Contact Times

7:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Call the music office via the District Hotline - 609-625-6600  

x1013 - Mrs. Berchtold

x1078 - Mr. Seigel

Email:  berchtoldd@hamiltonschools.org

 Some programs listed below may be on a current holding pattern until we work through all of the new changes. 

Who I am................

I grew up in Vineland, NJ where I started piano lessons at the age of five.  Throughout my school years I furthered my musical life by studying the clarinet, bassoon, tenor sax, organ, flute, and voice.  I participated in as many high school music organizations as I could:  Concert Band, Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Stage Band, Orchestra, Select Choir, and Madrigal Choir.  By my senior year of high school I participated in South Jersey Wind Ensemble and South Jersey Orchestra as the principal pianist and celeste player.  I was also Student Musical Director of the Pit Orchestra for our senior musical, "Fiddler on the Roof".  The strength of the music department at Vineland High School gave me the foundation I needed to pursue a career as a music educator.

My goal as a music educator was to teach children the love for music that was taught to me.  I decided to develop my Musical Education Skills by attending West Chester University (then, West Chester State College) in West Chester, PA.   What a wonderful School of Music they had at WCU.    As a music education student one must be skilled in learning all of the band instruments, study piano / classroom music, Orff, Kodaly, and vocal music.  Besides all of the music performance groups, my most rewarding experiences were with the Concert Choir and the Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band!  (Four years of Marching Band at the College Level is so...........rewarding)  Traveling with these groups and the proper performance etiquette and discipline we learned has carried over into my teaching career.

I graduated from WCU as a Music Education Major with a double major ( Piano / Voice) in May, 1981 and started working at the J. Harold Duberson School in September of the same year.   My job description was to teach General Music for students in grades 6,7, and 8, plus Instrumental Music for students in grades 4 - 8.  At that time, the students in grades 4-6 were attending Shaner School.  There was no choral program so I established one.   In 1986, I received my Masters Degree in Music Education from WCU, then in 1990 a NJ Supervisory's Certificate  from Rowan University.

In 1988, our district expanded to include the Wm. Davies Middle School.  Mr. Andrew Seigel became my colleague at that time.  Mr. Seigel was also a Percussion/Voice double major, also from WCU.   

We opened that school year with dedication ceremonies of the new building.  It was such a privilege to have Mr. William Davies in attendance at the dedication.  He was such a supporter of music and he, himself used to perform in the old Minstrel Shows held at the J. Harold Duberson School when it was the old Mays Landing School.

Times have changed, our district continues to grow and those that enter our Music Department will find that we try to develop a "family atmosphere" in our programs.  Mr. Seigel and I co-direct the groups so the students have the opportunity to work with both of us.  We each have our different styles, yet they are compatible.  We try to give to our students whatever knowledge we can possibly deliver to them; they learn from us, and we learn from them.    We have a great feeder program at the Hess Educational Complex.  At the Shaner School, we have one of the best elementary music teachers around - our students have a fine musical education in the Hamilton Township School District.  Our "Music Team" is one big family and we will do our best to always give the children of this district the best musical education possible.

Our students have been participants in local and state festivals including:  South Jersey Jr. High School Band, South Jersey Jr. High School Chorus and South Jersey Elementary Choral Festival - 2000 Donna Marie Berchtold/conductor.  Former students have continued with their music at the high school level and have been accepted into South Jersey High School Chorus, All State Chorus, and All-Eastern Chorus.  Many students have pursued careers in Music Education / Performance and Musical Theatre.

2005 Music in the Parks Festival - Great Adventure -Jackson, NJ

First Place  - Excellent  - Show Choir            

Outstanding Female Soloist - Katie Lolla

First Place  - Excellent Concert Band

2004 - Music in the Parks Festival	2003 - Music in the Parks Festival
First Place - Good - Show Choir	Second Place - Excellent - Show Choir
Second Place - Excellent - Concert Band	Second Place - Excellent - Concert Band

Outside of school my activities include:  Wife of Howard Berchtold, Jr, and mother of  Lauren and Heather.  I am active as a Church Organist / Vocalist and St. Nicholas Church in Egg Harbor City where I direct the Adult and Select Choirs.  Our oldest daughter is a member of the Absegami H.S. Marching Band where I am active as a Band Parent and co-chair the Chaperone Committee.  I volunteer as a member of the South Egg Harbor Vol. Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary, as well as co-lead the Atlantic County 4H Clover Cloggers and co-direct the annual 4H Fair Talent Show with my husband.  In June, 2005 I became the Director of the newly re-organized Aurora Singing Society of Egg Harbor City ( a group reminiscent of the original German Singing Group of the City (1857-late 1930's).  My husband, oldest daughter and I also perform professionally with the Jubilate Deo Chorale and Orchestra based in Haddon Heights, NJ.  We have performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Sony Center, Camden.  Our 2nd recording / DVD/ video became available in December 2004; our new release, "The Spirit of Christmas was released in December, 2005. 

	(Left to Right) Lauren Marie Berchtold, Dr. Ron Matthews -Orchestra / Choir Director, Howard Berchtold, Jr., Donna Marie Franchetta Berchtold (photo-Heather Berchtold)

 Curriculum

(under construction due to new scheduling for the 2005-2006 school year)

Grades 6 and 8 General Music is taught by Mr. Andrew Seigel 

Grade 7 General Music is taught by Mrs. Donna Marie F. Berchtold

Subject - General Music - grade 7

The students will report every other day to the Music Classroom for one marking period.  This equals 21 days of instructional time in the General Music classroom.

Students should be prepared for class with:

a pencil

a pen

notebook   or notebook papers

Notebooks may be kept inside the folders.  Folders are kept in a special filing tub labeled for each General Music Class.

folder    - provided by Mrs. Berchtold

Folders contain all class worksheets, quiz and test papers, Rubrics Sheets, and Bonus Point Sheets.

Overview of Curriculum

In 7th grade music there are 5 different units of study.  Depending on the groups and class size we will accomplish 3- 5 of the units. 

    For the 2005-2006 School Year, the Related Arts classes have been limited to a cycle of  21 days each (every other day).  Therefore, this is restricting the curriculum that I am used to providing for the students.   As we go through this year, I will experiment with what units work best with the students and will then put various elements from each of the original five units into the 3 or 4 abbreviated ones.

   Preliminary Unit:  Focuses on Review of Lines and Spaces of the Treble clef, and minor instruction on the bass clef. 

Treble Clef:  EGBDF (Lines)    FACE (Spaces)

Rhythmic Reading in 3/4 Time:  a MINUET by Bach - learned on rhythm sticks and then performed on non-pitched percussion instruments.  Students have a performance test.  Class is divided into 3-4 small performance groups.  Each group performs a different part at the same time with the other groups - creating Polyphonic Music.  The students are accompanied by Mrs. Berchtold on the piano and then perform to a cd recording as Mrs. Berchtold monitors each group.

Rhythmic and Melodic Reading in 4/4 Time:  Pachelbel's Canon in D - learned and taught in the same way as the Bach Minuet.  One exception - each student now works with his/her individual Color Coded Xylophone or a set of Boomwhackers.  The students learn to correlate pitch notation with the colored keys of the bell sets. Using crayons - students will also color coordinate their bell sheets.   The music has three separate melodic parts 1,2,and 3.  The class will be divided into three groups - All students will learn and be tested on Parts 1 and 2.  Only the most advanced students will perform part 3.  The students are accompanied by Mrs. Berchtold on the piano and then perform to a cd recording as Mrs. Berchtold monitors each group.

Advanced General Music classes will also perform:  William Tell Overture (The Lone Ranger Theme) by Rossini. 

 Unit 1 - Music Theory Review / Study of Music during the Colonial Period and the Revolutionary War.  We analyze "Yankee Doodle", the unofficial National Anthem during this time period.  We perform the song through singing and the use of instruments.  We discuss the text of the song and decipher what it means.  The students and I share in much dialogue as I show them replica artifacts from the Colonial Period.  I share with them that they can acquire these from several historic sites like Philadelphia, PA; Williamsburg, VA; Mystic Seaport, Conn.; Gettysburg, PA., and Weymouth Furnace, NJ.  We discuss the local history of Mays Landing as it tied into the Revolutionary War Period, and I show them the musical instruments that would have been used on the battlefields and in the homes during the 1700's.   We also listen to recording of the Armonica - a glass instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin ( on display at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia)

    The students will also learn a "stomp and go" Sea Shanty from 1740, "The Drunken Sailor".   Students are required to learn the nautical vocabulary so they understand what they are singing about.  We will sing, and choreograph scenes for each verse of the song.  Other members of the class will learn the Instrumental Background accompaniment and will perform on the Orff instruments.   Students are tested in this unit through the usage of a Rubrics which includes their active participation as singers / instrumentalists / understanding the vocabulary and concepts / and theatrics.  Students must also create their own "Pirate Ship".  All parts (vocabulary words) must be labeled according to the Vocabulary list given with the song.

    Unit 2 - Romantic Era - Study of Romantic Music.  We analyze the music of the 1812 Overture by Peter Tchaikovsky.  Students draw interpretive pictures as they do "active listening" to the music.  A musical battle takes place as part of the "active listening" lesson. We touch base with American music and the Civil War period in America while understanding the Romantic music of the Russian Composer, Peter Tchaikovsky. 

    The students learn the musical form of the Nutcracker March.  They study differences in dynamics, and perform the Nutcracker March on Rhythm Band and Orff Instruments.  Students see a narrated filmstrip that explains the story line of the Nutcracker.  This helps them prepare their thoughts for when they see the ballet; where the story is presented through music only.  The students take home a recipe book which contains all of the foods and beverages that Clara, the main character, was introduced to while in the Kingdom of Suites.

    Unit 3 - Music Theory - Writing a scale and creating "Snow Man Chords" based upon the scale.  We start the unit with Elvis Presley and his music.  The students learn solfeggio, harmonic chord progressions and study primarily 4 chords - Tonic, Sub Dominant, Dominant, and sub-mediant.  We perform "Teddy Bear" and "Lucky" on  the rhythm band instruments along with keyboards and the drum-set.  Students are encouraged to sing at the microphone as the "vocal fronts" of the rock band.

    Unit 4 - Dance ( 2 weeks) - Circle and Line Dances are introduced and taught.  Students receive dance instruction sheets and are expected to maintain proper etiquette on the dance floor which includes respecting the personal space of other students, as well as proper clothing.  Examples of the some of the dances learned:  Alley Cat; Hokey Pokey; Bus Stop; Electric Slide ( Old, New, and Cha Cha); Limbo, Hands Up, "It's Raining Men"; Chicken Dance.  All dances are dances that involve social skills, hand, eye, and foot coordination.

    Unit 5 - (optional) - Musical Theatre.  Study the musical Oliver, the history of England during this time period.  Students learn about the Theatre; job created in theatre, and we deal with the basics of acting, singing, and stage performance.  Students get to dress up into the characters they are performing.   (Musical Theatre information is now taught as part of the unit with the Drunken Sailor)
 

Show Choir (grades 6,7, and 8) -   Show Choir rehearsals will be held on a rotating schedule during school and afterschool.   Grade 6 and 7 choir members meet on Tuesdays during the school day.   Grade 8 members meet on Thursdays during the school day.  Full Choir rehearsals are held afterschool. 

Check all School Calendars that come home.  Choir members will also receive information via email.    Parents may also contact the music department by calling the Main Office at 609-476-6241 and asking for extension 1013 or 1078.

With much appreciation to the Hamilton Township Education Fund, the music department received a grant in June 2003, to receive money to outfit this select performance ensemble with period style costumes, music, fifes, and a "civil war" drum.  The Minstrels consist of  a select group of instrumentalists who auditioned for membership.  In December 2002, the Minstrels performed at the Davies Holiday Concert, at a Hamilton Twp. Board of Education Meeting, and in front of Almost Heaven Gifts in Egg Harbor City.

In 2004, District Busing Problems caused a lack of rehearsal time and the group was not revived.

In 2005, new scheduling may interfere with the continuance of this group.  We hope we can revive this group again in the future

Holiday Concert 2005

photo credits:  Ms. Hockenbury, Mrs. Connelly, Mr. Pelligrino, Ms. Berchtold

Holiday Concert 2004

Holiday Concert 2000

Mrs. Berchtold, Bryan, Mr. Seigel

Mrs. Berchtold, Marina, Natacia, Bryan, Mr. Seigel

(Left to Right)

Alexa, Kristen, and Courtney

Piccolo, Snare Drum, Flute

(Left to Right)

Mr. Seigel, Ben, Mrs. Berchtold, Mr. Bass (Oakcrest H.S. )

(Left to Right) 

Lauren (Absegami H.S.); Ben ( Wm. Davies Sch.),

Fabian Hunter Brown, conductor; Liz (St. Nicholas Sch.)

2006 Elementary Chorus Festival Participants

Grade 6

Mr. Seigel, Annastassia, Alexis, Emily, Briana, Mrs. Berchtold

2006 South Jersey Jr. High Chorus Participant -

Grade 7

Mr. Seigel, J.V.,  Mrs. Berchtold

ROTATING LESSON GROUP SCHEDULE  -(5 WEEK VIEW -includes Performance Groups) -see below

ROTATING LESSON GROUP SCHEDULE - (groups by instrumental category) -see below

Performances  

Links

www.musictime.org