Advanced Orch Corelli

In Advanced Orchestra we're playing the Corelli Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 8 and I wanted to suggest a really good recording that I found on iTunes: Nicholas McGegan and the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. You can get a recording of all the Concerti Numbers 7-12 for $5.99. My husband and I know and have played with most members of Philharmonia - they're based in Berkeley, CA (where our kids were born). Their interpretation of this music is great - very light, well articulated, and with good tempos.
:) ~Ms. Silberman

Newsletter 10/25/07

Orchestra Newsletter 10/25/07

1) Concert success!
2) Salem Chamber Orchestra concert THIS WEEKEND!
3) Special concert Monday night and Tuesday day time masterclass
4) Parent Meeting Nov. 6
5) Entertainment books - last weekend BIG PUSH!!!
6) Titan Auction November 17th
7) New music info up on the blog

1) Thank you to all students, parents, families and friends for attending the Fall Orchestra concert. Anyone interested in a very non-professional video tape of the concert is welcome to bring a CDR to Ms. Silberman who will burn them a copy. Huge thank you to the parents who helped out before, during, and after the concert - your help is so valuable and appreciated!!

2) Salem Chamber Orchestra is playing Saturday night and Sunday afternoon - a special concert 'side-by-side' with the Salem Youth Symphony strings. Information can be found at www.salemchamberorchestra.org - student tickets are $5, as always. Remember, students need to turn in 2 concert reviews per semester - and very few students, to date, have turned in a review. Students also receive extra credit points for attending SCO and Oregon Symphony concerts.

3) Another great concert-going opportunity: The Grace Goudy Distinguished Artists Series will
present the St. Lawrence String Quartet with clarinetist Todd Palmer on Monday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. in Hudson Hall at Willamette University. The quartet will present a master class for strings Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 11:30-2:30 p.m. The class is free and will be in Hudson Hall on the Willamette campus.

Any student in my String Ensemble or Symphony Strings class would be easily 'excused' from my class if they were to attend the free master class. Students could review this masterclass for review credit and apply for 'extra credit' upon showing proof of attending the masterclass. The Monday evening concert will be great - the Grosse Fuge is one of my favorite Beethoven string
quartets!!!

The quartet has inspired audiences across the globe with recent tours of North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Their recordings have garnered critical acclaim, drawing Grammy nominations and winning Canada's Juno Award and Germany's Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik.

Tickets for the concert are $20 for adults and $12 for students and seniors, and are available at the Pentacle Theatre Ticket Office in Salem at 145 Liberty Street NE, Suite 102. Tickets can be charged over the phone by calling (503) 485-4300, and are subject to a service charge. For information call the Willamette University Music Department at (503) 370-6255.

4) CALLING ALL PARENTS!!! Please come to the next Orchestra Boosters meeting in the Orchestra room on Tuesday, November 6th, 6:30 p.m. We will be discussing finances, fundraising, retreat organization, future concert dates, and more. E-mail Jenny Gates with other suggested agenda items. (gatesjenny@aol.com)

5) This is the last weekend for Entertainment book sales. Unsold books and payments for sold books need to be turned in by October 30th. Contact Linda Beardsley at 503-399-6443 or lindab4858@comcast.net with questions.

6) West Salem High School's annual Titan Auction is Saturday, November 17th. We have two tables reserved for any Orchestra parents/boosters who would like to sit together. A whole table qualifies us for 100% instead of 50% of the selling price of an Orchestra-donated auction item. If you would like to be at one of these tables, please do not buy your own tickets. You'll pay for tickets being held. Tickets are $30 each, regardless of where you sit, and are otherwise available from Susan Tolley (lstolley7@msn.com), at Today's Hair, or at the front desk at school. Do you have an appealing item or service to donate? Contact Jenny Gates at gatesjenny@aol.com or reply to this e-mail. The deadline for big-ticket oral auction items is November 2nd. The deadline for silent auction items is November 14th. Donation forms, more details, etc. are available - please ask. The theme for the evening is "007" and decorations
will be casino-oriented

7) Ms. Silberman posted new links to music for the holiday concert for students on the blog (www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com) - please navigate to the blog for information.

New Music Links for Holiday Concert

Hi!

Fantastic concert Tuesday evening! Thank you to all the parents, siblings, relatives, friends, adminstrators, and fellow teachers who supported the Titan Orchestras. The concert was so exciting for me. If anyone is interested in a video of the concert, let me know and I can burn you a copy.

Our next concert will be a winter holiday-themed concert. Here are some links for students to become familiar with new music:

ADVANCED ORCHESTRA
Corelli Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 8 - The Christmas Concerto
http://www.amazon.com/Corelli-12-Concerti-grossi-op/dp/B00001IVOM
(I suggest getting a copy or buying the mp3 download - but I'll have copies available soon)

ADVANCED SYMPHONY
Sleigh Ride
http://www.thanksmuch.com/christmas/sleigh-ride-mp3.html

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
http://65.23.157.59/mp3/47107.mp3

ALL ORCHESTRAS (?)
Christmas Sing Along
http://65.23.157.59/mp3/47037.mp3

There will be a few other pieces - including an exciting 8-bass rendition of 3 holiday carols. All students will be 'strolling' carols before the concert.

Enjoy,
~Ms. Silberman

Newsletter 10/18/07

Orchestra News - October 18th

1) Concert attire and call time
2) Parent conferences
3) Great concerts from SCO at the end of October

4) Titan Auction
5) Entertainment books and wreath/poinsettia sales
6) Orchestra Boosters meeting Tuesday, Nov. 6
7) Full Advanced Symphony to continue at 4:30 p.m.

1) Concert Tuesday October 23 is at 7pm - call time for all students (dressed with instruments tuned and ready to go) is 5:45pm. A few students seem to be unclear about the 'black socks or tights' policy - all young ladies are to wear opaque tights or socks and closed toed shoes with a heel strap or solid backed heel - all young men are to wear tux, cummerbund, tie, tux shirt, black socks and concert dress shoes - not sneakers!! Mr. Formal currently has a fantastic sale for students needing tux and shoe items. All students must have proper concert attire or they will not be allowed to play on concert night - please email Ms. Silberman directly (silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us) if there are *any* questions regarding attire. We look forward to seeing you at the concert!

2) Parent conferences for West Salem High School are Nov. 7 and 8 - if there are any concerns or questions that you know you'd like Ms. Silberman to address at your meeting time, feel free to touch base with her via email or phone before the meeting. Please use this conference time to discuss any issues regarding practice time, private lessons, and instruments or materials. If you are unable to meet with Ms. Silberman during the schedule conference times but you wish to meet with her, please contact her directly to make arrangements.

3) Saturday, October 27th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 28th at 3:00 p.m. in Hudson Hall at Willamette the Salem Chamber Orchestra is performing "side-by-side" with the Salem Youth Symphony string sections - this is a fantastic concert-going opportunity for both students and parents. Come support members of the Salem Keizer School District Music Faculty and West Salem Titan Orchestra members by attending one of the concerts. Student tickets are $5.00 at the door. Check the SCO website: www.salemchamberorchestra.org.

4) West Salem High School's annual Titan Auction is Saturday, November 17th. We have two tables reserved for any Orchestra parents/boosters who would like to sit together. A whole table qualifies us for 100% instead of 50% of the selling price of an Orchestra-donated auction item. If you would like to be at one of these tables, please do not buy your own tickets. You'll pay for tickets being held. Tickets are $30 each, regardless of where you sit, and are otherwise available from Susan Tolley (lstolley7@msn.com), at Today's Hair, or at the front desk at school. Do you have an appealing item or service to donate? Contact Jenny Gates at gatesjenny@aol.com or reply to this e-mail. The deadline for big-ticket oral auction items is November 2nd. The deadline for silent auction items is November 14th. Donation forms, more details, etc. are available - please ask. The theme for the evening is "007" and decorations will be casino-oriented.

5) Entertainment book sales are going well! Ms. Silberman will celebrate sales by inviting all students who sell at least one book to a special lunch treat - and the student who sells the most in each class will get a trip to the 'treasure chest'. Wreath and poinsettia sales are ongoing. The deadline for poinsettia orders/money is October 29th. The deadline for wreath orders/money is November 8th. Pick-up for all items is November 30th/December 1st. The profit to student accounts can't be figured until the sale is complete, but in years' past has been about $6-7.00 per poinsettia and about $9.00 per wreath.

6) Calling All Parents, Calling All Parents - please come to an open meeting of the Orchestra Booster club at 6:30pm (after Symphony rehearsal) on Tuesday evening Nov. 6. in the Orchestra room. Items on the agenda include retreat information for early spring, financial expenditures, and holiday concert reception possibilities. Please send any other agenda suggestions to Jenny Gates at gatesjenny@aol.com

7) Dr. Nail and Ms. Silberman are entertaining the possibility of continuing with Tuesday evening 4:30 - 6:30pm rehearsals once the full symphony comes together in November (after Marching Band is finished). If this is a huge inconvenience for any string members, please contact Ms. Silberman. An official announcement about the time will be made in the next week.

DID YOU KNOW video?

Hi,

At our West Salem High School all-teacher in-service we were presented with a very popular video going around the internet called, "Did You Know?". It's really impressive... please take the time to watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHWTLA8WecI

or
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/501738/did_you_know/

or
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=799aaa845e1c2e8a762b

Enjoy! ~Ms. Silberman

Newsletter Oct 11

Orchestra News - October 11th

1) Entertainment AND Wreath/Poinsettia sales
2) Student accounts
3) Grades
4) Oregon Symphony in Salem Tuesday Oct. 16
5) Orchestra concert Oct. 23 - attire reminder and CALL TIME
6) Metronomes, tuners, stands... oh my
7) Titan Auction - Saturday, November 19th

1) Entertainment book sales are going well - thank you to the Boosters and Linda Beardsley for helping with the sales. All unsold books and payments are due by October 30th. You are responsible for the books you check out. Students will earn $8 - 10 for each $20 book they sell, and often the books sell themselves! Amanda McCloud, in Per 5, turned in the first concert review, so Ms. Silberman bought an Entertainment book from her. The first person to turn in the next review will get a poinsettia purchase from Ms. Silberman. The Wreaths and Poinsettia sale has begun for students who chose to sell. Students received a very informative packet complete with a good instruction sheet. Wreath/poinsettia order forms and payments should be turned together just once, and checks won't be deposited until after the order deadline. (Customers may want to know their checks won't be cashed until early-mid November.)

2) When students sell books, wreaths/poinsettias, or work concession booths at games, the money earned goes into their individual student accounts. These accounts are active until graduation. We *WILL* go on a retreat this year in the spring which will cost something. Additionally, if students are accepted to All-State Orchestra, they can petition to use student account money to pay that fee. Next year, '08/09, some or all of the students may go on a 'big' trip - and again, they may use student account money.

3) Grades will be turned in to the administration no later than Monday Oct. 15. Since we've had no performance yet, the bulk of the grades this period will be determined by the few assignments we've had (Music Day or assignment/excuse, practice logs, playing tests, signature page turn in), Ms. Silberman's assessment of whether the student is working to improve their musicianship and skill, attitude and citizenship in class, and attendance (or excuse from) required sectionals.

4) Next week, on Tuesday, we have an opportunity to see the Oregon Symphony here in Salem (at Willamette University). This would be a *GREAT* concert to review. Students who show student ID get in for $5. Hope to see you there.

5) Did you know we have an orchestra concert on Tuesday, October 23 at 7pm?CALL TIME FOR STUDENTS FOR THE CONCERT IS 5:45pm sharp!!!!! If you have a legitimate (very legitimate!) excuse for being late, MAKE SURE THAT MS. SILBERMAN KNOWS so that you don't get dinged points.Students are to come completely dressed. If students have ANY QUESTIONS about what they need to wear, please direct those questions to Ms. Silberman or ask someone who's been here before. Students will not be allowed to perform if they do not have the correct attire. Flyers for the concert are available to students beginning next week.

6) If anyone still needs to purchase a metronome (well, students can use the online one), tuner, strings, bow, or stand, please touch base with Ms. Silberman. She's willing to purchase (through online merchants or Weathers) whatever you need... then you can reimburse her.

7) West Salem High School's annual Titan Auction is Saturday, November 17th. We have two tables reserved for any Orchestra parents/boosters who would like to sit together. A whole table qualifies us for 100% instead of 50% of the selling price of an Orchestra-donated auction item. If you would like to be at one of these tables, please do not buy your own tickets. You'll pay for tickets being held. Tickets are $30 each, regardless of where you sit, and are otherwise available from Susan Tolley (lstolley7@msn.com), at Today's Hair, or at the front desk at school. Do you have an appealing item or service to donate? Contact Jenny Gates at gatesjenny@aol.com or reply to this e-mail. The deadline for big-ticket oral auction items is November 2nd. The deadline for silent auction items is November 14th. Donation forms, more details, etc. are available - please ask. The theme for the evening is "007" and decorations will be casino-oriented. Thanks!

Great concert ticket offer...

$10 Friends and Family offer - for Oregon Symphony

Spanish Splendor with the Oregon Symphony
(These are the Portland dates...)

Saturday, October 13 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, October 14 at 7:30 pm
Monday, October 15 at 8:00 pm
(They come to Salem on the 16th... not sure if the discount still applies)

Carlos Kalmar, conductor
Patricia Risley, mezzo-soprano
Join us for an evening filled with mystery and surprise… love, passion and seduction. Featuring the cheerful, warm and lively music of Haydn, Berio and Falla.

Visit and enter the password SPANISH to receive your $10 tickets today.

Thank you!
Michael Kosmala
VP, Marketing & Community Engagement
Oregon Symphony

Orchestra news - 10/4/07

1) Register to have automatic blog alerts
2) Our first concert is Oct. 23
3) Student concert attire and attendance expectation
4) Practice logs
5) Concert review policy
6) Outreach
7) Upcoming local concerts
8) Entertainment books and wreath/poinsettia sale

1) On our blog, at the bottom, there's an option to sign up for post alerts. This way we don't have to send you an email from this address every time we post something at the website. http://www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com/ (just a reminder)

2) We will have flyers available soon for our Oct. 23 concert. Please think of inviting neighbors and friends who have younger children - being an audience member at a concert is something that actually takes some practice and training. A high school concert (especially one of ours with this great selection of music) is a great training ground to learn when you clap, when you don't, how to sit still, etc... The concert will feature works by Mouret, Bach, Holst, and contemporary composers Thom Sharp and Michael Maclean - and more. The concert will hopefully not run longer than an hour - so, bedtimes can be observed.

3) Please consult your green handbook (if you've lost yours or don't have a copy, I can send you a pdf if you'd like) for concert attire guidelines. Men (students) need to purchase a tuxedo shirt, black bowtie and cummerbund to go with their tux (and black socks and black dress shoes). Women need to wear opaque tights or hose and a closed toe dress shoe with a closed heel or heel strap (nothing like seeing a violinist trip as she enters stage...). No long dangling earrings or other ostentatious jewelry.

All students are expected to attend the concert. Their attendance, attitude, discipline, and preparedness will all count heavily in the grading process. Call time will be announced next week (I'm still figuring out what we will be needing) - additionally, any extra rehearsals that may be needed will be announce by an extra email or in this newsletter next week. Of course, if there are extenuating circumstances that come up, please stay in touch with me (Ms. Silberman).

4) All orchestra members (except Advanced Orchestra) are expected to keep a practice log. I do not expect parents to check these logs - students are required to keep them updated and turn them into me each Monday. All students at this point have either classroom music or additional 'practice' music packets that they can be working on. I can give students some individual
attention when requested.

5) This week, all students were given information about how to write a concert review, complete with a sample review that I wrote after attending last week's SCO concert. Over the course of the year students are to review 4 concerts - 2 per semester. Not all of these concerts need to be live symphony concerts. At least one may be a CD review, one may be a DVD review, and one may be of one of our or another school's concert - this is in an effort to make the concert reviews both relevant not too much of a time burden for students. (Of course, if students can attend live concerts with stringed instruments, it's the most relevant and inspiration situation for them).

6) I had an opportunity to visit Walker Middle School this week. This is part of what will be a year-long campaign to more closely align the West schools' orchestra programs. Eventually, students here at West will have an opportunity to mentor a student at one of the 5 schools that
feeds into West. It's my dream that all students are involved in this program. The mentor program will probably launch in the next month or two.

7) Here are some upcoming concerts that might be good to review:
This Friday, Oct. 5 - 7pm - Showcasing Salem Stars (including a string quartet backing a guitar) - Elsinore
Saturday, Oct. 6 - 7:30pm Leo Kottke - Elsinore (this is NOT a string concert, but Leo Kottke is an incredible musician and would be well worth a listen - I will accept a review of this concert)
Sunday, Oct. 14 - 3pm - Camerata Musica
Tuesday, Oct. 16 - 8pm - Oregon Symphony in Salem
Saturday, Oct. 27 - 7:30pm - Salem Chamber Orchestra (in partnership with Salem Youth Symphony)

8) For every $20 entertainment book sold, a student's individual account will be credited at least $8. Books can be checked out in class - see your class president. Checks should be written to WSHS Music Boosters. Checks, cash and/or unsold books are due back at the end of October. You are responsible for the books you check out. ALSO, you might want to be thinking about the wreath/poinsettia sale which will start mid-to-late October. If you had people you sold to last year, dust off the list and plan to talk with them again this year. This money also goes to your individual account and can be used until graduation. More information to come.

Happy Practicing (students)!
:) ~Ms. Silberman