Weekly SCOOP 10/10/07, Voc/Ens

1. Retreat (Oct. 20th) info – please note dismissal time is 3:30 PM
2. Orff photo release forms
3. Practice Cds
4. Music Folders
   
5. Lost Cd (musicianship book)
6. Note from Elena (also please note - there is a link to repertoire list with this SCOOP)

1. FALL DAY RETREAT

• WHEN: Sat., October 20th
• TIME:

• 11:00 am – 3:30 pm. (Please note slight change in times)
  11:00 – 12 pm Joint Rehearsal with Intermediate choir
  12:00 – 1 pm performance for parents and potluck for parents/singers
  1:00 -- 3:30 Rehearsal, Ensemble and Vocalise

• WHERE: Foothills Congregational Parish Hall
• ATTIRE: Top -- Cantabile T-shirts (casual) if you have them, bottom -- whatever pants/shorts/etc that is comfy for you!
• What to Bring: ALL music, pencils, your recording devise (tape recorder, iPod with microphone, mp3 digital recorder.)
• Potluck assignments will be sent out the week before the event.

2. ORFF PHOTO RELEASE FORMS NEEDED
As you know, Cantabile Youth Singers will be performing at the North American Orff-Schulwerk Conference (Nov. 15, San Jose Convention Center.) The organizers are requesting a photo release form from all our singers. Such release enables them to use any photos of Cantabile taken at the conference for further publicity. (And what a great publicity for us!) Please visit our website and print up the form, fill out, and return to Shane or Elena at rehearsal this week. Thank you very much!

The direct link to the web page is: http://www.cantabile.org/youth/admin/forms.shtml, Look under “photo release form”

3. Practice Cds
If your singer didn’t get the practice CD last week, please remind him/her to
Get one this Wed. The Cds are made as a practicing tool and have to be returned at the end of the season. Many thanks to Diane Alexander for helping with CD duplication!

4. Music Folders:
By now, all children should have a black 3 ring binder with music. Please make sure that all pieces are hole-punched and arranged in the binder. Every piece must have your singer’s name on the front page (upper right corner.)

5. Someone left an Cd from the yellow Musicianship book last week. Please pick it up at the front table

6. Note from Elena:

Dear Parents,

One more time – thank you for coming to the Parent meeting on Sept. 26th. It was truly great to see you. Several of you asked me to send some of the details I talked about at the meeting in writing and I am happy to oblige!

a) Recording at rehearsals:
This season, all Ensemble/Vocalise singers are asked to bring a recording device to rehearsals. This can be a tape recorder (I got mine at Walgreens for $26 a few months ago), a digital recorder, an iPod with a microphone or anything else that can record and play back.

How does this work: At certain times during a rehearsal, I ask singers to turn their recorders on to record a difficult melodic passage, rhythm or text pronunciation. The singers then will review and practice those bits at home.

b) Two performances on the same date:
It is true – we have two performances on Thursday, November 15th. One is at the Association of Orff-Schulwerk Convention, the other is the opening night of Carmina Burana with Ballet San Jose. What makes it possible to do both is the short (walking) distance between San Jose Convention Center (Orff) and Center for Performing Arts (Ballet.)

We are done singing at the Convention Center at 7:40 pm and have to get to CPA by 8:05 to get dressed for Carmina. There is another short ballet on the program prior to Carmina Burana; also, the children do not walk on stage until movement15 of Carmina (no earlier than 8:45.) It will be tight but very exciting.

c) Repertoire Progress form:
Last week, all children were given a list of all music we currently are working on. The remarks next to each piece state where we are in rehearsing it, i.e. “notes and rhythms learned, text to be introduced,” “everyone to learn his/her part from mr. 1 to 15.” Also, please note advanced warnings like “to be memorized by …” and suggesting on how to practice efficiently.

This updated sheet is available for download as a PDF [83k]. It is also available from the website under Youth Singers Resources. Anytime your singer misses a rehearsal or forgets what to practice for next week, the answers are there.

d) Musicianship Class (5:00-5:45):
A gentle reminder – musicianship class is very important and not to be missed or be late to. It is essential for every singer’s growth as an independent singer.

We increased the time given to the musicianship class from 30 min to 45 to recognize the importance of this training and to increase the curriculum.

Thank you again for supporting Cantabile! It is a privilege to work with your children!

Elena