Monthly Newsletter

Zionsville West MS Orchestra 

Orchestra Newsletter 

August 2025 

Hello Orchestra Families!
 

Welcome to Orchestra!  

We hope everyone had a wonderful summer and is ready for an exciting school year. We are thrilled to have all our new and returning students join us and look forward to making music together. 

Attached to this message is the calendar of concerts for the school year. Please add these important dates to your calendar in advance. Note that the numbers in parenthesis are grade levels not the time of day for the event.

Day 1: Please do NOT send your children to school with their instruments. Students will not need their instruments. On Day 1 we will give violin and viola students their locker number to keep their instrument in during the school day. They will have the same locker all year. 

Day 2: Grades 6, 7, and 8 please BRING your instruments. Your child should put it in their instrument locker at the start of the day. Locker assignments will be posted at the front of the room in case children forget their number.  

Day 3: Grade 5 please BRING your violins or violas as well as all the materials you received from Paige’s Music. Cello and bass students will be assigned to a school instrument to use during the day. Their instruments should stay at home except for rehearsals, concerts, and when it needs tuned. 

Orchestra Handbook and Website - https://sites.google.com/site/zwestorchestra/home  

This link will take you to the ZWMS Orchestra Website! The Orchestra Handbook, which covers guidelines and expectations for the classroom can be found here. Please read through the handbook so you know what to expect for this school year. The orchestra calendar can also be found on the website and contains all important dates including rehearsals and concerts.  

Morning Orchestra Gathering 

Morning Orchestra Gathering (MOG) is the orchestra club offered at ZWest; it is open to orchestra students that are in 6th, 7th and 8th grade. Students must participate in orchestra as a class to participate for the class. Fifth grade students who have more than two years of experience playing their instrument should contact Mrs. Brenton or Miss Edwards if they would like to participate. MOG rehearses every Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:50-8:30am. The first rehearsal is on Tuesday, October 7th. We will provide more information in September about the club and how to sign up.
 

Private Lessons 

Private lessons are an outstanding way to enhance your child's orchestra experience! During their weekly private lesson, students will work one-on-one with a professional musician that specializes on their instrument. They will work on the fundamentals of playing while focusing on highlighting their strengths and building upon weaknesses. While private lessons are not required, MOST students who participate will agree that they enjoy working closely with someone who plays their instrument and experience greater success in orchestra class. Lessons take place in a practice room during your child’s regular Orchestra class period. 

Now is the time to sign up for private lessons before the teachers’ schedules fill up. Please contact a teacher directly to get on their schedule.  

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. 

Zionsville West MS Orchestra 

Orchestra Newsletter 

August 2025 

Hello Orchestra Families!
 

Welcome to Orchestra!  

We hope everyone had a wonderful summer and is ready for an exciting school year. We are thrilled to have all our new and returning students join us and look forward to making music together. 

Attached to this message is the calendar of concerts for the school year. Please add these important dates to your calendar in advance. Note that the numbers in parenthesis are grade levels not the time of day for the event.

Day 1: Please do NOT send your children to school with their instruments. Students will not need their instruments. On Day 1 we will give violin and viola students their locker number to keep their instrument in during the school day. They will have the same locker all year. 

Day 2: Grades 6, 7, and 8 please BRING your instruments. Your child should put it in their instrument locker at the start of the day. Locker assignments will be posted at the front of the room in case children forget their number.  

Day 3: Grade 5 please BRING your violins or violas as well as all the materials you received from Paige’s Music. Cello and bass students will be assigned to a school instrument to use during the day. Their instruments should stay at home except for rehearsals, concerts, and when it needs tuned. 

Orchestra Handbook and Website - https://sites.google.com/site/zwestorchestra/home  

This link will take you to the ZWMS Orchestra Website! The Orchestra Handbook, which covers guidelines and expectations for the classroom can be found here. Please read through the handbook so you know what to expect for this school year. The orchestra calendar can also be found on the website and contains all important dates including rehearsals and concerts.  

Morning Orchestra Gathering 

Morning Orchestra Gathering (MOG) is the orchestra club offered at ZWest; it is open to orchestra students that are in 6th, 7th and 8th grade. Students must participate in orchestra as a class to participate for the class. Fifth grade students who have more than two years of experience playing their instrument should contact Mrs. Brenton or Miss Edwards if they would like to participate. MOG rehearses every Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:50-8:30am. The first rehearsal is on Tuesday, October 7th. We will provide more information in September about the club and how to sign up.
 

Private Lessons 

Private lessons are an outstanding way to enhance your child's orchestra experience! During their weekly private lesson, students will work one-on-one with a professional musician that specializes on their instrument. They will work on the fundamentals of playing while focusing on highlighting their strengths and building upon weaknesses. While private lessons are not required, MOST students who participate will agree that they enjoy working closely with someone who plays their instrument and experience greater success in orchestra class. Lessons take place in a practice room during your child’s regular Orchestra class period. 

Now is the time to sign up for private lessons before the teachers’ schedules fill up. Please contact a teacher directly to get on their schedule.  

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. 

Zionsville West MS Orchestra 

Orchestra Newsletter 

August 2025 

Hello Orchestra Families!
 

Welcome to Orchestra!  

We hope everyone had a wonderful summer and is ready for an exciting school year. We are thrilled to have all our new and returning students join us and look forward to making music together. 

Attached to this message is the calendar of concerts for the school year. Please add these important dates to your calendar in advance. Note that the numbers in parenthesis are grade levels not the time of day for the event.

Day 1: Please do NOT send your children to school with their instruments. Students will not need their instruments. On Day 1 we will give violin and viola students their locker number to keep their instrument in during the school day. They will have the same locker all year. 

Day 2: Grades 6, 7, and 8 please BRING your instruments. Your child should put it in their instrument locker at the start of the day. Locker assignments will be posted at the front of the room in case children forget their number.  

Day 3: Grade 5 please BRING your violins or violas as well as all the materials you received from Paige’s Music. Cello and bass students will be assigned to a school instrument to use during the day. Their instruments should stay at home except for rehearsals, concerts, and when it needs tuned. 

Orchestra Handbook and Website - https://sites.google.com/site/zwestorchestra/home  

This link will take you to the ZWMS Orchestra Website! The Orchestra Handbook, which covers guidelines and expectations for the classroom can be found here. Please read through the handbook so you know what to expect for this school year. The orchestra calendar can also be found on the website and contains all important dates including rehearsals and concerts.  

Morning Orchestra Gathering 

Morning Orchestra Gathering (MOG) is the orchestra club offered at ZWest; it is open to orchestra students that are in 6th, 7th and 8th grade. Students must participate in orchestra as a class to participate for the class. Fifth grade students who have more than two years of experience playing their instrument should contact Mrs. Brenton or Miss Edwards if they would like to participate. MOG rehearses every Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:50-8:30am. The first rehearsal is on Tuesday, October 7th. We will provide more information in September about the club and how to sign up.
 

Private Lessons 

Private lessons are an outstanding way to enhance your child's orchestra experience! During their weekly private lesson, students will work one-on-one with a professional musician that specializes on their instrument. They will work on the fundamentals of playing while focusing on highlighting their strengths and building upon weaknesses. While private lessons are not required, MOST students who participate will agree that they enjoy working closely with someone who plays their instrument and experience greater success in orchestra class. Lessons take place in a practice room during your child’s regular Orchestra class period. 

Now is the time to sign up for private lessons before the teachers’ schedules fill up. Please contact a teacher directly to get on their schedule.  

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. 

Zionsville West MS Orchestra 

Orchestra Newsletter 

August 2025 

Hello Orchestra Families!
 

Welcome to Orchestra!  

We hope everyone had a wonderful summer and is ready for an exciting school year. We are thrilled to have all our new and returning students join us and look forward to making music together. 

Attached to this message is the calendar of concerts for the school year. Please add these important dates to your calendar in advance. Note that the numbers in parenthesis are grade levels not the time of day for the event.

Day 1: Please do NOT send your children to school with their instruments. Students will not need their instruments. On Day 1 we will give violin and viola students their locker number to keep their instrument in during the school day. They will have the same locker all year. 

Day 2: Grades 6, 7, and 8 please BRING your instruments. Your child should put it in their instrument locker at the start of the day. Locker assignments will be posted at the front of the room in case children forget their number.  

Day 3: Grade 5 please BRING your violins or violas as well as all the materials you received from Paige’s Music. Cello and bass students will be assigned to a school instrument to use during the day. Their instruments should stay at home except for rehearsals, concerts, and when it needs tuned. 

Orchestra Handbook and Website - https://sites.google.com/site/zwestorchestra/home  

This link will take you to the ZWMS Orchestra Website! The Orchestra Handbook, which covers guidelines and expectations for the classroom can be found here. Please read through the handbook so you know what to expect for this school year. The orchestra calendar can also be found on the website and contains all important dates including rehearsals and concerts.  

Morning Orchestra Gathering 

Morning Orchestra Gathering (MOG) is the orchestra club offered at ZWest; it is open to orchestra students that are in 6th, 7th and 8th grade. Students must participate in orchestra as a class to participate for the class. Fifth grade students who have more than two years of experience playing their instrument should contact Mrs. Brenton or Miss Edwards if they would like to participate. MOG rehearses every Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:50-8:30am. The first rehearsal is on Tuesday, October 7th. We will provide more information in September about the club and how to sign up.
 

Private Lessons 

Private lessons are an outstanding way to enhance your child's orchestra experience! During their weekly private lesson, students will work one-on-one with a professional musician that specializes on their instrument. They will work on the fundamentals of playing while focusing on highlighting their strengths and building upon weaknesses. While private lessons are not required, MOST students who participate will agree that they enjoy working closely with someone who plays their instrument and experience greater success in orchestra class. Lessons take place in a practice room during your child’s regular Orchestra class period. 

Now is the time to sign up for private lessons before the teachers’ schedules fill up. Please contact a teacher directly to get on their schedule.  

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. 

MORNING ORCHESTRA JAZZ FESTIVAL 

MOG will be traveling to Avon Middle School South on Friday, March 6th to compete in the Indiana State School Music Association Jazz Festival. We will perform for audience members and a panel of 3 judges who will provide written and recorded feedback after which we will receive a score and a rating of gold, silver, or bronze based on an official rubric. 

This will provide an opportunity for performance feedback, experience in a new environment, and help us grow as musicians. Please fill out the permission form ATTACHED HERE by Tuesday, March 3rd. You can note in this form if your child will ride the bus home or leave with another adult from Avon.

DnD students can still attend club. Musical rehearsal students will be excused at 6pm. Please let us know if there is another club that we should reach out to regarding a conflict.

We’ll add that the three groups before us beginning at 7pm are other middle school orchestra. We highly encourage you to attend these performances as well. You can never hear too much orchestra! Our schedule is provided below: 

MOG ISSMA Jazz Info 2026:
What: ISSMA Jazz Festival
Where: Avon Middle School SOUTH (7199 E US Hwy 36, Avon, IN 46123 ) 

When: Friday March 6th; Time: 7:45PM
Who: MOG members
Attire: Orchestra uniform

Schedule:  

5:30PM: pizza dinner in orchestra room (optional)
6:00PM: Attendance in orchestra room
6:15PM: Depart ZWest
6:50PM: Arrive at Avon MS South; find homeroom, use restroom, unpack instruments
7:15PM: Transit to warm up
7:20PM: Warm up
7:40PM: Transit to performance
7:45PM: Performance in the Auditorium (parents are welcome to attend!)
8:15PM: Return to Homeroom; pack instruments, await results
8:30PM: Depart Avon MS South
9:00PM: Arrive at ZWest