Dear Parents,
Apologies for confusion. With each middle school class taking a trip at different times, we have had only one rehearsal with the entire ensemble, and it is hard to get a sense of what will work.
Here are definites.
We will not perform Bookends.
8th grade and 7th grade will perform Scarborough Fair/Canticle (Simon & Garfunkel) and Moon River.
My strong preference is students bring their own instruments (guitars for 8th grade and violin or cello for 7th) and music to graduation and get their instruments safely in a parent's car after graduation. I will bring extra copies of the music.
6th grade missed our rehearsal in which we finally synchronized 8th grade singing with 7th grade strings. At least one 6th grader no longer has an instrument. My preference would be to excuse 6th grade from performing Friday--except for any 6th graders who feel so motivated they choose to play (let me know by Friday morning).
With early childhood and other responsibilities, I have not had a break until late at night this week, and I have not had time to check in with the 6th grade teachers (who were away). It is possible they will reverse this decision and require 6th graders to perform. Even so, 6th graders will be in a sense following along and faking it (which is what many adult professionals do as well).
I apologize for confusion. My feedback for next year's ensemble teachers would to be cautious about suggesting a group performance at graduation when it is likely the classes will be taking trips at different times making it hard to have a rehearsal together. I feel I need to be realistic here.
William
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Instruments Home Monday and Tuesday
Dear Families,
As I think you know, strings ensembles are not performing at Friday's assembly. 6th and 7th graders will possibly perform with the 8th graders at graduation depending on how Tuesday's rehearsal goes. Because of class trips, we have rarely had these grades together in rehearsal, and Tuesday will determine how well things will weave together. I've also told the 6th and 7th graders about this possibility, and it seems appropriate not to force a performance if a better platform for the 8th graders would be for them to perform individually.
In any event, please remind your student, yourself, and other parents picking up in carpools to bring home instruments as follows below. It will make the classroom cleaning and moving up so much easier if instruments are safely home.
PLEASE ALSO RETURN FIDDLER'S PHILHARMONIC BOOKS UNLESS YOU HAVE PURCHASED IT.
Monday -- Final strings class with instruments for 5th grade. Please bring instruments home.
Tuesday -- Final strings classes for 4th grade and middle school. Please bring instruments home.
Thanks,
William Dolde
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
As I think you know, strings ensembles are not performing at Friday's assembly. 6th and 7th graders will possibly perform with the 8th graders at graduation depending on how Tuesday's rehearsal goes. Because of class trips, we have rarely had these grades together in rehearsal, and Tuesday will determine how well things will weave together. I've also told the 6th and 7th graders about this possibility, and it seems appropriate not to force a performance if a better platform for the 8th graders would be for them to perform individually.
In any event, please remind your student, yourself, and other parents picking up in carpools to bring home instruments as follows below. It will make the classroom cleaning and moving up so much easier if instruments are safely home.
PLEASE ALSO RETURN FIDDLER'S PHILHARMONIC BOOKS UNLESS YOU HAVE PURCHASED IT.
Monday -- Final strings class with instruments for 5th grade. Please bring instruments home.
Tuesday -- Final strings classes for 4th grade and middle school. Please bring instruments home.
Thanks,
William Dolde
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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