Bye bye GBYO

Well, it has certainly been fun while it has lasted!
I am now going to be running a childrens' orchestra at Peabody Preparatory & you can find all of the pertinent info here:

New youth orchestra opportunity at Peabody Preparatory for elementary string students
PEGS - Preparatory Elementary group for strings

This semester I am excited to be launching a new program at Peabody Preparatory for the younger string student who wishes to experience an orchestra, perhaps for the first time, but with minimal commitment. The catalog description is at the bottom of the email, along with appropriate links for registration, but I would like to share a broader sense of the ensemble's goals with you. I am contacting you now because our first session will begin in October.

PEGS is designed to allow your student to participate in an orchestra for a single 8-week session. There is no whole year or full semester commitment, however, the student can take this class repeatedly as every 8-week session is a new experience with a change in personnel and music. There is also no audition.

I am excited that this will give students from the broad musical community the opportunity to come together to make music. Any student, studying with any teacher, can participate in this group. In my previous work with ensembles of this level, GBYO Sinfonia & Sinfonietta, I have seen the dramatic effect that peer encouragement can have & I feel that this will benefit all students who do not currently have the opportunity to play in an ensemble.

We will do 7 weeks of rehearsals on 1-3 pieces and a performance will occur at the 8th session. I will ask students to bring their music to their teachers so that we can achieve a high level of playing together in the short session.

This is designed to be an enjoyable but educational class, which will give the participating students the opportunity to work on their note reading and rhythm skills in a practical setting.

Please pass this information along to anyone who may be interested in this new offering. Feel free to contact me directly by email louise@louisehg.info or cellphone 410-493-9371 & give my information to anyone who might be interested.

Many thanks,
Louise Hildreth-Grasso
Peabody Preparatory-Violin & Viola faculty, Conductor-PEGS




PEGS - Preparatory Elementary group for strings (Grades 2-6)
Louise Hildreth-Grasso, Conductor
Open to string students who play violin, viola, cello, and bass at the Suzuki Book 2 through early Book 4 level.
This elementary level string ensemble is designed to provide an introduction to playing in a fun group environment.
There is no audition.The class will focus on rhythm and note reading skills.
Students will learn about the good habits of an orchestra musician and experience the thrill of playing in a large ensemble. PEGS will rehearse music written and arranged for string orchestra and will perform 1-3 pieces at the end of the session concert.
Seating placement is determined by the conductor and students' seating will rotate each semester.
Everyone is welcome to enroll in PEGS, regardless of whether the student receives individual instruction at the Preparatory.
Participation is by semester with the class designed to be taken for a minimum of one semester, but can be taken repeatedly as the material will be new for each semester.
Each semester will consist of seven rehearsals and a performance. Regular attendance is essential. Students must bring their own music stand.

PP.200.022 01 SAT 12:30-1:45 L215 Hildreth-Grasso Fall $205/Spring $205
Fall Rehearsals: 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13 Performance: Saturday, November 20, 2010, L215
Spring Rehearsals: 2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9 Performance: Saturday, April 16, 2011, L215

To register please visit:
http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/prep/register

or call
Registration 410-234-4634; 410-234-4635

or email
prep_registrar@peabody.jhu.edu


Check us out on Facebook:

PEGS-Peabody

Spring semester - February 28th, 2010

Here is the info regarding our upcoming Sinfonia performance:

Sunday 21st March, 2010
Scottish Rite Temple, Charles St. Baltimore
Concert 4pm
Call time for Sinfonia members has not been decided but you can assume that it will be at least a couple of hours before the concert so that we can rehearse & do a run through on stage.
Sinfonietta members are expected to attend this concert, although they are NOT performing. There will be no rehearsal for Sinfonietta on March 21st.

Everyone needs to commit to working on anything in their music that is highlighted or circled.

Rehearsal/Homework - Sinfonietta

Notereading class 3.10-3.30pm:
-Jack, Amelia & Rita are making significant progress. I am very pleased with their willingness to do extra work to improve their musical skills.

Air & Caprice:
-upper strings need to continue to work on m30-40 for rhythm & notes.
-everyone must take m74-77 to their teacher & practice with the metronome & clap & count.

Suite for Strings-Aria
-cellos need to take D to their teachers.
-vlns must work with their tuners on D.

Fancy Fiddles:
-work @ the dynamics m65-end.
-practice this with your metronome with 1/4 note=80

Technique:
-please learn/review the difference between ties & slurs. Take your exercise sheet to your teacher who can check that you are doing them correctly.

Music History:
-listen to a new piece by Mozart & come to the next rehearsal able to talk about it.

Music Theory:
-I would like you to memorize the meanings of the A words on your musical terms sheet.

Rehearsal/Homework - Sinfonia

2 REHEARSALS LEFT BEFORE THE CONCERT!

I am disappointed that nobody had attempted the research on Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus. This will take a few minutes of your time & you should always know the background of every piece that you learn, in your lessons & in orchestra. Please make sure that you take care of this before our next rehearsal.

Ave Verum:
-vln 1 must work on m17-21, section E & prepare m45-46 for a test next week.
-vln 2 must study section E with a tuner & take this to your teacher.
-everyone must focus on pitch by using a tuner.

Skywalker Scenes:
-I was very excited to have our percussionists join us in our rehearsal. The piece is extra exciting with the new sounds added.
-the whole piece needs work with the metronome.

Music history:
-please read the biography of Mozart that was handed out. Highlight 5 items & memorize them.
-research the piece by Mozart that we are playing-Ave Verum Corpus. Find out when it was written & why it was composed.

Music theory:
-please clap & count the rhythms containing sixteenth notes #67-70.
-on your sheet of musical terms please review the meanings of the words A-F.

Have a great week,
Louise :)

Spring semester - February 21st, 2010

WOW, we finally had a rehearsal!! That was LOTS of snow, but now it is back to work...

Rehearsal/Homework - Sinfonietta

Notereading class 3-3.30pm:
-We had a merry bunch of folks-Jack, Amelia, Rita & Pria.

Air & Caprice:
-everyone needs to work on m30-40; m55-59; m74-77.
-vln 2 & vla please take m4 to your teacher.

Suite for Strings-Aria
-cellos need to take D to their teachers.
-vlns must work with their tuners on D.

Fancy Fiddles:
-please keep practicing this.

Technique:
-please learn/review the difference between ties & slurs. Take your exercise sheet to your teacher who can check that you are doing them correctly.

Music History:
-please read the biography of Mozart & highlight 5 facts that you will then memorize.

Music Theory:
-I handed out a sheet of musical terms & I would like you to memorize the meanings of largo, lento & maestoso.

Rehearsal/Homework - Sinfonia

3 REHEARSALS LEFT BEFORE THE CONCERT!

After a vote among the orchestra members it was decided, with an overwhelming majority, that we should postpone Lovers' Waltz until the May concert. So for the concert on March 21st we will perform Ave Verum & Skywalker Scenes. Please continue to work on Lovers' Waltz as we will work on it in the coming weeks.

Ave Verum:
-discuss with your teacher how to get a richer sound.
-vln 1 must focus on the bowing & counting of m14-20.

Skywalker Scenes:
-the slow middle section needs whole bows & beautiful tone.
-please work on the faster sections with the metronome.

Music history:
-please read the biography of Mozart that was handed out. Highlight 5 items & memorize them.
-research the piece by Mozart that we are playing-Ave Verum Corpus. Find out when it was written & what larger work this part is from.

Music theory:
-please clap & count the rhythms containing sixteenth notes #67-70.
-on your sheet of musical terms I would like you to memorize the meanings of the words A-F.

Let's stay focused on pulling this music together.
Have a great week,
Louise :)

Spring semester - January 31st, 2010

Rehearsal/Homework - Sinfonietta

Notereading class 3-3.30pm:
-This is a "come when you want to" class & you do not have to attend weekly.
-We had Rita, Jack, Amelia & Carlos in attendance.

Air & Caprice:
-2nd violin & viola-work on the notes of m 4.
-1st violin-please look out for the C naturals (low 2 on A).
-everyone must practice clapping & counting m 55-59.

Suite for Strings:
-we began the Aria.
-It consists of 2 important ideas: a quarter note idea that switches back & forth between upper & lower strings; a dotted quarter note rhythmic idea.
-1st violin-watch the C natural (low 2 on A).
-everyone should take this to their teacher for help on the slurs.
-hwk: from beginning to B.

Fancy Fiddles:
-everyone must work on m 21-28, especially the rhythm.

Music History:
-please find out about the composer Beethoven. I would like you to look up when & where he was born & died.

Rehearsal/Homework - Sinfonia

6 REHEARSALS LEFT BEFORE THE CONCERT!

Everyone must focus on the highlighted sections of their music. These are the parts that we KNOW are problems.

Ave Verum:
-please focus your practice on C to the end.

Lovers' Waltz:
-we managed to get through a substantial amount of this piece today, which tells me that you are practicing this. Thank you.
-the rhythm is giving us the biggest problem in this piece so it would be smart to clap & count every day.
-1st violin have the bulk of the melodies in this piece & that is what everyone is listening to. You have a big responsibility to really work on your parts. Please work on the rhythm/bowing in m 10 & m 14. I will quiz you again next week on m 41-46.

Skywalker Scenes:
-I am very impressed at how fast you are able to play this already!
-1st violin-please fix the bowings of m 33-64.
-viola-please review the C# (high 3).
-everyone must practice m 33-64 with the metronome.

Music theory:
-it seems that most people have learnt the order of flats... WELL DONE! Be prepared for a quiz on the order of sharps/flats at any time...
-the rhythm sheet #43 was decently prepared. Please continue to work on this as it will help you with the rhythms in Lovers' Waltz.

Please keep up the hard work. I am impressed with the effort that you are putting into this music.
Have a great week,
Louise :)

Spring semester - January 24th, 2010

Dear students & parents,

It is very important to take your orchestra music to your private teacher. To use your lesson time in the most effective manner you should have the difficult sections marked so that your teacher can target the problems.
Remember that I want you to be working on all of the pieces now, so that when we come to rehearse them you already have some familiarity with the material.

Rehearsal/Homework - Sinfonietta

Notereading class 3-3.30pm:
-This is a "come when you want to" class & you do not have to attend weekly.
-It was a great turnout with Niajea, Jack, Carlos & Rita in attendance.

I handed out Suite for Strings by Edmund Siennicki. This Suite has 3 movements & we may do some or all of it depending upon how quickly it comes together.

Air & Caprice:
-there was already improvement on the counting of the rests.
-Vln 2-please take m4 to your teacher to correct the notes, rhythm & bowings.
-everyone should practice counting & clapping m55-59 with the metronome.
-please review m75-end for the rest & the very slow bow in the upper strings.

Fancy Fiddles:
-one of the main issues in this piece are the rests, especially when they occur on beat 1. Clapping & counting is the key to mastering this.
-everyone must work on m21-28 using all of our practice tools.
-Vln 2 & Vla should prepare for a quiz on m37-44 at next week's rehearsal.

Suite:
-please begin the Aria. If everyone uses our practice skills on this - clapping & counting, say note names, say fingerings, bow in the air - then next week's playing of this piece will go smoothly.

Music Theory:
-you need to practice the rhythm sheet #15. Clap & count aloud.

I was impressed with the examples that you had thought of for the elements in the acronym for PRACTICE. Keep thinking about how each element works in your own practice.

Rehearsal/Homework - Sinfonia

7 REHEARSALS LEFT BEFORE THE CONCERT!

Lovers' Waltz:
-there is some improvement in the rhythm counting & playing. Until it is so ingrained that you can count it in your sleep, you need to KEEP practicing clapping & counting the rhythms.
-Vln 1-you have the greatest difficulty regarding the rhythm. Please do not make us spend valuable rehearsal time on rhythm work that you can do at home.
-Vln 1-prepare m41-48 for a quiz next week. Do ALL of the practice elements on this section.

Ave Verum:
-Great work! This is coming together very well. The pitch of the chromatic sections is key so please practice at home with your tuner & check that every note is in tune.
-Vln 1-please take m45 to your teacher to get help on doing a shift to 3rd position, as this will make the trill sound better.

Skywalker Scenes:
-Just as we did in the rehearsal, you need to get your metronome & start at a slow speed that you can play this perfectly at & then increase the tempo on the metronome so that you can play this faster.

Music theory:
Good job on the memorizing of the order of sharps. This week please memorize the order of flats.
For the rhythm sheet #43, please write in the counting & then practice it alot. This will help the Lovers' Waltz.

Well done! It is clear that you are all working hard & I am pleased.
Have a great week,
Louise :)

Spring semester - January 17th, 2010

Dear students& parents,

So we are at the start of a new semester & it is note learning time. The easiest way to thoroughly learn your part is to do the following:

Take a small section of a piece & do the following:
-clap/count rhythm (with & without metronome)
-practice bowings in air
-say note names
-say fingerings
-play each note very slowly with the tuner
Remember that you are going to do all of these things on one small section at a time. When you have progressed on that small section, then you move to the next small section.
It is also important to focus on the highlighted parts of your music because that is where your section has a problem. It won't be fixed until everyone practices it.

Rehearsal/Homework - Sinfonietta

Notereading class 3-3.30pm:
-This is a "come when you want to" class & you do not have to attend weekly.
-You can practice these skills online @ the links on this page.

So far we are dealing with two relatively easy pieces. That means that if you all practice your music we can move onto some harder pieces.
Both of your pieces require the following:
-clap & count all of the piece
-take your music to your teacher
-focus on the highlighted sections
You also need to review the sheet which has an acronym for PRACTICE. There will be a quiz.

Rehearsal/Homework - Sinfonia

8 REHEARSALS BEFORE THE CONCERT!

Lovers' Waltz:
-This is by far our hardest piece for the March concert. It is full of rhythmic complexity which means that your practice should consist of LOTS of clapping & counting, & yes I do mean clap with your hands hitting each other & count aloud. You must take this to your teacher for help with your highlighted sections & the rhythm.

Ave Verum:
-I am very pleased with how quickly you are picking this up. The biggest overall issue is the intonation of the chromatic sections (where there are lots of accidentals) & the only way to work on it at home is to practice small sections slowly with a tuner.

Skywalker Scenes:
-You are doing a good job on this already, so now we begin to start increasing the tempo using the metronome. I suggest that you start by figuring out what speed you are doing it at now-play some, feel the pulse & then find that speed on your metronome.

Music theory:
By our next rehearsal you will all have memorized the order of sharps!

We are off to a fabulous start everybody! Keep it up!
That's all folks,
Louise :)

Fall semester - December 6th, 2009

Dear students,

I have to say that I am very impressed with the way you performed on Sunday @ our dress rehearsal. It is clear to me that everyone has done their best to prepare the music. The most important part of your orchestra experience has already occurred-the rehearsals & the progress. The concert is the icing on the cake, when you get to share your musical experiences with many people who will appreciate greatly that you are performing for them.

Rehearsal/Homework - Sinfonietta
I am delighted to say that I do not really have any concerns about your music for the concert. When we did the play through of each piece they felt comfortable & manageable. Please practice all of your music with your metronome especially, but it wouldn't hurt to do some work with the tuner, & review all of your highlighted or circled areas where your section has had problems previously.

Rehearsal/Homework - Sinfonia
Ok, so we have a little work to do... I gave you very challenging music to learn & you have really risen to the occasion. In the rehearsal the Handel Little Fugue was probably the weakest & fell apart quite a bit. This is usually pretty solid so it just goes to show that you can always find more work to do in music!! Be sure to work on this with your metronome as that is the biggest group issue. Amazingly, we had hardly any issues with either Skaters' Waltz or White Christmas!! Keep reviewing all of your music, practicing with the tuner & metronome daily, & focusing on the problems that have been highlighted or circled.

I am excited to do the concert on Sunday. You have all impressed me with your effort & determination. Be sure to bring as many people as possible for the family concert so that they can all hear your wonderful work.

With great appreciation,
Louise :)