UW-Milwaukee SNATS Masterclass

This Thursday, Reagan vocalists had the opportunity to perform their state qualifying WSMA pieces for a panel if UWM voice majors in a master class setting. Students received feedback and learned more about performing and studying music in college. 

(Bottom photo: Students learned about the "dos and don'ts" of proper performance attire!)

Valentine's Day Flash Mobs!

Members of the Reagan IB High School Treble Choir sang the Latin jazz love song "Sway" (recently made famous by Michael Buble) in all of the upperclassmen ELOs. This advanced women's ensemble will be presenting class A madrigals and vocal jazz selections at the WSMA district solo-ensemble festival at Rufus King on March 1st!

Music Dept. Student Teacher: Heidi Robertson

My name is Heidi Robertson, and I'm a Music Education student at UW-Oshkosh.  I have spent the past nine weeks in Ronald Reagan's music department student teaching and have learned so much about how to teach as well as the urban environment.  I specifically chose Milwaukee Public Schools for my student teaching experience because I hope to work in the district upon graduation, but I wanted to get a glimpse into the urban education setting before starting the job hunt.  I was so thrilled to work with these dedicated and enthusiastic students as well as the knowledgeable and effective teachers.

During my time at Reagan, I worked with each of the choral ensembles as well as two Music Appreciation classes.  Upon arrival, I was blown away by the rigor of the IB curriculum.  The students in the ensembles as well as IB Music classes were more prepared for collegiate ensembles than I was at their age.  The students were warm and welcoming and challenged me as a teacher. 

I began my student teaching experience during the week before the musical, which meant long rehearsals after school.  The students immediately made me feel at home during these rehearsals, and I got to know them quite well during that week.  I was very impressed by the musical and the talent of the students.  It was a fun way to begin my experience at Reagan!

During the course of the nine weeks working with Ms. Breitbarth, I learned how to build a strong choral program by observing all that she has done.  Her thorough and challenging aural skills and theory curricula encourages strong musicianship from the moment a beginning singer walks through the door.  I learned what I called “Ms. B’s Keys to the Kingdom,” or how to create a thriving choral program.  I was amazed by the portfolio-based assessment the students are graded by, and I couldn’t help but become a believer in the power of solfege syllables when learning a piece of music.

Mr. Johnson had a large impact on my teaching style as well as he mentored me in Music Appreciation.  He gave me the chance to create my own long-term project in his Music Appreciation classes.  After class, he shared many of his experiences teaching in MPS and gave me valuable perspective for my future career in the district.  The students in these classes were a joy to work with as well, challenging me with their fresh approach to teaching music through the lens of popular music.

I also had the opportunity to work with the students as they prepared for WSMA Solo and Ensemble.  The students were very prepared for the competition before I arrived, but I helped with some of the polishing aspects before their final performance.  I continued to build relationships with the student throughout the coaching sessions after school, strengthening my bond and love for this school.  The students sang extremely well and I was very proud of their hard work!  

Though my time at Ronald Reagan has come to an end, I look forward to seeing he students again at their concert on April 30^th.  It will be such a joy to listen to the polished pieces that I helped them learn and catch up with them after the concert.  I also look forward to seeing their individual endeavors displayed at the upcoming Gallery Night. I am very grateful for the friends I have made and the things I have learned with Ronald Reagan High School’s Music Department. 

Heidi Robertson

Music Education Student

UW Oshkosh class of 2013

BRAVO IB Music 2 Students!

Last night, four of Reagan's finest senior musicians presented a recital of solo music on their instruments.  Recordings of their performances in the recital constitute 25% of their overall IB Higher Level score for college credit.  Over 70 friends, staff, parents and community members came out to support these students in their outstanding musical efforts. Students also wrote detailed program notes describing the musical features and historical context of each piece performed in the recital.   Special thanks to Adam Baus for his outstanding accompaniment skills in the performance!

The repertoire performed on the recital is listed below:

Now, O Now, My Needs Must Part  by John Dowland  (1563-1626)

When To Her Lute Corina Sings  byThomas Campion  (1575-1619)

Bist Du bei Mir by Johann Sebastian Bach (1680-1750)

Liebst du um Schönheit     by Clara Schumann  (1819-1896)

Caro Mio Ben by Giuseppe Giordani (1744-1798)

Pur Dicesti by Antonio Lotti  (1667-1740)

The Ash Grove  arr. Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

The Sky Above The Roof   by Ralph Vaughan Williams  (1872- 1958)

 I Dreamed A Dream  by Claude-Michel Shönberg  (1944-      )

Blanca Martinez,  mezzo-soprano

Minuet in G Major  by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)   arr. by Ryan Tedder  

Morgenstemnin   by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)

I Dovregubbens Hall  by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)

Time (Inception Theme)  by Hans Zimmer  (1957-       )

Come Sail Away  by Dennis DeYoung & Tommy Shaw

Strobe          by Joel Zimmerman (1981-        )  arr. Morgan Schultz

Morgan Schultz, piano

Romances op. 4 no. 5 by  Sergei Rachmaninoff  (1873-1943)

Trumpet Concerto in Eb Major Hob.VII, e. 1  by Joseph Haydn  (1732-1809)

          1.  Allegro

            II. Andante 

The Maid of The Mist       by Herbert L. Clark (1867-1945) 

El Torero  by  Stanley F. Thomas

 Roman Mariano, trumpet

Etude op 10 no. 4 in C sharp minor  by Frédéric Chopin  (1810-1849)

Prelude and fugue no. 22 in B flat minor  by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

from The Well Tempered Clavier book 1

Piano Sonata op. 10 no. 3 in D major  by Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)

            1.  Presto

Ballade no. 4, op. 52  by Frédéric Chopin  (1810-1849)

Derrick Hahn, piano

Guest Alumni Blogger: Ruadhan Ward

Being a freshman music student has been quite the ride so far. The best word to describe it is unpredictable. The liberal arts college experience asks you to explore things in academia that you are passionate about, and that you think you might enjoy. You are asked to have an open mind and we don’t even decide what we major in until sophomore year. That’s what they tell us at least. I, on the other hand, walked into my freshman year thinking I knew what I was doing. I said that I wanted to be a vocal major, and now I’m walking out looking at majoring in ethnomusicology. On the way to realizing what it is that I’m passionate about, I’ve had some really cool musical experiences, that are really amazing for my first year of college.

Because I started out wanting to be a vocal major, I took vocal lessons my first semester, with the fabulous and wonderful Rufus Muller. This experience was by far one of the most musically enriching experiences at Bard. To start, Rufus is an accomplished musician. I just finished performing with him in St. John’s Passion, and I can’t praise him more. (Check him out here, performing an aria from Handel’s Messiah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4WaTEZ7sH4) He has taught me so much about singing. In the four months I studied with him, I tapped into my vocal ability in ways I never thought I would. I never thought I could develop the range I did. The most important thing that was different from high school was the effort. Rufus expected me to practice outside of class and to give 110 percent during the lesson.

After my first semester, I decided to stop my lessons with Rufus, because my passion wasn’t there. I had remained open minded and realized that what I thought I wanted to do, wasn’t what I wanted. Along with being my vocal professor, Rufus is also my advisor, someone who gives me advice on my academic choices, and he completely supported my choice to pursue other interests. That’s the cool thing about a place like Bard; I can change everything and it’s okay. You’re allowed to find your vision. I loved Indian classical music and realized that I missed exploring the actual music: the analysis, the concepts, the history.

With this realization I decided in my second semester to take an ethnomusicology class. Ethnomusicology is the study of world music. The class, entitled Between Music, Art, and Anthropology, is by far one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. The class is a 300 level class, something usually reserved for juniors and seniors. That’s another thing I’ve learned in college: to have cool experiences, you need to take chances and grab the bull by the horns. The class description sounded really awesome, so I emailed the professor, explained why I wanted to take the class, and got in. Basically, the class is an exploration of how we create music and how other cultures view music. We’ve made our own musical instruments, we’ve listened to lots of music, and read lots of really awesome articles.

On the flip side of this very conceptual class is my music theory class. If you want to be a music major in college, you will probably need to take this class. You might groan and complain about some of the required courses, but they are required for a reason. MUSIC THEORY CAN BE SUCH A PAIN. MUSIC THEORY IS SO NECESSARY. I have learned massive amounts in my theory class. I can look at a Bach chorale and do a full chordal analysis of it, and understand why it sounds as amazing as it does. The class also involves ear training, which is really intense and improves your musical skills tenfold. We sing intervals, dictate rhythm and melodies, and learn to conduct. The theory classes give you a deeper understanding of music and you come out of it a better musician.

Last, but not least, the question you’re all waiting for........what’s college choir like? Answer? AMAZING. I am very, very lucky to be at a school with such accomplished musicians doing lots of awesome music. I’m in the Bard College Chamber Singers, which is less of a chamber group and more of a group of elite singers. We’ve sung with the Collegiate Chorale and the American Symphony Chorus, which resides at Bard. Our director is James Bagwell, and he is an absolutely fantastic conductor. His understanding of music is so intense and he is just so dang personable and funny. My first week in the group was probably one of the most overwhelming experiences ever. We walked in, opened up our scores, and started sight singing. The pace at which we learn our music is furiously fast. Learning and performing is such a rewarding experience.

So far we’ve performed Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, Beeethoven’s Mass in C, and Bach’s St. John’s Passion. We’ll be starting work on Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 this week. The Mahler No. 8 was performed at Carnegie Hall, which was definitely as magical as it sounds. Here’s a picture of me on stage at this famous venue:

We just finished this weekend performing St John’s passion, and it was so glorious. We had two shows, singing for two and a half hours, a lot more than the choir concerts at Reagan! It’s really refreshing working with professional musicians, graduate students, and your peers on these massive works of music. The performances were quite moving, and there were sections of the piece where I almost broke down. We work so long on these complicated pieces and you gain a real understanding of the music and a connection with it. There’s nothing quite so gratifying as singing with a group of people who are all there to make really beautiful music at a professional level.

Amidst all of this, I keep hearkening back to what the IB taught me. Getting to Bard made me realize how actually helpful that whole process is. The IB makes you be proactive and set goals for yourself. It encourages you to be passionate about something. The way I look at the world now is because of the eye opening mentality of the IB program. I’m going to tell you a secret now that it’s the beginning of March and most of you are finishing up projects and preparing for the tests: getting the diploma doesn’t matter. What really, really matters is the process. The process of creation, the process of learning and exploring, even the process of testing. You’re going to come out of it with a truly unique outlook on the world that is valued once you get to college. Just being able to listen to other people’s opinions and value them, whether you agree or not, is a skill that some people years older than you are still developing. The program really does put you light years ahead of others. Treasure that.

So here’s my advice, and it’s going to be a different opinion from what some people might be telling you right now. You can take it or leave it. Do what you’re passionate about. Follow the path that’s going to make you happiest. Make your own opportunities. Now’s the time to explore and take a hold of a lot of things that are only offered to you now. If you’re interested in something, try it, go for it. Risk taking will pay off in a big way. All in all, don’t give up, and keep on creating.

If anyone has any questions they want to ask me, or want more advice, feel free to message me on fb, or email me at rwardmusic@yahoo.com

Ruadhan Ward
Bard College, NY
Reagan Alum, Class of 2012

Marquette Choral Festival

On Monday February 4th, the Reagan Treble Choir participated in the Marquette Choral Festival. Students had the opportunity to work with Milikin University professor Brad Holmes.

Second Annual Music Department Awards

The Music Department hosted the second annual Music Department Awards Ceremony.  Recognition and honors were given to exceptional musicians, graduates, and rising stars.   The ceremony was followed by the customary Band versus Choir Dodge Ball Tournament and Ice Cream Social.  CHOIR upheld their reign as Dodge Ball Champions defeating the BAND for a second year in a row.  Mr. Murphy is currently hand selecting teacher referees for next years battle.

 

Seen above are graduating senior music department students.  Class of 2011 you will be missed!

Chamber Choir

The Reagan High School Chamber Choir is an elite a cappella ensemble made up of junior and senior choir students at Reagan. This year the choir has had many unique opportunities such as:

• Performing at the WSMA District and State Solo-Ensemble Festivals
  
• Singing for various school events and assemblies
• Performing as "featured music" for the Superintendent Gregory Thorton and all of the Principals in MPS
• Singing on the Reagan Music "World Tour" around MPS along with the drumline and wind ensemble

Reagan Music Featured on 88.9 Radio Milwaukee

This past February, the Reagan High School Music Department was featured on 88.9 Radio Milwaukee as a part of the MAKE MILWAUKEE campaign, which seeks to highlight ways in which Milwaukee is a creative city! RadioMilwaukee producer Adam Carr spent a day with our students and interviewed them about unique musical opportunities going on at our school! Click to hear their stories:

THEY CONTROL YOUR MOOD

CLICK TO LISTEN:


http://www.radiomilwaukee.org/initiatives/make-milwaukee/make-milwaukee-they-control-your-mood

RADIO REAGAN

CLICK TO LISTEN:

http://www.radiomilwaukee.org/initiatives/make-milwaukee/make-milwaukee-radio-reagan-88nine

DRUMLINE

CLICK TO LISTEN:

http://www.radiomilwaukee.org/initiatives/make-milwaukee/make-milwaukee-drumline-reagan

CHOIR? BROWNIES?

CLICK TO LISTEN:

http://www.radiomilwaukee.org/initiatives/make-milwaukee/make-milwaukee-choral-brownie-bribery

EMMITT "Heaven's Favorite" WILLIAMS

CLICK TO LISTEN:

http://www.radiomilwaukee.org/initiatives/make-milwaukee/make-milwaukee-emmitt-heavens-favorite