MS/HS Orchestras Sept Newsletter

We're back to the new school year!

The high school orchestra has already started working on some winter concert music and is practicing new techniques and tuning exercises every day.

The middle school orchestra will be starting soon, with our first official class booked for the week of October 3rd! Unofficially, I am planning to have the 6th-grade orchestra meet during WIN in the auditorium on Thursday, September 29th, and 7/8th grade on Friday, September 30th.

Once we get started, groups will meet every other day for about 50 minutes, in what is considered the WIN block. Students have the option of participating in both chorus and orchestra if they are not required to be in a resource lesson on their day off of orchestra. Students should bring their instruments to school with them and will be able to store them in the auditorium before class. Cellos and Basses will be able to keep their instrument at home, as we have in-class instruments for school use.

Back-to-school night for WMS will be this Thursday, September 22. I am not able to be at this presentation for the middle school, but please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

For our 6th grade families who are new to the middle school, the orchestra meets as an ensemble during the WIN block, every other day, in the auditorium. Students are expected to participate in each class period and will need their instruments for each class. Students can leave their instruments at school but I recommend taking them home over the weekend to practice. Students are graded on their mastery of the techniques we're learning, based on observation and assessment during class. Students are expected to be at all three evening performances (listed below). Students will not need to bring a music stand to school but should bring their binder from elementary school (if they still have it) and their Essential Elements Book (again, if they still have it).

Back-to-school night for WHS will be on Thursday, September 29th. I will be around for the L block slot. We'll go over some information about the class this year, and I'll be able to give a brief and estimated overview for our NYC trip in April.

This year, we're going to try something new and combine the middle and high school string programs for one concert in the winter and spring, making it a 6-12 Orchestra Concert. These concerts will be hosted at the high school, to use up the last bit of stage time we have in this building (so excited for the new auditorium in a few years!).

Our concert dates are as follows:

• Winter Concert: Wednesday, December 14th @ 7:00PM (arrive 5:50 for 6:00 sound check on stage) possibly moving to Tuesday, 12/20 due to the late start at WMS
• High School only - New York City (Optional): Friday, March 31, 2023 - Sunday, April 2nd, 2023
• String Spectacular: Thursday, April 6th, 2023 @ 7:00PM (dress rehearsal after school 3:00 - 5:30, pizza dinner to follow before concert)
• Music In The Parks: Friday, May 19th, 2023 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM - Students in 7/8th Grade and Festival Orchestra will have the option to opt into our spring Music in the Parks Festival at Six Flags.
• Spring Concert: Tuesday, May 23, 2023 @ 7:00PM (arrive 5:50 for 6:00 sound check on stage)
• High School/interested middle school students - Graduation: Friday, June 2nd, 2023 (time TBD)

• Festival Orchestra (6 - 8th grade): Festival Orchestra club will meet right after school on Tuesdays, from 3:05 - 4:15 or so. Open to all string students at WMS who are in at least their fourth year of playing, this group will perform for assemblies, field trips, Six Flags, etc. 7th and 8th-grade students who are not in this group but want to attend the Six Flags trip (likely May 19, 2023) will be given the opportunity to learn the music. This group will start up as a club activity at WMS. Ask Ms. Byham if you're unsure about whether or not this group fits for you!

• All-City Orchestra (First, Second, and Third Year Players): We will also continue to have All-City Orchestra, which will primarily be first and second-year players, as well as 6 - 12th-grade mentors. WMS and WHS students interested in earning community service hours can join us on Tuesdays from 4:30 - 5:30 to mentor the younger players, offer sectionals, etc. ACO will begin meeting at the same time as clubs at WMS (likely in October).

Students in 7th - 9th grade can audition for the MA Music Ed Association's Junior District Festival. I highly recommend that students interested in auditioning for this group look into private lessons, as the audition is quite competitive in this area. That said, this is a really cool ensemble to try out for, is a low, one-time commitment, and is a minimal fee (I think $30-40 total for audition and participation). Auditions and festival both happen in the greater Boston area.

• Audition details here
• Private lesson instructors here

Students in 9th - 12th grade can audition for the MA Music Ed Association's Senior District Festival (9th graders can audition for either group).

• Audition Requirements Here
• Private lesson instructors here

WMS Classroom: The classroom code is cnjrrp6, or you can click this link while logged into your Watertown email account.

WHS Classroom: The classroom code is f5tyayg, or you can click this link while logged into your Watertown email account.

Email: macullen.byham@watertown.k12.ma.us
Website: https://tinyurl.com/watertownorchestra
Phone: 617.564.1713
Facebook: http://facebook.com/watertownfinearts