Bancroft School - Blue Moon Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

Page 95 text:

MUSIC HIS winter Classes VI, VII, and VIII have gone together on a long jour- ney to the Land of Music. First, we went to the country of Rhythmic Notation, where we clapped to various rhythms. We saw all the notes, rests, and time signatures in the Rhythmic Museum. Since Rhythmic Notation was near Pitch Notation, we went sight-seeing there and saw Intervals, the Major and Minor Scales, and just a corner of Harmony. Then we crossed the river of Sight Singing, While we were starting up Polyphony Hill, we sang rounds. We studied the folk songs of many countries, and also art songs. Then we went to the country of Instruments where we met many friends: Mr. String, the Wood Winds, Mr. Brass, and Mr. Percussion. Later, we climbed the mountains of Pure and Descriptive Music. In the zoo of Music Land we saw a cage headed Form , in which were small animals called Rondos, Theme, and her little Variations. Probably before we complete our journey we shall have ob- served three periods in musical history, the classical, romantic, and modern. During the whole journey we have kept our own journals. CARo1,1NE CHURCHMAN, Class VIII N Class V we have been singing many songs, some in two parts. We have also been studying about Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. While some of us read our compositions, those who did not write about the composers took notes.

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90 THE BLUE MOON SELF-GOVERNMENT ' IN THE Middle School this year, Miss Fisher has organized a Self-Govern- ment group which is, in a way, to prepare the girls for Self-Government in the Upper School, but most of all to help both boys and girls to develop more self control. There was a week of probation before Christmas, and the first group was appointed early in January. Boys and girls nominated for Self-Government may help the teacher in many ways, by taking responsibility iii the classrooms, during play periods, and at dismissal. Students not in this privileged group have many other chances to show if they are ready for Self-Government. In the gymnasium, if there is a Self-Government girl present, the others may use any piece of apparatus. In this way, Self-Government makes it possible for us to use the gym as we like. To obtain the privilege of Self-Government, one must be able to get along without any breaks Ci.e., acts which are not permissible or are against the rulesj, and one must also be responsible when necessary. Every two weeks the faculty considers the eligibility of candidates, and if they think we are living up to the requirements, we are placed on Self-Government, subject to removal at any time by the faculty. Self-Government is working out very successfully in the Middle School. It is making our ideals higher, and as we progress we shall reap the full bene- fit of this system. GERTRUDE WELLS, Class VIII L,-l-i,ii- RECORD OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SELF-GOVERNMENT QJanuary 5 to May 205 Class VII Class VIII Nancy Campbell weeks Walter Barnard weeks Ann Day weeks 'fCarol Churchman weeks Lyall Dean weeks Sally Coe weeks Frances Dresser weeks Dorothy Dean weeks 'Hariette Erskine weeks Henshaw Dewey weeks Elizabeth Forbes weeks lrving Chase weeks Barbara Heywood weeks Merle Higgins weeks Mary Lou Higgins weeks Xpriscilla Martin weeks Merrill Higgins weeks : Robert Messier weeks Helen Hunter weeks Alden Roys weeks Carroll Orr weeks June Spencer Weeks Janet Pierpont weeks Craig Stewart weeks Mary-Lee Sparrow weeks Thomas Stinson weeks Philip Thayer weeks :kC1ertrude Wells weeks Beulah Washburn weeks Ruth Windle weeks 'liThese Pupils Have Been in the Group Continuously.

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92 THE BLUE MOCN On March 21 we gave a program in Big Assembly. To open the program one of the pupils told about folk songs, and we all sang an old English folk song called The Keeper. The staff and clef signs, the time signatures, and the kinds of notes, rests, and scales were explained by other pupils. Then the childhood of Mozart and Beethoven were related. To conclude our program we sang The Anvil Chorus from the opera Il Trouatoreu by Verdi. We are preparing a program of patriotic music for chorus and toy orches- tra, in honor of George Washington's 200th Anniversary, which will be given in Little Assembly. PHYLLIS MASSEY, Class V Class IV has a toy orchestra. There are seven kinds of instruments in it: drums, cymbals, triangles, castenets, tambourines, bells, and Pan's pipes. One of us is the conductor who directs with a baton. I like to play the triangles. Some mornings we read from scores, and play. We write little pieces of our own. With Miss VJeeks' help we wrote a piece on the black board which she played for us. During the year we have also been learning to march and skip to different rhythms. ELIZABETH ALTON. Class IV FRENCH CLUB IN ORDER that the girls of Class VIII might become more familiar with French, a club has been organized in which French alone is spoken. Thus far we have been entertained at the homes of Mrs. Robinson, Carol Churchman, and June Spencer. At the first two meetings we played French games which were most interesting and instructive. During tea time the hostess made desperate attempts to converse with her guests in French. At the third meeting characters were chosen for a French play, which we hope to present soon after the Easter vacation. At the time of the BLUE MOON Fair we felt versatile enough to paint some Hower pots in which we planted parsley. We also painted several sets of cans for condiments, on which Mademoiselle put attractive designs. Our idea was a success, and we feel sure we helped the Fair a great deal. JUNE SPENCER, Class VIII CLASS VI THANKSGIVING PLAY ONAWANDA was written by Louisa M. Alcott. The story itself was not meant to be a play, but was successfully dramatized by Miss Ciroff and presented by Class VI for the Thanksgiving Assembly.