Willow Springs Orchestra Newsletter
January 12, 2017
Parents,
Thank you so much to everyone who came out to Chipotle on Tuesday night! We really appreciate your support of our program and look forward to our next Spirit Night on Feb. 21st at Palio's Pizza!!
All orchestra's are very busy preparing for our next performance. As a reminder, ALL students are to have their own tuner to use in class DAILY. See below for more information on what tuners work best for each instrument and how to purchase one.
See below for more information on upcoming dates for each orchestra!
If you have any questions please let us know!
Mrs. Gearhart
Mr. Sloan
Mrs. Winkler
Ms. Coad
CONCERT ORCHESTRA
CONCERT ORCHESTRA IMPORTANT DATES!
Welcome back to the second semester! Here are a few reminders on orchestra dates. Please make sure that these dates are on your calendar. Thank you for the opportunity to teach your kids each day – they have started the second semester off so well! They are reading through their new music and we have seen so much progress with these kids! Please give them a pat on the back as encouragement to keep up the great work!
Tuesday, January 31, 2017- Group Picture Day – please wear or bring your orchestra shirt on this day
Tuesday, January 31, 2017 – Small Ensemble Festival – 5:00 – 7:30 PM – WSMS Fine Arts Area – Students have been working on small ensembles (duets, trios, quartets, etc.). They will have the opportunity to perform this music for a judge and receive comments and ratings. This is an optional event, but a great way for students to get feedback on their playing from directors outside our district. We will have a scheduled time for each student and this will be posted within the next week.
Monday, February 27, 2017 – Winter Concert – 6:30 PM - Lovejoy HS Auditorium – REQUIRED EVENT
Monday, April 17, 2017 – WSMS Solo Festival - 5:00 – 7:30 PM – WSMS Fine Arts Area – Students will have the opportunity to perform solos for a judge and receive comments and ratings. This is an optional event, but a great way for students to get feedback on their playing from directors outside our district. If students are studying privately, they can get a solo from their teacher. If they do not have a private lesson teacher and would like to participate in this event, they may get one from a director.
Monday, May 1, 2017 – Spring Concert – 6:30 PM – Lovejoy HS Auditorium – REQUIRED EVENT
Also, be on the lookout for spirit nights at our local restaurants and social events!!!
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA IMPORTANT DATES!
It will be a busy semester for our Philharmonic Orchestra with some important concerts and contests. We wanted to take some time to explain some of the events that will be coming up during this semester. Please take a moment to have these dates on your calendar.
Friday, January 20, 2017 – Pep Rally Performance – Any Philharmonic Orchestra student that would like to will be performing the Star Spangled Banner at the Pep Rally. Please wear your orchestra shirt on this day!
Tuesday, January 31, 2017- Group Picture Day – please wear or bring your orchestra shirt on this day
Tuesday, January 31, 2017 – Small Ensemble Festival – 5:00 – 7:30 PM – WSMS Fine Arts Area – Students have been working on small ensembles (duets, trios, quartets, etc.). They will have the opportunity to perform this music for a judge and receive comments and ratings. This is an optional event, but a great way for students to get feedback on their playing from directors outside our district. We will have a scheduled time for each student and this will be posted within the next week.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017 – Pre-UIL Contest Concert – 7:00 PM – Lovejoy HS Auditorium – Formal dress – gentleman, please make sure you have a tux shirt! We will do a uniform check at this concert to make sure that you are ready for contest! This concert is an opportunity for us to put our UIL program on stage, record it, and make adjustment for the official UIL contest day. It is a required concert and important for us since it is a tool to analyze what we need to improve upon for our March contest.
Wednesday, April 5 and Thursday, April 6, 2017 – Middle School UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest – McKinney North HSS – we will perform on one of these days – the schedule will not be released until February or March by our region chair. This is our version of STAAR testing…please avoid scheduling appointments on these days. Required Event.
What is UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest?
UIL stands for University Interscholastic League and it is the governing body of all extra-curricular activities in the state of Texas. Each year our Chamber Orchestra participates in the Concert and Sightreading Contest with other schools from our region. Our region consists of orchestras in the surrounding school districts of Allen, Plano, McKinney, and Sherman. This is a very exciting performance for our orchestra. It is a great experience for the students as it teaches them discipline on preparation for such an performance and the importance of teamwork.
We will be preparing 3 orchestra pieces from the state-approved list for a panel of 3 state adjudicators. Written critique will be given by each judge, and as with the ensemble contest we will receive a rating as an orchestra. The possible ratings are as follows:
1st Division (SUPERIOR)
2nd Division (EXCELLENT)
3rd Division (GOOD)
4th Division (FAIR)
5th Division (POOR)
The stage performance of our rehearsed music is immediately followed by the sight reading portion of the contest. In the sight reading room, we will be given a piece that we have never seen before and have eight minutes to study it. After this study time, we will play it for the same ratings as listed above. UIL Contest is an extremely important event that shows off our hard work and all parents are welcome and encouraged to come and support their students. More information will be sent home as we receive it from our region.
Monday, April 17, 2017 – WSMS Solo Festival - 5:00 – 7:30 PM – WSMS Fine Arts Area – Students will have the opportunity to perform solos for a judge and receive comments and ratings. This is an optional event, but a great way for students to get feedback on their playing from directors outside our district. If students are studying privately, they can get a solo from their teacher. If they do not have a private lesson teacher and would like to participate in this event, they may get one from a director.
Monday, May 1, 2017 – Spring Concert – 6:30 PM – Lovejoy HS Auditorium – REQUIRED EVENT
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA IMPORTANT DATES!
It will be a busy semester for our Chamber Orchestra with some important concerts and contests. We wanted to take some time to explain some of the events that will be coming up during this semester. Please take a moment to have these dates on your calendar.
Friday, January 20, 2017 – Pep Rally Performance – The Chamber Orchestra students will be performing the Star Spangled Banner at the Pep Rally. Please wear your orchestra shirt on this day!
Friday, January 27, 2017 – 5th Grade Demo performance (during the school day) – Dress will be orchestra shirts and jeans – We will be performing for the 5th graders to help them choose what music elective they would like for their sixth grade year. This is a fun concert, but also very important since it helps to continue the growth of our orchestra family! Please avoid scheduling appointments that will pull students out of school between 9 am and 11:30 am on this day.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017- Group Picture Day – please wear or bring your orchestra shirt on this day
Tuesday, January 31, 2017 – Small Ensemble Festival – 5:00 – 7:30 PM – WSMS Fine Arts Area – Students have been working on small ensembles (duets, trios, quartets, etc.). They will have the opportunity to perform this music for a judge and receive comments and ratings. This is an optional event, but a great way for students to get feedback on their playing from directors outside our district. We will have a scheduled time for each student and this will be posted within the next week.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017 – Pre-UIL Contest Concert – 7:00 PM – Lovejoy HS Auditorium – Formal dress – gentleman, please make sure you have a tux shirt! We will do a uniform check at this concert to make sure that you are ready for contest! This concert is an opportunity for us to put our UIL program on stage, record it, and make adjustment for the official UIL contest day. It is a required concert and important for us since it is a tool to analyze what we need to improve upon for our March contest.
Wednesday, April 5 and Thursday, April 6, 2017 – Middle School UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest – Allen HS – we will perform on one of these days – the schedule will not be released until February by our region chair. This is our version of STAAR testing…please avoid scheduling appointments on these days. Required Event.
What is UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest?
UIL stands for University Interscholastic League and it is the governing body of all extra-curricular activities in the state of Texas. Each year our Chamber Orchestra participates in the Concert and Sightreading Contest with other schools from our region. Our region consists of orchestras in the surrounding school districts of Allen, Plano, McKinney, and Sherman. This is a very exciting performance for our orchestra. It is a great experience for the students as it teaches them discipline on preparation for such an performance and the importance of teamwork.
We will be preparing 3 orchestra pieces from the state-approved list for a panel of 3 state adjudicators. Written critique will be given by each judge, and as with the ensemble contest we will receive a rating as an orchestra. The possible ratings are as follows:
1st Division (SUPERIOR)
2nd Division (EXCELLENT)
3rd Division (GOOD)
4th Division (FAIR)
5th Division (POOR)
The stage performance of our rehearsed music is immediately followed by the sight reading portion of the contest. In the sight reading room, we will be given a piece that we have never seen before and have eight minutes to study it. After this study time, we will play it for the same ratings as listed above. UIL Contest is an extremely important event that shows off our hard work and all parents are welcome and encouraged to come and support their students. More information will be sent home as we receive it from our region.
Monday, April 17, 2017 – WSMS Solo Festival - 5:00 – 7:30 PM – WSMS Fine Arts Area – Students will have the opportunity to perform solos for a judge and receive comments and ratings. This is an optional event, but a great way for students to get feedback on their playing from directors outside our district. If students are studying privately, they can get a solo from their teacher. If they do not have a private lesson teacher and would like to participate in this event, they may get one from a director.
Monday, May 1, 2017 – Spring Concert – 6:30 PM – Lovejoy HS Auditorium – REQUIRED EVENT
LOVE---Lovejoy Orchestra Vend & Exchange
This venue is for all participating Lovejoy Orchestra families that wish to buy, sell, trade, exchange or donate any orchestra items they no longer need. Items including but not limited to: pleated wing tip tuxedo shirts, instrument, case, bow, ect.
Private Lessons
Private Lessons are highly encouraged for every student in orchestra. Private lessons are a one on one lesson with a professional musician.
We have a few teachers who come to LHS and teach privately during class. The lessons are $20 per half class lesson.
Their availability is limited so if you are interested please contact them ASAP.
Here are the teachers and their info.
Trey Anderson - Bass
214-532-4969
Larry Latanzi - Violin and Viola
214-868-6925
Stephen Beall - Violin and Viola
304-376-9077
mrbeallsezgopractice@hotmail.com
Phillip Taggart - Cello
214-418-1278
Also here is a Viola teacher who lives in Lovejoy who teaches out of his house or will come to your house.
Samuel Kuang -Viola
972-467-7613
TUNERS!
Violin/Viola:
Korg Pitchclip: https://www.amazon.com/Korg-PITCHCLIP-Low-Profile-Clip-On-Tuner/dp/B004VVFZHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481643742&sr=8-1&keywords=korg+pitchclip
Tuner AND clip mic (If you choose this tuner/metronome combo you MUST purchase the clip mic): https://www.amazon.com/Korg-TM50BK-Instrument-Tuner-Metronome/dp/B00923H7MA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1481643775&sr=8-4&keywords=tuner
Cello/Bass:
Korg Sledgehammer Pro: https://www.amazon.com/Korg-SHPRO-Sledgehammer-Clip-Guitar/dp/B00SKJHD30/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1481643871&sr=1-1&keywords=sledgehammer
Tuner AND clip mic (If you choose this tuner/metronome combo you MUST purchase the clip mic): https://www.amazon.com/Korg-TM50BK-Instrument-Tuner-Metronome/dp/B00923H7MA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1481643775&sr=8-4&keywords=tuner