Blog of Carol Doemel
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Monday, May 19th 2008
Some fun Youtubes for summer!!! Check them ALL out. They're amazing.
Yo-Yo is not only one of the most fabulous musicians of all time, but he is a genuinely wonderful and beautiful person. The Lassiter orchestra was invited backstage at Avery Fischer Hall in 2002 to meet Yo-Yo. He was engaging, excited to be with our students, and took time to be with us even though he was surrounded by friends and family. You will enjoy these videos of this wonderful man.
Yo-Yo ...a great video with Isaac Stern!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLa4zAOOpq4Yo-Yo with Bobby McFarrin, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor, Seigi Ozawa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIKdv0mjg6k&feature=relatedIf you love violin, you'll love Vanessa-Mae!
Vanessa Mae rocks Bach Toccata and Fugue!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg8Fa_EUQqY&feature=related
Bach Partita in E Major
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g5Q1p6C7ho&feature=related
Vanessa Mae - Paganini's caprice #24
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfucb5FGavo&feature=relatedOK, you gott dig Victor Wooten! Norwegian Wood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9a4ThBNacY&feature=relatedPinchas Zuckerman and Itzhak Perlman. Handel-Halvorsen: Passacaglia- what can you say!
I have personally sat feet away from Itzhak. It was an amazing experience!
Pinki is as unbelievable on violin, but RULES the VIOLA!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3vQWvRNeps
Wednesday, April 30th 2008
Recoding of Itzhak discussing and performing "Schindler's List"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueWVV_GnRIAThursday is our big ending event! "A Night at the Movies!"
Make sure and plan ahead.
Auction 6:30-7:15
Concert 7:15
Everyone report at 6:15. Symphony will be on stage at 6:30, String Ensemble 6:45.Wednesday, April 16th 2008
Auditions for next year's orchestras will be held the week of May 5-8. Etudes & solos were distributed in class. Please ask me for the material, if you did not receive it.
Soon available on Smart Music will be the following scale test:
Violins - G and A Major and Melodic Minor 3 octaves with arpeggios (QN=100)
Violas/Cellos - C and D Major and Melodic Minor 3 octaves with arpeggios (QN=100)
Bass - F and G Major and Melodic Minor 2 Octaves with arpeggios (QN=100)
Due date will be May 9th.
Tuesday, April 1st 2008
Practically Perfect Practicing by Robert Jesselson
Practicing is the process of acquiring new skills and making them into good habits. It is really just a set of learned behavior patterns and responses. Good practicing requires thoughtful self-analysis and self-criticism in the process of improving one’s ability.[ Read Complete Article on Keynotes Online ]
Check out this amazing new conductor of the LA Phil, Gustav Dudamel.
He is making a difference in music education world-wide.Wednesday, March 12th 2008
This week the Lassiter Chamber Orchestra and Lassiter String Ensemble travel to Tampa to compete in the Heritage Music Festival at the University of South Florida. The String Ensemble will perform Folk Tune and Fiddle Dance by Percy Fletcher and the Bach D Minor Double Violin Concerto featuring violinists Sarah Ohms and Alex Binkley. The Chamber Orchestra will open their program with Shostakovich String Quartet No. 6, followed by the Vivaldi G Minor Cello Concerto - Rachel Creagan and Robert Marshall, cello soloists and conclude with the Prelude from Bloch's Concerto Grosso for Strings Orchestra and Piano. Good luck to our wonderful Lassiter orchestras!
Next week we'll begin rehearsals for the Lassiter Orchestra's annual "A Night at the Movies!" concert (Thursday, May 1st - 7:30pm, Lassiter Gym). Movie clips from blockbuster hits: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lord of the Rings, Beauty and the Beast, Pirates of the Caribbean, and more! Plus we will have a Silent Auction with fantastic items for your bidding pleasure!!!
Friday, February 29th 2008
Heritage Music Festival Student/Parent Meeting
Tuesday March 4th at 7pm in the Orchestra Room
Agenda: Itinerary, Packing List, Medical Forms, Equipment, General Questions
If you are interested in $12 tickets to see the Atlanta Symphony, please call 404-733-5000 and ask for Russell and tell him you are with the Lassiter High School Orchestra. Check out their website www.atlantasymphony.com for fabulous performances this spring!Now is a good time to check the maintenance of your instrument. Are you still playing a beginner instrument? Do you need to have your bow rehaired? Has it been more than a year since you have replaced your strings? Are you ready for a step-up instrument, need a new shoulder rest, case, tuner, accessories? Use our resources page to help you with these items.
Monday, February 11th 2008
The Georgia Music Educators Performance Evaluation is this week at McEachern High School. Both String Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra will perform at this important event. Each group will perform 3 concert works for a panel of prestigious string educators. In addition, each group will sight-read a number (perform a number for the first time without rehearsal). The Performance Evaluation is our most important performance of the year. Please make sure your uniform is in good order and make sure your instrument is maintained properly (bow rehaired, if needed, replace strings over 1 year old or have a mute on your instrument). String Ensemble performs at 3:30 on Wednesday (2/13), Chamber performs at 6:30pm on Thursday (yes...Valentine's Day!). Good luck and play beautifully!
Monday, November 26th 2007
Lassiter Orchestra Rehearsals:
Tuesday November 27 - String Ensemble Rehearsal from 3:45PM-5PM
Friday November 30 - Symphony Rehearsal from 4PM-6PM
Monday December 3 - Symphony Rehearsal from 4PM-6PM
Tuesday December 4 - Symphony Brass Sectional at 7:30AM
Tuesday December 4 - String Ensemble Rehearsal from 3:45PM-5PM
Thursday December 6 - (if needed) Symphony Rehearsal 3:45PM-5PM
Friday December 7 - "A Night of Classics" Concert at Kell High School at 7PMMonday, November 13th 2007
This week for the Lassiter Orchestra:
Placement will be posted very soon! You will receive 2nd semester schedules on Friday. Please let me know ASAP of any problems. I'm here to help.
A Shostakovich moment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_021ixZzrk
This is for your educational interest only.
Shostakovich on Symphony #11: "I am presently working on my Eleventh Symphony... The theme of this symphony is the Revolution of 1905. I love this period in the history of our Motherland, which found clear expression in workers' revolutionary songs. I don't know whether I will quote these songs extensively in my symphony, but its musical language, undoubtedly, will be close in character to the Russian revolutionary song."Shostakovich's Symphony No. 11 scored a huge success for the composer and, in many respects, redeemed him after his failure to pay appropriate homage to the 30th anniversary of the October Revolution 10 years earlier. The work was premiered in Moscow on 30 October 1957 (the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution) and received the Lenin Prize in 1958.
I found this classic "Silent Film" from 1925 put to the music of Shostakovich.
The movie "Metropolis" represented a new standard in the film history (1925). In the end the expenditure amounted to two million Deutsch Mark, twice as much as calculated. Fritz Lang (director) was in America because of an invitation of a great motion-picture company. This visit left a great impression to him especially the entrance into the harbor of New York and the huge buildings, which seem to grow out of the sea. Fritz Lang was familiar with a new method that allowed models in the picture through a complicated discharge of reflection and re-reflection that it looked like huge buildings. This method was made perfectly during the shooting. Now nothing was in the way against a realization of the movie.
The content: Metropolis is a huge industrial town divided into an upper and a lower town. In the lower one, where the sunlight hardly reaches the lowlands, there live and work the destitute people, who have to operate enormous machines in order to provide the city with the necessary energy. In the upper town live the rich big-whigs in immense luxury. There is a rebellion against the oppressors. In order to give the story the necessary spice, Freder, the son of one of the most powerful big industrialists, stands by the side of the rebel workmen.
Beside Freder, played by Gustav Fröhlich, who was an unknown actor in those days. Brigitte Helm made her debut in the film business in the role of Maria. This Maria tries to convince the workmen to give up their resistance and get on well with the rulers. Her philosophy is that it depends only on the "unification of heart and brain" to become adept in anything. Freder falls in love with Maria and together they try to direct the threatening escalation into a controlled course.
Wednesday, October 31st 2007
String Ensemble:
Cello/ viola scale change from C minor to D minor for String Ensemble
Excerpts for playing test given out is class.
Playing test for seating for Winter Concert, Festival, and Heritage Festival is 11/7- 11/9 during class.Check out these videos!
String Ensemble - Violins - check out this recording of the Bach Double - Style is very nice, but not full ensemble.
String Ensemble Viola /Cello/ Bass - not the best sound, but style is great.
Chamber Orchestra:
Excerpt Playing Tests: 11/7-11/9 during class.
Excerpts have been given out in class. Test will be seating for Winter, Festival, and Heritage Festival concerts.Lassiter Chamber Orchestra, view this performance of Leonard Bernstein and NY Phil performing Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 - Finale. It's breath-taking!
Wednesday, October 17th 2007
...on a fabulous fall concert! I believe this is the strongest both groups have performed this early in the year.
String Ensemble, special kudos on your lovely performance of the Corelli. The interaction between players, wonderful leadership, made this piece so moving. Chamber's performance of the Saraband was extraordinary! Beautiful phrasing and huge dynamic contrast. Great work by all students!
This week we will start on new music for the Winter Concert. Our clinicians should be in this week to work sectionals - fingerings, bowings, bow style, etc. All 3 orchestras will have a playing test the first week of November. This test will be for a grade and seating for Winter Concert and Festival.
String Ensemble:
Violins - G melodic Minor scale 3 octaves w/ arpeggio, selected excerpts.
Violas/ Cellos - C melodic Minor scale 3 octaves w/ arpeggio, selected excerpts.
Basses - F melodic Minor scale 2 octaves w/ arpeggio, selected excerpts.Chamber Orchestra:
3 excerpts selected from Chadwick, Wagner, and ShostakovichReminders:
The first Heritage Music Festival payment was due October 15th
Before and after school sectionals for Chamber Orchestra resume next week.
We have Symphony Rehearsal Monday 10/22 from 4-6. Full orchestra starting up soon!Overarching Question:
How does my practice affect the orchestra?Please check out this website for musical terms. We will be covering these in class:
http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/musicnotes/terms.htmlHave a great week!
Monday, October 1st 2007
Hope everyone had fun at the Lassiter Homecoming Parade! The Orchestra had a great showing (yes, letter points for everyone!) and SpongeBob (Sean Frasier) was a big hit! I guess he gets double letter points! I hope Mason was able to get SpongeBob on the Trojantron (nice work Chad and friends!). A big "Thank you" to Mr. Callahan for hooking us up with a cool truck and boat, Mr. D for showing up with his old Jeep, Mrs. Robin and Mrs. Chellino for feeding and transporting everyone, and especially our wonderful LHS Orchestra Officers for heading up the decorating and making it all happen!
This week in Orchestra:
Chamber Orchestra:
Violin II and Viola will be 'passing off' the melody in Simple Symphony Mvt. 1. Violins have an after school rehearsal from 3:45-4:45 Monday the 1st. Our harpist will be working with us at that time, so have Elgar ready to go.
Viola sectional on Monday at 7:15AM
All sections will have sectionals with their clinicians Thursday. Have all music thoroughly prepared.
String Ensemble:
All playing tests have been completed. I will put scores in I-Parent Monday. Great rehearsal week. Please make sure you have your uniform ready to go. Our concert is next Thursday (October 11th at Kell HS). Usually there are alterations needed, so make sure you have what you need this week. Please review the uniform memo.
Our next (and last before the concert!) after school rehearsal is Monday, October 8th. No school that Monday, so that's the reason for the Tuesday rehearsal. Attendance is very important! We'll run the program and make last-minute adjustments. Your parents will be quite impressed with the incredible work you've done this semester. We will take our yearbook pictures before the concert. Chamber Orchestra 6pm on stage, String Ensemble 6:30 on stage. Watch for e-mails from our board for further information. If you are not receiving e-mails or calling posts, please e-mail me at Carol.Doemel@cobbk12.org. Keep up the great work!
Monday, September 17th 2007
Welcome to a New School Year!
Hey All,
Great rehearsals/sectionals yesterday with both string ensemble and chamber orchestra. I think we will have a magnificent concert in October if everyone stays on track and continues to reinforce material taught in class during their home practice.Upcoming events: Donut Social Friday morning at 7:45 in the Orchestra room. Wear your Orchestra T-Shirts and you can get a delicious Dunkin' Donut (must have on your orchestra shirt!)! I'll play some cool 80s music for your enjoyment :-).
Playing test this week for String Ensemble - A Major scale 3 octaves with arpeggio (violin), D Major 3 octaves w/ arpeggio (viola/ cello), F major 2 octaves with arpeggio (bass). Test will be Thursday and Friday. Have a great week!
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