SOGO Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia 1629 22nd Ave SE, Olympia WA October 2012
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Greg Allison Artistic DIRECTOR
Vol. 13 no. 1
am inviting Conductors, Music Educators, and Youth Orchestra Staff & Boards to the SECOND ANNUAL Pacific Northwest Youth Orchestra LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
El Sistema comes to Washington! If you are reading this article, you have probably per- by Anne Hammond sonally witnessed the transformative power of music education in your own life or in the life of someone near you - or both. usic opens doors. You can perform on stage with an orchestra, work with Alzheimer’s patients as The question I ask next may be one you have asked yourself - or not. a musical therapist, conduct a high school band, or What if this socially transformative experience was available to more children even…research the effect of music on the release of to any child - or family - who wants and has commited themselves to it? biochemical messengers (= math and science).
MUSIC OPENS DOORS
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Do you like math or science? Many musicians are scientists and mathematicians or use these skills in their career. Likewise, many scientists were and are musicians including… (continued on page 2)
ISSUE 1
That was the dream of Jose’ Abreu that became a reality 37 years ago with 11 students in a Caracas parking garage. The current reality - el Sistema, or The System -serves up this opportunity throughout Venezuela to more than 500,000 children and young adults. You might know el Sistema from one of the many news features over the past few years or through its poster child, the young and vibrant new conductor of the LA Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel. El Sistema is being replicated in Boston, New York, Florida, California, Britain and Scotland to name a few places.
3 Practice O Tips on how to practice 2 What Should I Play? O Reasons for picking an instrument 3 Side-By-Side O Find out how and when you can invite a friend to rehearsal
O Poinsettias - Wreaths Orderform inside
Why not here? Why not in Olympia? Funny that you ask. I visited an el Sistema inspired program in Philadelphia this past summer to find out how we could make it a reality for our community. “Play On, Philly!” (POP!), the program I visited, is based on the same principles and values of its Latino counterpart. It is transforming the life trajectory of hundreds of underprivileged youth, their families and their communities. It has proven to have a profoundly positive impact on the lives of these young musicians.
POP! Musicians
O Concert Don’t miss the BIG surprise on Sunday November 4, 4 p.m. FAQ O Tickets (WCPA) Olytix.org | 360.753.8586 Get your tickets today for the best seats and avoid the long lines.
Stanford
The 2013 Youth Symphony Leadership Summit is proud to welcome Stanford Thompson, the CEO of POP, as our keynote speaker and facilitator on Monday January 21, 2013, in Olympia. Stanford will be accompanied by a student involved in the POP! program. The morning session with Stanford will be lively, informative and inspiring for us all. Our afternoon sessions will include separate tracks for orchestra leaders including board members, conductors and executive directors.
Please mark your calendars for this important event! Monday, January 21, 2013 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Olympia, WA Doug Ford, Summit Coordinator, will have details and registration information coming soon. Please forward this to leaders in your organization and to other groups we might have missed. Thank you! 60 Minutes program on El Sistema - view it at www.studentorchestras.org
studentorchestras.org | studentorchestras@gmail.com
So What Instrument Should I Play?- by Anne Hammond
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Donald Glaser (1926) – violin/Nobel Prize physicist known for his “bubble chamber” invention Neil Armstrong (1980-2012) – baritone/first astronaut on the moon Albert Einstein (1879-1955) – violin and piano/Nobel Prize physicist known for his theories of relativity and gravitation Thomas Edison (1847-1922) – piano/American inventor with 1,093 patents including the light bulb Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) – piano/ scientist-inventor Louis Braille (1809-1852) – organ/inventoreducator who invented “Braille”
on’t you wonder sometimes why a musician plays a particular instrument? What about you? If you wanted to start playing an instrument, or a second instrument, how would you know which one is for you? Should you play a clarinet? Cello? Trumpet? Violin? Percussion? What helps you determine your instrument of choice?
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• Size? Yours and the instruments’? And the size of your vehicle? • What’s available in the attic or garage? • Cost? Some instruments are more expensive than others to buy or rent. • How the instrument sounds when played? • What your family members used to play? • What instruments are needed in the band or orchestra? (Viola or tuba anyone?) • What you can play if you wear braces on your teeth?
Musicians are gifted individuals. They can find themselves involved in a variety of careers and hobbies that better both themselves and others.
If you already play an instrument – and all SOGO musicians are – how did you pick the instrument that was right for you? I started playing violin because my parents could no longer afford my ballet lessons. They learned of free group violin lessons in the basement at school in 6th grade, so I said goodbye to my toe shoes and hello to my aunt’s old violin. Psychologists have studied this conundrum of “what instrument to play” for years. Does the student automatically gravitate toward an instrument that fits their personality? Is it purposeful or by chance? If you are trying to decide for yourself, your child, or your child doesn’t like the instrument they are currently playing, here are some suggestions for choosing the right instrument: 1. Talk to music educators and musicians about their why they like their particular instrument. Ask about the reality of playing (e.g. you need a station wagon for a harp or string bass) 2. Music educators have a number of instruments you can try before renting or buying. They can also observe your physical strengths and weaknesses (e.g. tear drop lip makes it hard to play flute, slender fingers don’t cover the tone holes of a clarinet easily) 3. Do you like the sound? Often particular sounds can either calm or distress us, 4. Read books and articles on this topic. There are many available but here is a couple to consider: 5. The Musical Temperament, by Anthony E. Kemp 6. The Right Instrument for Your Child, by Atarah Ben-Tovim and Douglas Boyd. What’s most important is that you pursue the pleasures of learning an instrument. There is no perfect formula, but hopefully this can be a guide to your success.
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Think big!
Here are a few reasons why some of the SOGO staff chose to play their instruments…. My Grandpa belonged to the Finnish Band in Hoquiam. When it disbanded, he took his mellaphone home where it was stored for more than 20 years. I wanted to play the trumpet, but I hadn’t practiced piano very well and my mom wanted me to play flute (it was small). My parents decided the flute or trumpet would cost money, so Grandpa’s mellaphone was dusted off and that is how I started playing a brass instrument. Liz Ward, assistant conductor of the Brass Choir and French horn coach I wanted a horse; my parents came home with a donkey. I wanted to play saxophone; my parents came home with a clarinet. Krina Allison, SOGO Executive Director I remember going to Andy’s Band Shop in downtown Tacoma to get my instrument. I wanted to play trumpet because I loved the way it looked and sounded. Greg Allison, Artistic Director and Brass Choir conductor. I started on piano because my mom played. I started on percussion because my friend George played and I wanted to sit next to him in band. I now play percussion professionally and George is flying drones for the military. Jeff Lund, Academy Orchestra conductor and percussion coach I wanted to play the oboe at my elementary school, L.P. Brown, but someone was already playing it. I remember a Dairy Gold commercial on TV with an old bald man and a cat. In the background a bassoon was playing. I couldn’t see it but I loved the sound. That’s when I decided to play bassoon. Lantz Berets, Debut Orchestra conductor and bassoon coach
Americana Christmas Brass Choir Holiday Concert Saturday, Dec. 15, 2 & 7 p.m. First Christian Church $5 students | $10 adult, seniors $25 family (2 adults & 2 or more children) SOGO Tickets: 360.561.2056
ORCHESTRA REPRESENTATIVE
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ongrats to our newley elected orchestra representatives!
CONSERVATORY: Alex Carlson, bassoon Maura Phelps, cello Max Powers, violin Pictured with Student Board
ACADEMY (standing): Jared Chung, cello William Hammond, trumpet Henry Nordhorn, French horn DEBUT (sitting): Sean Doster, violin Zoe Ellis, clarinet Lexi Kaminiski, cello
Debut
The SOGO Student Board is beginning to plan the year with the representative’s help. Watch for exciting developments on Facebook and during rehearsal announcements.
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When faced with a difficult passage practice it slowly over and over to the point of memorizing it. In the case of Bass don’t forget to focus on what your bowing hand has to execute and work on that issue separately as an open string crossing exercise with a metronome. -Rick Jarvela, bass coach
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One of the challenges for the violist is building muscle stamina in playing instrument. Building endurance should not happen all at once or you risk injury. A musician recovering from an injury is also at risk to reinjure if they go at it too long in one sitting. I recommend mini-practice sessions alternating with other activities (such as homework, petting the cat). As your muscle endurance improves you can practice for longer periods. -Anne Edge, viola coach
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What trick(s) help you in particular when practicing your instrument (i.e. using a metronome, playing something forward then backwards…) Metronome set to an odd beat (and of 2, for example) or set in a polyrhythm. -Jeff Lund, conductor/percussion coach I never practice without a metronome. Seriously, not ever. And I never practice faster than I can play with ease and control, even if it is less than 1/4 tempo. Also, I never practice without first warming up for a minimum of 15 minutes on long tones, scales and articulation exercises. -Ashley Cook, clarinet coach
For more information on practice tips, the 2012-2013 SOGO Handbook has an excellent article by the Student Board on page 12.
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Party
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SOGO SPOTLIGHT
Travis Behr (not pictured), Lisa Chong, Robyn Hill, Daniel Kim, Max Powers, Jun Shin, Belinda So performed for an Olympia Union Gospel Mission No-Fee Dental benefit show at the Washington Center Saturday, October 20. Thanks SOGO Conservatory Strings!
Tips for Successful Practicing
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Dragon, new to SOGO, is a violist in the Debut Orchestra. Q: How was your first rehearsal? “Interesting because I was new to it so I was kind of scared but then I did really well during the songs so it was really fun. I like SOGO.” Q: Why do you play the viola? “It’s a really cool instrument. It’s not too deep like the cello or bass and it’s not too high like the violin.”
Invite Invite Invite Invite Inv The SOGO Side-By-Side is comming up Sunday, November 18 ACADEMY and DEBUT ORCHESTRAS invite your friends to rehearsal.
If you are having a great time, then just imagine 100 of your closest friends having just as much fun as you are every Sunday afternoon. Friends are urged to bring their instrument and come to read the new music for the March concert. There will be ice cream after rehearsal and a short meeting for the parents to find out more about SOGO. Invite Invite Invite Inv
studentorchestras.org | studentorchestras@gmail.com
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID OLYMPIA, WA PERMIT NO. 358
STUDENT ORCHESTRAS OF GREATER OLYMPIA
1629 22ND AVE SE | OLYMPIA WA 98501 www.studentorchestras.org
SOGO 2012-2013 Season Sponsors
Olympic Dermatology & Laser Clinic bo.x! e Tumwater Eye Clinic & VUE h d ofitttle limite Olympia Federal Savings e d l i outsps ace is a R.L. Ray Violin Shop s k l thinrehearsa Salon Salon O G es Sunrise Dental SOSomtim
EXECUTIVE BOARD Colleen Welch, President Jilyna Dick, Vice President Peter Despot, Secretary John Fleckenstein, Treasurer BOARD Joyce Allen Joan Armstrong Brad Carlson Alison Coppock Julie Evans Doug Ford Anne Hammond Ginny Nordhorn Dana Phelps Amy Schutte Jennifer Taft Kirk Veis STUDENT BOARD Ella Bushnell, violin Keadrin Dick, cello Maggie Taft, clarinet Nolan Welch, cello MUSIC DIRECTOR John Welsh ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Greg Allison ADMINISTRATIVE Krina Allison, Executive Dir. Pat Kabler, Finance Dir. Mary Jo Rydholm, Lib. Doug Ford, Photos
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
What meaning do the following DATES have? If you don’t know you better LOOK inside!
NOVEMBER Looking Ahead! SOGO 2012-2013 Season
NOVEMBER 4
18
December 15 $ 25
What will Get you????
The most amazing SOGO HOODIE. Order your Christmas gifts at the Nov. 4 concert! studentorchestras.org | studentorchestras@gmail.com