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February 25, 2007
The Mabry Symphony will perform at the District 12 GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation (Festival) tomorrow, February 26th at 4:30 at McEachern HS. Students will leave Mabry at 2:00 and return at 6:30.
What to Wear? Students should bring their concert uniform with them to school Concert dress for boys is solid black slacks, long sleeve white dress shirt with long tie, black socks and black or dark dress shoes. Concert dress for girls is a long (ankle length or longer) solid black skirt or black slacks, long sleeve white dress shirt (3/4 length is ok) and black or dark dress shoes. Please adhere to these guidelines closely. This is an important performance for these young musicians and they should dress accordingly.
Charperones: To date, no parent has indicated they will chaperone this trip. We must have 2 other adults accompany us on this trip. If you are able to chaperone, please arrive no later than 1:50, check in at the front and come back to the orchestra room.
Posted by Doemel at 03:27 PM
February 17, 2007
Barrage tickets went home Friday (2/16) with the 6th and 8th grade students who purchased them. 7th graders will be bringing them home on Wednesday (2/21).
Posted by Doemel at 09:59 AM
February 15, 2007
I sent home a letter today with incorrect dates (what a surprise). Our Festival dates are: Seventh Grade Orchestra, Monday, March 5th and 8th Grade Orchestra, Tuesday, March 6th. These are the same dates as on the calendar in the orchestra handbook you got at the beginning of the year. The Seventh Grade Orchestra will play at 6:25 p.m. on Monday and the Eighth Grade orchestra will play at 7:15 on Tuesday.
Posted by Doemel at 02:31 PM
February 12, 2007
This past Saturday renowned violinist Joshua Bell performed at Emory. During the day he worked with members of the Emory Youth Symphony. Here is a picture of Mabry 8th grade violinist Emily with Bell. The pictures are clickable for a larger view.
Posted by Doemel at 08:21 AM
February 11, 2007
6th Grade: We'll be continuing to reinforce the new notes F natural and C natural as well as slurs and string crossings. You’ve been given 5 of the 9 pieces we will play at String Jamboree (March 22nd). Don’t wait for a specific assignment to begin working on these pieces.
Use the ‘left hand’ and ‘right hand’ warm-ups we do in class to warm up before you practice at home. At this stage you can’t over do these important repetitions.
7th Grade: We’ve made great strides in our festival music (March 5th). American Folk Trilogy, Iowa Spring and Castle Lore are coming along nicely.
I chose this music because it uses the new skills we’ve learned this year. Advanced rhythms and bowings, lots of high threes and low ones for the upper strings, open position for the cellos and shifting opportunities for the basses.
8th Grade: Our festival music is coming along also. But before festival (March 6th) we’ve got the exciting performance on the Barrage concert (February 23rd). MacPherson’s Lament needs all of our attention between now and then. The other 2 pieces we’ll do at festival, Brandenburg No. 3 and Postcards From Russia are both tough also. Please make certain you give them the time they need so you are prepared for this important performance.
Mabry Symphony: As stated earlier on this blog, the performance on February 13th has been cancelled. The music for our festival (February 26th) is sounding great. Rites of Tamburo and Finale from Symphony No. 2 are both exciting. Meeting only once a week is a challenge. Please make sure you’re preparing your music so when we get together we can work on ensemble issues.
All: Please practice regularly and efficiently. We’ve talked at length in class about how to practice.
Locate then isolate the problem, work it out SLOWLY, put it back in context (with the measure or few beats before and after) then gradually work it back up to tempo.
Some problems won’t be fixed in one practice session, that’s why regular practice is so important.
Remember, each one of you is important to the quality of both the Mabry and Lassiter Orchestra programs.
Posted by Doemel at 08:52 PM
February 07, 2007
Congratulations to Andy, Rachel, Ruth and Emily for auditioning and being accepted into the 2007 Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra. Being accepted into the All-State Orchestra is the highest honor in the state for school musicians. Middle school musicians from all over the state auditioned in a rigorous two-audition process. The All-State event is in Savannah the first weekend in March. Congratulations again and thank you for representing Mabry so well.
Posted by Doemel at 02:47 PM
February 06, 2007
This is a link to an NPR program where Mark O'Connor plays through various fiddle styles. It's very cool!
Mark O'Connor playing fiddle styles
Posted by Doemel at 07:56 PM
The Mabry 8th Grade Orchestra has been invited to perform on the program with Barrage. On Friday, February 23rd we will travel to Kell High School after school by county school bus. We will rehearse, then have dinner about 7 pm. Dinner will be cheese or pepperoni pizza. Students may bring their own dinner. The performance begins at 8:00. We are first on the program.
If your child will not stay for the Barrage portion of the performance, they need to be picked up at 8:15 from Kell. If they will stay for the program, please pick them up at 9:30 pm at Kell.
Basses and cellos must be returned to Mabry the following morning. Let me know now if that will be a problem.
The uniform will be our new t-shirt and nice jeans. Please, no holes or graffiti.
We will need chaperones for the trip to Kell, to help with dinner.
For more information on Barrage visit their web site at: www.barrage.org.
Email questions to Chris.Doemel@cobbk12.org
Posted by Doemel at 07:43 PM
Practice records are due. Please turn them in before the end of the day on Thursday
Posted by Doemel at 07:33 PM
The Mabry Symphony will rehearse at 8:00 am on Thursday, February 8th in the orchestra room. Please arrive in time to warm-up and be ready to play at 8. Percussionists, please arrive at 7:45 to set-up.
Posted by Doemel at 07:31 PM
