Harmony L’Etoile du Nord Information for 2026-27

Dear Harmony Families,

It was so wonderful to see most of you at Harmony Orientation yesterday! We can’t wait to get started on Monday.

 
This message covers the information we shared at Orientation. Please read through everything carefully and let me know if you have any questions – I am always happy to hear from Harmony families!

But first, here is a reminder not to bring instruments for the first week of class! 

Harmony Member Page
  • Everything you need to know for Harmony can be found here on the Harmony Member Page!
  • The password is harmony26-27
  • If you ever need a reminder, the link and password are included in my email signature.
  • If you missed Orientation, please make sure you know how to find and sign in to the Member Page! 
Arriving at Harmony
  • Harmony classes are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We start this Monday, October 12, and continue through Friday, May 21. If there is no school for any reason, there is also no Harmony class.
  • Please arrive at the Discovery Club entrance between 7:50 and 8:00am. Harmony staff will greet them at the door. Harmony students may not enter the building before 7:50.
  • Every morning, we will gather in the cafeteria while students arrive, then line up to go to class no later than 8:05am.
  • If you arrive later than 8:05am, please ring the Discovery Club bell and come in with your student to make sure they find their Harmony class.
  • Your student must attend Harmony class unless they are sick or missing school that day for another reason. If you do need to miss a Harmony class, please fill out an Absence Form to let me know!
  • Please do keep your student home if they are sick – there are no nurses or other staff available during Harmony to take care of your child if they are too sick to participate.
Class structure
  • On Mondays and Fridays, students are in “small group” instrument-specific classes with their violin or cello teacher. Each class has about ten students, arranged by experience on the instrument. New students will be in a combined class called “Harmony Roots” for the first several weeks to explore musical ideas and decide which instrument they would like to play.
  • On Wednesdays, we have “Big Group” class – we will be in one or two larger groups to play together as an ensemble.
  • We now have seven Teaching Artists and a Teaching Assistant at Harmony LNFI! Ms. Laurie, myself, Ms. Irene, Ms. Denise, and Ms. Mattie are back this year, and we have added Ms. Olivia and Mr. Omar on cello and Ms. Wendy on violin. Students will have an opportunity to get to know their Small Group teacher at our first class on Monday!
Harmony Instruments:
  • Returning students: If you have an instrument at home already, you do not need to bring it for the first week of Harmony! 
  • Harmony provides instruments for students to use, or your student is welcome to bring their own instrument from home. Returning students will be able to take instruments home once their instrument is assigned. New students will be able to take instruments home once they learn how to take care of them – usually winter break is the first time new students bring instruments home.
  • If students bring their instrument home, please encourage them to play it! A regular habit of practicing at home is the key to musical growth. We’ll share a lot more information about playing at home as we get into the year.
  • Instruments are stored in the Harmony Room during the day, and students pick them up there after the school day is over. All instruments are stored in the Harmony Room, even if students bring their own violin or cello from home. The door should be unlocked for students to get instruments at the end of the day.
Concerts and Concert Dress
  • We have two concerts outside of the school day this year:
    • Sunday, February 28: we will perform before a GTCYS concert at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi
    • Sunday, May 9: we will perform as part of GTCYS Spring Festival at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis
  • We will also perform at school for NAAPID in February and with one of the GTCYS orchestras on Friday, April 16!
  • For concerts that happen outside of school, student will wear all black. That looks like a long sleeve black shirt, long black pants or skirt / dress, and black shoes and socks. Please think about concert dress early so it doesn’t surprise you in February! If you need help finding concert clothes, we have clothes your student can borrow.
Harmony Values and Behavior Expectations
  • Our Harmony Values are Community, Joy, Kindness, Courage, and Effort
  • The Harmony Mantra is “I am responsible for my words, actions, and instrument”
  • We will talk a lot about our values and mantra in the first weeks of Harmony, so students understand what the values mean and how they apply in Harmony class.
  • We expect students to behave in a way that is appropriate for school – we walk quietly in the hallways, follow the instructions of teachers, participate in class activities, and speak to one another with kindness.
  • The Harmony “Consequence Ladder” is attached to this email – we use this to guide our response to disruptive or unsafe behavior during class.
  • If there are ways you feel we can best help your student be successful in Harmony, please let me or Ms. Laurie know!
Harmony is a GTCYS Program
  • Harmony is a program of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS). GTCYS has eleven after-school orchestras, where students from across the Twin Cities metro area come together to make music.
  • Our hope for Harmony students is that they will continue with us as GTCYS students after they graduate from 5th grade. Harmony students and alumni currently play in Philharmonia East, Sinfonia East, Concertino East, Camerata Vivace, Concert Orchestra, and Philharmonic.
  • GTCYS removes the financial barrier to orchestral music with continued instrument loans, orchestra tuition, and private instruction based on financial need.
Carpool Map:
  • Thank you to Harmony parent Emily Yang for making a map of carpool locations!

Thank you for encouraging your student to play a musical instrument! We are looking forward to a joyful, musical year.

See you bright and early on Monday!

Emily

Emily Doyle, Harmony Manager (she/her)
Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies
10 River Park Plaza, Suite 730, St. Paul, MN 55107
Email emily@gtcys.org | Tel 651.602.6809
Member Pages | Password: harmony26-27

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