Hermanson's Orchestral Wonders

Parents – we are in desperate need of volunteers to help with Fundraiser unloading and distributing on October 6th (next Tuesday). Starting at 1:30 the shipment of items will need to be unloaded and sorted by department. After unloading, I will need 7th and 8th grade parents to help with distributing items, as I will be having our 6th Grade Informance that evening, as well.

Distributing consists of having a student runner (which are also needed) finding a person’s items and checking off that those items were delivered.

If you are able to help, please send an e-mail to Alice.Hermanson (at) cobbk12.org to let me know you will be here that afternoon or evening.

This week I will see students only once. All students have a concert in 1 or 2 weeks, and therefore should be practicing at home on a daily basis. The following students are unable to practice, as their instruments are sleeping in my lockers here at school!

6th Grade:

Arlo L.

Aerial H.

Taylor S.

Becki M.

Malcolm W.

Kevin U.

Evan N.

Janeska T.

Amber C.

Michael B.

John M.

Semou M.

7th Grade:

Alex M.

Kelsey F.

Natalie H.

8th Grade:

Sabrina A.

During Olympic Week we will only see students in class once: 1st Hours Monday and 2nd Hours Friday. Please come prepared to play on whichever day applies to you.

All morning rehearsals will take place as scheduled. School instruments may be used in the morning if you forget your instrument.

Concerning the Olympic Games:

For your Field Day, please remember to come dressed to be outside and running around all day. This includes wearing your team/country color, sunscreen and a WATER BOTTLE with your name on it. Everyone has 6 events so there will not be a lot of down time, and you will be thirsty.

Good luck to all the countries, and I hope you all have an amazing time getting to know your classmates and teachers in a different light this week!

Much news this week!

I hope everyone is recovering from such an awful storm and that you and your house came through fine. I hate that we missed so much class time together this week and I know we will make the most of the short time left before our concerts!

• McClure is collecting school supplies for both students and teachers at Clarkdale Elementary. If you are able, please donate any extra school and office supplies beginning Monday, Sept. 28th.

8th Grade Orchestra – Your homework this week is to practice the parts of the music you heard on the recording today that you would not want the public to hear at the concert. Do NOT bring your instruments until FRIDAY, Oct. 2nd - which means I don’t want to see them in the locker room, either!

General Music – We had our first playing test today over Mary Had A Little Lamb. Good work! If you would prefer to play for a higher grade, you may come in before homeroom any day this week to replay your test. We will continue learning how to read music and play notes on the A string Monday.

7th Grade – Your homework this week is to learn the second half of Swallowtail Jig and slowly speed up Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Use www.metronomeonline.com to move your tempo up slowly. We are at 140 in class, with our goal being 200 or faster. 7-1 should bring instruments MONDAY, and 7-2 bring instruments FRIDAY. Except for those two days, I don’t want to see them here!

6th Grade – 6-1 was able to bring home the bow today!!!! This means cello and bass students in 6-1 may also begin using their bows at home. All students have guidelines they need to follow when using the bow – these can be found at the bottom of this post. 6-2 will get their bows when I see them next Friday (Oct. 2nd) – don’t bring your instruments back until then, 6-2!

There is no new snake this week due to the 3 days lost from the rain and next week being the Olympics. You may continue to work ahead in your Essential Elements book and continue the note trainer on MusicTheory.net – see how fast you can go!

Bow Usage Guidelines for All String Players

• Always loosen bow when not in use and tighten when playing
• Never hold the bow horizontally with the bow hold
• Always keep fingers bent without tension
• Open and close bow arm from the elbow

Thank you to all the parents who came out for Open House this week! It was wonderful meeting new people and seeing familiar faces. Please remember that if you have any questions, you can always e-mail me.

Updates: Fundraiser orders should all be turned in at this point. If you find one over the weekend, the absolute last minute you can turn them in is Monday before homeroom.

6th Grade has a new Practice Snake for this week that includes an online activity. Details are on the back of the snake. For evidence of completion, I need either

1) a printout of the final screen showing # correct >30 and % > 85

2) an e-mailed screenshot of the above screen

3) if internet or a computer is unavailable, computers are accessible in the Orchestra room or the Media Center before and after school and during lunch if needed.

6th Grade Students will begin using their bows in class come Monday. Violin and viola players will need a shoulder rest in order to use their bows. PLEASE – label these with the student’s name!

7th Grade Students will need Essential Elements Book 2 (purple) next week as we solidify the key of Bb Major/g minor.

8th Grade Orchestra students will need Essential Technique (EE book 3 – green) for Monday. We get to begin third position work!

Parents, if you are able to join us for the Opening Ceremonies for the McClure Olympics Monday, September 27th, you won’t want to miss it – we will have our very own quartet of students performing for the Ceremonies – and on electric instruments. It shall be a wonderful sound to hear!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and a sucessful time supporting your Orchestra Program.

All Fundraising Orders and money need to be turned in Monday, September 14th.

Parents – please wrote ONE check to McClure Middle School to cover the cost of all items that have been paid for by check (the orderees should have written you a check for the amount they bought). This is Cobb County policy and also greatly reduces the workload on our wonderful bookkeeper – after all, there are over 800 students in the McClure Music Department!

Order forms will be turned in Monday and returned to students upon pick up of your items on Tuesday, October 6th. This is also the date for the 6th Grade Informance, so 6th grade parents only have to make one trip!

Thank you to everyone who has helped support our Orchestra Program. I could not offer students nearly as much to your students as I do without this support.

Our Orchestra Field Trip to see the Cobb Symphony rehearse is Friday!

Students: Do NOT bring your instrument to school Friday. We will not need them and you don’t want to carry it all evening!

Students will stay after school. Come to the Orchestra room when they call for Walkers.

Chaperones: please arrive between 4:30 and 5:20. We will leave for the Murray Arts Center at 5:30. (Chaperones will be contacted via e-mail this evening)

Students must be picked up at 8:30 from the Murray Arts Center.

Parents will need to check in with Ms. Hermanson or an appointed chaperone before leaving with their children to ensure safety.

Address: 2250 Stilesboro Rd

   Kennesaw, GA 30152-4302

The Murray Arts Center is located on the Mount Paran Christian School campus at the corner of Stilesboro Road and Barrett Parkway. We will be in the upper level to get picked up. From Stilesboro you will drive up and behind the first building to retrieve your child. Please park and come inside to find students.

Tuesday, October 13th 7th and 8th grade students will perform our first McClure Fall Orchestra Concert in the McClure Theater.

We have been asked to also perform this music the following Thursday, October 15th at the PTSA Fall Family Fun Night – what a great way to show off all our hard work!

There will be 1 after school rehearsal for each group to prepare this music:

7th Grade: Thursday, October 8th until 5:30 – with a professional percussionist! Very Important!

8th Grade: Monday, October 12th until 5:30 – with a professional percussionist! Very Important!

Report times for this concert are:

8th Grade: 6:30

7th Grade: 6:45

Students were given a notice to take home to parents last week – I hope you got to see it!

6th grade students are welcome to come and enjoy the show! They will have just performed their own Informance the previous week and should get to enjoy being in the audience!

Hello parents! For those with students in Eighth Grade, attached is the Disney information packet which contains all the forms needed to attend the Disney trip. Only the intent form is due today, along with the deposit of $125 (or Tuesday at the latest). All the rest of the forms are due no later than December 4th. Please note the medical form MUST be NOTORIZED. I will return it to the student if it is not notorized.

If you have any questions, please let me know!

DISNEY PACKET