String Things
January 2017
Hit the ground RUNNING!
I'm normally much faster getting our newsletter out, but this month, all my energy has been devoted to getting us ready for LGPE! I'm sorry for the delay!
LGPE music for each class will be available in the corresponding folders on eClass!
Click the links below to download or print the January and February Orchestra Calendars!
Happy Birthday, Loves!
LGPE DATES/TIMES JUST IN! MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
VERY IMPORTANT: LGPE Transportation Information
This means that students need to either drive themselves or ride with a parent to LGPE!!
If you cannot give a ride to your student, please begin the process of finding them a ride to the event as soon as you can. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but with three LGPE performances in 24 hours, we can't afford another instance of not getting picked up.
MEET MRS. BETTS IN THE COMMONS AREA OF LANIER HIGH SCHOOL AT:
4th/7th period--- February 16 at 4:30 pm (our warm up time begins at 5:00 pm)
2nd period-------- February 17 at 10:30 am (our warm up time begins at 11:00 am)
6th period--------- February 17 at 3:30 pm (our warm up time begins at 4:00 pm)
Pre-LGPE Concert!
VERY IMPORTANT MEETING!! New Date! (the old one conflicted with the TRMS Orchestra concert!)
Final Orlando Trip Balance due 1/31!
Sick? Out of town? At a dentist appointment? At a game?
Make up your missed Daily Rehearsal Grade!
https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/d2l/le/content/646989/viewContent/5923337/View
It's also located on the orchestra website under "Make Up Assignments":
mvhsorchestra.weebly.com/make-up-assignments
2018 Play-A-Thon: February 2, 7:00 pm - February 3, 7:00 am
PLAY PLAY PLAY!!!
This is a great fundraiser for Orlando!! If you're hoping to use these funds for your trip, START GETTING PLEDGES AND DONATIONS NOW!! If you raise $200 from people you know, $98 of those dollars goes STRAIGHT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT!! Money needs to be turned in before January 30 in order to be used on February's Orlando trip!! :)
Here are a few of the things you can expect from the 2018 Play-A-Thon:
Scavenger Hunt
Hide and Seek
Talent Show
"Box of Lies"
Just Dance Tournament
T-Shirt Decorating
SO.MUCH.FOOD.
Dance Party
Makeovers
Karaoke
Forts!
Egg Roulette
Basketball
Volleyball
Obstacle Race
Mario Kart
Snowball (marshmellow) Fight!
Lip Sync Battle
Super Smash Bros.
NERTS. (I'll teach you.)
Surprises!!!!!
All you need to do is raise $35 in donations/$25 for member students and students whose parents volunteer to chaperone for 3 or more hours (from anyone: teachers, administrators, friends, parents) and fill out the form (pledge sheet and agreement forms can be downloaded here: http://mvhsorchestra.weebly.com/documents.html). Remember also, that since this is a fundraiser, $17.15 of the $35 you raise to meet the entry fee will go to your account! (if you raise $200 like in the above example, your $35 is covered... it's a fundraising minimum, not an extra charge! So that $98 you made off your $200 still all goes to you!!)
Parents who would like to volunteer their time for a discounted entry fee should email Mrs. Betts (paige_betts@gwinnett.k12.ga.us)!
Auditions for the 2018-2019 School Year!
Audition packets have been on eClass and the orchestra website since the beginning of November. Auditions will be January 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31 from 2:30-3:30 pm.
AUDITION RULES
1. In order of musical advancement, the orchestras offered are:
- Black and Gold
- Concert
- Symphonic
- Philharmonic
- Chamber (most advanced)
2. If you are already in an orchestra, you don't have to audition to stay in that orchestra.
3. Students in Black & Gold Orchestra will automatically move up to Concert Orchestra without an audition.
4. Students in Concert Orchestra will automatically move up to Symphonic Orchestra without an audition.
5. Students wishing to advance to PHILHARMONIC or CHAMBER Orchestras will have to complete ALL audition requirements and achieve an 85% or above on the audition rubric in order to be considered for placement in an advanced orchestra.
6. Students can skip as many levels as they want, so long as they achieve the necessary score on the audition. Ex: someone in Black and Gold can audition for Philharmonic and will be considered for placement if they reach the score cut-off (85%).
7. EVERY audition will require a short sight-reading passage. The music to be read will be appropriate for the ensemble the student is auditioning for. So a student in Concert orchestra who is interested in Chamber orchestra will have sight-reading that is on Chamber Orchestra's musical level.
These rules have been developed in an effort to promote objectivity in the audition process. That said, there is a certain level of musical and social maturity required for success in advanced ensembles (Philharmonic and Chamber, especially). If a student possesses the technical abilities for an orchestra, but lacks the maturity required of these advanced ensembles, that will factor into their placement.
Questions? Email Mrs. Betts!!
Audition Help Days: January 8, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, and 22 from 2:30 to 3:30 pm (see calendar above)
Concerto Competition 2018
Recital Format
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
3:00 pm
Orchestra Room
1. Must play one movement of a standard concerto which has orchestral accompaniment available for sale or rent.
2. Play one movement only (or a partial movement with a cadential stopping point).
3. Your piece should be memorized.
4. A piano accompanist is required. (this is different from last year)
5. If selected as the winner, the student will perform with the orchestra the movement of the concerto performed in competition.
6. Students will be adjudicated by professional judges. All decisions of the judges are final.
Students in attendance who are not auditioning may use the experience as up to TWO Daily Rehearsal Make Up Assignments!
Join MVOBA and get FREE admission to the Pre-LGPE concert!
All the money raised goes DIRECTLY to making orchestra an awesome experience for YOUR student! (Ask them about the Ice Cream Social! It was fun and FREE for them; provided by funds from membership fees! Ask about their favorite piece! It was purchased with money from membership fees!) We also offer a ton of awards at the end of the year, plus scholarships for music summer camps, cash rewards for our biggest honors, and a $500 scholarship in honor of a former student.
Every member family receives FREE admission to EVERY orchestra concert in which their student is playing the whole year! Ordinarily, tickets will cost $5 each!! PLUS, member students get discounted admission to other orchestra events (some are even FREE!) like the tailgate last October!!
It's the busiest time of the year!
Email: paige_betts@gwinnett.k12.ga.us
Website: mvhsorchestra.weebly.com
Phone: (678) 407-7632