Concert Details

We are less than a week away from our first concert of the year!! I have included below the information from the blue sheet I handed out to students 12/1, just in case you didn't see this information from them (imagine that!).

Winter Concert Information

• After school rehearsal Monday 12/7 in RRMS Auditorium: 4-4:35 [Beginner Orchestra], 4:20-5:30 [Intermediate Orchestra], 5:30-5:45 [Elite].
• Concert is Tuesday 12/8 @ 7:30 pm in the RRMS auditorium.
• Students need to report to the RRMS Orchestra room at 6:30 pm on Tuesday evening in concert attire: orchestra polo shirt (tucked in), khaki pants, dark socks and dark shoes (no sneakers or flip flops). **Festive hats optional**
• Admission is free, but we are asking a $2 suggested donation to help fund the Orchestra program.
  

If you are willing to help with the concert, please email me! kle@rock-hill.k12.sc.us
(I will need people to help take money and handout programs in the lobby, and to sit with students during the concert)

Fall Fundraiser Recap

Thanks for a successful Fall Fundraiser! We did very well, but I hope we'll see even more participation and profit during our Spring Fundraiser! I was glad that almost everyone picked up their fundraiser items within the pick-up times. I'm hoping for 100% on-time pick-up next time!!

Our top selling class, 5th period (7th Grade Intermediate Orchestra), is having their Beatles Rock Band day Friday, December 11. Students who sold at least 5 items in the fundraiser to help their class reach the highest percentage of sales will get to play Beatles Rock Band! Congratulations 5th period!

Also, congratulations to Mikah Jones, who was our top seller in Orchestra, with 26 items!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Concert Countdown

Just a reminder that our Winter Concert is Tuesday, December 8 @ 7:30 pm - only 3 weeks away!
Students should be practicing concert music at home (daily is ideal). Any student interested in playing a solo or small ensemble piece on the concert must audition by Tuesday, December 1. All students need to have their polo shirts paid for by the concert so they can wear them, as they are part of our concert attire. I will be sending home details about the concert (rehearsal and report times, etc.) after Thanksgiving.

Orchestra Polos

I will be placing the order for our polo shirts around Thanksgiving. I will need all shirt money turned in before Thanksgiving Break so I can actually pay for the order! Students may use money in their "accounts" from the fundraiser to pay or help pay for their shirt. I have informed students of how much money they made from the fundraiser, but if parents have questions, feel free to email me, and I can let you know. Polos are $16, and returning students who still have a shirt that fits from last year do not need to purchase a new shirt.

Fundraiser delivery

I am sending home slips of paper with students, but wanted to post here, as well.

Our fundraiser products will be delivered Thursday, November 12. We will have pick-up from 3-5 pm that day. Please be sure to pick up your items that day, as they need to be frozen/refrigerated, and we have no room to store things here at school. If you personally can't come, please send someone to pick up your things. Pick up will be in the auditorium. All items will be on stage - look for the sign that says Orchestra (band, chorus, and dance will also be on stage).

Prizes will also arrive that day, and will probably be distributed to students that Friday (if everything is squared away by then).

Thanks!!

Spring Trip paperwork

**Update on Spring Trip**
A hold has been placed on our spring trip, and we are awaiting approval. There have been complaints about school trips to the district office (even though they are NOT mandatory), and it is possible that our trip will be canceled, and our students denied this opportunity. If you have already sent money to Stamm Travel and the trip does NOT get approved, Stamm will (of course) refund your money 100%. For the moment, do not send any money, just in case. Once I get word on whether or not we will be able to take our annual spring trip, I will update again. I am truly sorry for this, and it really concerns me that we may have to break tradition and abandon a spring trip. Please know this is not anything I have control over right now - I am waiting on word from the district office.

The only way I could get the forms on the blog were to scan them into image files. I wish they were still word documents, but this was the best way for me to get them to show up. In case you need them for reference, or if you would like to print from here, feel free.

Fall Fundraiser

Our Fall Fundraiser is underway! Students are selling from the "Best of the Best" brochure from Cobb Enterprises, and the food is delicious! Order forms and money due Wednesday, October 28. Profits from the fundraiser go into student "accounts" for orchestra expenses (strings, shirt, accessories, spring trip), and also into the orchestra fund to help pay for classroom accessories, new music, transportation for field trips, etc. Please help us raise money for our program! The orchestra student who sells the most items gets $50 cash! The class with the highest selling percentage gets a Beatles Rock Band day in class! Students must sell at least 5 items to participate if their class wins. Products will be delivered to the school before Thanksgiving. I will post the exact date when we get that information from Cobb, and I'll send home a reminder. Students will need to pick up their items the day they come in, and deliver them ASAP, as these are frozen foods, and we don't want them to spoil!!

Polo Shirts

I am taking orders for polo shirts (part of the concert uniform). The shirts are $16 and need to be paid for by the Winter concert (12/8). I am accepting money now, if you would like to go ahead and pay for it.* Students who were in Orchestra last year do not NEED a new shirt if they still have theirs from last year (and it still fits!). I have included a picture of what the embroidery will look like.

*make checks payable to RRMS

Method books

I am sending a yellow half-sheet of paper home with students today regarding method books. They are here, and we will start using them soon (probably next week or so). Books do not have to be purchased from the school, but I was able to get them tax free, so they are probably cheaper this way than if you buy them retail.

Students in Intermediate Orchestra (2nd year players) will need Essential Elements 2000 book 2 ($8). If students have money in their orchestra account, they may use this money to purchase their book. If not, money is now being accepted.

Students in Beginner Orchestra will need Essential Elements 2000 book 1 ($9). If you are renting your instrument through Bernhardt, there is no need to purchase the book separately, as it is included in your rental. If you are obtaining an instrument from somewhere else, you will need to get a book.

**Make checks payable to RRMS**

Rental Meeting

Parents, just a reminder that Thursday (9/3) is our Rental Meeting with Bernhardt House of Violins. They will be here in the Orchestra room at 5 pm to get you all lined up with an instrument and accessories. I look forward to seeing you there!

Open House

It was great to see all of you at Open House last night! I love working with your kids, and I was glad to see everyone who came last night. Happy Friday, everybody! :)

Pictures

For those parents who have not had the chance to visit our classroom, here are a few pictures!

Back wall:

New Promethean board:

New (to us) Clavinova piano:

Important Dates

Here is a list of important dates for this year:
If there are any additions or changes, I'll amend and re-post.

August
19 - First day of school
27 - Open house (7th and 8th Grade) 6:30-8 pm

September
3 - Rental meeting in Orchestra room @ 5 pm
7 - NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)
9 - Late Start

October
7 - Late Start
12 - Teacher Work Day
13 - Fall Fundraiser Kick-off
23 - Teacher Work Day

November
11 - Late Start
25-27 - NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)

December
7 - Rehearsal for concert 4-6 pm
8 - Winter concert @ 7:30 pm
21-31 - NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)

January
1 - NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)
15 - Teacher Work Day
18 - NO SCHOOL (MLK Jr. Day)
27 - Late Start

February
15 - NO SCHOOL (President's Day)
19-20 - District Honors Orchestra

March
2 - MIOSM Concert @ 7 pm
19 - Teacher Work Day
24 - Late Start
26 - Concert Festival?

April
2-9 - NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)

May
5 - Rehearsal for concert 4-6
6 - Spring concert @ 7:30 pm
7-8 - Myrtle Beach trip?
21-22 - Myrtle Beach trip?
27 - Sights & Sounds @ 5:30
31 - NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)

June
3 - Last day of school
4 - Teacher Work Day

Links

Here are some fun and informative links from the old orchestra website. For students who are interested in learning new/advanced techniques, I highly recommend the Michael Hopkins site (near the bottom of the list). Please explore these links - there's a ton of great information there!

Bernhardt House of Violins - Our orchestra's rental company

SmartMusic - SmartMusic's website with all things SmartMusic

Violin Online - Great resource for violin players

Viola Online - Great resource for viola players

Cello Online - Great resource for cello players

Music Ed. String Bass Information Center - Lots of great information for bass players

Metronome Online - a FREE online metronome (will also tune A440).

SCMEA Orchestra Division - The homepage for the Orchestra Division of South Carolina's Music Educator's Association

MENC - National Association for Music Education

SCMEA - South Carolina Music Educator's Association

FromTheTop.org - Great musical website sponsored by NPR

Cello Heaven - a message board community for cellists

Sound Junction - a cool website about all kinds of music and musicians

Michael Hopkins: String Pedagogy Notebook - lots of great information, including Quicktime videos demonstrating advanced techniques

StringSkills.com - this page has some great free downloads of music and exercises

Orchestra Blog!

Welcome to Mrs. Le's Orchestra Blog! I will be using this site as a means of communication for information regarding the orchestra program at RRMS. Our previous website is now inactive/invalid, so this will be our new home!

I want to welcome any new students to our program, and welcome back my returning students! I hope everyone had a great summer, and I look forward to a great year!

Check back periodically for updates!