Orchestral Percussionists

I thought I would share this with all of you.  Way funny!  You could substitute percussionist with violinist, cellist, and definitely, violist!

CLICK HERE FOR FUNNY VIDEO

The Provo Tabernacle Fire

I stopped by the Provo Tabernacle fire on my home from a gig Friday night. It was a surreal experience. At 10:30pm parts of the building were still burning! (The fire started at 3:00am) I could see and hear the concerts played in that old building. The organ, the student concertos, the SHS choir in the loft, and the Utah Valley Youth Symphony. I will miss the old place. It feels like losing an old friend.

Term 2 Musicianship Projects

Complete one of the following projects:

Option 1:  Concert Attendance

Attend three concerts.  One of the three concerts must involve an orchestral stringed instrument.  Also, this concert program must be classical in nature; in other words, most of the musical pieces on the program should feature classical music.  The two other concerts may feature any type of musical style and ensemble type.  Verify attendance by turning in a program or ticket stub.  You may turn in a photocopy of your program or ticket stub.

If you are unable to attend three concerts off campus, you may substitute going to a concert by doing the following:

1.      Attend and watch a DVD concert that Dr. Tsugawa shows.  To receive full credit, you must arrive on time and stay for the entire showing.

2.      Selected students who volunteer to perform with another SHS orchestra may substitute performance for attending one concert.

Option 2:  Be a member of another musical ensemble

Be a member of another musical ensemble.  Ensembles include:  The Nebo Youth Philharmonic, Utah Valley Youth Symphony, Timpanogos Chamber Orchestra, and the SHS Folk Ensemble.  To receive full credit, attend all weekly rehearsals and perform at all scheduled performances that the ensemble performs.  To verify your attendance, please fill out the attached attendance log and have your director sign the sheet.

Option 3:  SmartMusic Solo

Prepare, record, and e-mail a solo of your choice on SmartMusic.  To receive full credit, solos must meet the following criteria:

1.      All students must prepare a solo that is classical in nature.  Pop and show tunes will only receive partial credit.

2.      Choose a solo that is appropriate for your skill level.  Chamber Orchestra students must choose a solo from the ADVANCED list.  Philharmonic Strings students must choose a solo from the MEDIUM ADVANCED list and may choose a solo from the ADVANCED list.  Concert String students must choose a solo from the MEDIUM list and may choose a solo from the MEDIUM ADVANCED and ADVANCED list.

3.      After recording your solo, click on the MP3 button of the take that you want to submit.  Name the mp3 file with your class period, last initial, and first name (For example: 3Atsam)  

4.      Attach the mp3 file to an e-mail.  Type in the subject line your class period, last initial and first name (For example: 3Atsam).  E-mail your mp3 file to the following e-mail address:   drtsugawa@gmail.com

For full credit, all projects must be turned in by Monday, October 25.  For partial credit, projects must be turned in by Thursday, October 28.

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO DOWNLOAD THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE COVER SHEET.  Term 2 Instructions and Cover Sheets

My Favorite Year

From Julie Christofferson, Nebo District Fine Arts Coordinator:

Dear Production Team for My Favorite Year,
Sorry for the belated message, but I really needed to tell you how much I enjoyed your musical this year.  It was delightful and fun!  The students were well prepared and did an awesome job of acting, singing and playing.  I had not seen this show before, but felt the story had a great flow to it and followed it well.  All elements came together beautifully.  Thanks again for all the long hours and stress you put up with to provide your students with this type of experience!  It is gratifying to see the amount of growth both in maturity and character that kids undergo while participating in this type of cooperative project.  Not only is it very aesthetically satisfying for the students, they learn important life skills that are hard to develop in other kinds of circumstances.  I am reminded that we teach kids, not subjects!  Please pass along my congratulations to the students as well as any other staff or volunteers who helped with the production!

Cellos Gone Hip-Hop

Found this fun video.  A neat little hip-hop video that teaches proper cello hand position and technique.  Click on the link to view the video.

There is Always Room for Cello

Term 1 Projects (Philharmonic & Concert Strings only)

Complete one of the following projects:

Option 1:  Concert Attendance

Attend three concerts.  One of the three concerts must involve an orchestral stringed instrument.  Also, this concert program must be classical in nature; in other words, most of the musical pieces on the program should feature classical music.  The two other concerts may feature any type of musical style and ensemble type.  Verify attendance by turning in a program or ticket stub.  You may turn in a photocopy of your program or ticket stub.

If you are unable to attend three concerts off campus, you may substitute going to a concert by doing the following:

1.      Attend and watch a DVD concert that Dr. Tsugawa shows.  To receive full credit, you must arrive on time and stay for the entire showing.

2.      Selected students who volunteer to perform with another SHS orchestra may substitute performance for attending one concert.

Option 2:  Be a member of another musical ensemble

Be a member of another musical ensemble.  Ensembles include:  The Nebo Youth Philharmonic, Utah Valley Youth Symphony, Timpanogos Chamber Orchestra, and the SHS Folk Ensemble.  To receive full credit, attend all weekly rehearsals and perform at all scheduled performances that the ensemble performs.  To verify your attendance, please fill out the attached attendance log and have your director sign the sheet.

Option 3:  SmartMusic Solo

Prepare, record, and e-mail a solo of your choice on SmartMusic.  To receive full credit, solos must meet the following criteria:

1.      All students must prepare a solo that is classical in nature.  Pop and show tunes will only receive partial credit.

2.      Choose a solo that is appropriate for your skill level.  Chamber Orchestra students must choose a solo from the ADVANCED list.  Philharmonic Strings students must choose a solo from the MEDIUM ADVANCED list and may choose a solo from the ADVANCED list.  Concert String students must choose a solo from the MEDIUM list and may choose a solo from the MEDIUM ADVANCED and ADVANCED list.

3.      After recording your solo, click on the MP3 button of the take that you want to submit.  Name the mp3 file with your class period, last initial, and first name (For example: 3Atsam)  

4.      Attach the mp3 file to an e-mail.  Type in the subject line your class period, last initial and first name (For example: 3Atsam).  E-mail your mp3 file to the following e-mail address:   drtsugawa@gmail.com

For full credit, all projects must be turned in by Monday, October 25.  For partial credit, projects must be turned in by Thursday, October 28.

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO DOWNLOAD THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE COVER SHEET.  Term 1 Project Instructions and Cover Sheet

Great Start!

Thank you to everyone for a great start of the 2010-2011 school year.  I thought our opening concert and potluck dinner was well attended.  Many of your parents commented that they enjoyed the concert and after concert social.  Parents who walked through our new room were impressed by the new lockers and extra practice rooms and storage.  They all seemed excited for us that we will finally have a nice modern classroom to rehearse.

As an extension to our classroom, this blog site will help all of us stay connected.  I will post announcements, assignments, mp3 recordings, forms, and documents.  You can always find when the next concert or rehearsal is by the Google calendar posted at the top of the blog site.  Read quick announcements and thoughts from my Twitter posts.  You can also connect directly to the Springville High School Orchestra's Facebook group from this blog site.

Again, thanks for a great start.  I am looking forward to a great year making music together.

Sam

Music Room Renovations

Attached are videos of the latest music room renovations.  The above video is of the progress being made on the inside.

 
A video of the outside.