Mrs. Amanda Hamilton is the vocal music director for grades 5-8 in the Verona School district. At H.B.W., she teaches the general music cycles for grades 5, 6, 7 and 8, chorus for grade 5/6 and 7/8, and teaches a theater arts class for 7th grade. The wonderful experiences she had in high school band and chorus convinced Mrs. Hamilton to become a music teacher. She graduated from William Paterson College with a B.M. (bachelor of music) with a specialization in vocal performance and has earned credits towards her masters degree in music education.  As a teacher of different age groups, both in school and teaching private lessons, she has learned to be flexible and understanding of the aptitudes of a large group.




Supplies needed for Mrs. Hamilton's classes

All classes:  Chromebook, folder and a pencil with eraser.

Chorus Classes: A folder or binder, a highlighter, and a pencil with an eraser. 

The eighth grade students review music theory topics that include: notes of the treble and bass clef, note values,and rest values. The students practice music using guitars and some percussion instruments.  They perform in guitar ensembles and modern rock ideas using single notes and learn a few chords to accompany their own singing.  The students also study the major time periods of music history and compose and arrange their own pieces using music software.

7th Grade- Theater Arts

The seventh grade students focus on basic theater skills such as improvisation, monologues, scenes, puppets, and stage directions. They learn about stage presence, using their voices, and about how to improve their acting skills. 

5th/6th grade- General Music

The music cycle is predominantly a performance based class which includes review/learning notes on the treble staff and bass staff, basic rhythms, and other musical signs and symbols.  The students complete music theory worksheets, learn about some music history, create a presentation about a music history topic, and demonstrate their knowledge of musical concepts on keyboards and/or guitars.  They may also use a program called Mixcraft where the students can create and compose their own musical pieces using music loops and recordings of their own making.

ACOUSTICS-6th/7th/8th Grade Chorus- Mondays and Thursdays

HB VOICES-5th Grade Chorus - Tuesdays and Fridays

 We have two choruses for students interested in singing, performing in an ensemble, and learning more about their voices. Classes meet two times a week unless otherwise notified. Students should bring their music folder, pencil, and highlighter to class each time and meet in room 115, ready for class to begin at 7:45.  They should arrive at the front of the school building around 7:35.