Music

General Music, Band, Strings, and Chorus

Music

Band

Band is a weekly special that is included in our master calendar.  Students do not have to miss their other studies to be involved in band.  Any 5th or 6th grade student can sign up!  The choices you have are flute, oboe, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone, tuba or percussion.  If you stay on your same instrument from 5th grade to 6th grade, you are eligible to be in the Advanced Band!  You may also try a different instrument in 6th grade if you want to explore your other choices.  We perform two concerts every year - a winter concert in December and a spring concert in June.  All students get to perform at both concerts.  Other optional activities we do include our Jingle Bell stroll in December, an area band day/performance with the Falls Church High School Band, the District Ten Solo and Ensemble Festival and our marching band parade.  Sign ups begin in late spring and conclude around the third week of the school year.  Hope to see you playing an instrument in the Westlawn Band!

Moments from Band

On testing day, individual students perform a short piece of music while classmates listen.

On testing day, individual students perform a short piece of music while classmates listen.

At the beginning of the year, Mr. Erickson talks about band to all interested fifth and sixth grade students.

At the beginning of the year, Mr. Erickson talks about band to all interested fifth and sixth grade students.

Students practice in school once per week.

Students practice in school once per week.

As concert time draws near, Mr. Erickson arranges full band practice in the cafeteria.

As concert time draws near, Mr. Erickson arranges full band practice in the cafeteria.

Students who play the same instrument sit near each other during the concert.

Students who play the same instrument sit near each other during the concert.

On concert days, students wear blue Westlawn Music shirts to the daytime performances.

On concert days, students wear blue Westlawn Music shirts to the daytime performances.

The entire school turns out to hear band students perform.

The entire school turns out to hear band students perform.

Mr. Erickson highlights each type of instrument in the band and students display them in the hopes of catching the attention of younger students and getting them interested in band.

Mr. Erickson highlights each type of instrument in the band and students display them in the hopes of catching the attention of younger students and getting them interested in band.

Chorus

Students in fifth grade and sixth grade have the opportunity to join our chorus, which meets weekly. In order to qualify for chorus, students must demonstrate appropriate behavior, personal responsibility, and receive their teacher's approval to leave the classroom. Students in chorus learn vocal technique, how to take care of their voice, and how to perform for an audience. Students perform twice annually for Westlawn at the Winter and Spring concerts. Students also have the occasional opportunity to perform elsewhere, such as singing the National Anthem before a Falls Church High School football game or singing at the DC Cherry Blossom Festival. Exceptional choral students have the opportunity to join the 6th Grade All County Choral Festival.

Moments from Chorus

Students perform on stage in the Falls Church pyramid winter concert.

Students perform on stage in the Falls Church pyramid winter concert.

All fifth and sixth grade students are invited to join chorus. They rehearse at the end of the day.

All fifth and sixth grade students are invited to join chorus. They rehearse at the end of the day.

Students perform for the school in the winter concert.

Students perform for the school in the winter concert.

Younger students listen attentively. Maybe they'll join chorus in the future!

Younger students listen attentively. Maybe they'll join chorus in the future!

General Music

All Westlawn students take General Music as a special during each week. During General Music students have opportunities to learn how to read music, play instruments such as the xylophone and the recorder, participate in musical theater performances, sing songs from around the globe, and participate in rhythm activities.

Moments from General Music Classes

Fifth grade students learn to play the recorder. Even if students do not join band or strings, they still learn to read music and play an instrument.

Fifth grade students learn to play the recorder. Even if students do not join band or strings, they still learn to read music and play an instrument.

Students sit in pairs and practice keeping a rhythm using rhythm sticks.

Students sit in pairs and practice keeping a rhythm using rhythm sticks.

At the beginning of the year, students sit in a circle and pass around an object. Each child has the opportunity to sing their name when they hold the object.

At the beginning of the year, students sit in a circle and pass around an object. Each child has the opportunity to sing their name when they hold the object.

Ms. Pivetta listens while a student introduces himself by singing his name.

Ms. Pivetta listens while a student introduces himself by singing his name.

Physical movement is incorporated into music class to introduce students to concepts of musical theater.

Physical movement is incorporated into music class to introduce students to concepts of musical theater.

Assemblies with musicians can enhance students' general music knowledge. Here they learn about the history of percussion.

Assemblies with musicians can enhance students' general music knowledge. Here they learn about the history of percussion.

Mr. Hamilton plays the first grade welcome song while students sing along.

Mr. Hamilton plays the first grade welcome song while students sing along.

Although students cannot learn to play piano at Westlawn, those who enjoy playing are often invited to share their talents with the class, and play the music to accompany class songs.

Although students cannot learn to play piano at Westlawn, those who enjoy playing are often invited to share their talents with the class, and play the music to accompany class songs.

In sixth grade, students dive more deeply into their recorder lessons and learn how to play calls and responses in pairs.

In sixth grade, students dive more deeply into their recorder lessons and learn how to play calls and responses in pairs.

Students often play the xylophone and other simple instruments in music class. Here, a group of third grade students plays music while classmates act out "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.

Students often play the xylophone and other simple instruments in music class. Here, a group of third grade students plays music while classmates act out "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.

Third grade students act out "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. Taking different roles to create a production introduces students to the concepts of musical theater.

Third grade students act out "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. Taking different roles to create a production introduces students to the concepts of musical theater.

Students play dreidel after learning how to sing "The Dreidel Song" as part of a look into cultural music.

Students play dreidel after learning how to sing "The Dreidel Song" as part of a look into cultural music.

Kindergarteners don different hats to represent the different roles involved with a portion of "The Nutcracker." Each role came with different allowable movements that students used to maneuver through the room.

Kindergarteners don different hats to represent the different roles involved with a portion of "The Nutcracker." Each role came with different allowable movements that students used to maneuver through the room.

Strings

Strings is a weekly special available to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. The instrument choices are violin, viola, cello, and bass. We have two concerts each year and various other performance opportunities. This is a great group of students to be a part of!

Moments from Strings

Sometimes strings classes can be small and have only 2-3 students.

Sometimes strings classes can be small and have only 2-3 students.

Ms. Emery plays alongside a class of strings students.

Ms. Emery plays alongside a class of strings students.

Learning how to hold the instrument and the bow is very important to create good sound.

Learning how to hold the instrument and the bow is very important to create good sound.

Ms. Emery directs the students during the winter concert.

Ms. Emery directs the students during the winter concert.

Some students are invited to play in the Falls Church all-pyramid orchestra.

Some students are invited to play in the Falls Church all-pyramid orchestra.

Playing in the Falls Church all-pyramid orchestra is an honor.

Playing in the Falls Church all-pyramid orchestra is an honor.

Our Music Specialists

Mark Deal

Itinerant Music, Strings, Teacher

Hello! My name is Mark Deal and this will be my 28th Year in FCPS. I'm thrilled be at Westlawn this year helping out Ms. Emery in Strings. Over my 27 years in FCPS I have taught at all levels (ES, MS, HS) and at many schools. Besides teaching I also spend some of my evenings and weekends performing with various groups in the Metro DC area.

Paul Erickson

Itinerant Music, Band, Teacher

I have been the band director at Westlawn for many years! I even have former students who are working as teachers now. My passion is music and teaching band lets me share that with our students. Students can join band in 5th and 6th grade. I hope that I can give them a good foundation and a love of performing on a band instrument so that they will continue with band throughout their school life! Please contact me with any questions you have about band or how to sign up!