Orchestra Newsletter
October 2017
Fundraiser Delivery Wednesday 10/4
We have just been alerted to the fact that our fall fundraiser delivery will take place this Wednesday, October 4. Any items sold on the written order form will arrive at our school on this day in boxes pre-packaged with each student's orders. Any items ordered online will be shipped directly to the customer. Students should make plans to come to the orchestra room immediately after school to pick up their orders. The original copy of their order form will be given back to them at this time. This fundraiser did include some frozen food options. Please be sure frozen items are delivered immediately or put immediately in a freezer at home until delivery can take place.
Our fall fundraiser went well and most classes showed a high level of participation of item sales or donations. Our overall profits are down a bit from our goal and our projections compared to our past few years. We will be taking that into consideration with our goal for our spring fundraiser and looking into steps to make sure our participation level is even closer to 100%.
Orchestra Website
Denton ISD plans to move most teacher and program pages to Google Sites by the end of this year. Throughout the year you will see certain pages of our website begin to transition to an orchestra google site. Please continue to navigate to our usual orchestra website at www.dentonisd.org/rcmsorch unless alerted otherwise.
Remind Groups
The orchestra has a Remind parent text alert group for each ensemble. Through the Remind groups, Ms. Harvey will be able to send out alerts about event reminders, due dates, and emergency changes or cancellations. Students will have separate groups to receive more frequent updates, including assignment reminders. Students received information in class about how to join their groups. Instructions to join the parent Remind group for each ensemble are found below. Please join the correct group for your child's ensemble.
Orchestra Calendar
2 weeks ago, students received a printed 2017-2018 Orchestra Calendar that included all fall dates that were on our website as well as all of our spring dates that have been decided on so far. Students received 2 copies - one for their orchestra binder, and one for a home parent copy. If your child has not provided you the 2nd copy, please ask them to bring this home. Students and parents have 2 ways to view our calendar - the Calendar link on the navigation page of our website, which takes you to our online google calendar, and this PDF list version, that will be posted all year on the Current Files section of the front page of our website.
RCMS Orchestra Calendar 2017-2018.pdf
Fiddle Club
Our fiddle club has started up for the year and is in its 3rd week. Fiddle Club meets in the orchestra room every Tuesday until 4:30. Fiddle Club is open to all orchestra students, 6th-8th grade. In this group we will study music of various styles, including jazz, mariachi, American folk tunes/fiddle music, and Celtic (Irish/Scottish) fiddle tunes.
Orchestra Fees
Instrument Usage Fees for school cello/bass usage and district fee-waiver instrument usage were due last week. A few students are currently missing these fees and will receive reminders from Ms. Harvey. The instrument usage information and agreement forms that students received are available on our Handbook and Forms page for review.
The orchestra activity fee is due this Friday, October 6. The activity fee is $30 for Prelude Orchestra, $40 for Philharmonic Orchestra, and $50 for Chamber Orchestra. Payments to the orchestra can be made by cash or check made out to RCMS Orchestra. More details about our fees can be found in our orchestra handbook on our website.
All-Region Boot Camp Saturday, 10/7
Students auditioning for all-region orchestra are invited and encouraged to attend our all-region boot camp this Saturday at Crownover from 10-1. Please arrive by 9:45 am to unpack and tune, and enter at the back doors of the school. Students will work with guest clinicians on their audition packets on their performance and audition tips/techniques. The event will end at 1:00, and students will be provided lunch prior to 1:00.
FALL CONCERT -
Adventure on the High Seas
Our first concert of the year is coming up on Friday, October 20, at 7:00 pm in the RCMS cafeteria.
This year's fall concert theme is... Pirates and Sailors! Students will wear their formal concert attire. Please review the description in our handbook. Each group's required warm-up time for the night of the concert is posted on our calendar.
Don't forget...
Prelude Orchestra required after school rehearsal for concert - Wednesday, 10/18 3:45-5:00. Parents - please remember to pick up after orchestra events at the back of the school.
Philharmonic Orchestra required after school rehearsal for concert - Thursday, 10/19 3:45-5:15.
Instrument Fees - Final Due Date
The 2nd and final payment for any school instrument or fee waiver instrument usage are due on Friday, October 27.
All-Region Auditions Saturday, 10/28
All-Region Orchestra auditions will take place on Saturday, October 28, at Flower Mound High School. At this time we do not have any assigned times. Students will receive the schedule from Ms. Harvey as soon as it is available. Each instrument group will have an assigned audition time. Students need their own transportation to this event, we will not take a bus there together.
Guyer Orchestra Fall Concert Tuesday, 10/10
The Guyer Orchestras will be presenting their Fall Concert on Tuesday, October 10, at 7:00 pm in the GHS auditorium. Please come out and support our Guyer students!
Around the Web
Bradetich Double Bass Competition Names Winner - The Strad
Learn about and hear the winner of the Bradetich Foundation International Double Bass Solo Competition, held at UNT in September
Learn the Difference Between Violin and Fiddle - Strings Magazine
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