Newsletter #3 - emailed 9/30/10

***Save the Date***
Fair Use fees are past due - please pay or submit waiver to bookkeeper's office at West
Fri 10/1 - Chicago Trip deposit due ($75)
Tue 10/5 - Entertainment Book Sale over
Mon 10/18 - 5pm St. Olaf's Potluck (Titan Strings and Sinf)
Mon 10/18 - 7pm St. Olaf's Symphony Performance (students free)
Tue 10/26 - Fall Gala Concert - All Students, 7pm
Sat 11/6 - Waltz Night - 6-9pm in the Commons

Contained within:

1) Exciting news about the Chicago trip...
2) Wreaths and Poinsettia fundraiser kicks off this week
3) Titan Strings - Dec. 2nd you will be playing at Lancaster Mall
4) Google Calendar has been updated... so has the website
5) Any parents have experience with sound equipment?
6) Hillary Hahn tickets - few have paid for their ticket (concert 10/5)
7) Want to win a Coda Bow???

1) Exciting news about the Chicago trip...
We will be competing *IN* Symphony Hall in Chicago - that's where the Chicago Symphony (one of the best symphonies in the world!) plays. Here's a link: www.cso.org. For those who are planning to go on the Chicago trip this next March, you need to pay your deposit by Oct. 1 (Friday) - you may bring cash, a check (made out to Music Boosters) or use student account money.

2) Wreaths and Poinsettia fundraiser kicks off this week
All students are welcome to our next fundraiser - the ever popular wreaths and poinsettias. These are beautiful plants that you can sell to you friends, family, and neighbors. This fundraise will run until the later part of October - the plants will be delivered to West in early December (you take the plants to the people who purchased them from you). The cost is reasonable and the profit to your student account is really good. Packets will be available in the orchestra room.

3) Titan Strings - December 2nd you will be playing at Lancaster Mall at 12:30pm!!! (Woo Hoo!)
We have added a performance for Titan Strings. At 12:30 and 1pm, Titan Violins and Titan Bassi will perform at the Lancaster Mall on December 2nd. Parents who work nearby are encouraged to come see the performance.

4) Google Calendar has been updated... so has the website (student page)
Many more dates have been put into the Google calendar - including the dates for students playing in the Waltz Orchestra (those going to Chicago). Please make sure you're checking in with the Google calendar to confirm dates. Additionally, if a sectional has been canceled, that will be reflected on the calendar. Also, the student page of our website has been updated with a list of current music that's supposed to be in the practice routine. Symphony will be added to that list in a few weeks.

5) Any parents have experience with sound equipment?
We could use a knowledgeable parent to help run sound at Waltz Night, Saturday November 6. Please contact Ms Silberman if you have some experience working a mixing console. Thanks!!!

6) Hillary Hahn tickets - few have paid for their ticket (concert is on Tuesday)
The Oregon Symphony featuring violinist Hillary Hahn is this next Tuesday, October 5, at 8pm at Smith Hall at Willamette University - if you reserved a ticket, you must pay the fee by the concert. If you do not use the ticket, you still must pay - the tickets have already been purchased.

7) Want to win a Coda Bow?
We have Coda Bows for students to use in the classroom - these are beautiful carbon fiber bows and they are very valuable for giving students the feel of a much more expensive bow for only a couple of hundred dollars. Here's your opportunity to win a bow - register to win (adults need to register, so parents... think about the holidays only being a few months away):
http://www.codabow.com/giveaway/giveaway_registration.html

Thanks for reading all the way down to the end of the newsletter...
~Ms S.

Newsletter #2 - emailed 9/24/10

***Save the Date***
Fair Use fees are past due - please pay or submit waiver to bookkeeper's office at West
Fri 10/1 - Chicago Trip deposit due ($75)
Thu 10/7 - Entertainment Book Sale over (money or books returned to school)
Mon 10/18 - 5pm Sinfonietta and Titan Strings provide Potluck for St. Olaf's Concert
Mon 10/18 - 7pm St. Olaf's Symphony Performance (free concert for students and parents!)
Tue 10/26 - Fall Gala Concert - All Students (7pm at West Auditorium)

Contained within:

1) If you ordered Hillary Hahn tickets, please pay up...
2) Trip deposit is due by October 1!!!
3) Entertainment Books fundraiser ends October 7
4) Theory Online...
5) In Touch Online - starting next week 'true' grades will be revealed
6) Here's what we're currently working on in class...

1) If you ordered Hillary Hahn tickets, please pay up...
Those of you who ordered tickets for Hillary Hahn with the Oregon Symphony on October 5 at 8pm, please pay the $5 student fee by the concert date. Even if you don't attend, you will owe (maybe find someone else to take your ticket?) - the OR Symphony has *already* been paid for your ticket. More info on that evening in the next newsletter

2) Trip deposit is due by October 1!!!
If you're planning on attending the trip to Chicago this next March, you must pay your $75 fee (check, cash, or student account) by Friday October 1 - we will be reserving plane tickets and buses soon! If this is an extreme financial hardship but you really want to attend, please contact Ms. Silberman. Mid-October we'll have a bunch of info for those going on the trip - in a separate email. Also, Waltz Night orchestra rehearsals will be announced next week.

3) Entertainment Book fundraiser ends October 7
We got an extension on the deadline - yay! Lots of students have books out - please bring money or books back by October 7 (October 8 is a no-school day).

4) Theory Online...
We will be doing theory in class, some, but there are simple ways of playing games or taking lessons online to enhance your musical theory skills. Here are some favorites:

http://www.musictheory.net/ - This website does great tutorials! Even non-musicians would learn some great basics on this site!

http://www.8notes.com/theory/ - Students looked at this website last year - there are lessons, tests, and games on this site.

http://www.emusictheory.com/practice.html - This site was assigned to Sinfonietta and Chamber students last week - they were to pick a test and give it a whirl. There will be future assignments for all students on this site.

5) In Touch Online - starting next week 'true' grades will be revealed
I have been working on getting the grade book up-to-date and will start entering in "zeros" where missing there are assignments or fees. This may skew some grades - until the Fair Use waiver or fee is turned in, or other missing item/assignment/supply, students may have a very lowered grade. If there are ever questions about grades, or if students *have* turned something in and it's not being reflected on InTouch Online, please contact me!

6) Here's what we're currently working on in class... parents, you should be hearing these selections at home during practice time (per week: 60 mins for Titan Strings, 100 for Sinfonietta, 180 for Chamber)

Chamber Orchestra
Bach Double Violin Concerto
Bach Brandenburg #6 Concerto for 2 violas (with all violinists playing the tutti viola part!)
Vivaldi Concerto for 2 cellos in G minor
Anthem and Frolicsome Finale

Sinfonietta
Mozart Eine Kleine Knachtmusik, 1st movement
Tchaikovsky Marche Slav arrangement
Sectionals - Suzuki book 3 pieces started this week

Titan Violins
Rakes of Mallow (fiddle tune)
Bourree from Suzuki book 2
G Major in the Green Book - Dona Nobis Pacem
Star Wars
Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Titan Bassi
G Major in Green Book
Dona Nobis Pacem and Chorale
Bourree (left hand bass part)
Hungarian Dance

Entertainment Book sale extended to October 8

Emailed 9/20/10

Entertainment Book
Sales Deadline Extended
to Friday October 8th

The deadline for sales has been extended to October 8th. So, get out there and sell, sell, sell.......

AND.... Students will earn a $15 I-tunes gift card for every 10 books they have sold.

Reminder - ALL ORCHESTRA STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO SELL ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS, WHETHER THEY PLAN TO GO TO CHICAGO IN MARCH 2011 OR NOT

Family and friends outside of Salem can purchase Entertainment Books online for their area and your student can receive the credit. Register at https://sellersection.entertainment.com/sellerSection/ using our account number of 740029 and "West Salem Education Foundation Band".

You can also sell Entertainment Books via Facebook! Here's how to do it.
1. Go to http://www.fundraising.entertainment.com/esale2.cfm?CI=740029&SI=711581&LI=1
2. Write an optional message before the HTML Link
3. Click on the Share button

Other things to be aware of:
There are books for Greater Oregon (statewide) and for Greater Portland (Portland area). You can take some of each.
You MUST sign out for any books taken by indicating which type you are checking out and the numbers of each
You will be held responsible for turning in the money from book sales and any unsold books.
All money from sold books should be placed in the GREY BOX near Ms. Silberman's office using one of the small manila envelopes there. Be sure to put your name and the amount of money in the envelope and write "Entertainment Books" or just "E Books" on the envelope as well. We'll be using that to track how many books you've sold.
Unsold Entertainment Books and money can be turned in anytime, but they MUST be turned in no later than Friday October 8th.

Unsold books MUST BE CHECKED IN using the same list Ms. Silberman used when the books were checked out. If you just bring them to school and leave them somewhere in the Orchestra Room, that WON'T work.

PLEASE CHECK IN ALL UNSOLD BOOKS WITH MS. SILBERMAN!!!

If you have any questions or need additional books, please contact Beth Zukowski at beth@chuchartworks.com or by phone at 503-364-9713. Or you can contact Ms. Silberman at titanorchestras@yahoo.com.

A BIG THANK YOU GOES OUT TO BETH ZUKOWSKI FOR ORGANIZING THIS FUNDRAISER FOR ORCHESTRA.
It's always a great day to be in Titan Orchestra.

Eine Kleine Knachtmusik links

Hi Sinfonietta students,

Here are links to printing off the music for Eine Kleine Knachtmusik and for listening:

Listen:

Whole piece...
http://www.archive.org/details/MozartEineKleineNachtmusik

1st movement only...
http://www.liquidsandstudio.com/silas/einekleinenachtmusik.mp3

Print off your part (scroll down and find your part, click on the agreement and print away):

http://imslp.org/wiki/Eine_kleine_Nachtmusik_K.525_(Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus)

Read:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eine_kleine_Nachtmusik

Enjoy!

St. Olaf's in October

This was emailed to Sinfonietta and Titan Strings 9/15/10:

Hi,

Apparently I was typing quickly yesterday when I put the newsletter together. Here's some correct info - sorry about the typos yesterday:

Monday October 18 we are hosting the St. Olaf's symphony orchestra here at West. Parents and students from Titan Strings will be providing and serving dinner to the visiting orchestra. Students and parents from Sinfonietta will be providing food/drink but do not need to 'work' the dinner. Then the concert is at 7pm and is free for students (and a great concert for students to review!) - parents are $10.

More info on the potluck (this is a fund-raiser for the general orchestra music booster fund) to come in another few weeks.

Newsletter #1 (9/14/10)

***Save the Date***
Thur 9/16 - Symphony starts at 4pm
Week of 9/20 - Sectionals Start this week
Mon 9/20 - 7pm Mandatory Parent Meeting, Chicago Trip info, College Night
Sun 9/26 - Entertainment Book Sale over (money or books returned to school Monday 9/27)
Mon 9/18 - 5pm Sinfonietta and Titan Strings provide Potluck for St. Olaf's Concert
Mon 10/18 - 7pm St. Olaf's Symphony Performance (free concert for students and parents!)
Tue 10/26 - Fall Gala Concert - All Students (7pm at West Auditorium)

Contained within:

1) Welcome to newsletter emails, especially new parents and students
2) September 20th is a very important meeting - all parents and students should attend!
3) Entertainment Book sale is in progress - have you sold your books?
4) Music Day thank you!
5) Supplies for orchestra classes are due 9/17 - explanation
6) Reminder - Fair Use Fee ($40) is due this week

1) A warm welcome to returning students and parents, and a hello to those new to the newsletter. This newsletter is intended to help students and parents up-to-date with all things related to the orchestra program at West. There are many deadlines, concert dates, special events, volunteer requests and thank yous, and opportunities (concerts, etc...) that will be shared in this format. The newsletters will come somewhat weekly and will always be posted on the blog. They come as both HTML and as plain text (so please view it in HTML for it to look the cleanest). It is my (Ms. S) expectation that students and parents are reading these messages, though students are usually told all the information in class. I do post the newsletter in the class in case any students are having computer issues - but, then again, there are school-use computers that all students may use and hopefully they will be checking the blog frequently. If anyone ever has any announcements to be made, please email Ms. S or orchestra parent booster president Karen Tatman (music@team-tnt.com). Parent feedback is welcome.

2) September 20 is our annual mandatory parent meeting at 7pm in the Auditorium at West. This meeting is run by both the parent booster organization and Ms. S - we will be going over classroom-related content (like grades, attendance at sectionals and rehearsals) and orchestra booster business. All parents of students in the orchestra program are requested to attend - students may attend as well.

Following the parent meeting, we will have a presentation of the Chicago trip information. Who's eligible to attend, what is the trip agenda, how much does it cost, what is the fund-raising plan, what about scholarships, when are the deadlines for deposits and when is the final withdrawal deadline, what rehearsals do I have to attend to get ready for the trip? These questions and more will be answered Monday the 20th.

Following the trip meeting, we will have a quick college information night. Ms S will have some materials for anyone interested in finding out more about music schools, scholarship possibilities for playing at college, and we will talk about writing 'the letter' to a professor at a college.

Thank you, in advance, for clearing your calendar next Monday evening at 7pm.

3) One of our most popular fund-raisers, Entertainment Books, is ongoing. Students may have 5 books at a time to sell - we have both greater OR and Portland area books. The books are $25 - students will receive $7-10 (depending on how many books are sold all together in the music department) to their student account. These books 'pay for themselves' quickly - you may check out books at the parent meeting, and students may check out books during lunches and after school. The fund-raiser is over September 26 - on the 27th students need to turn in money or books to the orchestra room. Thank you to Beth Zukowski for coordinating the fund-raiser!

4) Thanks again to students, parent drivers, Karen Tatman and the band parents who dedicated hours of time to Music Day. Funds received on Music Day are used throughout the year. This was a successful year - and I'm so appreciative of West Salem's community spirit of giving! Music Day is always the first Saturday after school starts. Our next big booster general fund fund-raiser will be the Titan Auction in November.

5) The first week of school, students were given a list of supplies needed for the orchestra room: A 1" binder (to be kept in the room), page protectors and separators (if interested), a pack of pencils (to be given to Ms S) and a few books for home practice (these books need to come to class and then go home with students for home practice). Students can bring materials in as they are received and will be checked off on a supply list. I understand that some students may have ordered materials that are either on their way or are backordered - that's fine. Once they arrive, bring them in to be checked off. If there is financial difficulty with purchasing these books or supplies, please contact Ms S directly.

6) Please remember to have students bring $40 (cash or check made out to WSHS) to Jolie Gilman, the bookkeeper at West. This is for the Fair Use Fee due annually for the orchestras. Students wishing to 'waiver' out of this fee can ask Ms. Gilman for a waiver request. Notes will be coming home later next week for students who have not yet paid or requested a waiver.

Thanks for reading all the way down to the end of the newsletter... looking forward to seeing you Monday :)
~Ms S.
"It's always a great day to be in Titan Orchestra."

Supply list links

Here are links and more information about the required music for the orchestras.

Uptown Music and Weathers Music - both local stores in Salem - either have the following items, or will order them for you (so you don't have to pay any shipping). Please consider ordering your materials through our local retailers. Here's links to both of their websites:

www.weathersmusic.com

www.uptownmusiconline.com

You can also search for the books you need at one of the largest online music retailers, Shar Music - www.sharmusic.com - you just put in the title of the book you need and add it to your cart. You can also buy strings, mutes, rosin, accessories, cases, etc... at this site!

Below, I've provided you links for the music at Amazon though a few are not available to be shipped "Prime" - if you don't want to pay for shipping and the books you need aren't available as 'prime' then you can order from Weathers or Uptown.

Advanced Technique - Beige Book (required for both Chamber Orchestra and Sinfonietta students)

Advanced Technique Violin at Amazon

Advanced Technique Viola at Amazon
Advanced Technique Cello at Amazon
Advanced Technique Bass at Amazon


Essential Technique - Green Book (required for Sinfonietta, Titan Violins and Titan Bassi)

Essential Technique Violin at Amazon
Essential Technique Viola at Amazon
Essential Technique Cello at Amazon
Essential Technique Bass at Amazon

Suzuki Book 4 - Required for Sinfonietta students


Suzuki Book 4 Violin
Suzuki Book 4 Viola

Suzuki Book 4 Cello
Suzuki Book 4 Bass


Suzuki Book 3 - Required for Sinfonietta students and Titan Violins

Suzuki Book 3 Violin

Suzuki Book 3 Viola
Suzuki Book 3 Cello

Suzuki Book 3 Bass


Suzuki Book 2 - Required for Titan Violins and Titan Bassi students

Suzuki Book 2 Violin

Suzuki Book 2 Cello

Suzuki Book 2 Bass

Music Day info and Fair Use Fees

{This was emailed to select students and parents Thursday 9/9/10}

Hi,

This email is going out to all Chamber Orchestra and Sinfonietta members, and 10th grade Titan Strings members.

MUSIC DAY

Music Day is this Saturday, September 11. Students and adults who are driving need to come at 8am to get checked in. Check in is run by parents at the entrance of the A wing - clocking in is how we register when the student arrives - Music Day funds are distributed according to time put in by each group (choir, band, orchestra). Students will all have to clock out at the end of the day too. Here's the schedule

8am - Arrive, check in, get dressed (if not dressed already)
Outfit - Black performance outfit, comfortable yet respectable black flat shoes
8:30 - Meet in the Auditorium for this year's orientation - meet in car grouping
9am - Cars leave West. Drivers may take their car-load to pick up drinks or snacks along the way
12pm (I believe...) - Pizza lunch provided by Boosters
12:30 - 3 - Final rounds
Some groups may end up being done by 3pm

Students who have requested a waiver for Music Day due to extreme conflict will have paperwork filled out by Monday to have their names put on the Volunteer list for Boosters.

Thank you for your participation in Music Day!!!!

FAIR USE FEES

All students this year must pay a Fair Use Fee of $40 (waivers are available for those unable to pay). That is due to the Bookkeeper, Jolie Gilman, at West. Here's what the paperwork students received says (if there are any other questions after reading below, please contact Ms. Silberman):

Orchestra Fair Use Fee Payment

All students in the orchestra program owe $40 Fair Use Fee – this is a once-per-year fee. This fee is payable to the bookkeeper at West – please bring payment (cash or check made out to WSHS) to Jolie Gilman, the bookkeeper. This fee is due by September 17.

If you need to waiver out of this fee because of financial difficulty, ask Ms. Gilman for a “Fair Use Fee Waiver” form. Once the waiver is granted, you or one of your parents will owe 4 hours of volunteer time to the Orchestra – you will be contacted by one of the booster organization parents to set up a time to complete these hours.

Fair Use Fees go towards covering purchase or repair of classroom-use instruments, outfits that are worn by performing orchestra members, or other materials that go directly towards the benefit of all students in the program.

REMINDER – BRING $40 TO THE BOOKKEEPER BY FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17!
(Or, go to the bookkeeper for a waiver)