Newsletter end of May

Orchestra News - May 29, 2008
1) Concert Monday, June 2 - detailed information
2) Turn in dresses/tuxes after the concert, June 3 or 4
3) Review options - reviews are due next week
4) Boot camp reminder - week of August 18
5) Reminder about end of the year options
6) Finals
7) DVD money due for CCTV by Monday or Tuesday

1) The Titan Orchestra's last performance is this Monday, June 2 at 7 p.m. Students are to arrive at 6:15pm. DOORS TO THE AUDITORIUM WILL NOT OPEN UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 6:50 TO ALLOW FOR SET UP. Elderly audience members or those who need special accommodations may enter earlier. All groups will perform - Advanced Symphony, String Ensemble, Orchestra, Symphony Strings, and Advanced Students. After each group plays there will be a few awards given to students. All students are expected tostay through the entire concert for special awards to be presented at the end.

Students are to wear their concert dress

2) All students must turn in their dresses and tuxes. They may do so on Monday night after the concert (bring a change of clothes) or at their next class on Tuesday or Wednesday. This year is a 'dry cleaning year' - the school will dry clean the outfits and hand them back out at Boot Camp next August.

3) For students who still need ideas for concert reviews:

-Choose a full length classical CD to review - if you need to borrow one, come see Ms. Silberman
-Find an online recording or video of a concert that is at least 45 minutes long. Searching on google for something like: live classical concert video
-Come borrow a DVD from Ms. Silberman - you'll have a few days to borrow the video
-Review all the other groups at the Monday June 2 concert

For any other ideas, come see Ms. Silberman.

All students must turn in 2 reviews - one of which needs to be of a live performance - by Friday June 6.

4) Boot Camp is for all students!!!! The dates are August 18 - 21. Monday August 18 is only for incoming 9th graders - the other 3 days are for all current Titan Orchestra students. We will dust off the ol' instrument, work on tone and technique, sight read some music, play some rock/jazz/fiddle/folk, hear guest artists, and start the bonding process off for a great '08/09 year. Dresses and Tuxes will be handed out this week and auditions for placement in Advanced Symphony begin at Boot Camp (in the afternoon for the first hour after camp's over). Please make arrangements to attend this inexpensive musical event! Only $25 per student. More details in the next couple of newsletters.

5) All students in Advanced Orchestra, Symphony Strings and Advanced Symphony have played their instruments enough this year that it's time to change strings and get bows rehaired (or purchase an upgraded bow). For students moving up to a new orchestra, it's a great time to assess the level of instrument, bow and case the student is using. All the local music shops and online retailers have graduation specials. Here are a few places to consider (instrument shops that have the name "Violins" in them also serve the viola, cello, and bass players too):

Local
Weathers Music: www.weathermusic.com
Strobel Violin Shop: www.henrystrobel.com
David Kerr: www.kerrviolins.com

Online
Shar Music: www.sharmusic.com
Southwest Strings: www.swstrings.com
Thomas Metzler Violin: www.metzlerviolins.com
Baroque ViolinS hop: www.baroqueviolinshop.com
Potters: www.pottersviolins.com
Robertson Violins: www.robertsonviolins.com

For recommendations of price point, accessories, or any other information, please feel free to contact Ms. Silberman (silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us)

6) Finals are upon us. Here are the final projects for the classes, for parents to know a bit about how the year will wrap up:

Per ½ - Students are completing a composer project - each student is researching a classical composer, putting information about him or her on a poster board, and creating a one sheet page of interactiveinformation like a word find or crossword puzzle. This project is due on Friday June 6. On Monday June 9 students will have a final based on all the posted posters and activity sheets. On Tuesday June 10 all violinswill learn to play a bass or cellos, and all lower strings will play violin or viola.Per 5 - Students will create a Jeopardy game on Thursday June 5 and will play the game in teams for their final on June 9. Their grade will be assessed by their level of participation, collaboration, and contribution.

Per 6 - Students will create a Jeopardy game on Friday June 6 and will play the game in teams for their final on June 10. Their grade will be assessed by their level of participation, collaboration, and contribution.

Per 7 - Students will sightread on Thursday June 5 and will teach each other how to play their instrument (upper strings on lower strings, lower strings on upper strings) and will sightread a piece all together on their new instrument on Wednesday June 11.

7) DVDs of all the West State groups - choir, wind ensemble, advanced orchestra and symphony - are available for $25. You can pay with a check made out to WSHS Music Boosters (student name in memo line) or cash in an envelope (student name on the outside.) Put either in the Orchestra Room lock box by Tuesday, June 3rd. We'll try to remind you at the concert, too.

Parents, thanks for all you do supporting this music program and the students who have worked so hard this year - we look forward to seeing you at the concert Monday!
~Ms. Silberman (silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us)