High School Music Trip to
Disney World
Every four years, Fort Atkinson High School Music
Department students travel somewhere in the United
States to perform. The band, orchestra and choral
groups will take the stage at various times between
March 27 through April 2 at Disney World in Orlando,
Florida.
The students will leave on four separate flights
Sunday, March 27th . In addition to performing in the
Magic Kingdom, the orchestra students will attend
a special clinic where they will work in a recording
studio with professional studio musicians.
Many orchestra students tapped into funds they
raised selling geraniums in past years to help finance
their portion of the trip. Orchestra Boosters paid for the additional
special clinic, as well as the Orchestra's part
of the truck and truck drivers' expenses.
For safety and security, the luggage and instruments
are carefully packed, then transported by semi tractor-trailer down to
Florida ahead of the students. For updates on the trip go to :
http://www.fortschools.org/hswebs/MusicForms/
HSMusicDeptTrip.htm
Plans for future trips
The travel experience is a key part of the music
experience - whether it is part of the high school's
every four year trip, or the High school orchestra
traveling to perform at the Mall of America's
Holiday Festival in December. For elementary and
middle school students, one way to get ready for the
trip is to sell geraniums to your neighbors, friends and relatives in the
coming geranium sale.
Orchestra students were able to defray over $2,500
of their trip cost because of the funds they built up in
their orchestra accounts. Each student maintains a
portion of his or her sale in a special account to help
cover the costs of trips, music camps, or other special
events. Geranium sale forms will be coming home just
before spring break!
Seroogy Candy Sale
With the High School Music Department trip to perform at Disney's Magic
Music Days over spring Break, Orchestra Boosters looked at several
additional
fund-raisers to help the high school students earn
funds. It was decided to try selling Seroogy's Chocolate
and it was a definite hit! The smooth, truffle-like candy
bars come in a variety of flavors and sell for a dollar,
of which 50% comes back into the students' accounts.
Due to it's popularity, this will become an annual,
start of the school year fund-raiser for the Middle
School & High School Orchestras.
Remember:
*Sunglasses, hat, and SUNSCREEN
*Keep drinking water
(Know better than to risk dehydration)
Four year ago, when the High School Music Department went to Florida to
perform, there were several students with sunburns so serious that trips to
the Emergency Room were necessary. Please learn
from their mistakes. The sun is much stronger in
Florida because that part of the earth is closer to the sum. It is easy to
forget that and not realized how quickly you can burn. Parents, chaperones,
and directors want the students to have a safe, enjoyable time. Please
remember your sun protection at all times!
Note from Mrs. Ehrhardt:
From many years of life guarding and working out
of doors, I have learned which sunscreens work and which don't. I have the
type of skin that burns easily, and I found that lotion from a company
called Ocean Potion works best.
This past summer, over the 4th of July weekend, I was
outside in the sun working for the Madison Drum
& Bugle Corps "Drums on Parade" for 12 + hours.
Using the Ocean Potion as directed, I did not burn.
You can look for it in stores or check out their web site:
http://www.opotion.com
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Message To Parents
Your decision to
provide your child with a quality musical instrument is an investment in
your child's future. In making it possible for your child to play a musical
instrument, you are providing the opportunity for self-expression,
creativity, and achievement.
Numerous studies indicate that parental attitude,
support and involvement are important factors in a child's ability to
successfully learn to play and to enjoy music.
HOW DO YOU FIT IN?
Schedule Practice Time.
Music achievement requires effort over a period
of time. You can help your child by:
Providing a quiet place in which to
practice.
Remaining nearby during
practice times as
often as possible.
Scheduling a consistent, daily time
for
practice.
Praising your child's efforts and
achievements.
Attendance
Help your child remember their instrument and
music on lesson days, and for
concerts.
Come to see your child play at their concerts,
Solo & ensemble, and stay with them
to hear
the entire concert.
Chaperone a field trip - come with your child to
hear the symphony or see their
orchestra
play on tour.
Keep Updated
Don't be afraid to contact Mrs. Nielsen or
Ms. Jordan if you have a question.
Use the Website, the school calendar, and the
Orchestra Newsletter to keep informed
of
upcoming events.
Does my child need private lessons?
It's more
likely a question of, "Does my child WANT private lessons?" If your child
shows a genuine enthusiasm for his or her instrument, then private lessons
may be a very good idea.
While students learn quickly in class, the class can
only proceed at the pace of the slowest student. Talented students could use
the challenge of more difficult music.
Private lessons give a student the individual
attention needed to further develop skill and technique. The music teacher
can adapt his or her teaching style to meet the child's needs as well as
challenge the student where he or she can make the
greatest progress.
For private lessons to be most successful, the student
must be willing to put forth the additional effort of practice to take full
advantage of the lessons.
Lesson times, costs and availability vary by instructor. Talk with Mrs.
Nielsen about possible instructors in the area.
As
you may have noticed this newsletter is riddled with web links. The
Orchestra web site was the first of the music booster sites to be created.
This was done "In self defense". As parents we try to keep on top of our
children's activities - to get them where they need to be at the correct
time with the correct materials and dress.
To do this we need to keep informed. Many times
notes/forms from teachers do not make it out of the back pack or desk into
the hands of parents. To help over come this, the web site was developed to
contain all of the information and forms a parent would need to keep on top
of Orchestra happenings. Please visit it regularly.
Go to
www.fortschools.org
Click on the link (lower right menu): Music Boosters;
then click on Orchestra Boosters.
New Orchestra Sign-up Date
In the
past, Orchestra Sign-up for beginning students took place in the fall.
Beginning this year, that will change and sign-up will take place in the
spring.
It is a chance to find interested students and give them over the summer to
begin lessons and learning the basics of their instrument. By Fall,
they will start right away with regular weekly lessons and be ready to play
at the Winter/Holiday Concert.
The sign-up date for this spring is Thursday, May 26th
in the Orchestra Room at Luther Elementary School. There will be two
presentations on at 6:30 p.m. and one at 7:45 p.m.
It is a chance for students to try instruments, and parents and students to
ask questions and meet with Mrs. Nielsen and Ms. Jordan. Also they will be
able to speak with instrumental rental representatives.
http://www.fortschools.org/hswebs/
OrchestraBoosters/OrchestraSign-Up.htm |
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