My name is Barbara Brandon.  I especially enjoy being a music teacher because I can help enrich a child's life through the study of music and music appreciation.Praising God through the form of music is a prayer that expresses our feelings and love for God.  Music is my passion and I wish to share this gift with others.  Being with children warms my heart.  They reward me with much happiness and joy in their accomplishments.Currently in my 25th year at Notre Dame School teaching general music and director of all musical programs.  I am also the music co-ordinator, organist, and pianist-accompanist at Notre Dame Church.  I am a Michigan City native attending St. Stanislaus grade school, and graduated from Elston High School.  I then continued my musical studies with Henry Strugalski and Mildred Fitzpatrick (Chicago's best known theatre organist and director of faculty at the Sherwood School of Music.)  I am the mother of two adult children. Michael Brandon, (deceased), and Susan Keyfauver, Huntington Beach, California.  My five grandchildren are: Adam, Lindsay, and Lauren Brandon; David and Bradley Yuhas.

WELCOME TO  A  NEW SCHOOL YEAR  2010-2011

Curriculum:

 Pre-school:  A "Fun"collection of movement and activity, echo songs,nursery rhymes and simple church songs.

Kindergarten:  A mix of favorite children's classics and songs of movement and activity, echo songs and simple church songs. Introduction to rhythm instruments, note values and rests.

Grade 1:  Introduction to note and rest values, rhythm instruments clapping rhythms,children's  favorite classic songs and simple church songs. 

Grade 2: Being aware of noise vs. music, high and low pitches, fast and slow, theory,study of instruments, seasonal songs, and special songs for Reconciliation and First Communion..

Grade 3:  Identifying pitches that step, skip or leap. Elementary theory, partner songs,singing children's classic songs and church songs.            .

 Grade 4:  Introduction to most music symbols, American composers, folk music, partner-songs, learning to cantor at Mass, beginning note reading skills, playing "Chimettes".

Grade 5:  Continuation of the study of musical notations, multi=cultural folk songs, American composers.

Grade 6:  Study of operetta vs. opera, featuring Mozart's "Magic Flute".  Multi-cultural folk songs and American composers, tones, pauses, rhythm.

Grades 7 & 8:  Voice Quality, Discovering your voice, 2 & 3 part-harmony, phrasing ,breath control.  History of Music.

GLEE CLUB

Vocal warm-ups, good singing posture, director's signals, voice and breath control, dynamics, 2-part harmony, religious and secular music.