Thursday, April 29, 2010

Beethoven's 9th - come hear Ode to Joy Saturday afternoon...

Here's an update from the Salem Chamber Orchestra:

Didn'’t get tickets to Beethoven’s 9th this weekend?

Both performances of Beethoven's 9th this weekend are completely sold out, and due to this popular demand, SCO will open its final rehearsal to the public. The rehearsal is Saturday, May 1 from 1:30-4pm, in Hudson Hall at Willamette University. General admission tickets will be sold for $5 each at the door. We will accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards.

Please note that this final rehearsal will not be in concert order; they will begin the rehearsal with the 4th movement of the Beethoven symphony, which is the big choral movement with soloists. Following that, they will rehearse the Dvorak aria "Song to the Moon" with soloist Elizabeth Pullen, and then rehearse through Beethoven’s symphony movements 1-3.

This is a wonderful opportunity to see these professional ensembles rehearse, to hear and see the process of making this amazing music.

Please reply to this email or call 503-480-1128 for questions!

Thank you for supporting Salem Chamber Orchestra!

Newsletter #12 sent 4.28.10

Concert May 3 - State info - SCO and SYSO this weekend... and more

Newsletter #12 (emailed 4/28/10)

Contained within:

1) Pre-State concert Monday May 3 - for all in Chamber Orchestra and Symphony
2) Sinfonietta runs the 4th grade string festival Friday April 30 (1 - 7pm, concert at 6)
3) Did you pay for your OR Symphony tickets?
4) May 14 - Chamber and Symphony go to State - info
5) SCO and SYSO this weekend - Beethoven Symphony #9!!!
6) Wrap up of Judgement Day concert
7) Fundraiser's for next year's Chicago trip will start next week

1) We have a concert Monday night - all students in Chamber and Symphony need to come dressed and ready to go at 6:30pm. Concert begins at 7pm - parents are welcome! This is an opportunity for all 4 (!) groups who qualified to go to State Championships to perform for one another. Each group will only perform for 15 minutes... so, the concert should conclude by 8:30pm. All students are required to attend the full concert - parents may come and go, but you'd really be missing something if you miss any one of the groups. Here's the concert order:

6:30 - call time
7:00 - Symphony, then Wind Ensemble, then Chamber, then Choir
8:30 - quick clean up, then dismissed

2) Sinfonietta students will host over 80 (!!!) 4th graders here at West this Friday. Each student will work with a small group of 4th graders to teach them a tune. Then we'll put it all together. Sinfonietta performs at 6pm - should be over by 6:45 or so. Here's the schedule

1pm - call time (no mandatory dress... just don't look too sloppy for the 4th graders)
2pm - festival starts
(see previous emails for more details)
5pm - dinner (pizza provided for West students)
6pm - Stringman, followed by 4th graders, followed by Styres Rally
6:45pm - clean up and then dismissal

3) Quite a number of students and parents have not paid for OR Symphony tickets. Remember that even if you didn't attend, we already purchased your ticket and you owe $5 per student, $10 per adult ticket purchased for you. Please have students pay up by leaving payment in an envelope in the grey box - they may take funds out of their student account for tickets.

4) Friday May 14 Chamber and Symphony both go to State - yay!!!! Here's the performance schedule - performances are at the LaSalle Stewart performance hall at OSU/Corvallis - more info to follow:

Chamber - 9:40am
Symphony - 5:10pm

Here's a link with more info:

http://osaa.org/band/2010/OrchestraPerformanceOrder.pdf
or
http://osaa.org/band/ - for more spectator information

5) Both the Salem Chamber Orchestra and the Salem Youth Symphony have great concerts this weekend. SCO performs Beethoven's 9th symphony (with full choir - you know the tune "Ode to Joy"? This is it!!!) on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon - tickets are just about all sold out, but might be worth it to try to go anyway:

http://salemchamberorchestra.org/

Salem Youth Symphony has their big spring concert this weekend on Sunday at 3pm - this will be a great afternoon of music:

http://www.salemyouthsymphony.org/

6) The Judgement Day fundraiser was a musical success - the groups were all really great and we had a small but mighty crowd of very pleased audience members. Unfortunately there wasn't enough of an outcome the render us much of a profit - so, the hope is that if we sponsor something so cool again that the word will spread and we can get more of an audience to come. Thanks to all who did come!!!

7) As you all know, the plan is that all students in Chamber and Sinfonietta for 2010-2011 will be welcome to come on the Chicago Heritage Festival tour. The dates will be roughly Friday before spring break through Tuesday of Spring Break 2011. The price will be roughly $1250 - more concrete info will be distributed in the next 2 weeks. We will unveil a quick fundraiser next week where 50% of the profits go straight to the students' account. Please know that we'll do all we can to help families fundraise the money necessary for the trip. If you are interested in serving on either the fundraising or trip committee, please contact Kelly Culver at kculver@comcast.net

In the next few weeks I'll be getting information out to you all about next year's dates, commitment requirements, and opportunities. Please don't forget to put Boot Camp on your summer calendar!!!
Thanks! ~Ms S (silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us)

**SAVE THE DATE**
April 30 - Sinfonietta at 1pm for 4th grade festival - concert at 6pm
May 3 - Pre-State Concert at 7pm (6:30pm call time)
May 14 - State Championships
May 25 - awards for all (6pm) and concert (7pm)
June 7 - Final Concerto Concert (Symphony and Chamber - senior 'goodbye')
Boot Camp - Monday through Thursday, 9am - 1pm, August 23-26

There is a new google calendar on the blog - www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com - on the right side of the screen - that will have all Titan Orchestra performance dates and times, symphony rehearsals, and other important dates. I will not list sectionals because those are on-going. I will do my best to keep that calendar very active. Please use it often. Hope it helps clear up any questions regarding performances, etc...

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

No Sinfonietta Sectionals Wed 4.28.10

Practice for Friday's 4th grade festival... :)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Midori was amazing!!!

Wow - Midori playing Sibelius!!! That was amazing!! Congrats to those who got to go, and to those who got see meet her (either at 7 or later during intermission).

By the way, in case you didn't know, that concerto was by the same composer we're playing in Symphony - Sibelius. Here's YouTube links to Hilary Hahn playing the same concerto:

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OlI0RLQJoU

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2tklQp2Cr4&feature=related

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBbsRTf1Eqw&feature=related

Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXYXUd_N2YI&feature=related

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Newsletter #11 (4/20/10)

Newsletter #11 (emailed 4/20/10)

Contained within:

1) Parent meeting tonight - Chicago info and calendar
2) Ike Box orchestra fundraiser this Friday!!!
3) April 30th - Sinfonietta festival and concert
4) May 3 - Pre-State Concert (Chamber and Symphony)

1) Parent meeting tonight at 6pm in the orchestra room, after symphony. On the agenda:
- Chicago trip organization (committee formation, announcement, deposit, fund raising)
- Parent help needed for April 30th festival and concert
- Calendar for next year - do we want a Waltz night or "Evening at the Pops" Gala event
And, more...

2) This Friday April 23 is the orchestra fund raiser at the Ike Box - EVERYONE WELCOME!

Come check out Judgement Day (www.stringmetal.com) this Friday at the Ike Box - an all ages club in downtown Salem! Proceeds from this event will go to benefit the Orchestra Music Boosters. Here's the line up:

Echos Orange - local 2-man band
The Metal Shakespeare Company - they set Shakespeare to heavy metal - http://metalshakespeare.com/
Judgement Day - violin, cello, and drums playing metal - www.stringmetal.com

Ike Box - 299 Cottage Street NE
7pm Doors open, 8pm Concert
$10 at the door
All ages

Here's a Facebook invite link:

West Salem High School Orchestra Heavy Metal String Fundraiser


*NOTE TO PARENTS* - I know it seems strange to have a heavy metal fundraiser for an orchestra program, but, if you like rock and roll, and especially if you like it a little on the heavier side, you'll really enjoy this concert! I've been a fan of Judgement Day for over 6 years - I've had them perform and teach at camps and at West (they've played for West students twice in the past 3 years) and they are so cool!!! The Metal Shakespeare company is a new one on me, but they seem pretty legit. Apparently a few of the English teachers at West are offering students extra credit if they go to this concert too. So, put on those cool jeans and come on out to Ike Box this Friday - hope to see you there!!!

3) Sinfonietta students need to come to West at 1pm on April 30th - yes, it's a grading day, but this is our big 4th grade string festival, where students in Sinfoniette teach a tune to the 4th graders, put it all together, and then play with and for them at the end of the day. Here's the schedule:

1pm - Sinfonietta students meet in the auditorium to get organized
1:30 - 4th grade students begin to arrive
2pm - Large group gathering
2:30 - Sinfonietta students teach the tune to about 3 or 4 kids
3:30 - break
3:45 - Put kids into like-instrument sectionals
4pm - put it all together in the auditorium
4:30 - Mr. Shippy, Mr. Randall and Ms. S play electric for everyone
5pm - Pizza/dinner break - get changed
6pm - Concert - 4th graders first, then Sinfonietta plays Styres Rally and Stringman
6:45pm - clean up and dismissal

PARENTS - I need a few volunteers to help with the pizza/dinner break and concert organization - if you're available at 4:30 to come help, please contact Kelly Culver at kculver@comcast.net - and, thanks!

4) Monday May 3, 7pm - Pre State concert featuring selections from each of the following groups:
Wind Ensemble
Chamber Orchestra
Symphony
Choir of the Titans

Call time 6:30pm, order to be determined next week

Thanks! ~Ms S (silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us)

**SAVE THE DATE**
April 20 - 6pm Parent Booster Meeting (Trip Planning and 2010-2011 concert planning), orchestra room
April 23 - Judgement Day band at the Ike Box - Fundraiser for Orchestra Music Boosters
April 27 - Midori at the OR Symphony at Willamette's Smith Hall, 8pm
April 30 - Sinfonietta at 1pm for 4th grade festival - concert at 6pm
May 3 - Pre-State Concert at 7pm (6:30pm call time)
May 14 - State Championships
Boot Camp - Monday through Thursday, 9am - 1pm, August 23-26

There is a new google calendar on the blog - www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com - on the right side of the screen - that will have all Titan Orchestra performance dates and times, symphony rehearsals, and other important dates. I will not list sectionals because those are on-going. I will do my best to keep that calendar very active. Please use it often. Hope it helps clear up any questions regarding performances, etc...

Ike Box this Friday - Judgement Day (Facebook invite)

Come check out Judgement Day (www.stringmetal.com) this Friday at the Ike Box - an all ages club in downtown Salem! Proceeds from this event will go to benefit the Orchestra Music Boosters. Here's the line up:

Echos Orange - local 2-man band
The Metal Shakespeare Company - they set Shakespeare to heavy metal
Judgement Day - violin, cello, and drums playing metal

Ike Box - 299 Cottage Street Northeast, Salem, OR
7pm Doors open, 8pm Concert starts
$10 at the door
All ages

Here's a Facebook invite link:

Facebook Judgement Day @ Ike Box Event Link

Monday, April 19, 2010

Tempos for Chamber for the next 2 days

[Emailed 4/19}

Hi Chamber students,

Here's the tempos we'll play in class Tuesday and Wednesday - maybe even Thursday:

April 19 - April 21
Mvt. 1 half note = 68 (or quarter = 136)
Mvt. 2 eighth noe = 65
Mvt. 4 quarter or dotted quarter = 92

Please make sure you've run at the movement at least once at home with your metronome at these tempos! Fix incorrect notes!!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Festival thank yous and results

Thank you to one and all for a successful district festival! We apparently did a great job hosting the festival, once again. I hope that those of you who worked and/or attended can appreciate how neat it is to host this festival at our school - I heard some amazing music!!! And, there's the added bonus that it's really clean right now in the A wing... :)

Chamber orchestra felt as though we performed really well, but the judges scores weren't very high, unfortunately. There were some constructive comments, and actually lots of positive comments, from the judges. We'll have some great ideas to work off of while we prepare for State (May 14) these next few weeks.

Symphony did great - I think that was our best performance yet. Our scores were pretty good - I think they accurately reflected our performance level. I think we're well positioned to defend that 3rd place State title we scooped up last year. But, we can't let ourselves coast - we know that there's a lot of work left to be done.

Chamber parents hosted a wonderful breakfast on Saturday morning - that was so neat! I deeply appreciate your dedication, generosity, and support of your kids and the music program.

There is a concert on May 3 - the Pre State concert - where we'll play selections from our State material for parents and friends. I'm looking forward to seeing how much we grow in the next few weeks!
~Ms S

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Take a look at the new calendar...

Just to the right of this message there will be a Titan Orchestras calendar link. I will hopefully put the most up-to-date information on it. It will be for rehearsals and concerts, as well as special events. If you want OR Symphony or other info, take a look at the static calendar text on our website - www.titanorchestras.com

Click on the words "Calendar Link" and you'll see the Google Calendar. Hope it helps...
~Ms S

Monday, April 12, 2010

Spring Assignment, due Monday April 19

Adjudication assignment for all orchestra students – due Monday April 19 – worth 20 points

All students are to judge 2 groups – preferably orchestra or symphony groups. The adjudication sheets are designed to encourage you to comment about musicality, technique, sound, and other factors. You will receive full credit if each box is filled out with comments and scores. Additionally, if you adjudicate West orchestra groups (if you’re not in Chamber or Symphony) *AND* you happen to get exactly the same scores as any one particular official judge, you’ll receive a prize, so judge away…  ~Ms S

Friday April 16 Bands:
North Salem 1:35 to 2:05 PM
McNary 2:10 to 2:40 PM
Sprague 2:45 to 3:15 PM
McKay 3:20 to 3:50 PM
break
West Salem 5:00 to 5:30 PM
Redmond 5:35 to 6:05 PM
South Salem 6:10 to 6:40 PM
Gresham 6:45 to 7:15 PM
WOU Band 7:20 to 7:50 PM

Saturday April 17 Orchestras:
West Salem HS Chamber Orchestra 8:30 – 8:55
McNary Adv. String Orchestra 9:00 – 9:25
McKay Adv. String Orchestra 9:30 – 9:55
North Salem Chamber Orchestra 10:00 – 10:25
Sprague Camarata String Orchestra 10:30 – 10:55
South Salem HS Chamber Orchestra 11:00 – 11:25
Reynolds HS Adv. String Orchestra 11:30 – 11:55
break
North HS Symphony Orchestra 1:00 – 1:30
West Salem HS Symphony Orchestra 1:35 – 2:05
Sprague HS Symphony Orchestra 2:10 – 2:40
South HS Symphony Orchestra 2:45 – 3:15
Reynolds HS Symphony Orchestra 3:20 – 3:50

Alternate assignment, for those unable to attend the district festival:

Computer option: Complete the following Web quest.... you will need to create a word document that will have the answers for the quest.

1) Using a search engine, find url website addresses for the following symphony orchestras: Oregon Symphony, Eugene Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Berlin Philharmonic
2) Choose one of the symphony websites to review - write a brief synopsis of what you like and don’t like about their website. And, answer the following questions in your synopsis: What do you like about the home page? What is the price range of their ticket prices? How easy is it to find information about the history of their symphony? Do they have a kids page and if they do, what’s on it? Do they have podcasts or webcasts of their music online? If you wanted a job with the symphony, how easy is it to find employment info? What jobs are currently open – administrative and symphony player?
3) Play the Bravo Gustavo Maestro Hero online game: http://www.laphil.com/gustavo/game/ - and let me know your high score

Non-computer option:
Take an hour of your time to create a written assignment that combines words, music and/or art. You could write a set of musical poems, you could write down your favorite personal musical story (something that happened to you at a concert, in a performance, or maybe even write about why you started playing your instrument and what that meant to you), you could paint or draw a musical picture that has words on it, or you could simply write a page long essay entitled "What Music Means to Me". Don't spend more than an hour on this assignment, but, make it personal... almost anything you create that includes words and music will be fine (I'll be checking email all weekend, so feel free to email me if you have a question about this assignment).

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Newsletter #10 (4/07/2010)

Newsletter #10 (emailed 4.7.2010)

Contained within:

1) Congratulations to Chamber and Symphony! State info
2) "Judgement Day" Ike Box Orchestra fundraiser April 23!
3) April 16 and 17 - schedules, volunteer request, homework assignment
4) When do we perform again?
5) Auditions for next year
6) Symphony schedule

1) Congrats to students in the Chamber Orchestra and Symphony. Both groups have qualified (and quite nicely, I should say) for the State Championships on May 14 at Corvallis' LeSalle Stewart Performing Arts Hall. At this point we do not have times. But it's likely that Chamber will play in the morning and Symphony in the afternoon. The Wind Ensemble (Band) qualified a few weeks ago and will play on May 15. The Choir of the Titans also qualified for the State Championships, to be held a week before Orchestra and Band. This is the result of dedicated students, parents, and directors who choose and learn great music. But, there's lot more work to be done these next few weeks - please let's not 'rest on our laurels' and continue staying positive as we work to refine and polish our pieces.

Chamber Orchestra will not be calling any extra rehearsals as a large group at this point (rehearsing 90 minutes daily should be enough to polish our pieces) - however students will be asked to be more dedicated than ever to sectional rehearsals (that occur before or after school). Keep in mind that AP's occur the 2 weeks right before State Competition. A great idea is to consider practicing as a great 'AP study' break activity. If you take breaks when your studying and let your mind completely go (like to play video games or go to the computer) it's less advantageous than taking a 'brain break' to go practice for 15-20 minutes.

2) Heavy metal violin/cello/drums trio Judgement Day (www.stringmetal.com) will be performing at the Ike Box (an all ages club downtown next to the YMCA) Friday April 23 as a fundraiser for our Titan Orchestra program. Parents, siblings, neighbors, and friends are all invited. Tickets will be $10. Doors open at 7pm. Bands start at 8pm - local band Echos Orange opens, The Metal Shakespeare band is next, and Judgement Day finishes up the evening. Should be awesome! Let's make this a successful fundraiser!!!

3) West hosts the Central Valley League Band and Orchestra festival next week - April 16 and 17. ORCHESTRA RUNS THE BAND DAY - all students and available parents are asked to help. Parents - if you have even an hour or two that you'd be willing to volunteer, please email Kelly Culver at kculver@comcast.net - thank you to the parents who have already offered their time. We could still use a few more! Students, sign up for a time slot in the orchestra room!

SATURDAY APRIL 17 - Chamber Orchestra performs at 8am. Could you imagine how great it would be if we were to play to a packed house at 8am on a Saturday morning??!!!! I invite ALL PARENTS and STUDENTS in the program to come support West's State-bound Chamber Orchestra. And, then come back at 1pm to see the 3rd place State Champion Symphony perform.

ASSIGNMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS IN ALL GROUPS - all students will be required to 'adjudicate' 2 performing groups on April 17. Each group plays for 20-24 minutes. The full schedule of groups will be given to students with the assignment info. If a student absolutely cannot attend one hour of performances (especially West's groups if they are not in Chamber or Symphony) on Saturday the 17th due to other commitments then there will be an alternate assignment (one computer based, one non-computer) that will be due Monday April 19. The date of this festival has been on the calendar since last May - it's my expectation that students complete this assignment *and* support West's orchestra program. Students *MAY* use these performances to also complete their review assignment - talk about knocking 2 birds with one stone! Details on this assignment will be given to students on April 12 and due a week later. Any questions? Feel free to email...

4) Here are the upcoming performances for all groups:

String Orchestra - May 25, 6pm awards, 7pm concert
Sinfonietta - April 30, 1pm - 6:45pm 4th grade festival - performance at 6pm
Sinfonietta - May 25, 6pm awards, 7pm concert
Chamber Orchestra - April 17, 8am
Symphony - April 17, 1pm
Chamber Orchestra and Symphony - May 3, 7pm
Chamber Orchestra and Symphony - May 14, State Championships (time TBD)
Chamber Orchestra - May 25, 6pm awards, 7pm concert
Symphony (including Chamber) - June 7, 7pm Concerto Concert and final senior farewell

5) Auditions and placement announcements for the 2010-2011 season will begin the week after Districts (the week of April 19).

6) Here is the Symphony schedule for April:

Fri Apr 9 - 2:30 - 4:30
Tue Apr 13 - 4 - 6pm
Thur Apr 15 - 5 - 7pm (EXTRA REHEARSAL - MANDATORY DRESS REHEARSAL!!)
Tue Apr 20 - 4 - 6pm
Fri Apr 23 - 2:30 - 4:30
Tue Apr 27 - 2:30 - 4:30
Fri Apr 30 - no school, no symphony rehearsal

Thanks! ~Ms S (silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us)

**SAVE THE DATE**
April 13 - Zukerman at the OR Symphony at Willamette Smith Hall, 8pm
April 16 and 17 - Salem-Keizer District Festival - Friday is Band day (Orchestra parents and students run the day), Saturday Chamber performs at 8am, Symphony at 1pm
April 20 - 6pm Parent Booster Meeting (Trip Planning and 2010-2011 concert planning), orchestra room
April 23 Judgement Day band at the Ike Box - Fundraiser for Orchestra Music Boosters
April 27 - Midori at the OR Symphony at Willamette's Smith Hall, 8pm
Boot Camp - Monday through Thursday, 9am - 1pm, August 23-26

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Mark May 14 (Orchestra State Championships) on your calendar

Yay! Congrats to Chamber *AND* Symphony for qualifying for State championships that will be held on May 14th in Corvallis.

Scores were great... performances were really good. There's more work to do... it's gonna be gooooooooooooooood this year!

:)
~Ms S