Thank you!

15 great years!

Thank you to the students, parents, teachers, and administrators of Franklin Township!  I've truly enjoyed my time here in FT schools.

I am taking  a new job next year that will put me 15 minutes from home, as opposed to 55 minutes.  This year has been a blast -- Gold Ratings for six Large Ensembles, Gold for East's first Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Gold Ratings from all three judges for all five choirs at Organizational Contest (one Gold with Distinction and one Gold in Group I).  And, the ISSMA All-Music Award!

The students at East are talented, intelligent, hard-working, funny and kind.  Thanks to all the students, parents, and staff at MS East.  I will miss you!

Love,
Mrs. Clifford

Music Vocabulary Test -- May 22nd and May 23rd

The 4th Nine Weeks Music Vocab Test will be May 22nd (Blue Day) and May 23rd (White Day).  The study guide for 6th and 7th graders can be found here.  

The study guide for 8th graders can be found here.  

Kings Island Specifics -- Saturday, May 12, 2018

Please click here for the full details about the Kings Island Trip.

Spring Concert (required event), Thursday, May 10th -- Info has gone home!

Please click here for the full details about the 6:00 PM concert.  (7th Grade Girls Choir and 6th Grade Mixed Choir)

Please click here for the full details about the 7:30 PM concert. (7th Grade Mixed Choir, 8th Grade Girls Choir, 8th Grade Mixed Choir)


Thank you!

7th and 8th Grade ISSMA Organizational Contest, Saturday March 10th

ISSMA Organizational Contest will be held at Southport Middle School on Saturday, March 10th.  Full details and schedules can be found here. 

6th Grade IMEA Festival, Friday, March 2nd

The IMEA Festival is Friday, March 2nd at the Basile Opera Center.  Full details can be found here.

Pre-Contest Clinic -- 7th Grade

The 7th Grade Mixed Choir and the 7th Grade Girls Choir will have their Pre-Contest Clinic after school on Thursday, February 22nd.  The full details can be found here.

Pre-Contest Clinic -- 8th Grade

The 8th Grade Mixed Choir and the 8th Grade Girls Choir will have their Pre-Contest Clinic after school on Friday, February 23rd.  The full details can be found here. 

6th and 7th Grade -- Music Vocabulary Test

6th and 7th Grade Choir students will have their Music Vocabulary Test on Monday, 2/19 or Tuesday, 2/20.  The study guide can be found here.

8th Grade -- Key Signatures Test

8th Grade Choir students will have the Key Signatures Test on Wednesday, 2/21 (Blue Day) or Thursday, 2/22 (White Day).  The study guide can be found here.

ISSMA Solo & Ensemble Contest -- Saturday, February 3rd @ Doe Creek Middle School

Some FTMS East choir students were selected for the Class Ensemble for ISSMA Solo & Ensemble Contest.  We now have the schedule for that event, and all the details can be found here.

Auditions for Franklin Central HS Choirs -- January 29th and January 31st

Auditions for the Franklin Central Intermediate and Advanced Concert  Choirs and Show Choirs are coming up soon!

Mr. Gardner, Mr. Knaup and Mr. Yoder will visit 8th grade choir classes during the week of January 22nd, and they will hear all current 8th grade choir students sing an eight measure excerpt from the song Somewhere.  We have already started learning this short piece in class.  Click here for the lower key and here for the higher key. This will also serve as our Summative Singing Test for the 3rd nine weeks.  ALL current 8th grade choir students will participate in the process just described.

Students are not required to have choir as an elective on their freshman schedule; however, singing in any of the nine FC choirs places a student as part of a state champion-level choral program, not to mention countless other benefits!  Our high school choirs have EIGHT state championships in concert choir and show choir over the past eight years.

Please click here for a list of the FC concert choirs and show choirs, and a short explanation about each one. (Recent update!  In 2018-2019, there will be 11 FC concert choirs and show choirs available.  See "Show Choir Audition Form" below for a little more information.)

Please click here for examples of scheduling options that allow a student to take a choir class AND all their required classes, AP classes, additional electives, etc.  You can be smart and be in choir.  You can do sports and be in choir.  It's all very doable!



If a student is only interested in a concert choir, then no further audition is needed.

If a student is interested in a show choir, he/she must attend one of the choreography audition days on Monday, 1/29 OR Wednesday, 1/31.  Students only need to do the choreography audition one day, NOT both days.

You can find the Show Choir Audition Form here AND the Show Choir Permission Form here and in the choir classroom.  Students should bring the signed show choir permission form with them to the choreography audition.  The sign-ups sheets for audition times are/will be posted in the choir room. Students are allowed to sign up in groups of their choosing (four or five per group).

If auditioning for a show choir, students will need to be at the high school by 3:15 the day of the audition, so that they can learn the choreography (usually about 48 counts long).  After all auditioners learn it, they disperse into the hallways and other rooms to practice with the help of the high school dance captains.  Then, each group comes in to do their audition at the time they signed up for.   The whole group dances together, with the help of the high school dance captains.  Then, they're done!


The middle school choir teachers are present at the audition for moral support and to help with questions/concerns.

Results are usually posted on www.fcsingers.org during Spring Break.

Note Name Test

The Note Name Test (2nd Nine Weeks Summative Assessment) will be Thursday, 12/14 (White Day) and Friday, 12/15 (Blue Day).  The study guide can be found here.

6th Graders will not be tested on the ledger line notes -- just the treble clef and bass clef notes that fit in the five lines/four spaces of the staff.

The following links will take you to online games that help you practice note names.



Whack-a-Note
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/interactives/steprightup/whackanote/  



Treble Clef Note Names
http://musicteachersgames.com/TREBLECLEFONE


Treble Clef and Bass Clef Basketball Quiz
http://www.musictechteacher.com/music_quizzes/cg_quiz_hoopshoot_lines_spaces.htm  


Treble Clef Ledger Lines (Some are tougher than what will be on your test.)
http://www.musictechteacher.com/music_quizzes/aq_treble_clef_ledger_lines/quiz.html  


Bass Clef Ledger Lines  (Some are tougher than what will be on your test.)
http://www.musictechteacher.com/music_quizzes/aq_bass_clef_ledger_lines/quiz.html  

Winter Concert -- Wednesday, November 29th

The Winter Concert is on Wednesday, November 29th.  Full details for the 6 PM Concert (6th Grade Mixed Choir & 7th Grade Girls Choir) can be found here.  Full details for the 730 PM Concert (7th Grade Mixed Choir, 8th Grade Girls Choir, 8th Grade Mixed Choir) can be found here. 

If students need help with getting the right clothes or getting a ride for the concert, they should talk to Mrs. Clifford or Mrs. Knapp as soon as possible.  Thank you!

Solo and Ensemble Information

Solo & Ensemble Contest (a voluntary activity)
Results for our Select Class Ensembles will be posted Friday, 11/3 and Monday, 11/6.  If your student is asked to be in the ensemble, they will receive the green Solo & Ensemble Contest Registration Form that has the full details.  Also, subsequently, each parent/guardian of those selected will receive an e-mail letting them know their student was asked to be in the ensemble.   More Solo & Ensemble Information can be found here

FTMS East Choir Spirit Wear

FTMS East Choir Spirit Wear is now on sale through November 8th.  Click here for the order form.  Thanks for your support!

"Just the Guys" Concert Thursday, October 5th

All the information for this concert can be found here.  There are no East athletic conflicts the afternoon/evening of October 5th.  Please let us know if you need assistance with getting black dress pants, black dress shoes and socks.  Thanks!

Rhythm Test 9/21 (Blue) and 9/22 (White)

The Rhythm Test is coming up on 9/21 (Blue Day) and 9/22 (White Day).  The full study guide can be found here.  This is the Common Assessment for the 1st Nine Weeks, and it will go in the 65% Summative Category.  Please let us know if we can do anything else to help your student prepare.   Thanks!

Circle the State with Song and Honor Choir Auditions

"Circle the State with Song" and Honor Choir auditions are coming up later this week. Auditions can be done in class, starting 8/30 and 8/31.  We will continue auditions through 9/6.

What is it? An opportunity to join with a select group of  talented and motivated singers in “Area 6” for rehearsals with a special conductor and a performance at 3:00 pm that afternoon.  Each February/March, nearly 5,000 Indiana students participate in Circle the State with Song.

All the information can be found here. We have many talented students in all grade levels!  If your student shows an interested in this wonderful activity, please encourage him/her.

1st Nine Weeks Summative Singing Test 8/28 (White) and 8/29 (Blue)

The 1st Nine Weeks Summative Singing Test will take place Monday, 8/28 (White Day) and Tuesday, 8/29 (Blue Day).  Students will sing a portion of one of the songs we've been working on in class. They will sing in groups of four (chosen by the teacher).  Please click here to see the rubric for the Summative Singing Test.  Only the Group Summative Singing Test rubric applies.  The Individual Summative Singing Test rubric would only be used if a student does not sing out in their group.