I am so glad to be back at Durham! So far, it's been a wonderful but hectic week! Special thanks to all of the awesome Orchestra students for being patient and bearing with me as I return from maternity leave. Here is what is going on in Orchestra for each grade level:
ALL ORCHESTRA PARENTS: 1. Please make sure you have submitted the form for parent email on the blog below this post!!
2. The orchestra room is lacking tissues and we have a lot of allergies happening! If anyone can donate a box of Kleenex, that would be great!!
3. I could definitely use a parent volunteer to help me some time in the next week with lockers and other miscellaneous things, particularly with 6th Graders. If anyone has time available (especially from 2:15-4pm) and would be willing to help, I would be forever grateful!!
6th Grade: I am still trying to tighten up some odds and ends with the 6th Grade class. I am THRILLED that we have 140 students excited to be involved in strings, but it is taking some time to get everything squared away! Most violins and violas have their fingerboard tapes on their instruments if they have brought their instrument in, and cellos and basses will be assigned to students tomorrow. If your student is using any school instrument, expect to see a green form coming home by tomorrow that needs to be signed in order for your child to use a school instrument. I hope to get started with teaching the students the proper posture and position for "plucking" their instruments by Friday; if not, we will get started by Monday! Please email me with any questions or concerns at durhamorchestra@gmail.com.
7th Grade: All 7th grade students should have received information about ordering Uniforms. I have sent out an email to former Orchestra students asking about selling/donating uniforms and will email out a list of those discounted uniforms on Monday. Those discounted uniforms will be first come, first serve. The purchasing deadline for Uniforms will be extended to August 28 for Orchestra students. I apologize for the delay in receiving this information. In class, 7th graders are learning the A Major Scale, which involves the extension technique for cellos and "high 3s" for violins and violas. They are sounding great!! I am so thrilled with their progress so far.
8th Grade: 8th Graders will receive Behavior and Performance Contracts for the Disney trip soon, so be on the lookout for that within the next two days. Also, the Braves Game trip is now $35 due to transportation costs. In order for a student to play the National Anthem at the Braves Game, they MUST have the music memorized...so you should be hearing some practicing at home if they plan to go. :) The 8th Graders are learning shifting and more advanced techniques in class and are doing a FABULOUS job!! It is so amazing to think of where they started in 6th Grade and to hear them now!
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you so much!
Posting a picture of my daughter Claire just because. I can't believe she is 7 weeks old today!! :)
Jennifer Aikey
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