Canyon Middle School Orchestras

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Congratulations on enrolling your child in the award-winning orchestra program at Canyon Middle School! Orchestra is one of the most rewarding and exciting educational opportunities offered by our schools. Your investment will pay tremendous dividends in your child's life for many years to come.

Music education provides students with a wealth of direct and indirect benefits. In addition to obtaining the life-long skills needed to become a music performer or consumer, a child learns skills that can be used in any facet of life. Teamwork, goal-setting, organizational skills, dedication, and self-discipline prepare a child for a successful future in any profession he/she might choose. A variety of research shows that music students are among the academically strongest in their schools. Most colleges, universities and future employers now look for more than just good grades on a child's transcript. They want the well-rounded, compassionate, students that have been able to accomplish more than just acquiring textbook knowledge.

In accordance with the national music string teaching standards, this school year your child will be learning to understand basic to advanced performance concepts in playing one string instrument. Your child will also learn to demonstrate knowledge of different styles, genres, cultures and historical periods.

Below, please find the materials that will be needed for your scholar to succeed in class properly. These materials can be obtained at any area music store but the online resources I recommend and utilize for our district music supplies are jwpepper.com and sharmusic.com.

Our school is able to provide instruments for students in need to borrow during the school year. The requested donation for borrowing a school instrument for the entire school year is only $ 75.00. Please, make any donations to the Music department by check, addressed to CVUSD Music Dept. Indicate your child’s name, group name and school on the memo line of the check. We also encourage you to support our district music program by joining the Castro Valley Music Parents Society, a group of dedicated, volunteer music parents that coordinate fundraisers throughout the school year. Log on to https://www.cvmps.org/ for more information.

Please take this list and your student with you for correct sizing of the instrument.

1. a GOOD QUALITY Instrument - - properly fitted for correct size, rented or purchased

2. Sound Innovations for String Orchestra (Book 1, 2) Or

3. Sound Development for String Orchestra (Books 3 or 4);

4. Shoulder Rest - (for Violin, Viola) or Endpin Stop (for Cello or Bass);

5. Folding Music Stand - for home practice and tour (this may be purchased later in the year).

All instrument cases are to be securely labeled with a name tag attached on handle.

The following will need to be brought to the next class:

1. Music class folder or journal. Please, have a separate binder for writing your at home practice log.

2. Pencils with erasers, NO pen, please!

Thank you for giving your child the gift of music! I can be reached at the email listed below.

Sincerely,

Ms. Heidi Dahms, M.M., M. Mus. Ed.,

Director of Orchestras, CVUSD

Contact Information: hdahms@cv.k12.ca.us

Music tutoring/ Office hours: Wednesdays, 2:00-3:00 pm Upon Request