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Orchestra NewsletterÂ
Orchestra NewsletterÂ
October 9th, 2026
October is a busy time of year for us, so please read this and reach out with any questions!
Carley Gerdes - carley.gerdes@nhcs.net
Calendar of Events â—Ź MMS Orchestra Handbook â—Ź BoletĂn en español
Concert Countdown - 19 days!
Orchestra Fundraiser!
Orchestra Fundraiser!
On Monday, we kick off our Fall Fundraiser! It is an online catalog fundraiser selling holiday gifts, wrapping paper, snacks, and more! Your students were sent home with an orange information flier with how to register. You do not have to register yet, I will walk the students through it in class on Monday.Â
The fundraiser is completely online, so all you need to do is collect the email addresses or phone numbers of people who may be interested in supporting us by purchasing something from the catalog. On the back of the orange sheet is space for you to write the collected information. On Monday, we will be sending the fundraiser links to the contacts you collected. It has room for 20 contacts, but feel free to collect more!
This year, our goal is $10,000! With this money, we can:
purchase a new bass ($2500), a new cello ($1500), and 2 new violins ($800 each)
purchase several new music stands ($50 each)
order new strings, rosin, bows, music, and the many other things our classroom needs
participate in things like MPA and other extra opportunities
If you decide to register early, make sure you enter "Murray" when it asks for the class. While we are running a combined fundraiser with Ashley, I will keep the proceeds for each school separate!
🍂🎻Fall concert!🎻🍂
🍂🎻Fall concert!🎻🍂
Our first concert of the year is coming up soon!!! Here are some details, let me know if you have any questions.
When?
When?
Wednesday, October 28th Students need to report to the MMS orchestra room by 5:30 in their concert attire with their instrument and music.Â
Where?
Where?
Minnie Evans Arts Center 655 Halyburton Memorial Pkwy - Doors to the auditorium open at 5:45PM. The concert starts at 6:00PM! It is free to attend.
Who?
Who?
All Orchestra Students! As per the syllabus, all students are required to attend. This is a big portion of their grade. If there are conflicts please let me know ASAP. All family & friends are welcome to attend!
What to wear?
What to wear?
6th and 7th Grade:
White shirt (semi-formal, with sleeves, no tank tops or crop tops)
Black pants/long skirt (No rips/holes, skirts need to be ankle length, or they may wear tights or leggings underneath, no slits)
Black closed-toe shoes and socks
8th Grade:
Black shirt (semi-formal, with sleeves, no tank tops or crop tops)
Black pants/long skirt (No rips/holes, skirts need to be ankle length, or they may wear tights or leggings underneath, no slits)
Black closed-toe shoes and socks
***I have concert-appropriate shirts/pants/shoes/socks in various sizes. Let me know if your student may be in need of appropriate attire!***
6th & 7th Grade:
8th Grade:
All County Information
All County Information
Monday, October 19th, Hoggard HS Band Room 6:00-7:15 p.m.Â
Friday, October 23rd, Minnie Evans Arts Center 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Students need to pack a lunch. They will return to class after rehearsal ends.
Saturday, October 24th, Minnie Events Arts Center 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Please arrive by 8:15 to tune.
The concert will begin at 2 p.m. Concert dress code is the same as our concerts.
Students may pack their own lunch, or pay $5 to MMS Orchestra to have lunch provided (pizza, chips/snacks, drinks)
We will be rehearsing after school Wednesday and Thursday for those who would like dedicated practice time.
🎵6th Grade🎵
🎵6th Grade🎵
Reminders
Students should be taking their instruments home to practice!
If you have turned in the instrument check-out form, your student may take home a school instrument.
Violins & Violas may take home their instrument any day
Cello & Bass may take home their instrument on weekends
About 2 hours a week outside of school will set you up for success and keep you ahead of the class!
What you can practice at home
"The Haunting of Murray MIddle School" sheet music
What we're learning in class
How to be successful in orchestra
Classroom expectations
Rehearsal Etiquette
Instrument care
Fundamentals of playing a string instrument
Playing posture
Bow hold
Musical literacy
Reading and counting rhythms
Quarter note, quarter rest, eighth note
Note readingÂ
New notes - High D, C#, B, & A
D Major Scale
🎵7th Grade🎵
🎵7th Grade🎵
Reminders
Students should be taking their instruments home to practice!
If you have turned in the instrument check-out form, your student may take home a school instrument.
Violins & Violas may take home their instrument any day
Cello & Bass may take home their instrument on weekends
About 2 hours a week outside of school will set you up for success and keep you ahead of the class!
What you can practice at home
Any of our concert music!
Especially:Â March of the Shadows & Midnight Echo
Think about "chomping" the string.
New finger patterns: L1, H3, X2, X4
What we're learning in class
How to be successful in orchestra
Classroom expectations
Rehearsal Etiquette
Instrument care
How to practice effectively
Fundamentals of playing a string instrument
Posture
Intonation
Rhythm and steady beat
Musical literacy
G Major finger patterns
Eighth note and rest rhythms
🎵8th Grade🎵
🎵8th Grade🎵
Reminders
Students should be taking their instruments home to practice!
If you have turned in the instrument check-out form, your student may take home a school instrument.
Violins & Violas may take home their instrument any day
Cello & Bass may take home their instrument on weekends
About 2 hours a week outside of school will set you up for success and keep you ahead of the class!
What you can practice at home
Any of our concert music! or All County music
Especially: Zombie Tango
Any of the scales and excercises from the book
What we're learning in class
How to be successful in orchestra
Classroom expectations
Rehearsal Etiquette
How to practice effectively
Fundamentals of playing a string instrument
Posture
Intonation
Section independence
Ensemble blend
Musical literacy
A Major finger patterns
Sixteenth note rhythms
Off-beat rhythms
đź“…Calendar of eventsđź“…
đź“…Calendar of eventsđź“…
October Â
Monday, Oct 12 - Fall Fundraiser BeginsÂ
Monday, Oct 19 – Q1 TestÂ
Monday, Oct 19 - All County Orchestra RehearsalÂ
Friday, Oct 23 - Saturday, Oct 24 - All County Orchestra ClinicÂ
Wednesday, Oct 28 - Fall Orchestra ConcertÂ
Friday, Oct 30 - Fall Fundraiser EndsÂ
December Â
Friday, Dec 4 – Q2 TestÂ
Wednesday, Dec 16 - Winter Orchestra ConcertÂ
February Â
Friday, Feb 12 - Murray Arts Valentine’s Day DanceÂ
Thursday, Feb 25 – Q3 TestÂ
March Â
Monday, Mar 1 - NHCS Orchestra Festival (6th & 7th Grade only)Â
Saturday, Mar 6 - JERO AuditionsÂ
Wednesday, Mar 10 - Pre-MPA Orchestra Concert (8th Grade only)Â
Monday, Mar 15 or Tuesday, Mar 16 (TBA) - Eastern Regional Orchestra MPA (8th Grade only)Â
April Â
Saturday, Apr 24 - Busch Gardens Trip (8th Grade only, date tentative)Â
May Â
Saturday, May 1 - JERO ClinicÂ
Monday, May 3 – Q4 TestÂ
Tuesday, May 18 - Spring Orchestra ConcertÂ
JuneÂ
Wednesday, Jun 2 - Murray Arts Awards NightÂ
For descriptions of the events, click here.
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