The second half of October started out with a free clinic from Lou De La Rosa at Pioneer HS. He came over to work with the advanced choir to help us to get ready for the festival at West Valley College October 22nd. He listened and gave pointers for improving sound, diction, and posture. He also taught us that singing patterns using solfege hand signs (do-re-mi, etc.) is a way to start reading music because it's reading symbols used for pitches and remembering them (i.e. remembering where "do" is). Beginning choir singers seemed especially interested in learning the hand signs and we practice solfege patterns in beginning choir every day. Lou is director of Choral Studies at West Valley College and he used to teach at Pioneer HS. If any Pioneer students are interested in possibly attending WVC and/or singing while there, he left information with me about WVC college and music options.
On October 22nd, the entire advanced choir (which has decided to again be called Varsity Singers) attended West Valley College Invitational Choral Festival. It was the first opportunity for singers to wear their formal dresses and tuxes and we discovered a few minor costume items that were all fixable. Everyone had a ride, thanks to wonderful parents who signed up with the school to drive, and who took time out of their Friday morning to transport students to WVC in Saratoga. A few parents stayed and watched the performance. Our choir participated in the morning session; there was also an afternoon session. The festival clinician was Dr. Buddy James, from CSU East Bay. The format for this festival included a group warmup led by the clinician, then individual choir performances in the order on the program. Seven choirs from six schools performed, including WVC's Chamber Singers. Pioneer was second on the list, which had been revealed only when we arrived to make sure everyone planned to stay for the entire morning. I felt the experience was very positive as all choirs listened to all performances and the clinician's helpful suggestions for improvement were audible to everyone in the audience. Such an event is not competitive and the clinician's comments are designed to address specific areas each choir can improve in. Each choir comes to such an event in different stages of readiness for performance, depending on their individual choir program needs. We heard a wide variety of repertoire and suggestions for improvement and I came away with ideas for future repertoire and teaching singing. Pioneer was fortunate to have my friend Lindsay Jones-Serdar accompany us during the performance.
The last week of October was Homecoming Week, Happy Birthday Pioneer (Friday, 29th), and Halloween (Sunday, 31st). Advanced Choir/Varsity Singers sang the national anthem at the Homecoming Rally on Friday for the entire school. Many positive comments from teachers and students...
November brings us to the Veterans Tribute concert, Wednesday, November 10th, 7:00pm. This will be an event coordinated by Drama, Band, and Choir. I hear it is usually well-attended, so if you plan to come, come early. (Students have a holiday on Thursday, November 11th and no school on Friday November 12th because of a staff development day.)
The Innisbrook fundraiser officially ends November 10th, as well. Until 11/10, students receive 50% profit/credit on everything they sell. Innisbrook offers wrapping paper, Helen Grace chocolates, and gift items. Students need to take orders, collect money, and turn it in to me to get the 50% profit. AFTER November 10th, the products are still available online and the profit/credit is 40%, credited to the account of each student. We will have other fundraisers available as well, but students who feel comfortable selling the high-quality items from Innisbrook should take full advantage of this opportunity to help their tour fundraising. I welcome suggestions and comments about selling stuff and fundraising in general, sent to my email: mary_hamilton@sjusd.org or mary.hamilton@comcast.net.
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