Letter from Ms. Mary (3/30)

Hey Philharmonia West!

Thanks for your work this week.  We focused on a lot of the little details in our repertoire.  We also focused on ways that we can practice our scales.  We warm up with scales each week, as they are the foundation for all of our playing.  It doesn’t matter if we are playing pop, classical, or movie music.  Knowing your scales is what will allow you to play any style of music.

Bravo to the cello section for the most improved work in March of the Meistersingers! In this piece, I gave a 4-measure challenge to every section.  If you memorize these 4 measures, you will receive something before rehearsal next week.  Please find me before our next rehearsal and play them for me.  I know that you are all able to play these measures.  They are all in March of the Meistersingers.  Here they are:

• Violin 1: measures 8-11
• Violin 2: measures 12-15
• Viola: measures 36-39
• Cello: measures 8-11

Our Spring Festival repertoire is:

• March of the Meistersingers
• An African-American Air
• Turbulence

Next week we will have sectionals.  We will focus on Meistersingers and Jupiter during this time.  Continue to add a couple of measures of Jupiter each week.  We know this is difficult.  But we also know that you CAN do hard things!

Question of the week: What is the best thing about spring? You can send your answers to mary@gtcys.org.

I hope that you have a wonderful week.  I look forward to our next rehearsal.  Work hard, play hard.