Hermanson's Orchestral Wonders

Recently we have been progressing in leaps and bounds!

We have been talking about goal-setting in all grades, particularly as it relates to practicing. Please be sure to create (and record!) goals for your practice sessions while at home. If you need any help with this, just let me know.

7th Grade has learned to tune their own instruments – please remember to do so only with a reference pitch, and while plucking or bowing the entire time! You can’t tell how the pitch is changing if you can’t hear the string vibrating.

6th grade is learning slurs! Multiple notes in one bow means a much more varied approach to string playing – congratulations!

In 8th Grade we are beginning to focus on our goals and how to achieve them – shifting, intonation, and relaxation/release of overly-tense muscles – which will help the first two. You have picked some wonderful aspects of playing to focus on, and I commend you for your insight.

Here are some links that will come in handy for just about everybody:

Violin Master Class (good for other instruments, too!) Take some time to check things out – this is a great resource.

A metronome is your best friend for practicing!

It’s that time of year, folks – Festival is just around the corner. In preparation for this event, we have several during and after-school activities planned.

This week we have a quest clinician from the Kennesaw area joining us to work with our 7th and 8th grade violinists. Please be sure to attend – you will receive valuable information!!

After-School Rehearsal Schedule for 7th/8th Graders:

First Violin Sectional: 13 February (Tuesday) 4:30-5:30

Second Violin/Viola Sectional: 14 February (Wednesday) 4:30-5:30

Cello/Bass Sectional: 15 February (Thursday) 4:30-5:30

FULL REHEARSAL (Everybody comes!):
22 February (Thursday) 4:30-6:00 (newly added)
26 February (Monday) 4:30-6:00

Pre-Festival Concert: 27 February 2007
Students arrive: 5:30
Rehearsal 6:00-6:30
Concert Begins: 7:00

Additional rehearsals will be held at the beginning of March during which we will address comments given during the pre-festival concert.
CODA Festival will be held iin Mid-March. Details will be forth-coming.

Hello orchesterians! i wanted to let you know about what the Cobb Symphony is performing this Saturday:

It is a series of concerts especially for you! I’m sure you would enjoy either concert – Carnival of the Animals is fun no matter what your age.

Tickets for these concerts range from free to $5.00 – well worth it!! For more information, you can visit the Cobb Symphony’s website.

Also take a look at their future performances – I will be playing with the Cobb Symphony for the remaining concerts this year.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

1:00p.m. Concert #1 for young kids
Carnival of the Animals
When Rebecca Woogie Came to Town

3:00p.m. Concert #2 for older kids
Mozart Overture to the Marriage of Figaro
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
Woodward Piano Concerto

A few annoucements for the coming week:

Chamber Orchestra – will now meet Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:10-9:00 in order to develop our skills at a faster pace.

The 6/8 Mentorship Program will resume lessons Tuesday, 1/17. If you have any questions or new conflicts, please let me know as soon as possible so we can resolve them in the best interest of the students.

Thank you for all the support for our programs here at McClure. This year is progressing wonderfully! Keep up the good work.

And we’re off and running!

ALL GRADES:

Playing test Wednesday, 1/17 – Scales: for Intonation and Tone Quality

6th Grade: G Major scale and arpeggio
7th Grade: C Major 2 ocatve scale, 1 octave arpeggio
8th Grade Violins: D Major 2 octave scale and arpeggio
8th Grade Vla/Cello/Bass: G major 2 octave scale and arpeggio

Binder Check Tuesday 1/16

In an effort to help students organize themselves, I will begin checking binders this nine weeks. The first will be Tuesday, 1/16, and following checks will be unannounced. Students should have their binders with them every day.

Binders should include:

Appropriate Essential Elements book
Orchestra Handbook
Orchestra Calendar
Blank sheet music
Blank notebook paper
Syllabus for the current 9 weeks
Pencil
Sheet music being played in class
Any review sheets/worksheets passed out in class

Thank you for helping keep life organized for us all!Download mcclure_handbook_0607.doc

Download mcclure_6th_grade_handbook_0607.doc

Download orchestra_calendar_0607.doc

Welcome back to orchestra, everybody! We’ve got a busy semester ahead of us, so things are getting off to a running start.

To begin with, we are reviewing basic skills in all classes – intonation, pitch reproduction (call and answer, led both by myself and students!), tone production, bowing styles, rhythmic precision among other things. Please pick one or more of these topics to focus on in your practicing each day. Tuners and metronomes make wonderful practice buddies!

There will be a few changes to how class is run this nine weeks. I will send home a synopsis of these changes so all are aware of my expectations.

An annoucement from iParent:
SchoolMAX, iCue and iParent will not be available from 5:00pm Friday, January 12, 2007 through 7:00am Tuesday, January 16, 2007.

If you have any questions, please e-mail me at any time.

A personal note:
Many of you have shown concern regarding my mother and her health. Thank you so much for your kind thoughts. She passed away over the break, after a six year battle with cancer. My family has a huge support network, and so are managing well. Thank you again for your concern.