole Jazz Band. It was here that while singing. While in prison, he refined his Armstrong made a major name Despite being a jazz musi- playing ability on the trumpet, for himself. He became Oli- cian, he is enshrined in the something he did on street ver’s primary soloist, and de- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. corners to earn some money veloped his played, controlling His most famous song is prior to being arrested. the instrument in upper ranges “What a Wonderful World” After his short stint in that most players struggled which features him singing with prison he returned to playing with. his signature raspy sound. Call for Chaperones—May 30th

On Wednesday, May 30th, one the trip. The duties are the Music Department will minimal, as each chaperone partake in our annual perfor- gets assigned a small group of “Words make mance with High Note Music students and is responsible to Festivals. We are in need of check them in a couple times you think a chaperones for this day, as we during the day and also pass will be leaving school around out their meal passes. 8:00 and returning to school thought. Music It is a fun day, and something between 5:00 and 5:30 that the kids look forward to,. You day. can email me at makes you feel a In order to apply for the [email protected] if field trip I need at least 5 par- you are interested in helping feeling. A song ents who are willing to chaper- out or if you have questions. makes you feel a New High Note Festival Information thought.” This year we are once again 31st, and June 1st! This is ex- cussion instruments, which is planning on going to the High citing as it will allow us to cut one of the hardest things about -E.Y. Harburg Note Festival, as mentioned out the challenge of performing the trip. above. However this year at Lake Compounce, which can This also will serve as a fund- things will be slightly different, be difficult when bringing instru- raiser for the Music Program as the Festival is coming to us! ments into the park, and also High Note Festival will be pay- The kids will still get to go to the kids lose a great deal of ing the music program for the Lake Compounce as a part of time at the aprk needing to use of our facility during those the Festival, which we will do bring those instruments back to days. We are excited to have on May 30th, however Kennedy the cars for safe keeping after this new fundraiser and oppor- High School will be hosting the performance. We will also tunity for performance with other schools on May 25th, May have access to all of our per- High Note Music Festival and hope this will be an annual op- KHS MUSIC MUSINGS portunity for the school. P A G E 3 Naugatuck Community Band Fundraiser

On March 15th, (Thursday tickets to friends and family at a jority of the group is comprised of Night), the Naugatuck Community cost of $5 per ticket, with the pro- amateur musicians. They will be band will be coming to Kennedy to ceeds going towards each students performing a program of selections perform on our stage at a benefit individual cost for the trip in May. from their most recent concert concert. They have done this per- In the past few years we have seen program titled, Storybook, music formance every year for the past 3 multiple students sell enough tick- inspired by literature. This will years. The students will each get a ets to pay for their entire trip! include Brian Balmages’ Call of the free ticket to the show, as I want Wild, Johan De Meij’s Symphony The Naugatuck Community them to see the performance and #1 the Lord of the Rings, selections Band is an ensemble of area musi- hear what these experienced ama- from Robert W. Smith’s Divine cians, most of whom only played in teur musicians are able to do. Comedy, and Mr. Knecht’s Where high school and maybe college. Tickets will go on sale for the con- the Wild Tings Are, among other While there are some members cert about 2 weeks before the pieces. who are career musicians, the ma- show. The students will be selling Stupid Music Humor The Mount Rushmore of… Jazz Orchestras

Jazz Orchestras were amazing ensembles that dominated the musical landscape in the 30’s and 40’s. Some of these groups did more than just jazz, but were most well known for their contributions to jazz. 1) Duke Ellington Orchestra - The Duke Ellington Orchestra got it’s start in the 1920’s at the Cotton Club in Harlem, but through their history toured the world. They did everything from film scores to jazz, but still perform today and are widely regarded as oe fo the greatest jazz orchestras in the world 2) Count Basie Orchestra - This group started in the 1930’s and contin- ued to perform together after Count Basie’s death in 1984. They started in Kansas City, but toured throughout the United States, per- forming the signature piano driven swing jazz music they pioneered in Kansas City 3) Glenn Miller Orchestra - While only active for 4 years, from 1938 to 1942, The Glenn Miller Orchestra performed and recorded some of the most famous music for Jazz Orchestra including: “In the Mood”, “Chattanooga Choo Choo”, “Pennsylvania 6-5000”, “String of Pearls”, and “Tuxedo Junction”, among other hits. 4) Benny Goodman Orchestra - Goodman was a clarinetist who broke racial divides in swing music. His orchestra performed one of the most recognizable pieces ever written for jazz orchestra: Sing, Sing, Sing. He and his drummer, Gene Krupa, were referred to as the King of Swing. P A G E 4 Instrumental Music Student of the Month

January In addition to being one of the best players in the band, William William Keller, Senior also holds the record for fewest Clarinet words spoken over his four years, at Kennedy, having once asked to William is one of the most use the bathroom, otherwise I’ve consistently dependable band never heard him speak. members I’ve had at Kennedy High. William started with the band as a freshman and has Previous Winners “quietly” played everything and  Oct. - Rick Ramos anything I’ve ever given him with  little to no direction. He is musi- Nov. - Gabriela Isak cally one of the most gifted stu-  Dec. - Isaac Smyth dents in the band, showing tre-  Jan. - Rebekah “Pink” Merancy mendous musical understanding  Feb. - William Keller and musicality literacy within all of the music classes he takes.

Vocal Music Student of the Month January Isaac Smyth, Previous Winners  Oct. - Shania Gould-Turner Senior  Nov. - Adriana Siharaj Isaac joined the choir just last year.  Dec. - Adnam Bilalovski In that short amount of time he has become a leader in his section.  Jan. - Sarai Genua Isaac practices constantly and push-  Feb. - Isaac Smyth es his own vocal range so that he can achieve success as a tenor. He learns his parts very fast and helps the others in his section. Isaac’s dedication to choir and leadership in music in general make him a great addition to the choir.

KHS MUSIC MUSINGS