PARENTS - register to win a CodaBow for your orchestra student

Register here to try to win a free CodaBow. Register by November. Here's the link:

http://www.codabow.com/giveaway_2011.html

I put down "Weathers Music" as the dealer I use, and I put West Salem High School as the school I use.
:)
~Ms S

Boot Camp Day 4 Finale

After a little technique work, we launched into rehearsing to play for each other today. Titan Orchestra and Sinfonietta delved deeper into their Brandenburg, and Chamber worked their Vivaldi.

Salem Baroque - violins Danny Seidenberg and Daryl Silberman, viola Karen Vincent, cello Georgienne Young - played string quartets from Mozart's classical era. Composers were Cambini, Boccherini, Dittersdorf (Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf), Haydn, and Beethoven.

Then we played for each other, tossed around some water balloons, passed out Entertainment Books, and camp was concluded.

Thanks to all who attended and who helped this year's Boot Camp by planning or playing.
~Ms S.

Boot Camp Day 3!

What a treat to have Tatiana Hargreaves and Scott Law come to play for us today! Many of us had not heard this kind of old-time folk music, but all of us enjoyed seeing this amazing young lady play and sing! Here's Tati's website in case you're interested in buying her CD's or going to a concert of hers:

http://www.dragonfiddler.com/

Tati goes to Crescent Valley High School in Corvallis, so we might see her at some of the competitions where our orchestras play on stage together.

Also, anyone interested in going to hear Vasen - the amazing instrumental group from Sweden who Tati will be playing with next year - check out this website (many of may be carpooling down to go hear them):

http://cfs.peak.org/concerts/index.php#20110830

Thanks to coach Bekka Scott for leading warmups this morning!

Titan Orchestra and Sinfonietta played a Merle Isaacs arrangement of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #5 - we'll play that for the parents tomorrow at 11:30. Chamber worked with baroque cellist Joanna Blendulf (from Eugene and Portland Baroque Orchestra) - what a wonderful experience!

Tomorrow, please remember it's our last day of Boot Camp - bring any fees, waivers, or registration forms that are due. We'll have a water balloon toss after we play at 11:30.

Here's to one more day of Boot Camp - hurrah!
~Ms S

Boot Camp Day 2

Ah, jazz. Improvisation. Playing by ear - I love it!

Today we refined our ABBA (see yesterday's post if you need the link to work on your part). And, we played around a little with the chop (a bow stroke/rhythmic technique) and some light improvisation over 2 keys.

Our performance treat for the day was Whitney Moulton's jazz ensemble. She and her compatriots did a great job showing us the elements of jazz.

At 11, Whitney and Alex Vickery played in with us to play a fun contemporary piece called "Basses Loaded". We just might play that on a concert this year - fun!

And, Chamber read Borodin's Nocturne from his 2nd string quartet - a favorite of mine. Here's a Stokowski arrangement of it done for string orchestra:



Tomorrow, Day 3, promises more music, more improv, more technique, and more great music! Stay tuned.
~Ms S

Boot Camp - Day 1, 2011

Hi all!

Boot Camp day 1 was a great success. We had over 50 students in attendance! More coming tomorrow!

We worked on ABBA's Mamma Mia - in case you want to work at home, here's a YouTube link:

http://youtu.be/y7Aft6OTrOU

(It's in D major and the first 2 notes a D and A)

After a little yoga (yes!) and group games, we had our first rehearsal. The combined Titan Orchestra and Sinfonietta group played Giant Slimy Squid and some fun Vivaldi. Tomorrow we work on more of the Vivaldi and read a Mambo piece.

Chamber played an Elgar Elegy and their Vivaldi.

Dress cool tomorrow - it's going to be hot again! Wednesday's 10:15 performance is the Whitney Moulton ensemble (bass, piano, drums) featuring South Salem's orchestra director Mr. Correa on violin. Parents are welcome to attend!

Here's to a great Boot Camp! Thanks to everyone who helped make it all happen today!
~Ms S

BOOT CAMP INFO!!!

Hi Titan Orchestra students and parents! A version of this email was emailed to all students the week of August 5.

Reminder - Boot Camp is Tuesday August 23 - Friday August 26! 9am - 12pm for Sinfonietta and Titan Orchestra - Chamber stays until 1pm.

Just as choir and band have mandatory boot camps, orchestra has a boot camp designed to allow students some time to get back into their music studies. Students in Titan Orchestras are required to be at camp from 9am - 12pm, snack will be provided, but please bring your own water. We will play some fun music all together, and in instrument groups. Boot Camp is an opportunity for students to jump back into music for their year, and for the orchestra program to begin to jell anew. This year's Boot Camp features a great line up of artists performing for us:

Wednesday at 10:15 - Whitney Moulton Jazz Combo, featuring South's orchestra director Mr. Correa on violin

Thursday at 10:15 - Tatiana Hargreaves and Scott Law - Tati is high school student in Corvallis who is a national fiddle champion and Scott Law is her accompanist. This is VERY exciting! I've been trying to get Tati here for the past 4 years!

Friday at 10:15 - Salem Baroque playing on baroque instruments

Friday at 11:30 - the final performance - featuring what we learned at Boot Camp

Parents are welcome at any time, but in particular, are welcome at 9am on Tuesday the 23rd, at any of the special performances, and on Friday at 11:30 for the 'final' performance.

Boot Camp fee is $40, payable in cash or check (to WSHS Orchestra Boosters) - and if that fee is too much financially, students may sign a waiver (available at Boot Camp check-in) which trades the fee for 4 hours of volunteer service to Boosters. SNACK WILL BE PROVIDED!

STUDENTS ON VACATION OR INVOLVED WITH SPORTS: Please email Ms Silberman (titanorchestras@yahoo.com) or send in a form (available on our www.titanorchestras.com home page) with an explanation of why you cannot attend Boot Camp.

We will be ready to register you at Boot Camp by 8:30am on Tuesday the 23rd - Freshman students and parents are encouraged to come then to get acclimated. Boot Camp registration materials can be found on our home page of our website: www.titanorchestras.com

Fees for Orchestra, 2011-2012

Fair Use Fee
Pay $45 to WSHS during Taking Care of Business Days OR to the Bookkeeper once school starts.
Make check payable to WSHS

Boot Camp Fee
Pay $40 to WSHS Music Boosters on the 1st day of Boot Camp.
Make check payable to WSHS Music Boosters

Get ready for WSHS's 2011-12 Orchestras

Parents and students should be aware that each year, fees are collected from all orchestra students to help support our award winning orchestra program.

1. Fair Use Fee - $45
Pay this fee directly to the school
Make check payable to WSHS

This fee is paid to the school and is due at the start of the school year. It can be paid at Taking Care of Business Days August 17-18. If this fee is not paid by the end of the first 6 weeks of school, the fee will turn into a 'fine' through the school. This fee goes towards the following purchases: Instruments, accessories or upkeep of violins, violas, cellos and basses in the room, school-issue outfits, or fees that go to support the entire orchestra group like bussing.

* Students qualifying for free lunch only need to pay 50% ($22.50). In exchange, they will owe 5 hours of community service (may be done with Ms. Silberman and/or orchestra booster organization).
**Students qualifying for reduced lunch student have the option of paying only 70% ($31.50). In exchange, they will owe 3 hours of community service to Ms. Silberman and/or orchestra boosters.
***Any student may talk to Jolie, the bookkeeper, to set up a payment plan.

2. Boot Camp Fee - $40

Pay this fee to Boosters at Boot Camp
Make check payable to WSHS Music Boosters

This fee is due for all students attending Boot Camp. It will be collected on Tuesday Aug. 23 as students check in. Boot Camp is mandatory for all enrolled students, but students may be excused for sports commitment or other conflicts including being out of town - please notify Ms. Silberman if student cannot attend Boot Camp.
This fee helps pay for artists performing at Boot Camp, snacks and supplies. Any leftover funds go into the Orchestra Booster Scholarship fund.

*Students may request a fee waiver. In exchange, the student or family will owe 4 hours of time to the Orchestra Booster organization. Waiver request forms will be available at Boot Camp check in.

If you have ANY questions about these fees, how to pay them, or about the orchestra program, please contact either:

Daryl Silberman, Director titanorchestras@yahoo.com
or
Karen Tatman, Boosters President boosters@titanorchestras.com

Can't wait to see all those happy faces and hear some awesome music at Boot Camp!!

Free violin giveaway opportunity

Here's a link, active until September 30, 2011, where you can sign up to enter a sweepstakes for a new violin. Violists and Cellists could enter with a violin friend in mind...

http://www.allthingsstrings.com/potterviolinco


The website is connected to Strings Magazine - the magazine we frequently read articles from in class.