WHEELS Music: June 2020

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

WHEELS 5th graders collaborated with acclaimed composer and violinist Jessie Montgomery, through our partnership with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Over the past two months our 5th graders, Ms. Montgomery and Mr. Johnson used Soundtrap, Google Meet and Zoom to compose and record the music featured here: https://padlet.com/gjohnson139/r786z3u4jnancnm7

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Check out our 10th Annual (Virtual) Spring Concert!

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Mr. Johnson is a quarterfinalist for the 2021 Grammy Music Educator Award! https://www.grammy.com/press-releases/216-quarterfinalists-announced-2021-music-educator-award%E2%84%A2-presented-recording-academy

¡La clave es la llave!

Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS) opened in 2006 with a small music program that has grown to include over 450 Pre-K through 12th grade students in band and general music classes. Our program evolved through collaboration between students and teachers with interests in Latin and jazz music. Latin and jazz music are ideal starting points for our studies because of our school’s location in New York City, which has been central in the development of Latin and jazz music in the US. In the spirit of the cooperative sensibility found in the way Latin and jazz musicians play, students coach each other and engage in collaborative projects. A key element of music we play is improvisation, which requires lifting one’s own voice and negotiating with the voices of others.

Check back often for updates!

Graham Johnson, Music Teacher

g.johnson@wheelsnyc.org

Casey MacFarlane, Music Teacher

c.macfarlane@wheelsnyc.org