All the latest information!
(Be sure you look at the school that the announcement applies
to...scroll down to see older announcements)
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Updated: September 9, 2008
All Grades
COOKIE CONCERT DATE CHANGE:
The new date is Monday, March 16th (see
Calendar)
LONG-TERM SUB CONTACT INFORMATION:
Mrs. Valerie Doerrfeld's contact information will be:
Phone: 425-837-5750, Email:
doerrfeldv@issaquah.wednet.edu
Should you have any questions about the orchestra
program, please get in touch with her, as she'll be my substitute
from September 15th-December 19th.
Thanks so much!!
~Mrs. Ewing |
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Updated: September 2, 2008
All Grades
Reminders:
-
Materials, Instruments, and Handbook Signature
Forms are due on Monday, September 8th. If your student is
playing a cello or bass, please have them turn in the school
instrument rental form a.s.a.p. The fee should be paid to the
bookkeeper.
-
7th Graders: The Puyallup trip is on Thursday,
September 18th. Mark it on your calendars and get ready to "Do the
Puyallup!"
-
The District has started sending out registration
information to the 5th grade classes! Here's the link to the
information on the District webpage:
http://www.issaquah.wednet.edu/district/departments/elementary/orchestra.asp
Or, you can go to my
Beginners page
for more information.
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Updated: August 2008
Hello Students! I'm excited to let you know
that we have a sub for the time that I will be on maternity leave
(September 12-December).
INTRODUCING: MRS. VALERIE
DOERRFELD!!!
She's an accomplished musician (a cellist!),
performer, and teacher. We're so lucky to have her. I look forward
to you meeting her once school begins (you might have even met her
before...she's helped out in class during solo/ensemble, and was
even a solo/ensemble judge at IMS last year!).
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Updated: February 8, 2008
Grades 8-9
Registration!
It’s
scheduling time and I want to make sure that all our musicians
know how to plan for music in their high school career. We music
teachers are very aware of how difficult the planning process
can be, as are the counselors, so if you have any questions or
you’re worried about how to fulfill high school requirements,
please feel free to ask me or your counselor.
Here is a
sample schedule for four years of music in high school:
IB
and Music HS Schedule
Both high
schools have well-recognized music programs and teachers; they’d
love to have each student continue in order to keep our
district’s program as strong as it has been in the past. Of
course, there’s always the wonderful benefits of staying in a
music program, such as increased test scores (ORCHESTRA
musicians outscore the ENTIRE student population on their WASL
exams…we’ve collected the data locally and regionally!),
scholarships in college, AND students who were in school
music programs are tracked as being more successful and earning
higher incomes in adulthood…who can argue with that?! Not
that I’m biased…I’d love to see them continue as well!
Evergreen
Philharmonic Auditions (due the first week of April):
Click here
for:
Audition materials
If your
student is interested in auditioning for Evergreen, the
auditions are due in April (first week). The link doesn’t work
on
www.evphil.issaquah.wednet.edu, but the website still has
helpful information about preparing an audition. Read it
carefully!!!
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Updated: February 2008
Grades 5-9
March Madness is Coming!
PLMS:
Solo and Ensemble takes place at Issaquah Middle School on
Saturday, March 15th. Please check your calendars to assure that
your student is able to participate (they'll receive extra credit
for doing so!).
Cookie Concert! It's that time of year to see
where your student started and how much they've grown or will grow
as a musician. The Cookie Concert (March 5, 7:00 PM, PLMS Gym)
features students from our 5th grade orchestra, all the way through
our very talented, and Disney-bound 8th grade class.
Fifth graders will be visiting PLMS on March 24th
to see the school and hear the music groups perform (band,
orchestra, choir). Our 8th grade orchestra (Wolverine
Philharmonic) will be performing in an assembly on that day.
PCFC:
Orchestra II Festival will be held at Mt. Si High
School on Tuesday, March 18th. Plan to miss school on this
day, as it is an all-day event! Parents, we'll need
chaperones...please email if you're interested!
One day later, we'll be performing for families at
our orchestra concert! The concert will be at SKYLINE HS
on March 19th at 7:30 PM. Please make arrangements now for
transporting your cello or bass to the school.
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Updated: November 30, 2007
Grades 5-9
This is the
time of year I often get asked about where to buy music supplies
for gifts, etc. I’ve included a list of items that students
could benefit from having in orchestra, as well as some websites
with great gift ideas.
If you’re
considering purchasing an instrument, the websites listed are
much more trusted sites to get an instrument than what you’ll
find at Target, Ebay and Costco (which some music stores won’t
work on due to their quality). If you need recommendations,
please feel free to email.
Orchestra
supplies:
-
Violins &
Violas: Shoulder rests (I suggest the brands Kun or
Wolf…make sure you check the size of the instrument before
ordering)
-
Cellos &
Basses: End-pin anchors (any brand is fine)
All
instruments:
-
Tuners and
Metronomes: I like the “Korg” chromatic tuner, model CA-40
and there are metronomes at a variety of prices (no
particular suggestion)
-
Music
stand for at home practice (any kind is great)
-
Sturdy
cases or instrument bags (they can be kind of spendy!)
-
Mutes
(they run about $1.00 online…the brand is “Tourte”)
-
Instrument
polish and clothes (make sure these are for string
instruments)
WEBSITES:
www.sharmusic.com,
www.swstrings.com,
www.musicmotion.com,
www.friendshiphouse.com,
www.jwpepper.com (sheet music)
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Updated: November 7, 2007
Grades 6-8
Our first concert is just around the corner!
Date: Thursday, November 15th
Time: Students need to arrive at 6:30 PM, concert
starts at 7:00 PM
Location: PLMS Gym (students should unpack in the orchestra
room or in the commons)
Uniform: All students will be wearing their navy blue polo
shirts with black pants (or a skirt that is below the knee when
sitting), black socks/nylons, and black shoes.
Cellists and Bassists: You are required to
use your instrument from home. Please make sure it is in good
playing condition before Thursday evening. I am unable to do
major repairs just before the concert. If a cello needs tuning
or tapes, please arrange to bring it to school sometime before the
15th. If it is dropped off in the morning, I can have it done by the
afternoon.
From the 2007-2008 Handbook:
"Each Orchestra member is expected to be in attendance for the complete
concert, at the appointed time, with their music, instrument and the
proper attire."
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Updated: September 28, 2007
5th Grade: Pine Lake's group
(DI and SH students) will meet on Monday, October 1st in the PLMS
orchestra room (C-4). Beaver Lake's group (EN, CaR, and CH students)
will meet on Tuesday, October 2nd in the band room (M-3). I look
forward to meeting the new students! If you didn't have time to
register or don't have an instrument yet, COME ANYWAY! I'll collect
any new registrations and send them along to the elementary
bookkeeper.
6th-8th Grade: Shirt order
forms were due this week. If you have not paid for your shirt,
please do so a.s.a.p. We'll see the shirts in 2-3 weeks. 8th
graders: Disney registration packets went home and are due on
October 12th!
9th Grade: We'll be measuring
gentlemen for tuxes on Monday and Tuesday. If you come knowing your
height, it will makes things a bit quicker! Tuxes are $99.00 to rent
- scholarships are available to those in need. Please email or call
if you're interested. |
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Updated: September 6, 2007
All Grades
Reminders:
-
Materials, Instruments, and Handbook Signature
Forms are due on Monday, September 10th. If your student is
playing a cello or bass, please have them turn in the school
instrument rental form a.s.a.p. The fee should be paid to the
bookkeeper.
-
7th Graders: The Puyallup trip is on Friday, Sept.
21st. Mark it on your calendars and get ready to "Do the
Puyallup!"
-
The District has started sending out registration
information to the 5th grade classes! Here's the link to the
information on the District webpage:
http://www.issaquah.wednet.edu/district/departments/elementary/orchestra.asp
Or, you can go to my Beginners page
for more information.
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Don't forget about summer camps!
Music in the
Park (an IHS/Evergreen Philharmonic Summer Camp)
Seattle Youth Symphony
Camps (Marrowstone and Marrowstone-in-the-City
Bellevue Youth Symphony Camp
Hammond Ashley Double Bass Workshop
Laughing Horse
Music Festival
Rock 'n'
Roll Camp for Girls
Experience Music Project
Music Works NW
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