Friday, January 17, 2020

LGPE, Spring Date Changes, and Playing Tests

Dear Parents,

I wanted to let you know that we have received your child’s LGPE schedule and what those details mean for performance times. Students have also been assigned playing test. This email is long (so sorry!) but hopefully detailed enough to answer any questions you have. We will not have Fiddlers rehearsal this Thursday as I will be out of town for the Georgia Music Educators Association conference. We also will not hold Chamber Orchestra rehearsal this week.

We wanted to take an opportunity to inform you of some calendar changes for the end of the year concerts.  We have decided to sponsor a Spring Spectacular Concert for 8th Grade and that will replace all current spring concerts on the school calendar, including Chorus Variety Show.  Each grade level will still have a spring concert in each discipline, but they will all be separate to alleviate overcrowding in the auditorium and parking lots.  

Eighth grade will participate in a new SPRING SPECTACULAR.  Band, Chorus and Orchestra will combine for this eighth grade event.  It will be hosted outside on the Field, “pops in the park” style.  

Sixth and Seventh Grade will continue their normal spring concerts.

Here is the Spring concert schedule for all grade levels:
All Concerts begin at 6:30pm

April 21           6th Grade Chorus 
April 22           6th Grade Band
April 23           7th Grade Chorus
April 27           7th Grade Orchestra
April 28           7th Grade Band
April 29           6th Grade Orchestra
April 30           8th Grade Spring SPEC
May 4              8th Grade Spring SPEC Rain Date

Thank you so much for your support of our Fine Arts programs here at Durham.  We are always striving to create the best programs possible for our students.  

The 7th and 8th Grade Pre-LGPE Concert is Tuesday, February 25th at 6:30pm. Students do NOT have to wear their uniforms for this concert (to keep them in good condition for the LGPE event) and they will arrive back at the school at 6pm after going home as they normally would at 4:15. They are NOT staying after school. 

The 8th Grade LGPE Event is Monday, March 2 at North Cobb High School. Their performance time is 3pm, with an arrival time of 1:45pm. They will need to bring their uniform to school to change into. They will leave Durham by 1 via school bus. They will head back to Durham via bus at 5:15pm. They will need a ride back at Durham by 5:45pm. 

The 7th Grade LGPE Event is Tuesday, March 3 at North Cobb High School. 7th Grade students will need to be in uniform with their instrument at Durham by 8am. We must leave Durham by 8:30am at the latest in order to meet our arrival time of 9am with morning traffic. Their performance time is 10:30am. They will be transported back to Durham via school buses for lunch at school. 

We need chaperones for both 7th and 8th Grade LGPE. If you are able to chaperone, please reply back to me and let me know!  J

The 7th and 8th Grade students are busy preparing for LGPE, and in doing so, have been assigned 3 playing tests this quarter. Only ONE playing test, the final one assigned, will be submitted in CutTime. I did not feel comfortable assigning 3 items in CutTime due to volume and because we are still figuring our way through issues with CutTime. The first 2 will be done in class and are more of a quick assessment of how they are progressing on the music. I have written out details with names of pieces and measure numbers for their playing tests below. (mm. stands for measure marking/measure number)

Playing Test #1 – IN CLASS Tuesday, January 28

8th Grade - Spartacus
Violin I
mm. 11-18
Violin II
mm. 42-49
Viola
mm. 62-70
Cello
mm. 71-end
Bass
mm. 71-end

7th Grade – A Bach Fest
Violin I
mm. 42-53
Violin II
mm. 42-50
Viola
mm. 18-25
Cello
mm. 18-26
Bass
Pickup 11-17


Playing Test #2 – IN CLASS Tuesday, February 4

8th Grade – Fantasia on a Theme from Thailand
Violin I
mm. 96-105
Violin II
mm. 32-40
Viola
mm. 50-76
Cello
mm. 20-31
Bass
mm. 77-91

7th Grade – Sahara Crossing
Violin I
pickup 49-58
Violin II
mm. 35-42
Viola
mm. 35-42
Cello
mm. 43-51
Bass
mm. 43-51


Playing Test #3 – DUE ON CUTTIME Tuesday, February 11

8th Grade – Ashokan Farewell
Violin I
mm. 33-44
Violin II
Pickup 45-52
Viola
mm. 52-62
Cello
mm. 33-44
Bass
mm. 17-25

7th Grade - Storm
Violin I
mm. 25-40
Violin II
mm. 93-104
Viola
mm. 17-32
Cello
mm. 63-78
Bass
mm. 63-78


I know this is a lot of information, so if you have any questions, please let me know. As a reminder, the Orchestra room is open for early morning practice on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays should your child want help with their test or just want an opportunity to practice with friends at school! :) Thank you for your continued support. Thank you,

Jennifer Aikey

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