Winter Concert Seating Results

Here is the seating for the winter concert.

Winter Concert Seating

Pacem Noel Practice Parts

Here are the rehearsal links to the parts for Pacem Noel as promised.  Students can download their part to play along and practice.

Pacem Noel Violin 1
Pacem Noel Violin 2
Pacem Noel Viola
Pacem Noel Cello
Pacem Noel Bass

The Importance of Home Practice

I gave my students a short lesson this week:

If you open a bank account and invest $0, when it comes time to make a withdrawal, how much money will you get out of it?

Therefore, if you play an instrument and invest 0 practice time, when it comes time to perform, how much talent will you get out of it?

Home practice is where students make the biggest difference in their playing abilities.  2 hours a week is a great goal time.  If they take their instrument home on the weekends and invest only 30 minutes per day, it can completely change how confident they are in their music.  Students that can play with ease enjoy playing more.

If you are having trouble getting your child to practice, do some investigating.  Find out what it is they don't like about practice time.

Takes too long?  Break it up in to 10-15 minute sessions.
Bored with our music?  Get thee to a music store!  There are hundreds of fun pieces written for solo instruments within their playing range.
Music is too hard?  It won't get any easier unless you spend the time learning it.
Don't like playing alone?  Practice with a recording of your music (my favorite thing to do.)  Or get together with a buddy and play your parts together!  Orchestra jam session!

Here are links to our concert music if they would like a play-along track:
http://www.jwpepper.com/Miniature-Symphony/10050362.item
http://www.jwpepper.com/Saint-Nick%27s-Canon-on-the-Housetop/10008664.item
http://www.jwpepper.com/Pacem-Noel/10093772.item

Practice Tools

As we settle in to the new school year, I thought some tools to assist with practice time would be valuable.  I will permantly link to all of these in the Private Lessons and Practice section as well.

www.musictheory.net
For learning and practicing note names, key signatures, chords, etc.
My favorite feature is the Note Identifier.  Go to Exercises, then Note Identification.  Click on the Customization checklist in the upper right hand corner to change clef signs and set limits on the notes you see.  You can toggle note name helpers on or off and even include flats and sharps.  It gives you a percentage of correct answers when you finish.

www.musictechteacher.com
Games, quizzes, and lessons on music and music technology.
Under Quizzes, click on Quizzes/Games.  Try Fling the Teacher--it's a fun way to do musical math with a satisfying reward at the end.

www.smartmusic.com
The MOST useful practice tool I can recommend.
This website requires a subscription, but it is worth every penny when your child actually wants to practice.  Hundreds of pieces to play along with, including every piece in our method book.  Records and grades the performance and gives immediate feedback on what notes were correct.

Welcome Back to Orchestra!

As we begin our 2013-2014 school year, just a quick note to welcome all of my new and returning students.  I have a lot of fun activities planned for this year and SO MUCH new music it will make your fingers twitch.  I am looking forward to getting to know all of you better and hearing you play every day.

Check out the new features on the blog.  I have added a list of private teachers in the area that will be updated whenever I hear of a new instructor.  I am also adding links to every paper I send home just in case it gets "lost in a bookbag."

I can't wait to hear about your summer, see how much you've grown (that's right--I'm still not shrinking), and hear you play!

Spring Concert Time!

It's FINALLY time for our spring concert.  The Berry Shoals Orchestras are so excited to play for their friends and families this Thursday.  Here are the details in case my reminder didn't make it home this week.

DATE: Thursday, May 23rd

TIME(S): 1:30 at Berry Shoals gymnasium
                 6:00 at Fine Arts Center (be there by 5:30)

WEAR: Orchestra formal--white on top, black on bottom.
              white blouse, polo, or button up
              black pants, skirt, or capris and black shoes or sandals
              Please NO t-shirts, jeans, flip-flops, or athletic shoes

As a respectful audience member, please remember to turn off or silence cell phones before the program begins.  Also, all orchestra members are required to stay for the extent of the performance.  No worries--it's not that long, and you might even like it!  :)

I look forward to seeing you all there on Thursday.

Private Lessons

As we look forward to summer vacation (and I know we all are!) private lessons are something to consider to keep your child playing all summer and to help them advance quickly in a short period of time.  Lessons will be necessary for those students interested in auditioning for Region Orchestra in the fall.  They can also assist students who feel they may be a little behind, or who are looking for some more advanced music to learn. 

A few local teachers are holding summer studios and would love to have some more students.  I will update this list as I get more information.

Violin and Viola
Tina Pulley    tina.pulley@spart5.net  (teaches lessons at Florence Chapel over the summer)
Meredith Pendley    meredith.brittingham@spart5.net

Cello
Jennifer Diehn    diehnJC@spart6.org

New Recruits!

Welcome to orchestra enrollment!  We are very excited to be welcoming in the new class of Berry Shoals Orchestra members.  Remember to visit BRSH on April 30th or May 6th to sign up for orchestra in the 2013-2014 school year.  You can choose from violin, viola, cello, or bass.

Hope to see you soon!