Practice Records due Friday, October 21st!

Just a quick reminder- practice records will be turned in THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21st. Please make sure that your child is practicing 75 minutes a week!

Practice Records!

Students this year will be required to turn in "practice records"- students will need to log 75 minutes each week to receive full credit. (That's only 15 minutes, 5 days a week!) Practice records will be kept in the students' Orchestra binders. Students will have the opportunity to receive up to 5 minutes of practice time in class every day if they come to class and get started practicing (without talking) before we tune. Students may also use an "Orchestra Pass" to come in to the Orchestra room between 7:30-7:50 AM to fulfill their practice time requirements. I will also be available for tutoring during this time. Individual practice between rehearsals is of great importance if we are to provide a quality music experience for your students. I cannot stress this enough- individual practice is crucial to the success of our Orchestra! I hope you are ready for a great year of musical growth and performance!

Welcome Back!

Parents & Students,

I am looking forward to another great year of Orchestra at Hickory Hills! I have sent the syllabus home with each Orchestra student. Enclosed in the packet is a tentative schedule for the year, as well as an order form for the Orchestra shirt. Please read over it together, sign, and return it by Friday, September 2nd. (You do not need to turn the entire syllabus in to me, just the last page.)

Please check back often to stay in tune with the Hickory Hills Spartan Strings!

7/8th Grade Concert Postponed

Parents,

First of all, I want to thank you all for getting your kids at school on time Friday. I know it was an early morning!! The Orchestra had a wonderful performance and got a 90% and an 86% rating from the judges. I hope we continue improving for our next contest that will be coming up on May 13! I also want to say that the kids were very well behaved at Silver Dollar City and did a great job representing Hickory Hills! It was great to be able to give them such a treat after all their hard work, so thank you for that!!

I wanted to inform you of a change in our schedule. Our concert that was going to take place tomorrow, May 3rd has been postponed due to the track meet that so many of our Orchestra students are involved with. I know this is short notice, but I hope it will work out better for everyone.

This is our updated Orchestra calendar for the remainder of the year:

Tuesday, May 10- 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Spring Concert - 7 PM
(Please have students arrive at the following times:

6:00- 6th Grade
6:20- 7th/8th Grade)

(Orchestra t-shirt and black slacks)

Friday, May 13th- All City 7/8th Grade Orchestra Festival @ Evangel University (Performance will be during school hours- I will send out an updated email when I get confirmation about our performance time)

Wednesday, May 18th - 6th Grade Orchestra Festival @ Drury University (During school hours- performance time will be 11:00 AM- parents are welcome to attend)

Thursday, May 19th- All City 5th Grade Orchestra Concert @ Glendale High School, 7 PM

Also, I just wanted to remind you, if you haven't paid for your child's Orchestra t-shirt, the cost is $8.00- checks can be made out to Hickory Hills. If you do not plan on purchasing a t-shirt, but your child borrowed one for the Silver Dollar City trip, please wash and return it asap.

Thank you for all that you do!

Please let me know if there are any questions about these dates!

Sincerely,
Marcy Kamler
mjkamler@spsmail.org
417-523-7055

Solo/Ensemble Contest THIS Saturday, Feb. 26!

Orchestra Parents,

For those of you who have children participating in Middle School Solo/Small Ensemble Contest this Saturday, I am so pleased that your child has decided to do this- it takes a great deal of hard work and dedication to participate in this event. (Hopefully this is not the first you’ve heard of the contest!!!)

I have attached sent home a schedule 3 adjudication rooms that we will be using at Pershing Middle School- all solos/ensembles will take place at Pershing Middle School. Your child’s name should be in bold writing. Please let me know ASAP of any time conflicts and I will do my best to accommodate you.

If you do not know how to get to Pershing Middle School, here is the address: the address is 2120 S. Ventura Ave.

Here are directions from Hickory Hills:

4650 E State Highway Yy, Springfield, MO 65802-7301

1. Depart SR-YY / E MO-Yy toward N Farm Road 1931.2 mi
2. Road name changes to E Division St0.6 mi
3. Take ramp left and follow signs for US-65 South / Schoolcraft Fwy2.8 mi
4. Take ramp right and follow signs for Sunshine St / SR-D0.2 mi
5. Turn right onto SR-D / E Sunshine St1.0 mi
6. Turn left onto S Ventura Ave<>
7. Turn right to stay on S Ventura Ave0.4 mi
8. Arrive at 2120 S Ventura Ave Springfield, MO 65804

The last intersection is E Alameda St. If you reach E Seminole St, you've gone too far

Pershing Elementary Middle

Please have your child at Pershing NO LATER THAN 20 minutes before their performance time. Your child needs to be wearing black slacks and a black or white top- no exceptions! If you are having trouble coming up with this attire, let me know- it will be the dress code for the majority of our performances.

If your child is performing a SOLO, they need to have an accompanist, unless they have made other arrangements with me (They have known this from day 1- please make sure arrangements are made for a pianist to play with SOLOISTS- duets/groups of 2 or more do not need an accompanist)

Please contact me with any concerns. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday and hearing some wonderful performances!

Sincerely,

Marcy Kamler

417-523-7055

Cookie Dough Fundraiser!

Parents,

Our Spring fundraiser has begun! We will be selling cookie dough. Orders are due by February 28th. We should receive the cookie dough by March 16th- students will collect $ upon delivery. (The cookie dough is frozen- so it will need to go home with the student that day to prevent it from going bad)

Students are not requred to participate in the fundraiser, but I really appreciate the support- it takes a lot of money to run an Orchestra- buying music, repairing instruments, and entering music contests/festivals are all things that require $.

Thank you for helping support our Orchestra!