JANUARY 30, 2012
Oh my goodness, I just don't know where the time went! It is the first day of the third quarter and almost the last day of the first month of 2012!
I wanted to let you all know how very proud I was of the choirs at the Winter Concert! Not only were they well behaved, but the students performed beautifully! Thank you all who assisted at the concert and all family who came to support our concert!
A change in the calendar for February. We had to cancel this year's field trip for the guys. Mrs. Steidel and I realized just a week ago that the Men's Choral Festival at CSU East Bay is being held the same day as Staff Development Day for the District. The kids are not in school and Mrs. Steidel, Sue Suseoff and I are researching how to assist students with changing voices for our part of Staff Development Day. Dr. Buddy James and I spoke and next year we will schedule the event around Staff Development day. Sorry guys!
However, we will be taking the Concert Choir to see the POP's concert on February 22nd. A permission slip will be sent home shortly. We will be sharing buses with Canyon. Looks like all 7th and 8th grade choirs and instrumental groups will be attending. The center does not have room for us to take all the 6th grade students from both schools, so we had to limit the attendance to only 7th and 8th grade students. I'll try to remember to send out an e-mail when I send the permission slip home for your signature.
The next event is for HONOR CHOIR- MARCH 3RD. MPS is hosting the California Music Educator's Association Solo and Ensemble Festival for Alameda County. I spoke or sent e-mails back in December about the event. We will perform as an ensemble and then each student (who agreed to) will perform a solo. The cost is $10.00 for the group. I had asked that I be reimbursed the $10.00 per solo or duet, but if that is a concern, I will get try to get reimbursed though MPS. I had to submit the funds in the beginning of December to secure us time slots.
This is a very valuable event for the students. The group sings one classical piece of music (we have selected "To the Sky") and a qualified vocal adjudicator evaluates the performance and makes suggestions on how to improve our singing and vocal production. The same procedure is followed for the soloists. The students are provided feedback on their performance and are given suggestions on improvement. We are then rated Poor, Good, Excellent, Superior and Superior Command. I have said that if we get and Excellent or better, I will purchase the medals for everyone.
Each student will need an accompanist for their solo. If you don't know of anyone that can play for you, Mrs. VandenHeuvel has agreed to play for us for a nominal fee (going rate is $15-$20 per student). This includes the day off accompanying and one additional time outside of school of rehearsal. I will also try to find time during class for each student to rehearse with her.
Each parent/guardian is responsible for getting the singer to Canyon Middle School on that day. I will be getting forms from CMEA with the times assigned for our students. I asked for early time slots in the day because at least one student is attending the Youth to Youth Conference so we want him to be able to leave as soon as possible. So this means we might start as early as 8:30AM in the morning.
A permission slip will be sent home closer to the day. More detailed information to follow.
The following week is the biggest fund raiser of the year for the Music Department. All 7th through 12th grade instrumental and vocal students will perform for THE ANNUAL SPAGHETTI FEED, HOSTED BY MPS ON MARCH 9TH. Creekside's 7th and 8th grade Band and Concert Choir will be part of the entertainment on the second seating. I will be getting ticket order forms shortly to send home with your student.
If you like Banchero's food, you're in luck! Like last year, we are scheduled to perform on the second seating So if you want your student to eat before performing, get a ticket for the first seating for him/her. Sometimes there is enough food after the show, but I wouldn't count on it! Of course you will want second seating tickets for yourself and other members of your family so that you can hear the choir and band sing and play.
This is more than enough news to digest for now. As we get closer to all these events, I will be sending forms home for signatures and e-mails with updated information.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME WITH ANY CONCERNS. I REALLY WANT OPEN COMMUNICATION. December was a tough month for me, personally. I apologize for the lack of information being sent home about picture day.
Here's to a great second semester!!!!
MEMO: Winter Concert Details
FROM: Mrs. Ryan
To: Parents, Guardians and all Choral Students
WHERE: Center for the Arts (CFA) at Castro Valley High School
WHEN: Tuesday, December 13, 2011.
ARRIVE: 5 PM and check into the green room at the back of the theater.
REHEARSE FROM: 5:30 PM T0 6:30 PM
CONCERT BEGINS: 7 PM
TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased on-line at the CFA’s web site, the adult school and the theater box office during normal hours. There are no fees per ticket this year. The music department is absorbing the small printing fee.
PRICE: $6.00 Adults, $4.00 Seniors and Children. On the day of the concert, however, the price goes up to $10.00 for Adults and $5.00 for children. So it would be wise to get your tickets BEFORE THE DAY OF THE CONCERT.
CONCERT DRESS
CHORUS (6th grade): Choir polo shirts. The shirts have been ordered. The Fee is $25.00 per shirt. An order form with check made out to the Music Parent’s Society (MPS) should be returned to me ASAP.
GIRLS: Solid black knee length or below the knee length skirts, black nylons, and black low heeled dress shoes. No open toed shoes please. ABSOLUTELY NO SKIRTS ABOVE THE KNEE WILL BE PERMITTED! If in doubt, bring the skirt in for approval.
GUYS: Black pants, black shoes, BLACK SOCKS. No athletic shoes please!
CONCERT CHOIR (7th and 8th grade)
GIRLS: Black skirt and blouse provided, black nylons and black low-healed shoes. No open toed shoes please!
GUYS: black pants, dress white shirts, black shoes, BLACK SOCKS and any color tie (no characters please).
HONOR CHOIR will wear the choral uniform provided.
GIRLS: royal blue dress, black nylons and black low-heeled shoes. No open toed shoes please.
GUYS: black shirt, black pants, tie and vest provided.
EVERYONE PLEASE WEAR HAIR PULLED BACK OFF YOUR FACE!
All students will be able to sit in the auditorium. When the Chorus is performing the Concert Choir and Honor Choirs will be seating in the first few rows of center section of the theater and visa versa.
PLEASE EVERYONE ARRIVE AT 5 PM! It is advisable to have a small bite to eat before the show! Although there are drinking fountains, you may want to bring your own bottled water. Please put your name on it and take it with you when you go home.
DO NOT BRING ANY VALUABLES, ELECTRONIC DEVICES OR CELL PHONES TO THE THEATER.
DO get plenty of sleep the night before.
DO drink water before the show begins.
DO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS and be flexible.
DO HAVE FUN!!!!!!
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THIS IS A REQUIRED EVENT AND THAT IF FOR SOME REASON YOU ARE UNABLE TO PERFORM, YOUR QUARTER GRADE WILL BE LOWERED BY TWO FULL GRADES.
We have all worked very hard. Remember to have fun while entertaining our audience. I'm so very proud of all of you. Let's go out there and FOCUS! FOCUS! FOCUS! We are a team and when we work together we can create something quite spectacular!
This is where I ask for adult participation.
· I need a couple of parents to sign the students in and provide supervision before the concert.
· A couple of parents to sit with the students who are in the audience
· Someone to make sure the green room is cleaned up
· Two ushers to stand at the two entrances to hand out programs and show patrons to their seats
· A few people to assist at the party on Wednesday, December 14th at lunch time.
· Classes will be held the rest of the week. We will rehearse Christmas music for Music in the Plaza day, Thursday morning, December 15th and for the Winter Assembly, Friday, December 16th.
HAPPY SAFE AND HEALTHY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES!