Congrats to the All Staters from West!!!

I am so very proud of you! Thank you for representing West at what is always an amazing musical weekend! ~Ms S

Choir:
Kate L.
Jackie L.
Lacey W.
Phillip S.
Joseph C.

Symphonic Band:
Preston B.
Danny M.
Arryn B.

Symphony:
Lauren C.
Aida B.
Bronte LT
Josh H.
Larysa P.
Matt H.

Newsletter #8

Newsletter #8 - Oct. 28, 2009

Contained within:
1) OR Symphony concert on Monday - special ticket offer
2) Concert schedule for December - NEW INFORMATION FOR YOUR CALENDAR!
3) PYP free preview concert Mon. Nov. 9
4) MEAP - scholarships available for elegible students
5) Sectionals start back up again next week
6) Titan Auction - BRING ITEMS MONDAY PLEASE!
7) Music CASSETTES needed for DLC Experience Music

1) OR Symphony comes to Salem this next week on Monday evening, Nov. 2 - 8pm concert. This concert features Mozart Violin concerto #4 and the incredible Beethoven's 5th Symphony. If you call the symphony box office 503-364-0149 you can reserve a student ticket *and* one adult ticket for $10 - that's $15 total for over $50 worth of tickets! Just tell them the secret password "staccato". Thanks OSAS for offering this to our students!! You can meet the violinist before the concert by coming at 7pm to the Meet And Great in Eaton Hall. If you need more info, please contact Ms. S

2) Here's the new performance information for December (the info on the website: - www.titanorchestras.com - has been updated!):

Dec. 9 - String Orchestra Field Trip 8am - 4pm - performance at 12:30 at Lancaster
Dec. 10 - Sinfonietta and Symphony at the Band Concert, 7pm - West Auditorium
Dec. 16 and 17 - Chamber Orchestra with the choirs - Winter at West, 7pm, Auditorium

3) Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP) will be playing a free preview concert on Monday Nov. 9 up at George Fox. Contact Ms Silberman for more info, contact Ms S.

4) MEAP - Music Education Assistance Project, Inc. - has private study scholarships availble - up to $400 - for students. These are based on need and ability. You must be very dedicated to your music, be able to show a need for private lesson financial assistance, and complete the application, including sending in a CD or mp3 2-5 minutes in length. This scholarship is due Nov. 7 - please contact Ms S for more information.

5) Sectionals start up again next week!!! We have a lot of music to learn for our next concerts!

6) Titan Auction deadline is approaching - it's Monday! Please email Kelly Culver if you would like to sit at the orchestra table - $35 per person: kculver@comcast.net - come support WSHS educational programs, including our orchestra!

Each family is asked to donate an item (or cash/check - I'll go out and purchase items if you wish) for the 3 orchestra baskets. The themes are:

String Orchestra - Beauty and Health Spa
Sinfonietta - Gourmet Goodies (for both consumer and chef!)
Chamber Orchestra - Grownup Night Out

We're also looking for a few 'big ticket' items - do you have a service you can provide or a gift you can bestow? Please contact Kelly Culver for more details and a donation form: kculver@comcast.net

7) One young lady in our DLC music program listens to music on a cassette player - if you have any cassettes you no longer use that have classical, kids, popular, or any other kind of music - please bring them in to Ms S.

Happy Halloween - I was thinking of wearing all black and carrying a violin case to go trick-or-treating as a musician... what do you think, would I get some candy??? :)
~Ms S

Computer links - period 7 and 3/4

Here are some links that we will be working on at the computer center in the library - feel free to peruse them at your leisure:

• www.titanorchestras.com
• www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com – look for links in past posts
• Google search Gustavo Dudamel
• Gustavo Dudamel - ABC News Story of the week
• Gustavo Dudamel Videos
• Gustavo Dudamel conducting youth - TED prize
• www.8notes.com/games
• Music Quizzes
- Beethoven 5th Argument video
- Pictures of Norman Leyden Visit to Sinfonietta on OR Sym blog
- Cool video of a 'clap' thunderstorm

Statesman Journal article about Mr. Leyden's visit

October 28, 2009


Musician's visit excites young players

Karin Holton

I really don't know who had the bigger thrill when Norman Leyden recently visited West Salem High School as part of the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem's Educational Program. He was there to work with their Sinfonietta on "Serenade for Strings," a piece he composed for a junior group of the Westchester Youth Symphony more than 40 years ago.

West Salem's orchestra director, Daryl Silberman, was excited.

The students were not sure what to expect, but they had the music prepared and were ready to learn.

Leyden was a little tentative but still enthusiastic about working with these young musicians.

Although I am familiar with Leyden's work with the Oregon Symphony, it was the first time I actually met him. He is very quiet and unassuming normally, but put a conductor's baton in his hand, he is quite a commanding presence.

He had just celebrated his 92nd birthday, and I am certain that he has inspired many young musicians, myself included. But I am just as certain that these students have inspired him.

Madi W., a ninth-grade violinist said, "It was a great experience to meet the person who writes our music. Seeing Mr. Leyden inspired me and made me realize that music is something I can enjoy my whole life."

As I walked out with of the school with Leyden, I noticed his smile was a little bigger.

As we got in the car, he said "Now I am invigorated. I got a little exercise. I had a little fun, and I got to play some music. Let's do it again."

Visit www.artsmartsalem.org for a listing of events for the current month and remember, "There's Something to do in Salem."

Karin Holton is executive director of ArtSmart. Contact her through info@artsmartsalem.org.

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CO Retreat Sunday - we're home

I *think* some kids slept (well, I heard that a few fell asleep on a bed - ended up 3 to the bed on a double...) but they looked a little tired this morning. The smell of nut rolls and cinnamon buns woke everyone up and after a little free time we hit the rehearsal room for a last 2 hours of Vivaldi. At 11:15 we performed for the parents (this piece is so neat! We did a ton of work this weekend!) and then it was time to pack it up and clean it up.

Lunch was yummy - grilled sandwiches and leftovers. A little free time (beach, paddle boat on the lake, a last Snack Attack run) and it was time to clean it all up and head on home. We hit 40 minutes delay because of a turned over truck on the 2 lane highway (apparently regulars out to the coast say this is something you always have to account for regarding travel time) but made it back only about 20 minutes late.

Thanks again to everyone who organized this, drove this, kept it running on time, and to all the kids who really showed me their Titan Orchestra spirit!

See you all Tuesday evening at our concert... hope to impress you there!
Musically yours,
~Ms S

CO Retreat Saturday

Ok, so, there are days in Oregon you thank goodness you're here - this is one of those days. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL HERE TODAY - sunny, calm, not too cold, not hot.

Breakfast was yummy - apparently Mark Lowen is a masterful pancake shaper - after making many rounds of circular pancakes, the bunnies, turtles, peace signs, and dragons starting making their appearances!

Our 3 hour rehearsal in the morning got us through the Vivaldi - the piece we came out here to rehearse. We are cobbling together 2 different editions of the Vivaldi to ensure that all have soloistic parts (you'll see/hear on Tuesday). It's working really well!

Lunch was soup and bread - it was a totally enlightened idea to bring crock pots!

Then the kids, after free time, did a scavenger hunt around town, chauffeured around town by the chaperones. The winning team won a bag of lovelies from the Dollar Store. Fun times!!!

The afternoon rehearsal focused on sections working out their Vivaldi parts. Also, we did a read through of Barber's Adagio - a favorite for the "State Repertoire" list.

Dinner at McMenamins was delightful - Ed John and his wife Carol joined us for dinner. Now we're back at Dunlap Manor - the fire pit is glowing, some kids are at the beach (many are wearing their costumes... we've got some hippies, a bumblebee, and characters from Alice In Wonderland), and others are playing games while we smell the brownies baking.

We'll touch base with you tomorrow before our last rehearsal.
~Ms S

CO Lincoln City Retreat Day 1 - Friday

After a brief delay actually leaving, we blasted out to the beach in record time. The trailer the Tatmans provided for all the instruments and bags is HUGE! We could have transported the entire orchestra with us... wow!

The Dunlap Manor is so great - comfy with 26 teenagers and a few adults. Right on the "D" River (the shortest river in the world - or states or something - it connects Devils Lake to the Pacific Ocean), the lodge is campy and rustic feeling.

Next door is the old yacht club, built in the 50's as a social hall - it'll be perfect for 7 hours of rehearsing on this retreat!

A delicious pizza (Gallucci's) and salad dinner and a trip to the beach (it was clear and beautiful last night) = happy teens! Amazingly, there was a homework table in operation for an hour or two... I *think* a few students actually ended up finishing some homework. Bed and/or sleep happened 'round midnight.

Right now, the pancakes are firing up, grapes are ready, yoga's about to begin on the deck, and kiddos are slowly waking.

If you want to see where we are, go to maps.google.com - enter the address: 1301 SE First St., Lincoln City - click on Satellite and look for this place. From the main street (highway 101) it's the 4th building in from the beach.

Thanks again to all the amazing parents who put all this together! More blogging later... :)
~Ms S