Smith MS Weekly Orchestra Update
Week 10
Week 10
We have a busy two weeks ahead of us. Thursday is Picture Day for beginners, Philharmonic and Symphonic Students. A major scale due Friday and Mission Sixteens on Makemusic for Chamber over the weekend. Scale quizzes in class for Symphonic and Philharmonic students on Monday.
We also have Region Audition at Northbrook HS for our chamber students and select Symphonic students.
***All SMITH Orchestra Students must maintain SHORT fingernail length in order to play with proper technique (Which directs impacts intonation & consistency). I will be checking daily to make sure students have their nails trimmed. No ACRYLIC NAILS!!!!
****All non-beginner orchestra students should be practicing daily for 20 minutes. All beginner orchestra students should be practicing daily for 15 minutes.
Picture Day (10/22)
Picture day for orchestra will be Thursday, October 22nd only for Beginners, Philharmonic and Symphonic orchestras. Every student will take an individual picture for our composite portrait, and a group photo for yearbook pictures. You will have the opportunity to buy the pictures from the photo company. We are using the same company our band colleagues use. To pre-order pictures use the prepay link below. Please print out your confirmation form/receipt to give to our photographer on photo day.
***http://vst.hhimagehost.com/SMSOrchestra26 ***
Non-Beginners: Need to bring their formal uniform and black dress shoes/socks TOMORROW. Students need to drop off their uniform in the orchestra before school starts. Please make sure students have a hanger, with their name on it, to hang their uniforms on the rack. Black shoes also need to have their name on the bottom of the shoe. Students do not need to wear the uniform to school.
Beginners: Need to wear their orchestra shirt, jeans with a belt and closed tennis shoes Thursday, October 22nd. If you don’t have the orchestra shirt, wear a black shirt or an old black orchestra t-shirt.
*If students do not have their uniform on Thursday, they will not take an individual picture or be in our group photo for the yearbook.
Region Auditions (Chamber and Some Symphonic Students)
Region auditions are this Saturday, October 24th.
Students need to bring to the audition:
- Pencil –to mark cuts that are given
- Region Music and Instrument
- Bass Stool/Rock Stop
- Music Stand
- A Jacket or Sweater
- A long, interesting BOOK or homework
- Bring snacks/sack lunch or money for concession snacks
- Tuner/Metronome (can’t use your cell phone or ipad)
Dress comfy – wear layered clothing and nothing that has your school’s name on it. You do not have to dress up for this audition. NO HATS, do not wear hoods up on hoodies.
Your cell phones will be taken up once you enter the audition room, so having your phone labeled with your name prior to the audition would be helpful.
Remember
No talking
No practicing
No-one is allowed to leave the room while the judging panel is present
Only the monitor may talk to the judging panel
The monitor may tune the instrument
No audible metronomes/tuners
Itinerary for Region Auditions:
6:50 AM Arrive at Smith at the bus loading dock behind the cafeteria
7:00 AM Load Bus
7:15 AM Leave Smith For Northbrook HS
8:00 AM Arrive at Northbrook HS
8:30 AM Roll Call
9:00 AM Auditions Begin
Finish: Depends on each instrument section
Permission Slip: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17huVzBp_HwPAsLZfG63j4RsPfBgk2zdM58NLXIN_X0E/edit?usp=sharing
Fright Fest Social
We will have our Fright Fest Social next week Wednesday, October 28 from 5:30-7:30pm. This social event is for all orchestra Sabercats. Violin and viola students bring something sweet or salty. Cello and bass students bring drinks. Students can drop off donations in the orchestra room before school starts or parents can drop off donations during school at the front office. Students will be socializing, playing games, and competing in a costume contest. We do need a few items to be donated and chaperones. Please use the sign up genius links to donate items and chaperone. Please drop off your child at the back of Smith near the cafeteria doors (Door 14) at 5:30pm and pick up your child before 7:30pm from the back of the school.
We also need some toilet paper for an activity at Fright Fest!
Costume Contest Permission Slip: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19NHTMQuia91puECTxntrQRzgY_E_iazWVugjRsfXYTI/edit?usp=sharing
Chaperone Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A4FADAC2BA6FC1-fright1#/
Donation Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A4FADAC2BA6FC1-fright#/
Marking Period 2 Sectional Schedule
Marking Period 2 Sectional Schedule: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g5rvVxnOSqJWnOi-g17OwyMHcDuhy9K6/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=116506916189235860237&rtpof=true&sd=true
Houston Symphony Field Trip 12/12
We will be attending the Houston Symphony's Very Merry POPS Concert (Jones Hall 615 Louisiana St, Houston, TX 77002) on Saturday, December 12th from 4pm-10:00pm. This will be a fun and popular social event for our students. Students will have the opportunity to watch a professional orchestra performance at one of their most popular concerts!
We will leave from the Front of Smith at 4:10pm and return to school by 10:00pm. Please have someone at Smith to pick up your child promptly at 10pm, as we will not have access to the phones inside the building. Students who are picked up more than 15 minutes late after our arrival back at Smith will not be able to attend our Movie Night Social in January 2027.
Students will have to wear Formal Festive clothes (Button downs, khakis, dresses, dress shoes, etc)
Additionally, students will need to bring their own money for food at the 290 and Spring Cypress Chick-Fil-a ($10-$15).
The total cost of this trip will be $35 which includes their ticket and transportation to and from the event. Please note, students are required to ride the bus both TO and FROM Jones Hall (students may NOT be picked up from Jones Hall by a guardian during the trip).
Payments and Deadlines: Students need to turn in the attached permission slip to the correct turn-in tray and pay online by Friday, October 18th. All payments must be submitted online through School Cash Online. No cash or checks will be accepted for this event.
Please note, if your student has been placed in DMC or suspended between September 21st and December 12th, they will not be permitted to attend this event. Refunds will not be available after November 3rd.
Smith MS Orchestra Calendar
Check out the Smith MS Calendar: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hIyDuPjXR4-N98oPfmf09VndsT0lP_e9zN8s06n70Do/edit?usp=sharing
Sectional Rehearsal Schedule (Non-beginning orchestra students Only)
Here is the current sectional schedule for Marking Period 1 for non-beginner students.
Marking Period 1 schedule link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g5rvVxnOSqJWnOi-g17OwyMHcDuhy9K6/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=116506916189235860237&rtpof=true&sd=true
Orchestra Costs
Non-Beginner Orchestra Fees
- $110 (Phil and Sym required) or $125 (required Chamber)
- Smith Orchestra T-Shirt (Separate, Required): $17
- Fair Share Donation (optional): $15 or more
- Accompanist’s Fee (Separate, Required): $30 or 40
- Region Orchestra Audition Fee: $15 (included in orchestra fee for chamber students)
- Orchestra Lock-In at Andretti (optional): $60
- Houston Symphony Trip (optional): $35
- Spring Trip or Lock-in: $30-50
Beginner Orchestra Fees
Beginner Orchestra Fee (Required): $62
Smith Orchestra T-Shirt (Separate, Required): $17
Fair Share Donation (optional): $15 or more
Accompanist’s Fee (Separate, Required for Solos): $15
Orchestra Lock-In at Andretti (optional): $60
Houston Symphony Trip (optional): $35
Spring Trip or Lock in: $30-50
Private Lessons
All orchestra members are encouraged to study privately, which can lead to greater success. Private lessons complement regular class work and are available through the district’s Private Music Lesson Program, offered by district-employed teachers.
Lessons cost varies by teacher experience:
- Level 1: $23 (less experienced staff)
- Level 2: $26 (experienced teachers, university graduates)
- Level 3: $29 (most experienced or advanced degrees)
Five teachers will visit Smith weekly, offering 30-minute, 45-minute, or 1-hour lessons. Students sign an attendance sheet, and parents are billed monthly.
Dr. Carlo Malanima (Level 3 Violin/Viola) Available: Wed, Thurs & Fri During School (starting at 10am) and after school
Joshua Tran (Level 1 Violin/Viola) Available: Tues (3:30-7pm) & Wed (3:30-6pm)
Shanya Powers (Level 3 Violin/Viola) Available: Monday After School
Nick Puccia (Level 3 Cello/Bass) Thursdays After School
Robert Rosenfield (Level 2 Cello) Thursdays during school day and after
Smith Orchestra lessons are available during (very limited) and after school. Spots are limited and are based on a first come first served basis.
If interested please fill out the Google form and New Student Enrollment link. The new student enrollment link has all the information about billing, attendance, etc. If your child has done district private lessons, there is no need to complete the New Student Enrollment link.
Google Form: https://bit.ly/45d7pS9
New Student Enrollment Packet: https://bit.ly/3SPTBZt
Also check out our Private Lesson Teacher List. These teachers teach in the Cypress, Fairfield, & Katy area and are phenomenal teachers who might have some availability in their schedule. Slots fill up fast, so please contact them ASAP if you are interested.
Join Our Remind and Stay Informed
Philharmonic: @smithmsp
Symphonic: @smithmssy
Chamber: @smithmsch
Beginners: smithmsb
Upcoming Dates
Saturday, Oct. 24: Region Auditions (Chamber and Some Symphonic Students)
Wednesday, Oct. 28: Fright Fest Social 5:30-7:30 Smith Cafe
Amazon Wish List
Amazon Wish List Link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/343N9OUJF5RLQ?ref_=wl_share
Supply List Links
Some of our students’ tuners need a battery replacement or new tuners. Please purchase a CR2032 battery on Amazon or buy another tuner from Lisle or Fishburn.
Links
