Newsletter #3

Sent 9/24/09

Hi all - contained in this email:

1) Fair Use Fee due
2) "Blue Sheet" - Treat and Travel Permission slips due
3) $5.50 due for some students
4) This might be the last newsletter from this email account
5) Notes from Parent Meeting
6) Have you checked out the website???
7) All State recording next week

1) As explained at the parent meeting, there is a Fair Use Fee that is being assessed for all students in the performing arts at West (including band and choir). The orchestra fee will be used for big ticket items that we don't otherwise fundraise for - this year we're hoping to buy a harpsichord for the orchestra room - to be used with all groups when playing music of the Baroque era (like Vivaldi, Corelli, and Bach). The fees are as follows:

String Orchestra students $20
Sinfonietta students $30
Chamber Orchestra students $40

Checks can be made out to WSHS Music Boosters and students can put checks into the beige envelopes above the 'grey box' in the orchestra room - ask Ms. S for help. Those who receive free or reduced lunch and other who have financial hardship may contact Ms. S to waiver-out (as long as students participate in other fundraisers and/or parents/students volunteer time).

2) Blue Sheets were handed out at the Parent Meeting and to students in class - this is the 'Treat and Travel' permission form that needs to be on file in the orchestra office. Please note that this is a 2 sided or 2 page document and both sides need to be filled out. If you need another copy, students may either request one in class or you can go to our website: www.titanorchestras.com, to the student page, and to the downloadable forms - print and fill out the document. This form is due next week!!!

3) Students who have received Essential Elements (intermediate or advanced) owe Ms. S $5.50 for the book - please bring cash or a check (made out to Daryl Silberman) to class. Students know if they owe or not (if there is any question, please touch base).

4) Thanks to long hours put in by Karen and Steve Tatman, we will have a new email list delivery system - you should have received a test email yesterday. Please click on the "update your profile" link on that email so that we have all the correct information about you. If for some reason you stop receiving emails, please check your spam filter so that you can continue to receive these weekly emails.

5) Notes from Parent Meeting are up on the blog and on the parent page on our website. Here are links:

http://titanorchestras.blogspot.com/2009/09/parent-meeting-notes.html

www.titanorchestras.com - click on the Parents page

6) Please bookmark our groovy cool new website - titanorchestras.com. It has a lot of information there - including the new '09-10 handbook. Remember that students may use the computer in the orchestra room if they need web access. This website is intended to be the go-to place for information for our program. Please let Ms. S. know if something doesn't look right or if you have suggestions for items you'd like to see on the website. Huge thanks to the Tatmans for all their time getting this website up and running!!!

7) All State auditioners - let's record your material this next week so we have plenty of time to re-record if need be. The recording equipment is ready to go as of Friday afternoon. Good Luck!

**Student - remember - practice logs/journals are due on Mondays: String Orchestra - 60 mins per week, Sinfonietta - 100 mins per week - Chamber Orchestra - 180 mins per week. Keep a log on binder paper - note what day you practice, what you practiced and how you did, and how long you practiced. This is for you to be able to track your progress and to notate your successes!

SAVE THE DATE - Fall Concert October 27, 7pm
~Ms. S
C: 818-317-8218
silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us

Willamette University Music Department - scholarships available!

Willamette University just sent their music department poster to me - it'll be up outside the orchestra room (between choir and orchestra) on the board. They say they give away $300,000 (!) annually for scholarships to music majors and non-majors (that last part is important!).

Here are the list of majors they offer:
Bachelor of Arts in Music
Bachelor of Music in Composition
Bachelor of Music (Music Education)
Bachelor of Music in Performance
Minor in Music
Minor in Arts and Technology

Audition dates for scholarships are Nov. 7, Jan 23 (2010) and Feb 15

For more information: www.willamette.edu/cla/music or call 503-370-6687

Parent Meeting notes

Notes from the Parent Meeting:

1) Chamber Orchestra members performed the National Anthem
2) Email is the main form of communication, but anytime someone would like to meet in person, please contact Daryl. A paper copy of each Newsletter will be posted in the orchestra room for students who don't check email regularly.
3) FAIR USE FEE - this new fee will be asked of each student in the Titan Orchestra program in the following amounts (check made payable to WSHS Music Boosters):
String Orchestra - $20
Sinfonietta - $30
Chamber Orchestra - $40
This fee will be collected and saved for big purchases - bow replacement, harpsichord, new performance outfits. Fee is due by the end of October - special arrangements can be made for those who are financially unable to contribute.
4) Website has been updated - please bookmark this page and refer to it often for concert dates, assignments, downloadable forms, and more:
www.titanorchestras.com
5) This year, the handbook can be viewed or printed out from the website. Any parent or student who requests a printed copy may receive one.
6) All students are required to complete one live concert review each semester - Daryl would prefer this to be from a classical symphonic organization, but it can be any concert involving stringed instruments.
7) Chamber Orchestra has new requirements this year - see the Student section of the website for more information. If any parents have questions about the commitment requirements, please contact Daryl directly.
8) Grading Policy - all students walk in the door with the right to earn an "A" grade. The following can cause a lowering of the A grade: not completing assignments and/or concert reviews, habitual missing of sectionals or rehearsals, poor attitude or work ethic in class, evidence of no practice. Students will be versed on this policy - parents are welcome to touch base with Daryl for clarification.
9) Sectionals are considered mandatory - please see the website for sectional times. Students who miss must make up the time by practicing extra.
10) Trips this year - Chamber Orchestra is going to the coast in October, Sinfonietta and String Orchestra may go to Portland in December.
11) Salem-Keizer Invitational Band and Orchestra Festival is here at West again - April 16 and 17, 2010. Orchestra students and parents 'run' the band day - Friday the 16th - any and all parent volunteers are welcome! Students will be 'required' to help that day.
12) Summer Strings will be at Leslie this summer - West students will help run this camp. Boot Camp dates will be announced in January or at the latest February - please make arrangements to have your student in town for Boot Camp.
13) Parent Booster Meetings will occur monthly on the 2nd Tuesday of the Month - all parents are invited to attend these important meetings. Contact Kelly Culver at kculver@comcast.net if you are available to volunteer for any of our important parent-run volunteer positions.

Thanks to all who attended. To those who didn't attend, your child will bring home the "Permission to treat" form or you can download it from our webpage - this completed form must be returned to Ms. Silberman by October 1.

Live webcast of LA Phil concert... this is a good one!

Check out this link to info about a live webcast of a concert on October 3...

Hollywood Bowl LA Philharmonic Concert Webcast

I'll give a coupon for the 'treasure box' to the first 3 students who bring me proof that they saw this webcast... :) (~Ms. S)

Newsletter #2

(Email sent 9/18/09):

1) Parent meeting 7pm Monday Sept. 21, West auditorium - (at least 1 parent per student)
2) SCO this weekend - ticket offer
3) Sectional schedule and practice
4) Website will roll out this next week
5) Requirements for class = Binder and Music book
6) Appeal for extra violins...

1) Parents - please plan on attending the meeting on this next Monday - Sept. 21 7pm. It is here that I will discuss orchestra requirements, go over the concert schedule, make announcements of school policy changes, and our parent organization president will outline parent volunteer opportunites. PLEASE SEND A PARENT/ADULT REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH STUDENT/FAMILY - there will be forms to fill out and information shared about upcoming events. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND, meeting notes will be up on the blog the next day and any forms handed out can be downloaded off the website or handed out in class. The meeting will adjourn by 8pm.

**ALL AVAILABLE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA MEMBERS - please plan on meeting in the orchestra room at 6:45pm to tune up and warm up - you start the meeting by performing... details in class on Monday.

After the parent meeting (ending at 8pm) there will be a College Night information session - one of our counselors will be available and I will outline musical opportunities (scholarships, degree offerings, scope of music schools in the country) for all interested. Seniors and Juniors, you are encouraged to attend this part of the meeting - we need to get going on recommendations and letters to prospective music departments/professors.

2) The Salem Chamber Orchestra performs this weekend - a separate email was sent earlier this week. If you need comp tickets, please contact me by 5pm today and I should be able to get them for you - otherwise, I hope to see you there (at the Elsinore on Saturday evening or the Oregon Gardens Sunday afternoon).

More info: www.salemchamberorchestra.org - student tickets are $5 at the door

3) The sectional schedule is posted on the blog: www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com - these are considered mandatory - if students contract out because of work or sports, they are still required to cover the material.

Here are the expectations of practice at home for an "A" student in orchestra (practice is described as quality time with one's instrument - not lesson time or sectional time... time alone at home or school practice room with an instrument):

String Orchestra - 60 minutes per week
Sinfonietta - 100 minutes per week
Chamber Orchestra - 180 minutes per week

Parents, if you aren't hearing that much music in your household and would like me to meet with your son/daughter to have a time-management session, I'd be happy to. We are outlining our daily/weekly schedules in class over this next week so that students can work their practice time into their schedules.

4) Our website: www.titanorchestras.com - is being updated and should be ready to launch in the next few days. On this website you'll find a ton of information and an active link to the blog. Assignments, handbooks, forms, parent information, calendar, libraries of picture, videos and music and much more will be on this site. PLEASE BE SURE TO BOOKMARK THIS SITE. Huge thanks to parent Steve Tatman for all your hard work updating this site!

5) All students need a 1" binder, sheet protectors, and separators to keep in class. Also, each orchestra will have a requirement to obtain a method book - Essential Elements - students will have that information. The books are $5.50 each and I will pick them up - students just need to pay me to get their copy. If finances are an issue, let me know and we'll see what we can work out. This is an effort to make sure that everyone is working on the same material.

6) We have a few families in need of a violin for practice at home - if anyone sees a violin in good condition at a consignment or resale shop (Goodwill, St. Paul de Vincent, Humane Society) or at a garage sale and it doesn't seem to need much work, please let me know - sometimes there are real gems out there just waiting to be discovered. Thanks!

The orchestras sound really great this year - thanks to you students for these past 2 weeks of getting organized and ready to go. Now we start buckling down, practicing, and getting ready for our first performance on October 27.

See you Monday night!
~Daryl S.

*****************************************
Don't forget to check the blog regularly!
www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com
www.titanorchestras.com
*****************************************

Sinfonietta

From an email 9/15/09:

Hi all,

Quickly, just wanted remind you that all Sinfonietta students need to bring a 1" to keep at school - if you're the type that like page protectors for you music (preferred) please bring a bunch of those too. You need to have 2 separators in the binder (for music and practice logs). If you need assistance obtaining these materials (free/reduced lunch or other need) please contact me at school and I'll see what I can work out.

Also, there are about 22 of you for whom I'm picking up copies of Essential Elements Intermediate (the green book) at Weathers - the cost is $5.50 each - checks can be made out to WHSH... cash needs to be exact or $6 (I have quarters). Those books will be in Thursday afternoon - if you'd like to have your book (you know who you are if you ordered one) over the weekend (a great idea for practicing) come by the orchestra room on Friday.

*Sinfonietta sectional rehearsal WEDNESDAY afternoon 2:40 - 3:30 - (C Scale, Syncopated Clock, Serenade CakeWalk)

REMINDER - Monday parent meeting 7pm - West auditorium... see you then!
~Ms. S

Challenge...

Ok, here's a fun online challenge:

Violinists:
www.violinflashcards.com

Violists:
Viola (Alto) Clef Flashcards Online

I'll find one for cello and bass soon... :)
Let me know how you do!
:)

Music Day Thank Yous... and more

(emailed 9/13/09)
MUSIC DAY Thank yous:

Students who walked - THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for trudging through 90 degree heat, wearing black no less, and interacting with everything from the strange to the sublime in our community... I loved the stories I heard from you - of people driving around to find you to donate, to funny people not understanding what you were there for. Keep the stories coming - especially the funny ones! I left West mid-day and saw the Music Day folks for South and Sprague canvassing their communities too - we're so fortunate to live in a city where music is strongly supported! IF YOU DIDN'T REGISTER YOUR DRESS OR TUX AND YOU TOOK IT HOME, MAKE SURE YOU BRING THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHICH ONE YOU HAVE TO SCHOOL WITH YOU ON MONDAY - thanks.

Students who worked the room - yay! The room will work so much better now! Thank you for doing the inventory and organizing the music/composition book area... and, thanks too for helping me figure out how to set standards for practice today.

Parents who drove and helped (Lowen, Culver, Svadlenak, Hanson, Nokes, Tatman, Chong, McCauley, Wells) - Amazing! We couldn't have done this without you!! Thank you for hours of your work and for protecting our orchestra members - and for keeping our kids air conditioned when they weren't walking!!

Chamber Orchestra Students - What fun! The mini-retreat was not only yummy, but really enjoyable! Thanks for being so neat!!!

Kiara and Wendy Bruton - your place is amazing! Thank you for hosting our retreat!!

To students who weren't able to join us - we look forward to your hours of volunteer service... you missed some great times and funny stories... try to touch base with your friends to find out how it all went.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS (Portland or Greater OR) ARE AVAILABLE - students may check them out during class. Books are $20. Students will receive $7 to $9 per book into their student account - that money can be used for going on trips (big trip planned for 2011).

SAVE THE DATE:
Monday Sept. 21 - 7pm - "Mandatory" PARENT INFORMATION MEETING followed by College Information Night
Friday - Sunday Oct. 23 - 25 - Chamber Orchestra student retreat (we need parent chaperones...interestes? More info at Parent Night)
Tuesday Oct. 27 - 7pm - Fall Concert

Newsletter #1

Hi! Happy start of school!

Here's the official newsletter #1 for the Titan Orchestra program:

1) Music Day is this Saturday - thanks in advance for your support!
2) Save the date - Parent meeting, first concert
3) New website is rolling out soon... yay!
4) Syllabus and handbook coming soon
5) Practicing should begin this next week...
6) Sectionals and after school Symphony begin next week

1) Music Day - a district-wide band or music day for all the high schools - is this Saturday, Sept. 12 from 8am - 3:30pm. I deeply appreciate the help of all the 10th-12th grade students and all the parents who will be volunteering hours of time to help us fund-raise. This fundraiser benefits the entire music department, but most importantly (to us) supports the Titan Orchestra program because of how many of our students and parents go out into the community to ask for donations. There is only so much the school district and West High School can provide our music program - especially in this economy. Asking the community to support music in our schools is a luxury for which we're very grateful. Some of the examples of where Music Day money has benefited the Titan Orchestra program: Special guest artists, coaches for sectionals and on days Ms. Silberman isn't able to be at school, special instrument purchases not supported by the district (like electric instruments and extra instruments for students to borrow), recordings for us to listen to, receptions for and expenses involved in producing concerts, website maintenance, and so much more...

10th-12th grade students and drivers (thanks again!!!) who are signed up to walk or work should arrive by 8am. Lunch and snack will be provided. If you will be home Saturday, and a music student (band, choir or orch) should knock on your door - please consider donating. :)

2) Save the dates:

Monday Sept. 21, 7pm - "Mandatory" Parent meeting - I'd love it if at least one parent from each student was able to be in attendance at this meeting. This is my opportunity to touch base with you and fill you in on the plans for the year. Students are welcome. After, at 8pm, there will be a college information evening, specific to orchestra students - one of our counselors from West will be on hand and there will be a lot of information available courtesy of the Career Center at West.

Tuesday Oct. 27, 7pm - Fall Concert at West Auditorium. See you then for our first concert!

3) We will be rolling out our new website (same address: www.titanorchestras.com) in the next week or two - this website will be comprehensive - all the handbook and syllabus information, as well as all documents, assignments, listening libraries, photo libraries, and the blog (yes, the blog is going to move eventually to this site) will be on the website - more about that in the coming week or two...

4) The requirements and syllabus for each class, as well as the student/parent handbook for 2009-2010 is almost finished up. We've been waiting for a few last minute details and calendar issues to be worked out. This year, in an effort to 'go green', the handbook will be put online for perusal - students/parents will be asked to download a form from our website to fill out stating that the handbook has been read. If anyone wishes to have a hard copy of the handbook, one can be provided.

5) There isn't a lot of 'homework' per se for a performance-based orchestra class, because practice *is* our homework. Here are the 'requirements' for students in our program - starting next week students will be required to fill out a practice log or journal documenting their practice time:

String Orchestra - 60 minutes per week
Sinfonietta - 100 minutes per week
Chamber Orchestra - ~180 minutes per week

Hopefully, approximately 85 homes in West Salem should be ringing with the 'sound of music' as students get to practicing to improve their musicianship and technique. :)

6) Here are sectional times and symphony times that start next week:

Advanced Symphony (all Chamber Orchestra members and interested/qualified Sinfonietta members): Tuesday 4-6pm, Friday 2:40 - 4:30pm
Chamber Orchestra - Violins Monday 2:40 - 3:30, Violas Tuesdays 2:40 - 3:30, Celli and bass Thursdays 2:40 - 3:30
Sinfonietta - all students Wednesdays 2:40 - 3:30
String Orchestra - all students Tuesdays 2:40 - 3:30

Sectionals are mandatory - this is stipulated as a condition of enrollment in class. Students may 'contract' out of sectionals during sports seasons or due to other unresolvable conflicts... please contact Ms. Silberman for more information about that.

Finale - this year looks to be a fantastic year - our orchestras are well balanced and seem to be very musical! I'm very excited about working with everyone this year. I can't believe that I'm excited now about the October concert! :)
~Daryl S.
Questions, comments, concerns... silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us

*****************************************
Don't forget to check the blog regularly!
www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com
www.titanorchestras.com
*****************************************

Start of the 2009-2010 year

Hi Titan Orchestra members, family, and fans!

This year's group looks to be amazing - talented freshman entering our ranks... strong and balanced orchestras in each of our groups... lots of great performance and recording opportunities! A few things:

Entertainment books - $4 for each book go to students this year... the other $2-4 goes to Boosters to help fund sectional coaches. Ebooks kicks off the first week of school - more info's coming your way!

Music Day - Sept. 12 - this is considered a mandatory event for all 10th-12th grade students in the Titan Orchestra program. I deeply appreciate your help with this endeavor!

New website's coming your way - currently www.titanorchestras.com is a bit of a static situation, but we're working hard on the newly renovated site... hopefully we'll 'roll' that out in the next few weeks! There will be tons of information stored on that site - calendars, recordings, pictures, handbook, forms, etc...

Pencils - in the spirit of "Back To School" please pick up an extra pack of pencils for the orchestra room this year. The students will tell you, I just hate running out of pencils - and, boy, do we use a lot of them!! Thanks for your contribution!

Save the Date - Mandatory Parent Meeting... September 21, 7pm. There will be general information at 7pm, followed by a very special college information for 10th - 12th grade parents and students.

Here's to a wonderfully musical year!
Musically yours,
~Daryl Silberman
silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us
C: 818-317-8218