Weekly Updates: Oct 29-Nov 2

Fundraiser: The Fundraiser Celebration for students who sold at least 5 items OR donated $100 is Friday after school from 4:30-5:45pm. All students that participating should have a ride to pick them up at Durham between 5:45 and 6pm. We will be providing pizza and water for those students, along with the silly string, director dunk tank, an obstacle course, and a bouncy bungee run. We need several adult volunteers if any of you are able to help! Here is the sign-up link for that: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050d49aaaa2ba57-fundraiser1 Please email me if you have any questions. 

Honor Orchestra sign ups for 7th and 8th grade were due yesterday. Today is the last day I can accept the paperwork. If your child would like to audition for Honor Orchestra and they have not turned in the $20 or paperwork, please send me an email TODAY!

After our fun concert last week, we all have been sight-reading new music and will soon be preparing holiday music! :)

Thank you,

Jennifer Aikey

Weekly Update - Oct 22-26

Hello Durham Families! Here are our updates for the week of October 22nd:

CONCERT:  Everyone's first concert of the year will be held at Allatoona High School this Thursday, October 25 at 7:30pm, all students must arrive by 7pm. This is a fun TV and Movie Music concert where students can wear costumes! :) We ask that all costumes be in dress code and for no gory, inappropriate, or offensive costumes. If your child has a folding music stand, please make sure they bring it and that it is labeled with their name! Your child will receive a flyer in class today containing all this information as well. The concert is free of charge. :)

Bass and Cello Transportation: Once I confirm who is using what instrument and who has their own instrument at home, I will send out the instructions for transporting cellos and basses to the Allatoona concert. Cello and bass parents, please be on the lookout for that email later today. 

Honor Orchestra forms and $25 audition fee is due October 30th (though turning in by Friday is ideal!). Auditions are December 1 at Sprayberry HS. I will set up audition help session times later this week.

The Fundraiser Celebration for students who sold at least 5 items or raised $100 in donations is after school on Friday, November 2nd. Please make sure if your child is attending, that they have a ride by 5:45pm. 

6th Grade: Our 6th grade students have been busy rehearsing Jaws and Middle School Story for their concert next week, and they are doing a great job!  Please make sure your child is loosening their bow and taking off their shoulder rest (violin/viola) when they are done practicing. 

7th Grade: The 7th Grade is working hard on Batman and Somewhere Out There. They are doing well, and please continue to encourage them to practice at home. They have a playing test due Wednesday (tomorrow) in class. 

8th Grade:  8th grade is working hard on Mission Impossible for our concert this week. Please continue to encourage your child to practice. :)

If you have any questions, please let us know!

Weekly Update - October 15-19

Here are our updates for October 15-19:

Fundraiser: the Music Department Fundraiser is due this Thursday! (18th) If your child is in 1st, 4th, or 6th period, they will not see me on Thursday due to the Conference Week schedule and can turn it in Friday if needed. Please help us with the final push for sales so we can provide more for your child (and so they can have an awesome time on Nov 2)!

Concert:  Everyone's first concert of the year will be held at Allatoona High School on Thursday, October 25 at 7:30pm, all students must arrive by 7pm. Please make sure you have this night on your calendar! This is a fun TV and Movie Music concert where students can wear costumes! :) We ask that all costumes be in dress code and for no gory, inappropriate, or offensive costumes. 

Congratulations to Lucas Kim and Dominique White for passing the first round of All State Orchestra auditions! This is an extremely difficult audition process and we are very proud of them. All students who auditioned from Durham did a great job and made me proud! Way to go!!

Honor Orchestra audition information is attached for any 7th or 8th grade students (or 6th graders with at least a year of private lessons experience) interested in auditioning. If your child enjoys playing, please encourage them to audition. I'd love to see a big representation of Durham students, because they are awesome! :) The form and audition fee is due October 30th. Auditions are December 1 at Sprayberry HS. I will set up audition help session times next week.

6th Grade: Our 6th grade students have been busy learning Jaws and Middle School Story for their concert next week. We are holding auditions for the narrator in class this week. Please make sure your child is loosening their bow and taking off their shoulder rest (violin/viola) when they are done practicing. 

7th Grade: We are learning a LOT of new things in our books and music! We are working hard on Batman and Somewhere Out There, along with learning those pesky flat keys! They are doing well, and please continue to encourage them to practice at home. 

8th Grade:  The next $200 payment for Universal is due this Friday. If you are chaperoning, please go ahead and turn in your deposit/first payment and second payment if you are able. 8th grade is rocking some awesome music and rising to the new challenges presented to them! We are working hard on Mission Impossible for our concert next week. Much to their amusement, we also have been doing shifting exercises using Baby Shark. :)

These are all the updates we have for now! As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Aikey

NO FIDDLERS 10/11

There is NO Fiddlers rehearsal this morning.

- Mrs. Aikey

Fundraiser

Dear Durham Orchestra Parents,

We have kicked off our annual fundraiser today! This fundraiser helps us with various costs throughout the year, including instruments, repairs, music, supplies, clinicians/sectional coaches, concert accompaniment, and more.

We have sent home more information with your child, but we wanted to hit some big details here:

1. Any money collected should be made out to YOU, the parent, and then ONE final check will made to Durham Middle School at the end of the fundraiser.

2. We will have a special Fundraiser Celebration Night on Friday, November 2nd right after school until 6pm for any students who sell more than 5 items. We will have a lot of games and activities in addition to the ones listed below. Here's how the prizes break down:

5 items sold (or $100 in donations): Students will receive one shot to dunk their director at a dunk tank

8 items sold: Students will draw out a wallet to receive prizes such as money or other items

15 items sold: Students will get to use a FULL can of silly string on the director of their choice

We will also have games and other fun activities for the students to participate on that evening. 

Our band director, Mrs. Rickard, has also agreed to dye her hair some crazy colors we sell $45,000 or more as a department!

3. The delivery date should be sometime before the Holidays, TBD. 

4. Our fundraiser ends on Thursday, October 18th, two weeks from today. 

If your child wants to participate in the fun events on November 2nd, but do not want to sell the items on the fundraiser, they can participate with $100 of donations as well. :) 

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Jennifer Aikey