“Clef Notes” #8–March 20, 2020 Updates for WSHS Orchestra students and parents Hello, WSHS Orchestra Students and Parents! I hope everyone is safe and healthy. I truly wish that this message was welcoming you back to the fourth quarter. However, in light of the current situation, I wanted to go ahead and share some orchestra news with you as we enter week two of our extended break. Congratulations to Abby Cassius, Emily Hu, Shawn Meng, Tanya Prahalathan, and Annie Zhao! They have all been accepted into this summer’s Governor’s School for the Performing Arts! Cancellations The nineteenth annual Spartan Strings Festival has been cancelled. So, do we call next year’s event the “Nineteenth, almost annual,” go on to the “Twentieth,” or something else? All-State has also been cancelled. Students will receive refunds for their registration and hotel payments. As to when and how that happens…….please stay tuned. From the Third Quarter If you have not turned in your third quarter Project/Portfolio/Presentation assignment, it’s not too late! Please email it to [email protected]. (I might also take a late Practice Plan, too!) For the Fourth Quarter If we do return to school in time, we will have our final concert on May 4 at WSHS. For Next Year The 2020-21 Orchestra Enrollment student survey is now on our home page. Please fill this out 1) as soon as you can; and 2) to the best of your ability. When we do start the fourth quarter, this will be a grade. Audition materials for the 2020-21 Advanced Orchestra will be posted soon. For Now Looking for inspiration and motivation to practice? What have you found that works for you? Have you looked at our “how-to” videos on http://whitestationorchestra.weebly.com/how-to-videos.html for videos and links? Do you have any you’d like to share? Let me know! If you want to record something and have me listen/critique, please feel free to do so. Send your recordings to the gmail address: [email protected] , and I’ll get back to you soon. Or, even better, make use of the offers found below. For You Several web-based companies have made their practicing software free to schools during this time. As I get information, permission, passwords, etc., I will make them available to you. Please note, I am NOT assigning work for you. I’m also sure, however, that many of you are looking for ways to keep up your skills, and may have limited access to music and materials. I hope that you are able to take advantage of these opportunities. As more opportunities become available, I will pass along the information. Here are two sites, so far: SightReadingFactory (SRF) supplies unlimited sight-reading material at a variety of levels. You can choose your key signature, time signature, number of measures, metronome on/off, moving cursor, etc. It can also play the music on the screen to “hear how it goes.” If you are activating a SRF account for the first time: • Go to www.sightreadingfactory.com/student. • Enter 87etfv in the Student Code field. • Select the appropriate age group. • Complete the registration information. If you had an SRF account in the past and are renewing your account: • The student should log in to their existing account and go to www.sightreadingfactory.com/student. • Enter 87etfv in the Student Code field. • Click "Extend Subscription". SmartMusic is a multi-faceted on-line music teaching tool. One drawback/hurdle is that it requires the Google Chrome browser on a computer, and it not available on Smartphones and some Android devices. There is an App that you can download for tablets, too. Among its features, it offers: Immediate feedback Students see which notes and rhythms they played correctly/incorrectly, receive a performance score, and hear their recording. Repertoire library. 150+ method books, 5,400+ ensemble titles and thousands of solos from top publishers. Create an account to search the library. Practice tools. A metronome, tuner, and the ability to loop sections are built in and always close at hand. Communication loop. Both teachers and students can see each others’ written comments on every assignment and student recording. Students can join SmartMusic by going to https://admin.smartmusic.com/join and entering the correct class code. Advanced Orch: 6th period: RTNMM-74QE3 Intermediate Orch: 7th period: QMWUM-CENZL I will continue to add content to our website, and post updates on the “What’s New” page. Please remain vigilant in protecting yourself and others from this virus. Feel free to send questions, news, information, links, suggestions for the website, etc. to me so I can share with everyone. I do look forward to making music with you soon. Dr. Palmer |
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April 2024
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