Strings & Things Newsletter
November 11, 2020
Being Grateful in 2020
In this edition we have information about November 2020-January 2021 Orchestra dates/events. We are preparing solos for the SCMEA Orchestra Division Solo & Ensemble event, our music for a pre-recorded Winter Concert, and Region Orchestra Auditions. First...I wanted to be fluffy and talk about being grateful right now in the season of COVID:
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I was interested if walking around as a grateful person helps any of us. After a little digging around I found out that in fact, being grateful promotes quite a few things like a good night's sleep (fall asleep faster), our overall health and psychological well-being, and increases energy levels. In fact, studies suggest that people who take stock of all the things they are grateful for are less depressed, do better in school or at work, and are much happier. What are you waiting for? Start making that list! They even say that people who are grateful may even exercise more...waiting for that one to hit. ;)
Help me make this list of all the things I am grateful for (Yes, that includes you!)
- My health and that of my friends and family
- The companionship of my family, husband, and new baby niece, Sophia (You're apart of my extended family!) What family members help you be GREAT?
- Students even though we can't be together each day we enjoy the time we do have and maximize it to the fullest!
- Google Meet & Zoom, technology (keeps us closer when we are far)
- A winning JICHS football season--our FIRST in 10 years. (Go JaQuan!!)
- Tink (my fur baby, and aallll those fish)
- Playing my instrument(s) daily with our students and in and around Charleston
- Rehearsal! I really enjoy hearing you improve daily. Wow :)
- Having everything I need
- Healthy Food
- Fall weather
- Our "What's Good" sessions each day. I love hearing about all the things that excite you and make you happy
- Being a better human each day.
- Serving my community in a positive way.
- Hope that the end of 2020 will be good and 2021 has so many good things in store for us.
- What are you grateful for? What have you overcome this year that makes you hopeful?
Dig deep and I know you can remind yourself that amid a pandemic and a tumultuous political climate that there is beauty, lots of life and many blessings to count. Hang in there and I am thinking of all of your families as you navigate a challenging time.
This is what we have been getting into in class recently:
- We are still Shifting, shifting, shifting and scales/arpeggios weekly. We are getting SO good at this. Practice makes perfect!
- Concert Orchestra: Mythos, Dramatic Essay (joint piece), Elegy & Dance, and SOLOS (we are on our second or third one).
- Chamber Orchestra: Dramatic Essay (joint piece), Minotaur, Across the Wind, first or second Solos, and Region Orchestra auditions.
Our Strings kids are amazing. They are positive, patient, kind, 100% ALL In, communicative, hard-working, and terrific. I can't say enough good things. I can't wait until we have our socially distant rehearsals together beginning next week. Please communicate with me directly if there is a schedule conflict.
As always, I appreciate all of you, your children and their talent, and your support so much!
Yours,
Andrea K. Quinn
JICHS Orchestra Director
JICHS Performing Arts Chair
November 2020-January 2021 Strings Calendar
These are some dates for our groups. *Please be careful with the name of each group*. JICHS has 2 Learning Centers in the Performing Arts Center and in the Library. You can come to those areas, bring your device or Chromebook and learn in those areas. (For example, come during your lunch and participate in your 3rd and 4th period and then come to rehearsal in Room 932). Please notify me of this in ADVANCE!
Chamber Orchestra:
- Now-Nov. 18- send audio recordings for feedback to Ms. Quinn via email
- Nov. 19- Thurs. After school rehearsal 4:15-5:45 PM in 932
- Nov. 20- Friday. Turn in your Solo video by 3:30 PM on Canvas
- Dec. 8- Tuesday COMBINED after school rehearsal 4:15-5:45 in 932
- Dec. 16- Wednesday COMBINED Orchestra Recording 2:00- 4:30 PM
- January 6, 2021- Region Orchestra Audition Recordings Are Due (They will be judged on Jan. 9, 2021)
Concert Orchestra:
- Now-Nov. 18- send audio recordings for feedback to Ms. Quinn via email andrea_quinn@charleston.k12.sc.us
- Nov. 20- Friday. Turn in your Solo video by 3:30 PM on Canvas.
- Dec. 3- Thurs. Concert Orchestra after school rehearsal 4:15-5:45 in 932
- Dec. 8- Tuesday COMBINED after school rehearsal 4:15-5:45 in 932
- Dec. 16- Wednesday COMBINED after school recording 1-3 PM Concert Orchestra.
Like Our Strings & Piano Facebook Page
You'll find announcements, Facebook Live concerts, performances, pictures, calendars, etc.
JICHS Picture Day NEXT WEEK!
Next week is school picture week:
Orange Team - Monday, November 16
Green Team - Wednesday, November 18
Blue Team - Friday, November 20
We will begin taking pictures at 8:45 am. We will call the students down alphabetically as we have done in the past. Please allow all 9-11 grade students to come to the auditorium. We will call them down in smaller increments to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Teachers, you may come down any day to take your picture. We will let you go to the front of the line so you can get back to class. If you have 4th period planning, can you
On Wednesday, Virtual Academy students might miss class due to them coming to the school to take their picture. I will send out the list the day before so you can see when they signed up to take their pictures.
James Island Charter High School Music
Email: andrea_quinn@charleston.k12.sc.us
Website: www.jamesislandhsmusic.org
Location: 1000 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC, USA
Phone: 843-762-8295
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/JICHSmusic/