2009-10 Chamber Orchestra meeting Thursday 6/11

There's an important meeting this Thursday evening at 7pm in the orchestra room (or, maybe it will be in the choir room) for all students and parents in next year's Chamber Orchestra (double blocked orchestra - currently called "Advanced).

If you are unable to be in attendance, please contact Ms. S!!!
silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us - c: 818-317-8218

Congrats Grads!!!

Congratulation to all 15 (actually, it's 17 if we include Kayla Johnson and Tyler King who walked at graduation but left us at semester in January) Titan Orchestra graduating seniors. Thank you for all you've done for me, for the orchestras, and for West. You have touched so many lives and have personally taught me so much. I hope that you always keep music close to your hearts - play as often as you can... and, please keep in touch.

Next year, this blogspot *might* move to the website... so please keep an eye on what we're up to - you will always be a part of this organization. We're hoping to start the tradition of inviting as many alumni as we can to come to the State concert and the final concerto concert. You're presence will inspire us!!

Enjoy walking across that stage tonight... I'm so proud of your musical accomplishments.
Musically yours,
~Daryl Silberman

Concerto Concert recap and a few end 'o year details

Thank you one and all for an amazing awards night and concert last night (Monday June 1)!!! This evening was a career highlight for me - I was so impressed with the soloistic playing and the fantastic orchestral accompaniment!!! A HUGE thanks goes to the winds and brass from Wind Ensemble who came to help us out - and to their directors for helping out! I think we have a wonderful new tradition to uphold here at West - a concerto concert at the end of the year featuring the best the A wing has to offer. Period 6 and 7 - great job playing your pieces for each other at the awards... I thought that went really well.

A few quick end-o-the-year details:

Seniors - in order to get your diploma on Thursday you need to turn in your dress/tux to Ms. Silberman. And, in order to receive the grade you really deserve in the class you need to turn in your reviews to me by Wednesday at 2:30... I'll remind you in class today and tomorrow too.

Everyone else - in order to not be billed at the end of the year, you need to turn in your dress/tux to Ms. Silberman. And, in order to receive the grade you really deserve in class you need to turn in your reviews to me by the end of this week... let's get going on those. Yes, I'll accept them next week, but let's just get them done and in to me this week... ok??? :)

2009-2010 Chamber Orchestra members and parents - we have been selected to perform at the National Orchestra Festival in February of next year. But, we need to have a meeting about what this would mean for us financially and commitment-wise. MEETING AT 7pm ON THURSDAY JUNE 11 in the orchestra room.

A treat in store for Period 7 on this Thursday - professor of cello and chamber music at U of O Steven Pologe is coming to perform for you at 1pm on Thursday. (Parents, you're welcome to come if you're free at 1pm...). He will be playing a 15 minute solo piece he's working on for a recital and then he's available for questions and answers.

Choir Concert tonight (TUESDAY)!! Come downtown to First United Methodist Church (corner of Church and State... the one with the big white spire) at 7pm tonight to hear West's Concert Choir perform their end of the year concert. This concert features Haydn's complete Missa Brevis (you can hear it by clicking the link on the right hand side of this blog... it'll be up for the next week) featuring 4 of Advanced Orchestra members side-by-side with professional musicians. The concert has a small fee to offset the cost of production. See Ms. S or Mr. Angelo for more information... it'll be a wonderful concert tonight.

Thanks all...

Summer (Vivaldi)

Hi all,

Here are a few links to recordings of Summer that might work:

Go Ear... http://www.goear.com/listen.php?v=7478467

John Harrison... http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:06_-_Vivaldi_Summer_mvt_3_Presto_-_John_Harrison_violin.ogg

Groove Shark... http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/song/Summer_Allegro_Non_Molto/3021254

iLike.com... http://www.ilike.com/artist/Vivaldi/track/Summer

On YouTube... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY2Ugpst9VY

And, the ever cool Nigel Kennedy playing the last movement... wow:
http://www.last.fm/music/Nigel+Kennedy/_/Vivaldi+-+The+Four+Seasons+-+Summer+-+III:+Presto

Watch out for those half steps!!!! See ya Monday...

Elementary School Tour Success!!!

Thanks to all Period 6 and 7 orchestra members who played at Chapman Hill, Brush College and Myers Elementary today - and, thanks too to CJ's dad Steve for schlepping the stands.

You played really well and I think we put on a great show!
Job Well Done!
:)
~Ms. S

Joshua Bell - comments from West students in SJ

News
High school students in awe of violinist visiting Salem
30 string players meet with world-renowned musician
BY BARBARA CURTIN • STATESMAN JOURNAL
May 24, 2009
Before Joshua Bell, the internationally renowned violinist, appeared with the Oregon Symphony in Salem on Tuesday evening, he met with 30 string students.
The session was closed to the press, but these students shared their reactions by e-mail:
Last night I saw Joshua Bell in concert and had the pleasure of meeting him. Mr. Bell talked to a few violin students, including myself, and gave us advice on nerves when playing and how to choose schools if we wanted to pursue a career with violins. I will take from this opportunity the advice he did give us and that music is worth all of the practice and hard work if you just try.
— Jessica Willcoxen, freshman, West Salem High School

When I first started playing the violin, my private teacher gave me a Joshua Bell CD that I listened to each night as I fell asleep. Meeting this world-renowned violinist is an experience that I will never forget. He was quite personable and had a very humble attitude about his music, making the environment much more comfortable. The passion that he showed for his music has truly inspired me.
— Megan Chong, sophomore, West Salem High School

The interview with Joshua Bell was awe inspiring to say the least. I shall take his advice that practice does make perfect and that playing faster is not always better. His lifestyle is as much of an inspiration as his amazing playing styles. Joshua Bell travels all over this world and gets to meet every type of person and communicate with them through the international language of music.
— Max Harmon, junior, West Salem High School

I owe the privilege of meeting with Joshua Bell to the Salem Youth Symphony. It gave me a larger perspective on what it means to be a professional musician, and what it means to be a "good" performer and what it means to be "exceptional." Mr. Bell said that, for him, temperament creates the exception; music is meant to express emotion, and if you lack the temperament to emote what you play, you cannot make art.
— Molly Hartshorn, sophomore, South Salem High School

I took the whole experience of meeting Joshua Bell as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It was a ton of fun for the selected few that got to meet him face to face. Josh told us about how he got started and answered our personal and musical questions, gave us tips for the future and just let us have an amazing experience. I really thank everyone that helped give us the chance to meet such a great violinist.
— Lauren Zeigler, sophomore, West Salem High School

Newsletter #29

Contained within (IMPORTANT INFO FOR PERIODS 6 and 7 ORCHESTRAS):

1) Schedule and reminder about Elementary School tour TOMORROW - May 27
2) Schedule and reminder for awards and concert June 1
3) Dresses and tuxes need to be returned in order for you to receive grades
4) REVIEWS ARE COMING DUE!!!!
5) Boot Camp reminder - times... dates...

1) Wednesday May 27 is our Elementary School Tour - PERIODS 6 and 7 ORCHESTRAS!!!!

You are released from class at 9:00am to come to the orchestra room. The bus leaves at 9:15 for Chapman Hill!

9:45 - Chapman Hill
10:45 - Brush College
11:45 - Myers
12:30 - you're back at school for B lunch

WEAR long blue jeans (no shorts) and a shirt that says TITAN something on it. If you don't have a TITANS or West shirt, simply wear something neutral on top (white or black???). Bring your instrument - cellos and basses, you are responsible for packing up your instrument - PAUL, DON'T FORGET A BOW. :)

Any student currently getting an F or low D in their period 4 and/or 6 class may be excused from this trip - please email or talk with Ms. S

2) Monday June 1 is our final concert and awards. Here's the schedule:

6pm - Auditorium - whole Titan Orchestra program... parents welcome.

Period 6 orchestra will play Trumpet Tune and then receive their awards
Period 7 symphony strings will play Wire Choir Workout and then receive their awards
Advanced Orchestra will then come up for their awards (they'll play the concert at 7pm) and OSAA pins
Advanced Symphony members will get their OSAA certificates
Seniors will be thanked and be given a small gift and a rose
Volunteers will be thanked and placements for next year's orchestras will be announced

Students do not need to be dressed up any particular way for this event. Students are expected to stay for the concert at 7pm - parents are welcome to stay.

7pm - Auditorium - Concert

Concertos:
Mozart (Gwen), Vivaldi (Kayla, Jacklyn, Daryl), Antoniotti (Taylor), Beethoven (Marika), Bradshaw (Brendan), Danzi (Anna), Poulenc (Robin and Mrs. Miller)

Then all of our seniors will be on stage with the advanced orchestra to play the traditional "Good Bye" song, Ashokan Farewell

Concert dress - Men, all black. Women - prom formal, all black, or other nice looking spring outfit. Keep it appropriate for performing.

3) Dresses and tuxes are due before school is out - for seniors, this means I need your dresses and tuxes now. All students who have checked out a dress or tux need to return them. Women - you need to wash or dry clean your dress. Men - make sure your suit is clean - not smelly or visibly dirty. Returning students, you will receive your same dress/tux back next year unless you need to change around.

IF YOU DON'T TURN IN YOUR TUX/DRESS YOU WILL BE SENT A BILL FOR $150 FROM THE SCHOOL AND YOU WON'T RECEIVE YOUR END OF THE YEAR GRADES!!!!

4) Reviews are due! Remember that all members of the orchestras have 2 reviews due per semester - at least one needs to be live. You can complete that live review on Monday night June 1 if you're not playing in the concert. REVIEWS ARE DUE JUNE 3!!!!!

5) Boot Camp schedule and reminder:

Boot Camp is mandatory for all returning Titan Orchestra members. Here are the particulars:

August 24 - 27 (Monday through Thursday)
$40 fee (free and reduced lunch may have a fee waiver - you will instead owe 4 hours of volunteer time)

Times...
String orchestra (entry level orchestra) 9 - 11:30am,
Sinfonietta (currently called symphony strings) 10am - 12:30pm,
Chamber Orchestra (currently called 10am - 3pm

Boot Camp Registration form will be handed out next week and will be due by the end of next week.

Thanks!
~Daryl S.