CLASS PHOTO DAYS THIS WEEK

April 27, 2016

   “Where words fail, music speaks.” 
                               ― Hans Christian Andersen                          



        WEAR YOUR MATT T SHIRTS AND A SMILE !

This week we'll have a Professional photographer taking some professional shots for our NEW WEBSITE and POSTERS. So bring your smiling faces with you to class!

PARENTS INTERVIEWS SIGN UP STARTS THIS WEEK Please find a suitable slot for a brief Parent meeting with Andrea; scheduled for 3 to 6 pm  May 25,26,27 

HOMEWORK

ADVANCED  


 Ensemble A May 10 plays second piece for Adv class,Starts Trio music for concert
 Ensemble B works on second piece  May10  to be performed in concert

Watch VIDEO Tape of April 26! :La Paloma   

 June 14th CONCERT   PIECES: 
Land of the Silverbirch: FINALE

Brandenburg Concerto

La Paloma

Sine Nomine

 Danny Boy

Star Wars -first section  NEW: Second section  .

          -----------------------------------------

INTERMEDIATE

                                     PIECES for JUNE CONCERT: 

FINALE piece for all coming to you next week.
Christian's solo, accompanied by student orchestra

1.Baroque Fanfare  violin 2 : learn all SOLI PARTS WELL- you have the TUNE !!!

2.Bows on the Bus please note the CUT and practice getting used to the "jump"

3. Pizzicato Magic
4. Minuet by Handel- for concert

                                                                

BEGINNERS

 FOR THE CONCERT you will play the SHOW OPENER with Intermediate students  part of the Bows on the Bus selection, which includes:
             practice well so you can have fun playing these songs  without music.

1.Long Long Ago

2.Lightly Row - ALL lines

3.Twinkles:  mississippi hot dog  

4. THIS WEEK : NEW  READING THE D SCALE AFS page 25 #73
  ALL FOR STRINGS continue #30 and on

Daily warm up:ONE OF:  D Scale, a Twinkle Rhythm including"I stop & you stop"  

PARENT INTERVIEWS AND LESSON REPORTS COMING U[P

April  21, 2016 
         
― from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone :
          “Ah, music,"  he said, wiping his eyes.
                             "A magic beyond all we do here!”  
                                                                                                                     J.K.Rowling

WARM THANKS TO THE ADVANCED ENSEMBLE STUDENTS

WHO WERE ABLE TO PERFORM at THE "SIGNING CEREMONY" April 21st evening. 

PHOTOS will be forthcoming- check in again in a day or two !
YOU DID US PROUD!! And thank you parents for making this happen!

APPLAUSE FOR A GREAT PERFORMANCE

OXFORD MANAGER BERT STEENBURGH

TEACHER'S  REPORTS and INTERVIEWS COMING UP SOON
Annual 15-minute  Parent meetings with Andrea are coming up within the next three weeks. This time we will have a Private lesson progress report from our teachers to discuss, if desired, as well as parent comments and suggestions. It is a very important meeting for Andrea, since she is very interested in your views about MATT and rarely has the opportunity to communicate one -on- one with parents .

An interview  schedule will be ready within the next week. Please select a time suitable for you to attend. 

SOUND BYTES FROM ADMINISTRATION

The MAY calendar will be available this Tuesday/Wednesday - Copies will be available.  Please check your email for your e-copy. PLEASE  NOTE - there are LOTS of notable dates on this calendar. Be sure to  READ it THOROUGHLY!  THERE are LESSON ADJUSTMENTS for FRIDAY SATURDAY classes IN MAY due to long week-end.

HOMEWORK

ADVANCED  

ENSEMBLES rehearse this week April 26th -  Theory Room  4:50 TO 5:40                
Same Day: Ensemble 2 is asked to perform for Intermediates -end of class: 5:40  
Next week Ensemble A plays again for Adv class.

An Advanced ensemble, or two, will perform at the concert. Selection to be decided. Learn both of you current pieces well-both to be played for class .

VIDEO TAPING April 26! :La Paloma   we'll rehearse it twice then put it "on record!"

 June 14th CONCERT   PIECES: 

Brandenburg Concerto

Land of the Silverbirch

La Paloma

Sine Nomine
  additional student request for concert: DANNY BOY

                                                                          NEW: Star Wars -first section only  .

          -----------------------------------------

INTERMEDIATE

 YOU WILL BE PLAYING THE FOLLOWING PIECES for JUNE CONCERT: 

1.Baroque Fanfare  violin 2 : learn all SOLI PARTS WELL- you have the TUNE !!!

2.Bows on the Bus

3. Pizzicato Magic

NEW: Minuet by Handel- for concert!

                                                                ENJOY PLAYING AND LEARNING THESE WELL!

  .

          

BEGINNERS

 FOR THE CONCERT you will play for SURE:

1.Long Long Ago

2.Lightly Row -we now have learned ALL lines

3.Twinkles:  mississippi hot dog  

4. And MORE to be decided! Something new from AFS book will be played in concert 

THIS WEEK : ALL FOR STRINGS: Review AGAIN: page 16-18 # 25 to 28

HOME PRACTICE work on three above pieces for concert

Daily warm up:ONE OF:  D Scale, one Twinkle Rhythm including"I stop & you stop"  

THE AFTERGLOW - A JOB WELL DONE

   BY THE WAY:  THANK YOU SHAIDA SHIRAZI, YOUR FINE"EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY"

        AND :TO SEAN PARTINGON FOR YOUR CLASS PHOTOGRAPHY !

                                

                               

ON THE CONCERT PATH

April 13th

"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."

                                                                                      Plato

ADVANCED ENSEMBLE PLAYERS -PARENT  REQUEST:

ALL ADVANCED ENSEMBLE PLAYERS are asked to notify Marilyn TODAY! via email to let her know if you can "Celebrate with Elgar-Pomp and CIrcumstance"  next  Thursday April 21 5:15 to 6 pm for Lease signing Ceremony. Parents asked to read the handout and respond with a signed note Tuesday "YEA OR NAY".  So far we have THREE responses.     We need planning time if this is to happen.      Many thanks!

SOUND BYTES FROM ADMINISTRATION

Parents, please remember to bring your final payment THIS WEEK if you haven't already done so!  THANK YOU!!

ROSE ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCE TICKETS! - This is the final week to purchase tickets for the Rose Orchestra performance Saturday April 30 - 8pm at the Rose Theater.  

Everyone should have the April calendar.  May calendar to follow soon!

If you did view the video last week, please take a look at it this week!!!

TD MUSICOUNTS VIDEO

This is a WONDERFUL YouTube video featuring our program and our fabulous leader!!  Make sure that you and your student(s) take 5 minutes and watch it!!

http://www.tdmusic.com/features/635

HOMEWORK

                                                               ADVANCED

We will have a performance by Ensemble 2 this Tuesday. 

Here are the pieces chosen SO FAR for the June 14th CONCERT: 

Brandenburg Concerto

Land of the Silverbirch

La Paloma

Sine Nomine

Final PREP for VIDEO TAPING April 26! :La Paloma 

so get your "Passionate playing" in gear as well as careful work on all notes, rhythms and dynamics!!!

  

Please concentrate on the above only this week. 

Star Wars will also be started this week- if you prepare this one for Tuesday also, it MAY become a concert selection- no promises till we hear how it is going!

                                           -----------------------------------------

INTERMEDIATE

YOU WILL BE PLAYING THE FOLLOWING PIECES for JUNE CONCERT: 

1.Baroque Fanfare  violin 2 : learn all SOLI PARTS WELL- you have the TUNE !!!

2.Bows on the Bus
3. Pizzicato Magic
WORK HARD on these so you are ready for a new piece to be handed out Tuesday!

                                                    ----------------------------------------

BEGINNERS

 FOR THE CONCERT you will play for SURE:

1.Long Long Ago

2.Lightly Row -we now have learned ALL lines

3.Twinkles:  mississippi hot dog  

4. And MORE to be decided! Something new from AFS book will be played in concert 

HOME PRACTICE work on three above pieces for concert

Continue playing as a warm up: D Scale, one Twinkle Rhythm per day, including

"I stop & you stop"  

 THIS WEEK : ALL FOR STRINGS: Review page 16-18 # 25 to 28

                                

                               

SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS OF MATT

April 6, 2016

We're ON RECORD, for posterity!

Music at the Towers is honoured to have been included in the TD Musi Counts Promo Video, released April 3rd.   MATT was one of the 16 sponsorship recipients across Canada in 2015, from the over 100 applicants. This enabled us to purchase many good quality instruments for our students. Thank you TD MusiCounts for this further endorsement of our program, which offers an affordable opportunity of orchestral playing to our local children.

All students were able to view the PROMO VIDEO in class yesterday, and Marilyn will forward the youtube link this week via email to all of our families.

FEATURING our "VIDEO-FAMOUS' BEGINNERS CLASS!

  GETTING STARTED

PERFECT POSTURES:

CHECK OUT THIS SITTING POSITION

 IMPECCABLE REST POSITION!                                       

                                                                               

A BUDDING VIOLIST with excellent posture!

VIDEO FRONT PAGE GIRL, with a SMILE!       WELL DONE- practice does work!

     SUCH FINE  PROGRESS  SINCE  OCTOBER!!

Sound Bytes from Administration

Parents:  Please remember to reserve the dates for the tentative and confirmed concerts - see previous blog for more info.  June 1 and June 14  

WE MUST HAVE PARENT VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE THIS END-OF-YEAR EVENT A SUCCESS!!  

So, I will have a sign-up sheet at my desk this week Tuesday AND Wednesday looking for people to fill the following positions:

• Concert management leader; stage hands (2 groups - 1 to set up and 1 to tear down); refreshment coordinator; refreshment assistants; MATT info table and of course parents to provide the refreshments!

The APRIL calendar was delayed (scheduling confirmations and corrections!).  It will be emailed to you this Sunday the 10th.  Please watch your inbox and advise me if you don't receive it - my list will need to be corrected to make sure that everyone is on the email list!!

Please sign up THIS WEEK for your Rose Orchestra performance tickets!!  The concert is Saturday, April 30 at 8pm.  This is the last concert of the season.  Please come out and enjoy the music - AND support your teachers :)

SESSION FEES ARE NOW DUE!!!

Parents, please bring your cash or cheques for the final session fees for this "year".

TD MUSICOUNTS VIDEO

This is a WONDERFUL YouTube video featuring our program and our fabulous leader!!  Make sure that you and your student(s) take 5 minutes and watch it!!

http://www.tdmusic.com/features/635

REMINDER:

If you are going to be absent from class, please advise Administration!!

Also, if you have to miss or reschedule a private lesson due to extreme circumstances, please advise your teacher asap.  We want to do our best to respect our teachers time, dedication and support of our program!!

ALSO -  A reminder about THEORY!! All intermediate and advanced students are required to attend a 30 min. theory class every other week.  Class is in the theory room - beside the party room where we hold class.  Theory is ONLY available at the following times:

• Tuesday (group 1 lesson weeks ONLY) 4-630
• Saturday (group 1 lesson weeks ONLY) 1030-1130

Please speak with me if you have any questions or concerns.

ON a personal level, please remember that can be reached most easily via text.  I check email frequently, but, I have notifications turned off for less distractions.  As always, if it is a timely message or needs a quick reply, call me.

HOMEWORK

ADVANCED

Ensembles, NEXT TUESDAY -choose/rehearse one piece to play in class April 19

FOR VIDEO TAPING  #1: La Paloma- still work to be done on SOLI/ MELODY parts and dynamics throughout. 

Continue to find your challenging parts of each piece, and work on those few bars daily till progress is seen. Take the hardest one to private lesson for help this week! 
DON'T FORGET:  bowings, notes, tuning, rhythms and dynamics in each piece.

NOW ADDING JESU JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING violin 2: important SOLI parts

                                           -----------------------------------------

INTERMEDIATES

 1 . BAROQUE FANFARE - play all correct slurs and bowings

 SECOND VIOLINS: learn all SOLI PARTS WELL- you have the TUNE !!!

 2 . BOWS on the BUS 

Check for perfect bowings, slurs, and perfect tuning

 3 . PIZZICATO MAGIC
 GOOD WORK : USE CORRECT PIZZ HAND POSITION

                                                    ----------------------------------------

BEGINNER

1. Continue practicing new bowing "I stop & you stop" : play with D SCALE notes

2.  Lightly ROW- on handout sheet- review the first two lines

TWO TIPS for good bowing:

(a)WATCH that the short notes are HALF BOWS and long notes are FULL BOWS

(b) stay at the tip if the note ends at the tip (no circle backs to the frog)

IF you are really good at Lines 1 and 2, try Line 3 at home

3. ALL FOR STRINGS: Review page  #18 C and E strings

                                - continue through to the end of page 17 #25

                               - Learn well all new exercises using FOUR STRINGS

                               - Play them all every day! 
                                    next:  WE READ 1ST FINGER NOTES!

4. ALL TWINKLES  : one of each bowing each day: 

                        long bows, mississippi hot dog, and mississippi mississippi

5. Long Long Ago- play with correct half and whole bows- no circle backs.

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music.

 I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.”

- Albert Einstein, 19th century physicist: 

discovered the Theory of Relativity, and played the violin !