Friday, February 24, 2012

Newsletter #19 (emailed 2.24.12)

View this email in your browser (click here)

Newsletter #19 (2.24.12)
Contained within...

1) Fruit Fundraiser thank you
2) Chamber parents - please come to a trip meeting
3) Come see the city's most talented musicians tomorrow!
4) Winter at West video available - deadline 3/2
5) Grades
6) Solo and Ensemble + Fiddler
7) Chamber performance Tuesday open to all
8) Check out this video... (Kashmir)

1) Fruit Fundraiser thank you
Thank you students and parents for a successful, quick, Willamette Fruit Company fundraiser - many orders were turned in! Exact pick up day and time will be determined in the next few days (but will likely be March 9 or 10) - please keep an eye on your email or more info. Thanks again to parent Melissa Canfield for taking this fundraiser on.

2) Chamber parents - please come to a trip meeting
Chamber parents and students are asked to attend an Agate Beach trip meeting on March 1 (right after symphony) to go over packing lists, rules and regulations, and budget for the Agate Beach retreat later in March. That evening is the opening night of Fiddler on the Roof, which I and a few Chamber students are involved with as well, so the meeting will be short and sweet. One very important item that will be covered that night is medication information - for both OTC use and prescription. Thank you to trip coordinator Geoff Winkler for working hard to keep costs down and educational/musical/performance value high on this retreat!!!

3) Come see the city's most talented musicians tomorrow!
8 of our orchestra students, 25 band and 11 choir students are joining 200+ students from across Salem-Keizer to perform what is arguably the best concert of the year - the All City concert. The concert is at 7pm at North High School tomorrow, Saturday February 25 - tickets available at the door. All students and parents are welcome to attend - it's an amazing concert!

4) Winter at West video available - deadline 3/2
Thanks to one of our parents, we have a beautifully produced DVD of Winter at West 2011 available to students' families for only $10. Students can get order forms from Ms. S - $10 is due with the form - by March 2. The DVD's are at school - so all you need to do is bring $10 and the DVD is yours!

5) Grades
If you check your grade and you are currently receiving an "F" or a "D", please check to make sure you are completing your homework assignments. Because of the way assignments are weighted, for the first few weeks of school, those who don't turn in assignments look like they're getting an "F". By the end of the first 6 week grading period, the grades level out and those who aren't doing homework will be receiving a "B" or "C". The homework is important because it is timely work that we don't have time to do in class. I weighted homework heavily this year because we do not turn in practice logs - students are expected to be practicing at home and completing homework assignments, as well as participating daily and performing in concerts. Sorry to alarm any parents or students - I will try to rework the grading system next semester so this doesn't happen in such an extreme way (that said, if students complete assignment, the grades stay high).

6) Solo and Ensemble + Fiddler
2 important events occur this next weekend - Solo and Ensemble festival is on Saturday March 3 and Fiddler on the Roof opens on Friday night.

Solo and Ensemble is at McNary high school on Saturday March 3 - all students in Chamber are performing in their ensembles, and quite a few others are playing solo (either competing for State competition or playing for comments). Please see emails regarding exact times.

Fiddler on the Roof opens on Friday night - we have 5 orchestra students in the cast, including Hayley as the Fiddler, Ms S conducting and 2 of our string coaches playing in the pit. Come see this wonderful West production either this next weekend (March 3 and 4) or the following Friday and Saturday (March 9 and 10).

7) Chamber performance open to all
Chamber Orchestra is performing at Capital Manor this Tuesday, February 28, at 6:30pm. Parents and friends are welcome to this concert. It will feature music of Mozart, Bloch, Kajanus, and Telemann.

Chamber students - call time is 5:30 in performance dress.

8) Check out this video...
The All City orchestra conductor is Mr. Doug Elmore who is the conductor at Floyd Central High School - here's live video from his "Orchestra Rocks" concert this past October... Led Zeppelin's Kasmir... cool...

http://youtu.be/s9nC4SLzVT0

Enjoy...

Thanks for reading all the way down to the bottom of the newsletter. This newsletter, along with all others, will be posted on our blog at www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com - accessible off the website at www.titanorchestras.com too.

Musically yours,
~Ms S

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Newsletter #18 (2.17.12)

Click here to view in your browser with all active links and calendar info

Newsletter #18 (2.18.12)
Contained within...

1) Fruit Fundraiser money and forms due Tuesday
2) 3 concert review opportunities these next few days...
3) Agate Beach Chamber retreat shaping up
4) Winter at West video available - deadline March 2
5) All City is this next week
6) Check out this video... (Nuttin' But Stringz)

1) Fruit Fundraiser money and forms due Tuesday
We are doing a quick Willamette Valley Fruit Company fundraiser thanks to parent Melissa Canfield. The order forms *and* money is due Tuesday 2/21 - if you cannot make that deadline, please email your order info to Ms. Silberman at titanorchestras@yahoo.com and I'll pass the info along (then you can pay once you're back). Pick up will be on March 9 or 10... stay tuned for more info.

What might I want to be fundraising for:

2013 "Big" trip deposit will be due May or June
Boot Camp fees ($40 - due in August)
Chamber Retreat to Agate Beach next month
State shirts (Symphony and Chamber)
All City/All State/Solo and Ensemble fees

2) 3 concert review opportunities these next few days...
Remember, all students need to turn in a live performance review within 2 weeks of a performance... and, this semester you can actually get 'extra' credit for turning in up to 2 extra reviews. Here's some acceptable concerts for review:

Saturday 2/18, 2pm - Lancaster Santiam movie theatre
See "The Dude" (Gustavo Dudamel) conduct the LA Philharmonic orchestra "LIVE" in Venezuela - only, you're sitting in the movie theatre on Lancaster. I will accept review of this concert. Here's the website with more info:
http://www.fathomevents.com/
performingarts/event/laphil_mahler.aspx

Sunday 2/19, 3pm - OSU Symphony orchestra in Corvallis - student tickets are free with ID
http://cosusymphony.org/

Tuesday 2/21, 8pm - Oregon String Quartet WEBCAST (yes, this is from your home computer, for free!!!). I believe if you click on this link, you'll get to see it live - review the whole concert if you do it this way...
http://media.uoregon.edu/channel/2012/02/08/oregon-string-quartet-faculty-artist-series-live-webcast/

3) Agate Beach Chamber retreat shaping up
Chamber Orchestra is going on retreat March 15-18 to work on 'performance season' repertoire. We're very thankful to Newport First Presbyterian Church for giving us rehearsal space. We will be staying in a retreat facility that was the last home owned by composer Ernest Bloch - we will be playing 2 movements of one of his pieces. Thank you to the parent/student trip committee for putting together a fantastic trip, for relatively little money, and large performance and rehearsal opportunity. CHAMBER STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE ASKED TO ATTEND A MEETING MARCH 1 at 6pm TO GO OVER TRIP DETAILS.

4) Winter at West video available - deadline March 2
Thanks to one of our parents, we have a beautifully produced DVD of Winter at West 2011 available to students' families for only $10. Students can get order forms from Ms. S - $10 is due with the form - by March 2. The DVD's will be delivered soon after that deadline.

5) All City is this next week
8 of our own string players, 11 choir students, and 24 band students are deep in rehearsals with Salem-Keizer's best musicians for this year's All City concert that will occur at 7pm on February 25 at North High School. All students and parents are welcome to this concert - it highlights the best orchestra, band and choir students.

6) Check out this video...
Just gotta check these guys out... from 2008's America's Got Talent... the violin brothers "Nuttin' But Stringz"... fun stuff...

http://youtu.be/MphdRo5_7Us

Enjoy...

Thanks for reading all the way down to the bottom of the newsletter. This newsletter, along with all others, will be posted on our blog at www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com - accessible off the website at www.titanorchestras.com too.

Musically yours,
~Ms S

Friday, February 10, 2012

Newsletter #17 (emailed 2/10/12)

Link to see this newsletter in your browser

Newsletter #17 (2.10.12)
Contained within...

1) Free SCO dress rehearsal on Sunday @ noon
2) Thank you to Salem Chamber Orchestra
3) Symphony schedule... details
4) Pie fundraiser
5) Added Chamber meeting for parents - March 1
6) Solo and Ensemble forms due Wednesday!
7) Check out this video... (The "Dude" and Elmo)

1) Free SCO dress rehearsal on Sunday @ noon
We are so lucky to get free vouchers to see the Salem Chamber Orchestra dress rehearsals! This weekend's concert is on Sunday, and the dress rehearsal is also on Sunday. I emailed a PDF of the voucher to all students and parents - please print this off, put "West" on the line, and turn it in to see the dress rehearsal for free. If you'd rather see the concert at 3pm, you can pay for tickets at the door. The concert features Beethoven's 3rd symphony and Vivaldi's Winter Violin Concerto all conducted by my old friend and mentor, Maestro Ben Simon from San Francisco - going to be another great SCO concert!

2) Thank you to Salem Chamber Orchestra
Thank you Salem Chamber Orchestra for sending their conductor, and my old friend, Ben Simon to conduct Chamber Orchestra this past Thursday. He worked our Mozart - and, even told a funny joke about why Mozart didn't like chickens (as any of the students for the answer... ).

3) Symphony schedule... details
Symphony is actually only about 12 rehearsals away from a competition, so, students, it's time to start really making sure you're learning the notes and listening to the music. On Tuesday 2/14 at symphony we'll have "stand" test on Festival Prelude. On March 8, each student will have a note test on all the pieces. If you would like more information about what pieces we're rehearsing on any given symphony rehearsal day, check the calendar on our website and click on the rehearsal to see the detailed description.

4) Pie fundraiser
Huge thank you to parent Melissa Canfield for organizing a Willamette Valley Fruit Company fundraiser. Details have gone out in an email and students have already been offered color copies of the order form. Due date is February 21 - pickup will either be March 9 or 10 (stay tuned for more details). This fundraiser is great in that the prices people pay for the fruit and desserts is the same as, and sometimes actually less than, at Roth's. Please consider stocking up, if you have a good storage freezer.

5) Added Chamber meeting for parents - March 1
Details and itinerary for the Agate Beach Chamber Orchestra retreat are being worked out. All parents of Chamber students are asked to attend a meeting, along with all Chamber students, on March 1 at 6pm to go over details of the trip, fill out medical forms, and get packing and trip details. If parents are not available, please contact trip Czar Geoff Winkler - geoffwinkler@gmail.com - some time that day to get the forms and details.

6) Solo and Ensemble forms due Wednsday!
Solo and Ensemble Festival forms are due on Tuesday. The student fee of $15 is also due. Chamber students who did not audition for All City are required to perform a solo at this festival, March 3. Students have had access to forms for the past 3 weeks.

7) Check out this video...
The "Dude" - Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel - had a moment on Sesame Street... very fun! If you're interested incoming to see The "Dude" conduct 1000 performers in Venezuela "Live at the Movies" on Saturday the 18th, you'll like this little preview...

http://youtu.be/QEZj0yjfzbc

Enjoy...

Thanks for reading all the way down to the bottom of the newsletter. This newsletter, along with all others, will be posted on our blog at www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com - accessible off the website at www.titanorchestras.com too.

Musically yours,
~Ms S

Friday, February 3, 2012

Newsletter #16 (emailed 2.3.12)

CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS IN YOUR BROWSER

Here's what's coming up...

Chamber Agate Beach retreat deposit due today (2/3/12)

Week of Feb 6
Mon
Tue 2:30 Symphony
Wed 6:30 All City @ North
Thu 2:30 TO Viola
Sectional
4 Symphony
6 Parent Boosters
Fri 2:30 Sinf Viola
Sectional

SAVE THE DATE

Feb 12 SCO free
dress rehearsal
Feb 18 LA Phil at Movies
Feb 28 Chamber at
Capital Manor
Mar 15-18 Chamber trip
Mar 21 Spring Concert (all)

Newsletter #16 (2.3.12)

Contained within...

1) Library (links) on our website is updated
2) A little something for everyone this semester
3) Homework assignments, again...
4) Time to practice
5) Check out this video... (how it's made - violin)

1) Library (links) on our website is updated
Happy 2nd semester. We're already working in class on our repertoire for our March 21 concert. To hear and/or see your music on the web, find the links in the Library section of our website:

www.titanorchestras.com

Click on the Library tab on the top scroll bar, then click on the piece you want to hear. If you need/want an MP3 version of your piece, bring a thumb drive in and ask Ms. S for a copy.

2) A little something for everyone this semester
It's semester 2, which means you now have about 4 months to go see a live concert and get the review in WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF THE PERFORMANCE. Here are some concerts coming up in the next few months for your planning purposes - maybe pick a concert and put the date into your calendar?

February
2/12 Salem Chamber Orchestra plays another concert in the Four Season series - it will include Vivaldi's Winter, from the Four Seasons, and Beethoven's 3rd Symphony (my very favorite!!!). There will be a free preview dress rehearsal this Sunday, 2/12 at 12noon - students will be given vouchers in class this week.

2/18 Come see the Los Angeles Philharmonic Live on the BIG SCREEN (at the movie theatre on Lancaster Santiam 11!) - these tickets are little more expensive ($16 for students, $20 for adults), but less expensive than flying to Venezuela to see this concert. See "The Dude" (Gustavo Dudamel) up close and person, while eating popcorn!

March
3/11 Salem Chamber Orchestra plays another concert in the Four Season series - it will include Vivaldi's Spring, from the Four Seasons, and another Beethoven Symphony. There will be a free preview dress rehearsal for this concert too...

3/31 Barrage is coming to Salem! Barrage is so cool - young, hip violinists playing amazing violin/fiddle/rock with a rock beat behind them. This concert is at the Elsinore and will be a huge hit. Not cheap tickets (however, I'm looking into whether or not we can get some discount seats)

April
4/13 Oregon Symphony in Salem comes on a Friday night to play a classical concert, featuring classical guitar super star Sharon Isbin! $5 student tickets will be available for this concert.

4/20 Oregon Symphony Pops in Salem comes on a Friday night to Willamette University, featuring 'concert rock violinist' Aaron Meyer. Hopefully $5 student tickets will be available for this concert!

3) Homework assignments, again...
We are putting the 'heavy' on theory and rhythmic counting right now, so we'll be having homework assignments to supplement what we're doing in class. These assignments are time sensitive - please make sure you get your homework on Thursdays and get them in when they're due (usually the following Monday or Tuesday). Grades suffer when students simply don't turn in assignments.

4) Time to practice
Everybody has new music - both in class and in sectionals. Parents should be hearing the beautiful sounds of violin/viola/cello/bass playing in the halls of homes all over Salem. If you have any question about what you might be practicing, how long you should be practicing, or why you should be practicing, please feel free to ask Ms. S. Check the website on the Student Page for more info.

5) Check out this video...
Around our house we love "How It's Made" ... we found the "How It's Made - making a violin" episode on youtube... enjoy!

http://youtu.be/WcJfbjcUDoo


Enjoy...

Thanks for reading all the way down to the bottom of the newsletter. This newsletter, along with all others, will be posted on our blog at www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com - accessible off the website at www.titanorchestras.com too.

Musically yours,
~Ms S