Rehearsal plan for 10/08/23 | MYS Symphony Orchestra

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Hi everybody! I missed seeing you on Sunday. I’m grateful to Mr. Castro and our sectional coaches for their work with you (I was away for my sister’s wedding). Below is our rehearsal plan for 10/08/23.


Recap: 10/01/23

  • Tutti work with Mr. Castro on Mussorgsky
  • Percussion work with Mr. Schlossman
  • String sectionals with string coaches (Dukas)
  • Winds, brass and percussion sectional with Mr. Castro (Dukas)

Rehearsal plan for 10/08/23

4:00pm-5:30pm:

  • Reading session of YCP piece “Music for an Imaginary Cartoon.”
  • Mr. Schlossman with percussionists
  • Hard copies of the first draft of this piece will be distributed right before rehearsal. Please make sure to get there at 3:45pm!!

5:45pm-7:00pm:

  • Sectionals!!! Focused on The Little Mermaid and Poor Unfortunate Souls
    • French horns
    • Trumpets + trombone
    • Percussion
    • Strings + woodwinds with me

NOTE: Please take an especially detailed look at rhythm in the “Under the Sea” portion of Little Mermaid.


Part Assignments

Up-to-date part assignments can be found by clicking on the link on the sidebar on the right (or the “quick links” towards the bottom of the page if you’re on mobile).


Happy practicing and see you Sunday!

Dr. G. 

Cuts in Little Mermaid & Poor Unfortunate Souls

Hi all,

Please mark the cuts below in your parts.

The Little Mermaid Orchestral Suite

  • Cut from m.125 to end of m. 164. Resume playing at m. 165.

Poor Unfortunate Souls

  • Cut from m. 53 in Part 1 to the beginning of Part 3 (this means all of Part 2 is cut).

Thanks!

Dr. G.

Video/Audio reference for Fall concert

Rehearsal plan for 10/01/23 | MYS Symphony Orchestra

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Hi everybody! I cannot believe we’re almost at the end of September already!! Below is a recap of Sunday 9/24/23, as well as our rehearsal plan for 10/01/23.

A reminder of my recommended practice strategy:

  • Between our Sunday rehearsal and whenever you get my weekly e-mail (usually Tuesdays), practice what we worked on in the last rehearsal.
  • Between Tuesday and the following Sunday, practice what we will be doing in that next rehearsal.

Recap: 9/24/23

  • Hisaishi: we listened to our reference recording, read the whole piece and did a little work.
  • Beauty and the Beast: we listened to a reference performance and “Belle” from the original Disney animated movie. We read the whole piece and did a tiny bit of work.
  • Dukas: #[38] to end of piece, with some light work.
  • Mussorgsky, H to end of piece, with some light work as well.

Rehearsal plan for 10/01/23

4:00pm-5:30pm:

  • Detailed work on Mussorgsky (with Giancarlo Castro D’Addona, guest conductor)
  • Percussion with Mr. Schlossman

5:45pm-7:00pm:

  • Sectionals!!! Focused on Dukas
    • Violin 1
    • Violin 2
    • Viola
    • Cello + bass
    • Winds/brass/percussion together

NOTE: Please also start practicing The Little Mermaid Suite and Poor Unfortunate Souls!


Concert Cue Volunteers

  • Thank you to those of you who volunteered to annotate pieces on Concert Cue for our November concert. I’ll be in touch to schedule a “training” session (on Zoom). In the meantime, feel free to start researching the pieces, or listening to recordings and finding your favorite moments that you would like to highlight in real-time.
    • Mussorgsky – Dana
    • YCP – composers
    • Beauty and the Beast – Alice
    • Mermaid – Liam
    • Poor Unfortunate Souls – Violet
    • Dukas – Kate
    • Hisaishi – Aidric

Part Assignments

Up-to-date part assignments can be found by clicking on the link on the sidebar on the right (or the “quick links” towards the bottom of the page if you’re on mobile).


Happy practicing and see you Sunday!

Dr. G. 

Rehearsal plan for 9/24/23 | MYS Symphony Orchestra

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Hi everybody! Below is a recap of Sunday 9/17/23, as well as our rehearsal plan for 9/24/23.

Also, here’s my recommended practice strategy:

  • Between our Sunday rehearsal and whenever you get my weekly e-mail (usually Tuesdays), practice what we worked on in that last rehearsal.
  • Between whenever you get my e-mail and the following Sunday, practice what we will be doing in that next rehearsal.

Recap: 9/17/23

Music work

  • Dukas: read until 38
  • Dukas detailed work:
    • beginning to 6
    • 7 after 28 to 38 (working backwards)
  • Mussorgsky: read until H
  • Mussorgsky Detailed work:
    • Beginning to C

Individual and common goals

  • You wrote down 3 individual goals for you and 3 group goals for the orchestra. We split into small groups to discuss and share.
  • I’ll compile all the common goals into a single document.

Concert Cue Volunteers

  • Thank you to those of you who volunteered to annotate pieces on Concert Cue for our November concert. I’ll be in touch to schedule a “training” session (on Zoom). In the meantime, feel free to start researching the pieces, or listening to recordings and finding your favorite moments that you would like to highlight in real-time.
    • Mussorgsky – Dana
    • YCP – composers
    • Beauty and the Beast – Alice
    • Mermaid – Liam
    • Poor Unfortunate Souls – Violet
    • Dukas – Kate
    • Hisaishi – Adric

Rehearsal plan for 9/24/23

4:00pm-5:30pm:

  • Read Hisaishi
  • Read Beauty and The Beast Suite

5:45pm-7:00pm:

  • Dukas: #[38] to end of piece
  • If time allows: Mussorgsky, H to end of piece

Below is the information that I shared two weeks ago, for your convenience.

MYS Symphony Orchestra Schedule of Services, 2023-2024

  • Please take a few minutes to review the PDF linked below, and add all rehearsals and concerts to your personal and family calendars. Click the thumbnail to download the PDF.
  • All rehearsals will be at All Saints Church and School at 601 NE Cesar Chavez Blvd.

Season + Tour Repertoire

You can check out this season’s repertoire by clicking the thumbnail below. I’m very excited about everything we’re playing. This document is subject to changes, but it will likely stay this way.


Part Assignments

Up-to-date part assignments can be found by clicking on the link on the sidebar on the right (or the “quick links” towards the bottom of the page if you’re on mobile).


Happy practicing and see you Sunday!

Dr. G. 

Rehearsal plan for 9/17/23 | MYS Symphony Orchestra

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Hi everybody! Great to see you for our first rehearsal last Sunday. It was a wonderful start to the year. Also, congratulations to MYSfits on a FANTASTIC performance at the Schnitz before the Yo-Yo Ma/Oregon Symphony concert. I keep hearing wonderful feedback about our performance. Thanks to those of you who showed up to support. It meant a lot seeing you there!!

I’m sharing my rehearsal plan for next Sunday (9/17/23) below. Please be sure to prepare (i.e. practice between now and Sunday and learn your individual part before rehearsal). Additionally, I’m asking you to volunteer to annotate one of the pieces this season for ConcertCue. Finally, I’m keeping content from my previous e-mail below for your convenience (schedule, repertoire, part assignments, etc).


Rehearsal plan for 9/17/23

  • 3:45pm – arrival, warm-up
  • 4:00pm-5:30pm – Dukas, beginning to rehearsal #38
  • 5:30pm-5:45pm – break
  • 5:45pm-7:00pm – Mussorgsky, beginning to letter H
  • 7:00pm-7:05pm – put room back together

Updated audio/video reference for Dukas & Mussorgsky

I updated the reference videos for both pieces on the sidebar (or down below under “Quick Links” if you’re on mobile). These performances match the original score that we’re playing. I will also create a separate post with the Disney Fantasia videos, where the pieces are cut and edited for the animations.


Calling for Concert Cue Volunteers

If you’re interested in volunteering to annotate one of our pieces this season for Concert Cue, please send me an e-mail.

We’ll work together to create the annotations and craft an informative and engaging experience for our audiences. This counts for volunteer hours if you need them at school, etc.


Below is the information that I shared last week, for your convenience.

MYS Symphony Orchestra Schedule of Services, 2023-2024

  • Please take a few minutes to review the PDF linked below, and add all rehearsals and concerts to your personal and family calendars. Click the thumbnail to download the PDF.
  • All rehearsals will be at All Saints Church and School at 601 NE Cesar Chavez Blvd.

Season + Tour Repertoire

You can check out this season’s repertoire by clicking the thumbnail below. I’m very excited about everything we’re playing. This document is subject to changes, but it will likely stay this way.


Part Assignments

Up-to-date part assignments can be found by clicking on the link on the sidebar on the right (or the “quick links” towards the bottom of the page if you’re on mobile).


Happy practicing and see you Sunday!

Dr. G. 

Welcome to MYS Symphony Orchestra 2023-2024!

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Hi everybody! Welcome back if you were with us last year, and a giant WELCOME if you’re new to Symphony Orchestra this year. We have a very exciting season ahead of us, ending with an international tour to Spain and Portugal, which I hope all of you can join.

This is just an introductory message about rehearsals, concerts and repertoire.


MYS Symphony Orchestra Schedule of Services, 2023-2024

  • Please take a few minutes to review the PDF linked below, and add all rehearsals and concerts to your personal and family calendars. Click the thumbnail to download the PDF.
  • All rehearsals will be at All Saints Church and School at 601 NE Cesar Chavez Blvd.
  • You’ll note that our first rehearsal (Sunday, 9/10) will be shorter: 4pm-6pm. The reason is that MYSfits will perform at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall at 7:00pm for an Oregon Symphony Prelude Performance before Yo-Yo Ma’s concert. I’d like to encourage everybody to go to the Schnitz to support MYSfits. No tickets are needed for this performance. It will take place at the lobby of the Schnitz between 7pm and 7:20pm.

Season + Tour Repertoire

You can check out this season’s repertoire by clicking the thumbnail below. I’m very excited about everything we’re playing. This document is subject to changes, but it will likely stay this way.


Part Assignments

Part assignments for all pieces will be communicated next week. Look for an e-mail from me on Tuesday.


MYS Orientation

Look for an e-mail from our office with information about our general orientation session via Zoom on Wednesday 9/6 at 7pm.


Concert Cue!

After our very successful introduction of Concert Cue for real-time program notes delivered to audience cell phones during our May concert (with Elaina Stuppler’s piece), we are excited to introduce Concert Cue for all Symphony Orchestra performances this year. We will be enlisting volunteers to create the interactive program notes for most pieces. More about this later, but I hope many of you will volunteer to create the content for a piece (or a movement) this season. It’s super cool.


That’s it for now. More soon!!

Dr. G. 

Rehearsal Plan for Tue 3/30 and Wed 3/31 | MYS S.O.

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Weeknight rehearsals plan (updated as of 5/29/23)

  • Tuesday, May 30 – 7pm-9:30pm (The Madeleine)
    • CONCERT ORDER!
    1. 7:00pm: Mozart
    2. Beethoven
    3. Mayer
    4. Stuppler
    5. Approx. 8:15pm: Bernstein
  • Wednesday, May 31 – 7pm-9:30pm (The Madeleine)
    1. Mozart
    2. Beethoven
    3. Mayer
    4. Stuppler
    5. Approx. 8:15pm: Bernstein

Note: no rehearsal on Thursday, June 1st.

Concert: Friday, June 2nd, call time 4pm.


Reference Recordings

MAYER:

BERNSTEIN:


Part Assignments

Part assignments for all pieces can be accessed here. Please let me know if you spot any errors. Assignments are subject to change.


Thank you, and happy practicing.

Dr. G. 

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, 5/28 & beyond | MYS S.O.

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Plan for Sunday, 5/28

6:30pm-9:00pm @ The Melody

Tutti!!

  • Rehearsal order:
    • 6:30pm-8:00pm: Bernstein
    • break
    • 8:10pm-9:00pm: Stuppler

Upcoming rehearsals & concert (updated as of 5/24/23)

  • Sunday, 5/28, 6:30pm-9:00pm (tutti at The Melody)
  • Tuesday, May 30 (!!!!) – 7pm-9:30pm (The Madeleine)
    1. Bernstein
    2. Stuppler
    3. Mayer
    4. Beethoven
    5. Mozart
  • Wednesday, May 31 (!!!!) – 7pm-9:30pm (The Madeleine)
    1. Bernstein
    2. Stuppler
    3. Mayer
    4. Beethoven
    5. Mozart

Note: no rehearsal on Thursday, June 1st.

Concert: Friday, June 2nd, call time 4pm.


Reference Recordings

MAYER:

BERNSTEIN:


Part Assignments

Part assignments for all pieces can be accessed here. Please let me know if you spot any errors. Assignments are subject to change.


Thank you, and happy practicing.

Dr. G. 

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, 5/21 & beyond | MYS S.O.

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Plan for Sunday, 5/21

Note: percussionists will rehearse at The Melody from 4pm-6pm on this day (5/21)

6:30pm-9:00pm @ PSU, Lincoln Hall

@ Lincoln Performance Hall, Portland State University, Room LH37 (band room)

All strings + winds/brass who play the piano concerti.

  • Rehearsal order:
    • 6:30pm-7:15pm: Mozart
    • 7:15pm-8:00pm: Beethoven
    • break
    • 8:10pm-9:00pm: Mayer (strings only)

Upcoming rehearsals & concert (updated as of 5/17/23)

  • Sunday, 5/21, 4:00pm-6:00pm (percussion only, at The Melody); 6:30pm-9:00pm (at PSU, with piano soloists, all strings + winds/brass who play the piano concerti.)
  • Sunday, 5/28, 6:30pm-9:00pm (tutti at The Melody)
  • Tuesday, May 30 (!!!!) – 7pm-9:30pm (The Madeleine)
  • Wednesday, May 31 (!!!!) – 7pm-9:30pm (The Madeleine)

Note: no rehearsal on Thursday, June 1st.

Concert: Friday, June 2nd, call time 4pm.


Reference Recordings

MAYER:

BERNSTEIN:


Part Assignments

Part assignments for all pieces can be accessed here. Please let me know if you spot any errors. Assignments are subject to change.


Thank you, and happy practicing.

Dr. G.