Saturday, May 19, 2012

Newsletter #30 (emailed 5.19.12)

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Newsletter #30 (5.19.12)
Contained within...

1) Last chance to review live concert 5/31
2) 2013 Big Trip 'soft' announcement
3) Don't forget to watch yourselves this weekend
4) Summer lessons
5) Final projects
6) Orchestra Awards for students - bring desserts!
7) Check out this link... (Kashmir)


1) Last chance to review live concert 5/31
If you haven't seen a live concert and the turned in your review within 2 weeks of seeing the concert, you'll have a chance to see a 'live' concert at school on May 31 after school. I'll broadcast a Berlin Philharmonic "Virtual Concert" from the computer - you  may review that concert. You're welcome... :)

2) 2013 Big Trip "soft" announcement
The Titan Orchestra program is happy to announce the 2013 Big Trip. Here are quick details (more info will roll out this next week):

When: March 21 - 25 (5 days, 4 nights)
Where: Washington DC and NY
What: 3 concerts, Smithsonian, Julliard, Broadway show, NY Philharmonic
How much: $1700 (this is the 'no higher than' price)
Deposit: $100 - non refundable - due June 11
Who: 1st priority to all students (9th - 12th) enrolled in symphony and 6 chaperones, next order of priority goes to Sinfonietta non-symphony members

More details will be made available to parents and students. We're very excited about this trip because of the performance opportunites, clinic experiences, and the action-packed itinerary. It's going to be another great Titan trip!

3) Don't forget to watch yourselves this weekend
CCTV will be broadcasting the performances from last week's State Championships. Here's when you can see yourself (I believe it's channel 22 or 23 on Comcast cable - don't know about DirecTV):

String Orchestra: Wilson, Lakeridge, West Salem, North Salem, Grants Pass - May 19, 6pm, May 22 1pm, May 23, 4pm

Full Symphony: Grants Pass, West Salem, South Salem - May 20, 9pm, May 21 8pm, May 23 noon

4) Summer lessons
A great idea for the summer is to consider taking some lessons. You can probably get a good 6 - 8 lessons in depending on your vacation schedule. A list will be made available to you in the next week or two. Violins in Chamber Orchestra will be asked to join the "Violin Class" that Ms Silberman and Danny will be teaching - this is to strengthen the core of our violins in that program. If other sections or groups of students would like to have us teach a group class, please let us know and we'll see what we can work out.

5) Final projects
All students have a final project that will be due June 6 or 7, other than the concert review. Students have been given these assignments in class, but the information will be emailed home and posted on the blog next week, in case you lose your information. The projects are as follows:

Chamber - Favorite Music Quote
Sinfonietta and Titan Orchestra - Composer poster or Living performer flyer

6) Orchestra Awards for students - bring desserts!
Wednesday evening at 6:30pm we have the Commons. Orchestra leadership will help decorate. All students are asked to attend - parents are welcome, but we're not performing, just celebrating the years. The booster organization will provide punch - students are asked to bring a dessert (store bought, supposedly) for 3-6 people... we should have plenty on hand that way... yum! Let's celebrate a great year in the Titan Orchestra program!

7) Check out this link... (Kashmir)
Here's a youtube orchestra version of the Led Zepellin tune we'll play at the final concert..
http://youtu.be/RDeUjN1jypY

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 atwww.titanorchestras.com too.

Musically yours,
~Ms S

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Newsletter #28 (emailed 5.3.12)

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Newsletter #28 (5.4.12)
Contained within...

1) Itinerary for State competition next Friday (5/11)
2) Salem Pops concert Saturday night - good for review!
3) Frozen Fruit/Pie fundraiser (to help with trip funds)
4) Weathers Music is closing
5) Need graduation present ideas?
6) Congrats CJ!
7) Check out this link... (James Ehnes playing Wieniaski)


1) Itinerary for State competition next Friday (5/11)
Those of you in Symphony and Chamber will receive a more in depth itinerary, but here are the basics for May 11th:

Chamber - excused all day from school
Sinfonietta excused from 9am on
Bus leaves at 9:15 for Corvallis
Chamber performs at 11:15
12:15 lunch (bring money or sack lunch
Afternoon will be full of an activity and listening to other groups.
3:30pm Band bus leaves West
5pm Dinner in downtown Corvallis (bring money)
Symphony performs at 7:15pm
Return to West around 10:45pm

2)  Salem Pops Concert Saturday night - good for review!
The Salem Pops Orchestra has a very special concert on Saturday night - they'll be saying 'goodbye' to their beloved conductor Larry Harrington and welcoming our old friend/mentor Dr. Ike Nail to their podium. This concert will be great for review. The concert is at 7:30pm at the Elsinore Theatre downtown. Student ticket price is $5. Reviews are due June 5, so now is a great time to see a concert!

3) Frozen Fruit/Pie fundraiser (to help with trip funds)
Thanks to parent Melissa Canfield, we're going to run another quick Willamette Valley Fruit Company fundraiser - this should help students easily raise the money that will be required as a deposit for the "BIG TRIP 2013" that we'll be announcing in the next week or two. Students who put their deposit in will be invited to fundraisers over the summer to help defray the cost of the trip.

Forms are available in the orchestra room - payment and forms are due May 15. Please see your emails for more info!

4) Weathers Music is closing
The music world in Salem got some sad news this week. Keith Weathers of Weathers Music in Salem has announced that he is retiring and is closing the store down. Keith and his employees have been a key part of the success of music in Salem - he and his resources will be sorely missed in Salem! Lucikly, there is a new upstart music store in town poised to help fill the void that will be left - Willamette Valley Music Company, right on State Street downtown - as well as Uptown in Keizer. If you have rental instrument credit at Weathers, you might want to call in to find out what your options are before they close.

5) Need graduation present ideas?
Here are some ideas for the musician (especially to congratulate students who are graduating high school or moving up to the next orchestra!):

A new case
A new bow (CodaBow??!!!)
A gift certificate to www.sharmusic.com to buy some music
A metronome/tuner
Summer lessons!!!

Our local music stores (Weathers, Willamette Valley Music Co., Uptown Music), the Portland stores (David Kerr violins, Paul Schubach violins) and online vendors (Shar Music, Southwest Strings) all have graduation sales going on right now. If you need pricing, more precise information about what to get, contact Ms. Silberman.

6) Congrats CJ!
Our very own principal violist CJ won 3rd place at the annual OSAA State Solo competition - one of only West Salem students to place in the top 5 in their category. It was a beautiful performance - the video will be up on our youtube channel soon. Congrats CJ!

7) Check out this link...
The violinist James Ehnes will knock your socks off - check out this version of a beautiful Wieniawski Etude. Watch how calm his left hand is, whilst playing a million notes per minute...

http://youtu.be/xXi5D366n7o

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 atwww.titanorchestras.com too.

Musically yours,
~Ms S

Friday, April 27, 2012

Newsletter #27 (emailed 4.26.12)

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Newsletter #26 (4.26.12)
Contained within...

1) OSAA Championships for Chamber and Symphony
2) 
4th grade string festival TOMORROW (4/27/12)
3) Sinfonietta theory test Wednesday of next week
4) Auditions for next year's orchestras, next week
5) Good luck to CJ (State Solo competition Saturday)
6) Salem Youth Symphony concert Sunday
7) Check out this link... (cool tunes for orchestra!)


1) OSAA Championships for Chamber and Symphony
Yay! We finally heard (it took 2 extra days for the officials to post their final decision) - Chamber and Symphony both get to perform (compete) for the OSAA championships on May 11 at OSU's LaSalle Stewart Center. Chamber performs at 11:15am and Symphony at 7:15pm. Good luck!

Chamber - we have to plan a few extra hours of rehearsal... please stay in touch with the schedule!

2) 4th grade string festival TOMORROW (4/27/12)
The 4th annual 4th grade string festival is tomorrow. About 90 4th grade students will be here at West to learn a tune and have some fun! Here's a rough schedule:

12:30pm - Chamber + Sinfonietta Symphony strings arrive, dressed in Titan Orchestra tshirts (or anything with Titan on it)
1:30 - all the 4th graders should be here
2 - West students teach a tune to the 4th graders
4 - we rehearse all together, and have a special musical demonstration
5 - pizza dinner (provided for West students)
6pm - Concert
6:45 (approx) - dismissal (once everything's put away)


3) Sinfonietta Theory Test Wednesday of next week 
Sinfonietta has a theory test on Wednesday - all students were emailed and handed a copy of how to study for this test. Please study up. If you've misplaced your study guide, it's on the blog (a few messages ago). Good luck - please study a little!

4) Auditions for next year's orchestras, next week
Auditions for placement in next year's orchestra start next week. If you are wanting to move up to the next level orchestra, please prepare your audition material this weekend. Auditions will be during class on Monday and Tuesday and then after school after then. I will also be hearing next year's 9th graders. If you do not audition at this time, but wish to later, you may do so.

5) Good luck to CJ (State Solo competition Saturday)
CJ is performing at 1:20pm at Lewis and Clark College in Portland on Saturday at the OSAA State Solo contest. Good luck CJ! Thanks for playing in period 6 today - you sound good...

6)  Salem Youth Symphony concert Sunday
The Salem youth Symphony performs this Sunday. This is a lovely concert - full to the brim - at the Smith Hall on the Willamette University campus. If you'd like to attend, tickets are only $5 for students - concert is at 3pm on Sunday, April 29. If you turn in a review within 2 weeks, you can receive 5 pts.
7) Check out this link...
Thanks to Alex in Chamber - he sent me this really cool link to a guy who records pop songs done symphonically - lots of tunes you know and love... check it out:

http://fororchestra.com/music/ 

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

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

For the bassists...


Bass player webquest
Bass Player magazine online       http://www.bassplayer.com/
                Victor Wooten article     http://www.bassplayer.com/article/victor-wooten-more-love/5637
Victor Wooten solo videos           http://youtu.be/ccsAc4jFPsE
Billy Sheehan     Solo video           http://youtu.be/30YT0cG2EkE
                                                                http://youtu.be/suaH-NJm12U
“Coolest Bass Duet Ever”              http://youtu.be/0wynScdeRaA
Edgar Meyer                                      http://youtu.be/aFJwFourt-g
Edgar and friends                             http://youtu.be/O7EcT5YzKhQ
John Pattitucci                                   http://youtu.be/fyTML5Ybh9w
Pattitucci Bach                                   http://youtu.be/jx9Tp8oRu9w
Esperanza Spalding                         http://youtu.be/Wb3MC_Hob44
“Super Slapping Bass (Larry Graham)      http://youtu.be/ipjTvRe7-Zg

Classical…
Jeff Bradetiech                                 http://youtu.be/9yjVwRI5aiU
Dragonetti Bass Concerto in G major       http://youtu.be/gCKZbm2v2SA
Koussevitzky Concerto, 1st movement   http://youtu.be/SDT2U3j5G00
Vanhal Bass Concerto                    http://youtu.be/Dt-bNf6h0tI
Dittersdorf Bass Concerto            http://youtu.be/PNYuRbsSJYw
Edgar Meyer                                      http://youtu.be/Sv7fSif7ddg
Gary Karr                                             http://youtu.be/EA4A7hMDfsc
The Elephant (Saint Seans)          http://youtu.be/jWUt2D0FkdU

For fun…
Octobass                                             http://youtu.be/FP1QqtGe8ts

Sinfonietta Music Theory Test study info


Sinfonietta Theory Test study sheet
You will have a theory test on Wednesday May 2, 2012. The elements of this test include theory that you should already know how to do or should easily be able to pick up. Here’s what you’ll be tested on:
Note name on a clef – study Treble, Bass and Alto clef
How many counts each kind of note gets
How many counts each kind of rest gets
How time signatures work (identifying time signatures)
Which notes have half steps and whole steps between them
Basic key signatures
Difference between a scale and an arpeggio
Intervals (basic space between notes)
What basic tempo markings mean
What basic music symbols mean
How to write music notes (note heads, correct stems)
How to write a one octave scale
How to analyze the basic meaning of music put in front of you: Time Signature, Key Signature, markings and symbols, tempo, dynamics

To see a sample of the kind of test you might get, check out:
 – check sample test levels 1 and 2 (these are from Trinity College of London’s music dept.)

Need study places? Check these sites:
                http://www.musictheory.net/
                http://www.8notes.com/theory/
                http://musictheoryblog.blogspot.com/
                http://www.dolmetsch.com/theoryintro.htm
               
Good luck – happy studying!
~Ms S

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Newsletter #26 (emailed 4.21.12)

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Newsletter #26 (4.21.12)
Contained within...

1) Recap of Districts
2) 
Salem Chamber today and tomorrow
3) Thanks you Honors Quartet
4) 4th Grade String Festival (all Symphony string players)
5) Are we going to State? We'll know on April 24
6) Check out this video... (Lindsay Stirling)


1) Recap of Districts
First of all, thank you to all the students and parents who helped run the Central Valley League band competition on Friday April 13 - we run a great show! Special shoutout goes to the following students: Chris A, Jessica, Hayley, CJ, and Linda - your dedicated help was perfect!

On Saturday the 14th Chamber performed and received qualifying scores to submit to go to State championships. Then Symphony performed and raised their scores from the week before and also qualfied to submit to go to State championships. The biggest news in the area is that though Sprague and South's chamber orchestra played beautifully - received high scores - they were disqualified from the State competition because they were under time. This is apparently a hard and fast rule - not even 30 seconds under was approved on appeal. If we are lucky enough to go to State (see number 5 below), we'll definitely miss our colleagues.

Thanks to all the students who performed on Saturday and parents who attended.


2) Salem Chamber today and tomorrow
The Salem Chamber Orchestra performs Beethoven's 6th symphony and more today and tomorrow (Sat. 4/21 and Sun. 4/22) at Hudson Hall at Willamette University. I will be playing in the viola section, next to my husband, Danny. Today is the dress rehearsal from 10am - 12:30pm. Parents were emailed vouchers and students were offered vouchers in class. The vouchers will get you into the rehearsal for free. Students, if you go for an hour and you may submit a review (within 2 weeks). The concert tomorrow is at 3pm and has a fee at the door. For more info on this concert, check their website:www.salemchamberorchestra.org

3) Thanks you Honors Quartet
The Honors String Quartet, with guest clarinetist Michael Papendieck and pianist Jennifer Garrett, performed for about 40 people at the Salemtowne Women's Association monthly meeting. Salemtowne has many residents who are great supporters of music in Salem. They were treated to Vaughn Williams, Handel-Casadesus, and Mozart. I'm thankful that we have receptive and welcoming places to play locally. Congrats, Honors Quartet, on a lovely performance.

4) 4th Grade String Festival (all Symphony string players)
This Friday, April 27 - a no-school day for students - is the 4th grade string festival at West. We'll have over a 100 4th graders from our 5 elementary schools come up to West by 1:30 to be taught a tune by West students. All string players in Symphony (all of Chamber and some of Sinfonietta) are required to attend this festival - you do the teaching! Each West student will be assigned 3-5 elementary students  who will be with you all afternoon. A pizza dinner will be provided. We will perform Kashmir (we read it in Symphony last week and will practice it this week) at the concert at 6pm. Here's more info:

Dress - Titan Orchestra shirt if you've got it (otherwise, Titan wear)

Call time - 12:30pm

Performance - 6pm

Finished - around 6:45pm (as soon as we're done and cleaned up)

I could use some parent help around 4:30pm for pizza time - anyone available? Parents are also more than welcome to come to the quick concert at 6pm.


5) Are we going to State? We'll know on April 24
The way OSAA works, if you win your district festival competition, you automatically go to State - Band won our district, so they know for sure they are going on May 12. Both our Chamber Orchestra and Symphony did not place 1st in our district, so we have to submit a CD of the qualifying performance to OSAA. Supposedly this next Tuesday the list will go up letting everyone know who was accepted to perform at the OSAA championships on Friday May 11. Cross your fingers... I'll let you know as soon as I know. 
6) Check out this video...
Lindsay Stirling is a young hip hop (dub step?) violinist who some of the students know of. Lots of high energy, lots of dancing, lots of violin-ing... 

http://youtu.be/pRPOztxXWlQ

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