Newsletter #1

Hi! Happy start of school!

Here's the official newsletter #1 for the Titan Orchestra program:

1) Music Day is this Saturday - thanks in advance for your support!
2) Save the date - Parent meeting, first concert
3) New website is rolling out soon... yay!
4) Syllabus and handbook coming soon
5) Practicing should begin this next week...
6) Sectionals and after school Symphony begin next week

1) Music Day - a district-wide band or music day for all the high schools - is this Saturday, Sept. 12 from 8am - 3:30pm. I deeply appreciate the help of all the 10th-12th grade students and all the parents who will be volunteering hours of time to help us fund-raise. This fundraiser benefits the entire music department, but most importantly (to us) supports the Titan Orchestra program because of how many of our students and parents go out into the community to ask for donations. There is only so much the school district and West High School can provide our music program - especially in this economy. Asking the community to support music in our schools is a luxury for which we're very grateful. Some of the examples of where Music Day money has benefited the Titan Orchestra program: Special guest artists, coaches for sectionals and on days Ms. Silberman isn't able to be at school, special instrument purchases not supported by the district (like electric instruments and extra instruments for students to borrow), recordings for us to listen to, receptions for and expenses involved in producing concerts, website maintenance, and so much more...

10th-12th grade students and drivers (thanks again!!!) who are signed up to walk or work should arrive by 8am. Lunch and snack will be provided. If you will be home Saturday, and a music student (band, choir or orch) should knock on your door - please consider donating. :)

2) Save the dates:

Monday Sept. 21, 7pm - "Mandatory" Parent meeting - I'd love it if at least one parent from each student was able to be in attendance at this meeting. This is my opportunity to touch base with you and fill you in on the plans for the year. Students are welcome. After, at 8pm, there will be a college information evening, specific to orchestra students - one of our counselors from West will be on hand and there will be a lot of information available courtesy of the Career Center at West.

Tuesday Oct. 27, 7pm - Fall Concert at West Auditorium. See you then for our first concert!

3) We will be rolling out our new website (same address: www.titanorchestras.com) in the next week or two - this website will be comprehensive - all the handbook and syllabus information, as well as all documents, assignments, listening libraries, photo libraries, and the blog (yes, the blog is going to move eventually to this site) will be on the website - more about that in the coming week or two...

4) The requirements and syllabus for each class, as well as the student/parent handbook for 2009-2010 is almost finished up. We've been waiting for a few last minute details and calendar issues to be worked out. This year, in an effort to 'go green', the handbook will be put online for perusal - students/parents will be asked to download a form from our website to fill out stating that the handbook has been read. If anyone wishes to have a hard copy of the handbook, one can be provided.

5) There isn't a lot of 'homework' per se for a performance-based orchestra class, because practice *is* our homework. Here are the 'requirements' for students in our program - starting next week students will be required to fill out a practice log or journal documenting their practice time:

String Orchestra - 60 minutes per week
Sinfonietta - 100 minutes per week
Chamber Orchestra - ~180 minutes per week

Hopefully, approximately 85 homes in West Salem should be ringing with the 'sound of music' as students get to practicing to improve their musicianship and technique. :)

6) Here are sectional times and symphony times that start next week:

Advanced Symphony (all Chamber Orchestra members and interested/qualified Sinfonietta members): Tuesday 4-6pm, Friday 2:40 - 4:30pm
Chamber Orchestra - Violins Monday 2:40 - 3:30, Violas Tuesdays 2:40 - 3:30, Celli and bass Thursdays 2:40 - 3:30
Sinfonietta - all students Wednesdays 2:40 - 3:30
String Orchestra - all students Tuesdays 2:40 - 3:30

Sectionals are mandatory - this is stipulated as a condition of enrollment in class. Students may 'contract' out of sectionals during sports seasons or due to other unresolvable conflicts... please contact Ms. Silberman for more information about that.

Finale - this year looks to be a fantastic year - our orchestras are well balanced and seem to be very musical! I'm very excited about working with everyone this year. I can't believe that I'm excited now about the October concert! :)
~Daryl S.
Questions, comments, concerns... silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us

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Don't forget to check the blog regularly!
www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com
www.titanorchestras.com
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