HOLIDAYS COMING- LET"S CELEBRATE!

December 15, 2016

Some  Beginners in their FIRST EVER MATT concert.

CONGRATULATIONS to all MATT students !

Your Friday night Mall Concert was a big success!

A great gift to your parents, and our community.

Thanks to all the Parents :Richard and Wen Lai, Bradley Georges, Shawn Ragoobar and Board Member Francis Mancuso for doing such a great job of organizing the event for us.
Our Regional Councilor brought his family to hear us. He is sponsoring us with donations to our program. Thank you Martin Medeiros!

Regional Councilor Martin Medeiros (upper left) with the MATT performers.

THIS WEEK:

We will have a year-end party during your class- time Tuesday and Wednesday. No instruments/music/stands required.

Please bring a small snack to share with your class.
There will be no Theory or private lessons Dec.19 to 24th. PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

Our resident cello leader, and baker!!

WEEK 2 Classes Theory and Lessons will resume Jan 10 

HOMEWORK:

Beginners: 

Review:

1. D Scale, 

2. Twinkles- Long bows ,

                    Mississippi Hotdog  on each note 

3.   NEW:: Run Pony (LONG SHORT SHORT) try this on each note of D scale and/Twinkle 

4. Steps to reading music!! 

                        YOUR STAFF: Treble clef (G)  for violins

                                                 Alto clef (C)  for violas

                                                 Bass  clef (F ) for cello and bass

                                                  

                                               Intermediates
All for Strings Book:

1. p 39 # 141 Review low and high: F natural and F sharp

2.p. 39  #146 

3. p. 41 # 161

4. p.41 #157- SLURS. 

5. TRY OUT p 41 # 159. SLURS across two strings- smoothly down down, up up

Advanced
Fri Dec 16th : Important event- Mayor and Oxford Head in attendance 
Towers residents' Christmas party

 Carolling at the Towers Party : 1. arrive 5pm Meet Ms. Currie outside Party room.

                 Attending: Elijah, Ryan, Tanisha, Leila, Sofia, Mya, Leah, Riley, Dania. 

 A. PLACE CAROLS in BINDERS in order below  for SINGALONG 

 B. MARK INTRO BARS in pencil for each piece

Order of singing:

1. Angels we have heard on high  INTRO last 3 bars

2.Deck the Halls INTRO last 2 bars bass BASS plays Line A alone 1st time through.

3.Good King Wenceslas  INTRO last 3 bars

4.Joy to the World INTRO last 4 bars

5.Hark the Herald Angels Sing INTRO last 2 bars

6.Jungle Bells   INTRO: BARS 7 AND 8 then CONTINUE on to START: BAR 9

C. PRACTICE CAROLS carefully for correct /notes/rhythms/sharps etc. Try to learn carols so well you can have lots of fun playing the singalong!

Thank you all for participating in this  important event for the TOWERS!

IMPORTANT DATES

1.. Fri Dec 16th: Carolling at the Towers: arrive 4:45 Advanced students attending:Elijah, Ryan, Tanisha, Leila, Sofia, Mya Leah Riley, Dania

2. December 19 week: NO Private or Theory LESSONS will be held the last week before holidays.

3.. DEC 20 and DEC 21. Last class before MATT Winter Break 

4.. JAN. 10th Classes and lessons Start 2017 with  WEEK 2 THEORY and LESSONS.

WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS, FESTIVE SEASON, and NEW YEAR!!

BEGINNERS: YOUR FIRST MATT CONCERT!

December7, 2016

PARENTS' NOTES

SEE below 1. MORE PHOTOS of DEC 3rd Rose Theatre Performance by MATT ADV. STUDENTS

                   2.Important  Dates Coming up

Dec 9 MATT Performance at Shoppers World Mall

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

SEATING: Chairs needed . Unfortunately there are only 30 chairs for the audience.If you can bring some more that would help. We do need armless collapsible chairs/stools for the cellists. Let us know if you cannot bring one for your cellist. All others stand to play. If grandparents come, please allow them to sit in the audience chairs. The program will not be more than an hour.

Students will all have to sit on floor when not playing, so please dress them in something you are not too worried about, but is still somewhat dressy for the concert. Black skirt or pants with t-shirt is good/colors good/ festive hair or neck wear also fun.

What to WEAR: new t-shirts with black or colorful pants/skirt, festive touches are fun

What to BRING:

 ALL: Instrument/ rock stop/shoulder rest

CELLOS- a collapsible armless chair IF possible -request one- if you do not have one to bring.

 ADV and INT- your program music in folder /red carol binder /labelled music stand - labelled with your name on masking tape

WHEN:  Friday night Dec 9, ARRIVE 7PM Go to storage room to leave cases and coats. Quietly wait for tuning and directions.

WHERE: Shoppers’ World Mall North Entrance on Charolais Blvd.  Go straight ahead past stores . You will be directed to the storage room to leave coats and cases.

We play in Santa Square beside Santa workshop.

Dec. 9th PROGRAM

BEGINNERS:

1.     Doh a Deer demonstration, and song Acc. by Adv Students

2.     Twinkle Twinkle Acc. by Adv Students

ADVANCED TRIO- Mya/Leah/Kalpi

INTERMEDIATES

1.     Concert Trio

2.     Sahara Crossing

                 

 ADVANCED

                  1. Pachelbel Canon

                  2. Christmas Pieces: We wish you

                                                     Carol of the Bells

                  3. Harvest Home

 8. Angels we have heard on high

 9. Deck the Halls_ all SING together    THE END 

 HOMEWORK FOR ALL STUDENTS

Daily, and carefully review all of your pieces on the program above 

IMPORTANT DATES COMING UP

4.Tues./Wed. DEC 13/14 Session 2 Begins Fees Due : $50/70/75

6. Fri. Dec. 9th Concert :ALL students perform.Shoppers World Mall arrive 7pm - 8:30

7. Fri Dec 16th: Carolling at the Towers: arrive 4:45 Advanced students attending:Elijah, Ryan, Tanisha, Leila, Sofia, Mya Leah Riley, Dania

8 December 19 week: NO Private or Theory LESSONS will be held the last week before holidays.

9. DEC 20 and DEC 21. Last class before MATT Winter Break 

10. JAN. 10th Classes and lessons Start 2017 with  WEEK 2 THEORY and LESSONS.

ROSE THEATRE INTERMISSION PERFORMANCE PHOTOS
CONGRATULATIONS, ADVANCED STUDENTS!

WELL DONE !

Thank you to our MATT teacher,Ms Yoshi. And  to Rose Orchestra players Loren, Denise, Merle, and Barbara for supporting us by playing along! 

SHARE THE JOY WITH MUSIC !

December 2, 2016

This week we begin our GIFT GIVING of the SEASON, with our MATT concerts. starting at the Rose Theatre this Saturday night.

Advanced students play during Intermission of the Rose Orchestra

"Christmas Music Box" concert. Discounts with special "Friends 50" code for friends of the Orchestra-that's us!

PARENT NOTES  Advanced Carollers! Friday evening Dec. 16th: We need a definite answer re: attendance sat this event.  Please write to Ms Currie today andrea@musicatthetowers.ca: Kalpi, Leila/ Sofia, Christian, Elizabeth/Olivia, Dania, Hanna, Leah, Riley I  need to let them know- Thank you. Friday DEC 16 TOWERS Christmas event this year will be held in the Party room, instead of the travelling road show to the building lobbies. We are invited to play carols. ARRIVAL TIME :5pm pm We will play three carols sessions at 5:15, 5:30 and 6pm.

3. MUSIC AT THE TOWERS CONFIRMED  IMPORTANT DATES : 2. Sat. Dec 3: Advanced Students perform at Rose Theatre. Arrival time 7pm.All details posted below in blue. 4.Tues./Wed. Dec. 6 /7 Session 2 Fees Pay Date: $50/70/75 5.Tues./Wed. Dec. 6 /7  T-shirt pick up day 6. Fri. Dec. 9th Concert :ALL students perform.Shoppers World Mall arrive 7pm - 8:30 7. Fri Dec 16th: Carolling at the Towers: arrive 4:45  8 December 19 week: NO Private or Theory LESSONS will be held the last week before holidays. 9. DEC 20 and DEC 21. Last class before MATT Winter Break  10. JAN. 10th Classes and lessons Start 2017 with  WEEK 2 THEORY and LESSONS.  DETAILS for Dec 3 concert.Our students will receive free tickets for the Rose Orchestra Dec 3rd “Music box” concert, and will be chaperoned throughout the evening by two of our parents, Susan Dal Dosso and Farrah Merrick. ARRIVAL TIME:  Rose Theater by 7pm, to perform carols before the concert. They will be seated in the audience for the first half . At Intermission they perform in the Rotunda. They then watch the second half of the concert which will end between 10 and 10:30 . Here are the details DRESS: New tops/ dress shirts with colorful or black skirts/pants, dress shoes  BRING: instruments and red carol folder   MUSIC : All music on program below must be hole-punched and placed  in order in the red carol folder. STANDS: ? No stands are required. PROGRAM 7:25 CAROLS:  1.Good King Wenceslas                   2. Silent Night                   3. Jolly Old St Nicholas.                   4. Carol of the Bells from 3 Xmas Pieces (to be played again later)                   5. We wish you a Merry Christmas  (to be played again later)                   6.  Angels we have heard on high                   7. Jingle Bells                   8. Joy to the World                   9. Deck the Halls INTERMISSION                   1. Pachelbel Canon                   2. Christmas Pieces: We wish you                                                      Carol of the Bells                   3. Canadian Ballad                   4. Harvest Home                   5 Angels we have heard on high #5 from carol book                         HAVE FUN SHARING THIS BEAUTIFUL MUSIC!!                                    You will LOOK and SOUND beautiful! HOMEWORK this week: BEGINNERS: REVIEW 1. perfect bow hold  (RH on chart)  Bow exercises: 2."elevator"-  Coin/eraser "Windshield wiper"  3 "Monkey crawl". BOWING - STEPS for good sound: LIft bow over string, "touch down" flat bow hair. Relax arm weight onto hand, feel the "grab", then PULL four strokes on each open string. STRING CYCLE: .MISSISSIPPI HOT DOG: SHORT SHORT SHORT SHORT LONG LONG : HOW 2 Pull four short strokes, THEN 2 LONG in the middle of the bow on each string lowest to the highest string and back to the lowest. OPEN -1 .STRING CYCLE: Play 4 x open then 4x 1 on each string. Listen for correct tuning and fix as needed Listen and fix- for tuned notes                                                    NEW THIS WEEK.  1.Continue: ALLTWINKLE LINES: 1, 2 and 3 Use the sheet handed out to review lines. Practice many times with smooth and clear sound 2.D SCALE.  D E F# G A B C# D and down again!  on the D string.D E F# G  on the A string A B C#D Coming back down the scale from high D, remove one finger at a time (cellos use fingers 1 3 and 4), then after A place ALL fingers on the D and take them off one at a time. LISTEN carefully and fix to get right sounds. TAKE THE CHANCE TO  practice lots, with careful attention to details FOR YOUR first ever MATT concert NEXT WEEK!! INTERMEDIATES Week 1 lessons and Theory  this week- CHARTS TO BE BROUGHT TO CLASS- PRACTICE  5 DAYS- AT LEAST 30 MIN PER DAY! If you consistently don't have a chart,YOU will not play in the class! Practice at least FIVE days a week. Practice scales : G and scale of D 1. AFS book CONCERT TRIO #126 for December concert Learn YOUR assigned part    A B or C#  with the repeats, first and second ending and Da Capo. First ending is only played ONCE in the song- the first time through! Simone and Reagan:  play Line A with Simone, Nathan and Jonathan. Aaron and Jeremiah, Jordan and Rashad, Julia and Aswin play Line B. All violas and Cellos play Line C 2..  Sahara Crossing -  Review through the piece counting all rests and playing in order with SIGN, Repeats and jumping to CODA:From beginning,play to BAR 63, then go back to BAR 27 S(SIGN) . Play to BAR 40 , (to CODA) then jump to BAR 64 , (CODA) to end . Play through a few times beginning to end!  Review the following: : Bar 52  rhythm, learn to  bar 61                                                        Bar 64 to the end                                                        Bar 68  PIZZICATO                                                        Bar 43- two strings at once                                    Use your practice time to work hard and perfect all parts of your music! ADVANCED Week 2 lessons this week- take your difficult passages to your lesson and make sure your teacher helps you learn them !! CHARTS TO BE BROUGHT TO CLASS- PRACTICE  5 DAYS AT LEAST 40 MIN PER DAY! If you consistently don't have a chart you will not play in the class! VIOLIN TRIO for MALL CONCERT- will be rehearsed this week. Learn your part at home . Practice carefully FOR ROSE THEATRE CONCERT: Check all counting as you play through and fix every piece a few times each. 1. Three Christmas Pieces-  short light fluffy notes when not playing melody work on your solo parts where you have the tune- make it sound beautiful!  2. Harvest Home:Review all parts and work to perfect them   violas practice Bars 17 to 20 Violin1: last three bars. 3. Canon: Review all -perfect each bar with correct dynamics and tuning VIOLAS: Practice pizz notes for clear sound . Cellos: in TUNE notes- smooth and beautiful tuning. especially B and F3 in bar 1 Violins: review and perfect all passages  for clear beautiful sounds.  4.Canadian Ballad: Review : notes /rhythms /dynamics/bowings carefully.                                                      With your careful practice and preparation,you are going to be great!!!!!

COUNT DOWN to the ROSE!

November 23, 2016 

PARENT NOTES 1. NB: HEADS UP!  No Private or Theory lessons will be held the week of Dec.19. We resume all WEEK 2 lessons beginning Jan 10, 2017. NEW DATE APPROVED for Advanced Carollers! Friday evening Dec. 16th: TOWERS Christmas event this year will be held in the Party room, instead of the travelling road show to the building lobbies. We are invited to play carols. ARRIVAL TIME :4:45 pm We will play three carols sessions at 5pm, 5:30 and 6pm. 2. Advanced class,  and others who can play the carols, must sign in your planned attendance with the receptionist this week.

3. MUSIC AT THE TOWERS CONFIRMED  IMPORTANT DATES : 1.Tues. Nov. 29th: Rose Orchestra Dec 3rd Concert tickets arrive for pick up.  If you have not ordered tickets, you can call the Rose Theatre Box office and place a n order at regular prices (use code Friends 50 for a 50% discount on tickets 2.Tues. Nov. 29th Advanced class  dress shirts/tops arrive for payment ($30) /pick up  2. Sat. Dec 3: Advanced Students perform at Rose Theatre. Arrival time 7pm. 4.Tues./Wed. Dec. 6 /7 Session 2 Fees Pay Date: $50/70/75 5.Tues./Wed. Dec. 6 /7  T-shirt pick up day 6. Fri. Dec. 9th Concert :ALL students perform.Shoppers World Mall arrive 7pm - 8:30 7. Fri Dec 16th: Carolling at the Towers: arrive 4:45  8 December 19 week: NO Private or Theory LESSONS will be held the last week before holidays. 9. DEC 20 and DEC 21. Last class before MATT Winter Break  10. JAN. 10th Classes and lessons Resume   WEEK 2 -  HOMEWORK this week: BEGINNERS: REVIEW 1. perfect bow hold  (RH on chart)  Bow exercises: 2."elevator"-  Coin/eraser "Windshield wiper"  3 "Monkey crawl". BOWING - STEPS for good sound: LIft bow over string, "touch down" flat bow hair. Relax arm weight onto hand, feel the "grab", then PULL four strokes on each open string. STRING CYCLE: .Pull four short strokes in the middle of the bow on each string lowest to the highest string and back to the lowest. OPEN -1 .STRING CYCLE: Play 4 x open then 4x 1 on each string. Listen for correct tuning and fix as needed,                                                    NEW THIS WEEK.  1.TWINKLE LINE 2 and 3 Use the sheet handed out to review lines 1, 2 and 3 of Twinkle. Practice many times with smooth and clear sound 2.D SCALE.  D E F# G A B C# D and down again!  on the D string.D E F# G  on the A string A B C#D Coming back down the scale from high D, remove one finger at a time (cellos use fingers 1 3 and 4), then after A place ALL fingers on the D and take them off one at a time. LISTEN carefully and fix to get right sounds. THIS WEEK is your chance to practice lots, with careful attention to details! INTERMEDIATES Week 1 lessons and Theory  this week-take your difficult passages to your lesson and make sure your teacher helps you learn them !! CHARTS TO BE BROUGHT TO CLASS- PRACTICE  5 DAYS- AT LEAST 30 MIN PER DAY! If you consistently don't have a chart,YOU will not play in the class! Practice at least FIVE days a week. Practice scales : G and scale of D 1. AFS book CONCERT TRIO #126 for December concert Learn YOUR assigned part    A B or C#  with the repeats, first and second ending and Da Capo. First ending is only played ONCE in the song- the first time through! Simone and Reagan now  play Line A. Aaron and Jeremiah, Jordan and Rashad, Julia and Aswin play Line B. All violas and Cellos play Line C 2..  Sahara Crossing -   Special bars to review this week: Bar 52  rhythm, learn to  bar 61                                                        Bar 64 to the end                                                        Bar 68  PIZZICATO                                                        Bar 43- two strings at once Practice the Road map. From beginning,play to BAR 63, then go back to BAR 27 S(SIGN) . Play to BAR 40 , (to CODA) then jump to BAR 64 , (CODA) to end .                                    Use your practice time to work hard and perfect all parts of your music! ADVANCED Week 1 lessons this week- take your difficult passages to your lesson and make sure your teacher helps you learn them !! CHARTS TO BE BROUGHT TO CLASS- PRACTICE  5 DAYS AT LEAST 40 MIN PER DAY! If you consistently don't have a chart you will not play in the class! VIOLIN TRIO for MALL CONCERT- will be rehearsed this week. Learn your part at home this week-end! FOR ROSE THEATRE CONCERT: 1. Three Christmas Pieces-  short light fluffy notes when not playing melody work on your solo parts where you have the tune- make it sound beautiful!  2. Harvest Home:Review all parts and work to perfect them   violas practice Bars 17 to 20 Violin1: last three bars. 3. Canon: Review all -perfect each bar with correct dynamics and tuning VIOLAS: Practice pizz notes for clear sound . Cellos: in TUNE notes- smooth and beautiful tuning. especially B and F3 in bar 1 Violins: review and perfect all passages  for clear beautiful sounds.  4.Canadian Ballad: Review : notes /rhythms /dynamics/bowings carefully        5. Red Carol binders -review all carols, to ensure you are good at them                                              ADVANCED CLASS  This is the last week before the ROSE-                                        make sure you practice carefully, and often !

ON CONCERT ROAD!

  November  17, 2016
                                                         PARENT NOTES

1. Advanced students received a letter for Parents Tuesday-
                                - PLEASE  ensure you see it!

 2. T shirt order deadline Thursday Nov 17: The following orders have NOT been received:  
        Mya Norman ;  Misha and Riley  Partington;  Sofia Popovic,;   Leah Tiwari, 

Please email (or phone) the correct size to:
                                      andrea@musicatthetowers.ca     
     
Order must be placed Friday morning - we must select the size for you if you do not.                                                                               

3. MATT IMPORTANT DATES  confirmed: 1.Rose Orchestra Dec 3rd Concert ticket orders, with payment, due Tues. Nov. 22, this week. NO extensions.  2. ALL students perform Friday eve. Dec. 9th Concert -Shoppers World Mall Dec.9 7pm - 8:30 3.Advanced Class  Rose Theatre- Intermission Performance Sat.Dec 3rd- arrive 7pm 4. MATT Winter Break: Last class DEC 20 and DEC 21. Resume  JAN. 10th 5. Session 2 PAY DATE December 6 HOMEWORK this week: BEGINNERS: REVIEW 1. perfect bow hold  (RH on chart)  Bow exercises: 2."elevator"-  Coin/eraser "Windshield wiper"  3 "Monkey crawl". BOWING - STEPS for good sound: LIft bow over string, "touch down" flat bow hair. Relax arm weight onto hand, feel the "grab", then PULL four strokes on each open string. STRING CYCLE: .Pull four short strokes in the middle of the bow on each string lowest to the highest string and back to the lowest. OPEN -1 .STRING CYCLE: Play 4 x open then 4x 1 on each string. Listen for correct tuning and fix as needed,                                                    NEW THIS WEEK.  1.TWINKLE LINE 1 Use the sheet handed out to review line 1 of Twinkle. Practice many times with smooth and clear sound 2.D SCALE. Placing the first/ second/ third (/fourth) finger on the D string.D E F# G : HOW:? The FIRST finger tip touches on the tape on D string to get the note E,  then  VIOLIN/VIOLA add finger 2 with big space for F# and 3 right beside 2 for G   CELLO:after finger 1 E. add fingers 2 and 3 with spaces between to get F# , add 4 for G   BASS: after finger 1 add 4 for F# and the G string for G (Elizabeth will offer alternates) INTERMEDIATES Week 2 lessons and Theory  this week-take your difficult passages to your lesson and make sure your teacher helps you learn them !! CHARTS TO BE BROUGHT TO CLASS- PRACTICE  5 DAYS- AT LEAST 30 MIN PER DAY! If you consistently don't have a chart,YOU will not play in the class! Practice at least FIVE days a week. Practice scales : G and scale of D 1. AFS book CONCERT TRIO #126 for December concert Learn YOUR assigned part    A B or C#  with the repeats, first and second ending and Da Capo. First ending is only played ONCE in the song- the first time through! 2..  Sahara Crossing -   Special bars to practice this week:Bar 52  rhythm, learn to  bar 61                                                        Bar 64 to the end                                                        Bar 68  PIZZICATO                                                        Bar 43- two strings at once Practice the Road map. From beginning,play to BAR 63, then go back to BAR 27 S(SIGN) . Play to BAR 40 , (to CODA) then jump to BAR 64 , (CODA) to end . ADVANCED Week 2 lessons this week- take your difficult passages to your lesson and make sure your teacher helps you learn them !! CHARTS TO BE BROUGHT TO CLASS- PRACTICE  5 DAYS AT LEAST 40 MIN PER DAY! If you consistently don't have a chart you will not play in the class! VIOLIN TRIO for MALL CONCERT- will be rehearsed this week. Learn your part at home this week-end! NEW PIECE:1. Three Christmas Pieces- we will play the first two.  work most on  your solo parts where you have the tune- make it sound beautiful!  2. Harvest Home:We are making good progress, but there is more work to be done!  NEW CUT : Bars 27 to 30   3. Canon: CUT - play to bar 14, cut to bar 43 NEW CUT : bars 49 to 53 are out.  bars 19 to 21 may be played one octave lowered. Mark it in  VIOLAS: Practice pizz notes with clear sound . Especially bar 2 : Cellos: in TUNE notes- smooth and beautiful tuning. Practice till it's easy to play the B and F3 in bar 1 Violins: learn all passages- in small sections for clear sounds.  4.Canadian Ballad: Learn the notes for the whole piece.         all above on list for Dec 3 Rose Theatre concert.                                       : carol binders to be handed out this week                                                               SOUNDING BETTER AND BETTER- KEEP AT IT!!