Hermanson's Orchestral Wonders

Due to weather, 7th and 8th grade’s clinic schedule for this afternoon (4:30-6:00) must be postponed.

I will post the new date(s) as soon as I hear back from clinicians, hopefully by this evening. Please check back frequently.

8th Grade: Our Concert with Harrison High School is Tuesday. I only have 8 permission slips so far! If you lost yours, please download, fill out and turn in the slip below ASAP.We will perform 1 – 2 pieces alone for the audience and Pirates II together with all the middle schools and Harrison. It should be a great performance!

Performance begins at 7:30 in the Presidential Gym. We will be finished by 8:15 at the latest.

Harrison Concert Permission

Parents - We will need at least 1 other chaperone to make this field trip happen. Please let me know if you are able to help. You can drive to Harrison – no need to ride the bus.

All 7th and 8th Students:

Our Pre-Festival Clinic is in just over a week (March 2nd). It will be directly after school (4:30-6:00) and I will provide pizza from 6:00-6:30 should you wish to stay. All students must attend the Pre-Festival clinic in order to play at Festival. Any student that does not attend the clinic will need to play their music for me individually twice – once that week, and again for missing Festival later in March.

School clothes are fine for the clinic. Parents are encouraged to come watch a leading conductor from the area work with their students – Mr. David Doke from Hillgrove HS for 7th grade and Mr. John Concklin from the Cobb Symphony for 8th grade.

Events this week:

Note: All classes will meet every day, despite the odd schedules for Stars and Strikes. You are expected to have your instrument every day.

Tuesday: 8th Grade Violin Sectional (4:0-5:30)

General Music Make-an-Instrument projects due

Thursday: 8th Grade Viola/Cello/Bass Sectional (4:30-5:30)

• Cultural Arts Night – Fiddle Group Performing at 7pm

Friday: 8th Grade Permission Slips due for Harrison Concert

• Field trip to the Cobb Symphony Orchestra Open Rehearsal (after school; pick up at Murray Arts Center at 8:30)

Look on the calendar for things coming up next week for 7th grade!

We are planning a field trip to see the Cobb Symphony Orchestra (with myself on stage playing cello) rehearse their concert program for their Valentine’s Weekend performance. Come see the professionals doing what the students do in class!

Attached below is the information and permission slips to attend. This field trip is open to all Orchestra students, and we will need several parents to help chaperon.

If any parent is able to leave their car at McClure and travel on the bus to the Murrary Arts Center (corner of Stilesboro and Barrett Pkwy – less than 3 miles from school) that would be wonderful, as we will need chaperones on each bus, and I am sure we will have at least 2 busloads of students participating.

Date: Friday, February 12th from 4:30-8:30. Transportation TO the Murray Arts Center and dinner (pizza) will be provided for all participants. Parents need to plan on picking their student(s) up by 8:30 at the Murray Arts Center - or come at 7:30 to enjoy the rehearsal, as well.

Permission slips are due Friday, February 5th. We are requesting $7 per student, which covers dinner, transportation and admittance into the rehearsal, as well as the pre-rehearsal talk about the music on the program.

CSO Rehearsal permission Slip

CSO Open Rehearsal Info Sheet

If you have any questions, please let me know. I look forward to seeing everyone in the audience!

As many students have not turned in he Instrument Rubric Descriptions, it is linked below. You may download it and turn in by FRIDAY, January 28th for full credit, or for half credit if after the 28th.

Directions:

For each circle, describe what an appropriate and correct demonstration would look like when you are playing. e.g. – What does a proper left hand look like? There should be 15 circles total (11 for 6th grade).

6th Graders: Do not complete the circles under “Bow Control” as we have not gotten to that point in class yet.

Assessment Review Checklist

Let me know if you have any questions!

The students have all left for the winter break, and several have forgotten their instruments. This means you cannot play for your family or keep up the skills we have learned recently over the long break.

If your name appears below, you may come get your instrument Monday, December 21st before 2:00pm.

8th Grade:

• M. Davis
• A. Kishor

7th Grade:

• A. Yampierre
• N. Turnbough
• J. Sciortino
• H. Fessette

6th Grade:

• J. Harper
• K. Hardin
• M. Cherioli
• I. Cline
• J. Abbott
• S. Moore
• S. Mar
• V. Tucci
• M. Silva

Have a wonderful holiday! I hope everyone rests up, enjoys time with loved ones and gets to have some fun. See you in 2010!

That’s it – we’ve completed another calendar year!

All grades have been completely updated. If your records differ from Pinnacle, please let me know and bring me any papers that show a different grade.

All students should have brought their instruments home today for the holidays. There are several violins and violas still in the locker room, so if one belongs to you, please be sure to pick it up tomorrow! The school does not turn on it’s air over the holidays, and no instruments should be left here – you should be playing for family!

If you need anything over the break, I will be checking e-mail periodically – just let me know!

Have a wonderful holiday season, and I hope everyone gets to spend lots of time with family and friends over the break! See you in 2010!

6th Grade: Your snake is now on the Practice Snake Page! If you cannot print it out at home, I will have one waiting for you on Monday.

All Grades! – Concert is THIS THURSDAY! You all have things that need attention, so please be working on them. If you would like to hear your songs, please visit www.jwpepper.com or www.lucksmusic.com and search the song title to find a mp3 to listen to of your song. If one site doesn’t have it, the other will.

After School Rehearsals:

Monday: 8th Grade

Tuesday: 7th Grade

Wednesday: 6th Grade (Thank you parents! We have several who have volunteered to help supervise this rehearsal!)

Concert is Thursday. Dress is Black and White for 6th and 7th, all black for 8th grade.

We are still in need of a reception coordinator for this concert. I have had many parents offer to bring food and supplies, but without a coordinator, the reception will not be able to happen. If you can fill this role, please e-mail me at McClureOrchestra(at)gmail.com.

Also, many of you know that the Cobb Symphony’s Holiday Concert is tomorrow, December 5th. I hope every who comes will find me and say hello – and don’t forget any concert attended outside of school can be used as extra credit! If you want details for tomorrow, please visit www.CobbSymphony.org.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Cobb Symphony is hosting the NoteWorthy 5K in February. If you are interested in stretching your legs and meeting fellow music and running lovers, then come join us. Even I will be there (walking most of the course, I am sure).

For more information, please visit:

http://cobbsymphony.org/noteworthy.htm

This is a completely voluntary activity that I have heard interest in, so I thought I would share it with everyone.

I hope to see you there!

Chamber Musicians,

I am currently planning on being at school tomorrow, though I may not feel 100%.

See you in the morning!

-Ms. Hermanson