Blog of Carol Doemel
09-10 Blog | 08-09 Blog | 07-08 Blog
Tuesday, January 19th 2010
Essential Question:
How does ‘balance’ affect the orchestral sonority?Great rehearsal Tuesday, String Ensemble! Your program is falling into place nicely. We are now able to really focus on the balance within each section and between sections. Some of you are not technically up to par, which I’m sure is frustrating for you. Spend some quality time in the practice room ironing out problem areas. It’s much more fun to perform when you can hold your own!
Next week:
Monday 25th, 3:45-5 Chamber rehearsal
Tuesday 26th, 3:45-5 String Ensemble RehearsalWednesday, January 6th 2010
Essential Question:
How does a composer’s life experiences affect his/her musical style?Standard: PS5:
The learner will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the historical and cultural context of the performance literature.Welcome back! I certainly hope all of you had a restful break and are ready to get back to it! We have quite a bit of musical learning and fun events scheduled for 2nd semester. Please put all events in your calendar. Just a reminder, per the syllabus that you signed in the beginning of the year: Please give Mrs. D in writing any rehearsal conflicts that you may have. Do this as soon as you notice an issue. Many times things can be worked out with advanced notice. It is very
important that you attend the after school rehearsals. This is my opportunity to work on balance of the combined group, which is difficult if there are members absent.Our next big event is out Winter Concert. It will be held at Kell High School at 7pm on February 2nd. Featured soloists will be Patrick Erwin – trumpet along with yours truly! 4 of our violinists will be featured on Vivaldi’s Concerto in B Minor. Our bass section is preparing a presentation of Camille Saint-Saens “Elephant” from Carnival of the Animals. And the internationally renowned bass soloist, Dr. Milton Masciadi, will perform a Tarantella that will make your head spin! A bass can do THAT?? What a treat for all.
Focus in the classroom will be on understanding the relationship of a composer’s life to their works. In addition, we will continue with progressing in our string technique – adding some new position work and scales to our tool box! Testing week will be February 22-26. Information on testing material will come out early next week.
Wednesday, November 11th 2009
Essential Question:
What impact do dynamics have on the emotion that is portrayed in my performance?Click Here the Washington DC Itinerary. This is subject to change.
The Lassiter Orchestras have been invited to perform at this year's Heritage Music Festival in Washington DC. We will also have the opportunity to hear the National Symphony perform the marvelous Verdi Requiem at the Kennedy Center.
More information will be distributed in the next few weeks. Sectionals this week. Have your music ready to go.
Wednesday, November 4th 2009
Essential Question:
How does a composer's life affect their compositions?Great week, Orchestra students! Outstanding preparation on playing tests. This week we will focus on the literature for the December concert. We will feature the bass section, cello section, and a few guest soloists. The ASE group will perform a work by Mendelssohn, and 4 of our top violinists will prepare the Vivaldi B Minor Concerto. Looking forward to a wonderful concert!
Please keep up with homework assignments. Many of you are missing items here and there and it's really hurting your grade. Check iParent regularly.
MUS.ORCH-M.1.7 Technique/Right Hand
The learner will be able to demonstrate accurate execution of articulations and bowings appropriate for materials being studied, to include flying spiccato, rapid staccato, sautille, richochet, barriolage and colle.MUS.ORCH-A.1.8 Intonation
The learner will be able to demonstrate ability to adjust and match pitches.MUS.ORCH-M.1.9 Rhythm
The learner will be able to demonstrate (perform) music with more complex rhythms and meters.MUS.ORCH-M.1.10 Balance
The learner will be able to demonstrate ensemble skills with emphasis on balance, blending and tuning.Wednesday, October 28th 2009
Essential Question:
How can I apply sight-reading to my musical growth?We are currently finishing playing tests. Hearing 140 students individually and giving feedback takes a bit of time! Overall, great preparation by our orchestra students! New music is being issued and section coaches will be working with students next week.
We had a wonderful visit to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra rehearsal. We were the only folks in the audience and Runnicles was gracious and said hello to our students! The orchestra sounded fabulous and was very inspirational to our students. Following is a reflection to be turned in for a grade. If you were unable to come to the performance, please watch the Gustavo Dudamel performance under the September 29th blog and answer these questions. All forms are due November 2nd.
Reflection:
• Observe the interaction between conductor and orchestra. Describe your observations.
• Who are the leaders in the orchestra?
• Any particular bowing techniques you noticed (spiccato, loure', col legno)?
• Are players matching bow use?
• Can you recognize the melodic material? What do you notice about their phrasing?
• Did you recognize secondary material? Accompaniment?
• What do you notice about the composer’s use of instrumental color? (timbre of instruments – the sound of the trumpet, versus the sound of the flute)
• Do you think the orchestra understands what the conductor wants musically? Any specific instances?
• Favorite Piece and why? (Also Sprach Zarathustra – Strauss, Korgold Violin Concerto – James Ehnes, violin, Mendelssohn – A Midsummer Night’s Dream)Monday, October 19th 2009
Essential Question:
Why are scales important to my technique?Playing Tests will begin October 20th
String Ensemble: A Major 3 octaves with arpeggio – Violins, D major – Viola, Cello, Bass
Chamber Orchestra: A minor with arpeggio – Violins, D minor – Viola, Cello, BassString Ensemble should have turned in March and Birch Bay. Chamber turns in the Grieg. New music will be coming out this week. Chamber, please listen to the Vivaldi B Minor under ‘media’ on this website.
Wednesday, October 22nd we will be attending the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra rehearsal. You must get your form and check for $15 payable LHSOA to me by Friday, October 16th in order to attend. Concert info is in the previous blog post.
MUS.ORCH-M.1.3 Scales
The learner will be able to demonstrate (perform) 3-octave major and melodic minor scales up to five sharps and five flats at M.M. quarter note=120 using various bowings and other rhythmic figures.MUS.ORCH-M.1.7 Technique/Right Hand
The learner will be able to demonstrate accurate execution of articulations and bowings appropriate for materials being studied, to include flying spiccato, rapid staccato, sautille, richochet, barriolage and colle.MUS.ORCH-A.1.8 Intonation
The learner will be able to demonstrate ability to adjust and match pitches.MUS.ORCH-M.1.9 Rhythm
The learner will be able to demonstrate (perform) music with more complex rhythms and meters.MUS.ORCH-M.1.10 Balance
The learner will be able to demonstrate ensemble skills with emphasis on balance, blending and tuning.Congratulations Lassiter Orchestras on an outstanding performance Tuesday evening! This was the first performance for our freshmen and hopefully was a great start to their high school music experience.
Lassiter has a new program called Academic Support and Enrichment. The Orchestra offers a 1/2 hour chamber music block during this time. Students in this class performed Vivaldi's Spring on the Lassiter Orchestra Fall Concert.
Emily B - violin soloist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p34525xRvKg Thursday, October 15th 2009
Essential Question:
How does my individual performance affect the group performance?Congratulations Lassiter Orchestras on an outstanding performance Tuesday evening! This was the first performance for our freshmen and hopefully was a great start to their high school music experience.
This week we will listen and critique the performance using the GMEA Performance Evaluation sheet. This rubric is a fantastic tool for really narrowing down performance weaknesses and strengths. This will be turned in for a grade. If you are absent, please see me for make-up assignment.
Playing Tests will begin October 20th
String Ensemble: A Major 3 octaves with arpeggio – Violins, D major – Viola, Cello, Bass
Chamber Orchestra: A minor with arpeggio – Violins, D minor – Viola, Cello, BassWednesday, October 22nd we will be attending the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra rehearsal. You must get your form and check for $15 payable LHSOA to me by Friday, October 16th in order to attend. The concert consists of music that has been used in movies. Weber's opera tells the further adventures of the fairy king Oberon, known to us from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Canadian violinist James Ehnes brings his Grammy Award-winning rendition of a lush concerto filled with melodies from Korngold's 1940's movie scores, including Juarez and Anthony Adverse. Strauss's allegorical tale of spreading enlightenment begins with an orchestral "Sunrise," familiar as the iconic fanfare from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.
MUS.ORCH-M.1.3 Scales
The learner will be able to demonstrate (perform) 3-octave major and melodic minor scales up to five sharps and five flats at M.M. quarter note=120 using various bowings and other rhythmic figures.Tuesday, September 29th 2009
Essential Question:
What impact did Orchestra Camp have on my musical development?
Due to lost rehearsal time from flood days, String Ensemble playing test will be moved to October 15th – A Major 3 octaves with arpeg – Violins, D major – Viola, Cello, BassASE –We will perform Spring on our October 13th concert. All classes have a writing assignment due this Thursday: Write a paragraph (at least 7 sentences) on something you learned at Orchestra Camp this weekend. Be very descriptive and specific.
String Ensemble: We have one more combined rehearsal Tuesday, October 6th from 3:45-5.
Our Fall Concert is 2 weeks away! October 13th, 7pm at the Kell High School Auditorium. Formal group pictures will be taken at 6:15 on the Kell stage. MAKE SURE YOUR UNIFORM IS READY TO GO!!!
Great video of Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Simón Bolivar Orchestra.
No one over 25 in this group. This is 'Mambo' for Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story.Chamber Orchestra:
Please listen to this recording of the Vivaldi Concerto Grosso in D Minor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHD70QEo6YI&feature=related
String Ensemble:
Please listen to recording of Ice Sculptures. Especially notice the beautiful phrasing. This will give you a nice idea of the flow of the piece, http://www.jwpepper.com/catalog/lsearch , then type in Ice Sculptures.Standards:
MUS.ORCH-M.1.6 Tone
The learner will be able to demonstrate (perform) expression, technical accuracy, and idiomatic phrasing using characteristic tone quality and bow control.Monday, September 21st 2009
Essential Question:
What impact do I expect Orchestra Camp to have on my musical development?
Announcements: ORCHESTRA CAMP is Friday and Saturday, September 25th and 26th. This is a very important weekend and many hours of instruction. Our head clinicians are: Michael Heald, Professor of Violin - University of Georgia and David Doke, Director of Orchestras - Hillgrove High School. We must have your medical, blanket permission, and field trip permission form for participation this weekend. Please let me know via email if you cannot attend bowling.String Ensemble playing test Wednesday 9/23 – A Major 3 octaves with arpeggio – Violins, D major – Viola, Cello, Bass
ASE – We will perform Spring on our October 13th concert. Spend time working on specific spots in this.
The fundraiser is due. Please bring in the form by Monday 9/21. Good luck teams!
Wednesday, September 16th 2009
Download the 2009 Lassiter Orchestra Camp Itinerary
We would like to remind you that the UGA Orchestra Festival is quickly approaching! Please submit student applications by October 2, 2009!
The conductors for this year¹s festival are Mark Cedel and Carl Rieke! The experience will also include sectionals with University of Georgia string faculty, recitals, and social activities.
Students in grades 7-12 are invited to participate:
Junior Orchestra Festival (Grades 7-9): October 9 & 10, 2009
Senior Orchestra Festival (Grades 10-12): October 8-10, 2009More information including our guest conductors¹ bios, application forms, and contact information is available at: www.uga.edu/music/orchfest
All applications are due OCTOBER 2, 2009!
Sincerely,
Dr. Skip Taylor and Professor Mark CedelIf you have any questions, please contact:
Orchestral Festival
The University of Georgia
Hugh Hodgson School of Music
250 River Road
Athens, GA 30602-3153
Phone: 706-542-2061
Fax: 706-542-0846
Email: orchfest@uga.eduTuesday, September 15th 2009
Essential Question:
What impact do I expect Orchestra Camp to have on my musical development?PS1 - Perform with Expression and accuracy, alone and with others, a varied repertoire representing diverse genres, cultures, and styles in grade III-VI literature.
PS4 - Analyze and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of their own and others' performances by applying the specific criteria appropriate to level III-VI literature.
All Classes: String Ensemble playing test is Wednesday, September 23rd.
String Ensemble: violins: A major w/ arpeggio, Viola, cello, bass – D Major with arpeggio. Chamber Orchestra: TBD
ASE – This week: select a piece for your ensemble. Continue practice on Spring. We will perform this on our October 13th concert.ORCHESTRA CAMP is Friday and Saturday, September 25th and 26th. This is a very important weekend and many hours of instruction. Our head clinicians are: Michael Heald, Professor of Violin - University of Georgia and David Doke, Director of Orchestras - Hillgrove High School.
Announcements: Our big, fall fundraiser is in full swing!!! Buy your holiday gifts now! Email friends and family to help support the Lassiter Orchestra Program. This fundraiser is our main venue to fund our clinician program. Our goal is to raise at least $5,000. Each student is asked to sell 10 items. Winning teams will receive: iTunes gift cards, Starbucks gift cards, Atlanta Symphony tickets! We will extend the sale through this weekend and collect monies on Monday, September 21st.
October 22nd – The Atlanta Symphony has offered $10 tickets to an open rehearsal of music made popular by film. Total fee with transportation will be $15. We will depart Lassiter around 9:15, attend the 10am rehearsal, go across the street to Colony Square for lunch, then return to Lassiter by 2pm. Please visit the ASO’s website and listen to musical clips and a brief description of the program.
Dear Lassiter Orchestra Families,
It is with great regret that we must cancel our trip to New York City to compete in the National Orchestra Cup. We were unable to attain enough participation to have adequate instrumentation for a competition of this magnitude. I certainly understand the issue with the economic climate we are all dealing with. We will work to reschedule this fine event in future years. I am currently working with other festival invitations to find a comparable venue for our orchestras to perform this spring. As you can imagine, New York is more costly than any other venue, so we should be able to dramatically reduce the cost of the trip. If you would like to apply your NYC deposit to the new trip, you will be able to do so. Information on an alternative trip should be distributed next week. The Lassiter Orchestra has numerous invitations each year to perform. This information will be distributed in the very near future.Musically Yours,
Carol DoemelThursday, September 10th 2009
Essential Question:
How can I use my assessment to guide my practice?PS1 - Perform with Expression and accuracy, alone and with others, a varied repertoire representing diverse genres, cultures, and styles in grade III-VI literature.
PS4 - Analyze and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of their own and others' performances by applying the specific criteria appropriate to level III-VI literature.
Announcements:
Solo and Ensemble, All-State, and Honor Orchestra forms and money should be in at this time. No late forms will be accepted. Audition results are posted. Playing test grades and written assessment are posted in Pinnacle.All Classes:
Assignment due Friday 9/11: Print a copy of your first playing test and assessment; Write 3 strategies you will use during practice to improve your performance, have a parent sign, and return it to me.ASE – This week: select a piece for your ensemble. Continue practice on Spring. We will perform this on our October 13th concert.
ORCHESTRA CAMP is Friday and Saturday, September 25th and 26th. This is a very important weekend and many hours of instruction. Our head clinicians are: Michael Heald, Professor of Violin - University of Georgia and David Doke, Director of Orchestras - Hillgrove High School.
Our fundraiser will begin this Thursday. We need your participation!!! We will select teams Tuesday and get fired up about raising funds for the organization!!! Have a great week!Thursday, September 3rd 2009
Essential Question:
What constitutes a beautiful tone?PS1 - Perform with Expression and accuracy, alone and with others, a varied repertoire representing diverse genres, cultures, and styles in grade III-VI literature.
PS4 - Analyze and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of their own and others' performances by applying the specific criteria appropriate to level VI literature.
Announcements:
Solo and Ensemble, All-State, and Honor Orchestra forms and money are due Friday, September 4th. No late forms will be accepted.Audition results will be posted by Tuesday, September 8th. Playing test grades and written assessment will be posted in Pinnacle this weekend.
Next week students will be asked to print a copy of their grade and assessment, have a parent sign, and return it to me. The assessment will focus on tools for improving your individual performance.
ASE – Please do some listening this weekend. Next week I would like for you to settle on a piece for your ensemble.
Monday, August 24th 2009
Great start to our year! All groups are beyond expectations.
2009 GMEA Honor Orchestra Information
Reminder: Orchestra playing test/ seating audition is Tuesday, September 1st from 3:45-5pm. You may play at any time in that time frame. If you have a conflict, please see Mrs. Doemel ASAP. Due to the large number of students, we must hold the playing test after school.
The LHSOA Parent Meeting was held Thursday, August 20th. If you did not receive your Orchestra Packet, please see Mrs. Doemel.
All syllabi should have been turned in (deadline: 9/20).
Please see previous blog for playing test information.
Monday, August 17th 2009
Essential Question:
How can I guide my practice to most effectively reach my goals? (PS1, PS2)Welcome back LHS Orchestra, and a special welcome to our Class of 2013!
We have a wonderful year in store for the orchestra program. I really look forward to working with all of you this year.
This week calendars, syllabi, and audition material was distributed. Please see me if you are missing something.Our LHSOA Parent meeting will be held Thursday, August 20th at 7PM in the Lassiter Orchestra Room. This is a very important meeting for the orchestra program. We will cover all events occurring this year, plus go over the parent packet information, NYC trip, and orchestra camp.
Auditions for seating placement will be held Tuesday, September 1st from 3:45-5:45PM. You may audition any time during this time block. We must hold them after school due to the fact that we have so many students and must bring in teachers from the area to adjudicate. Please let Mrs. Doemel know ASAP of any conflict.
In class we will complete our first written assignment, 'Practically Perfect Practicing'. It is a reading assignment followed by a series of questions. It will be the first written graded assignment.
|
| |