The Blog on Wednesday
I am finally able to sit down to do this next blog.  What did you think of the last rehearsal?  I know there was a lot of sight-reading going on with the music that arrived for our solo accopaniment.  Now that we have worked through it once, please take time right away to go through the spots that you remember were difficult from rehearsal.   

Blog Readership Steady (really?)
It seems we have had the same number read last week's blog.  I was remiss in announcing Adam Nichols had won the prize for being the first to read the blog.  I owe him some chocolate!  Who will be the next one?  And, please, let me know you've read the blog.  Add your comments here, send an e-mail to jose@orkestraprojekt.com, or find me on Facebook at Jose Valencia.  While you're at it, all you Facebook users should join the MAYO Facebook group, MAYO members from 2007.

A Real Practice Strategy
Please take time to listen to the Zigeunerweisen and the Elgar Cello Concerto in e minor, 4th movement with you rmusic in front of you.   Follow the music as you listen so you can get a feeling for how your part fits with the music you will hear the soloist play.

There is a T-Shirt Poll
Please go to the Polls menu (on the left) and vote for your preference regarding a potential trip in the Spring 2010 to the West Coast, a potential tour in lieu of iMAYO 2011, a summer session working with a musical theater group, and your favorite T-sirt design!

Rehearsal Order:
Sectionals, Sectionals, Sectionals....more info later.

And, after listening during our last rehearsal, and upon the recommendations of several of the coaches, we will reduce the number of wind instruments performing during the solo.  We will share the spots, though so, check back for more info this week.

I will share with you that our highest priorities are going to be Mozart (measures 158 through the end), Elgar (tutti passages where you all play), and Sarasate.  Make them your highest priorities, too.

Keep it up.  We're going to do a great job together.  After all, that's what playing in an orchestra is all about.

Gearing up for a great concert
We have only four rehearsals left.  Please prepare for these rehearsals so that we can perform to the best of our abilities. 

Big picture plan for the next four rehearsals includes:
1. Working with the soloists on their pieces.  The music should be arriving soon.  Please listen to the Sarasate Zigeunerweisen and the Elgar Cello Concerto this week. 
--Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhyzk6Ty-Ms&feature=related
--Elgar: Cello Concerto, 4th mvmt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rjudv2woxQ
2. Mozart
3. Planets
4. Star Wars

Blog readership up this week.
Good news.  There were 14 e-mails/facebook posts/blog comments this past week, up from the twelve people who read the blog last week and responded that they had done so.  Matthew Munroe won the chocolate bar.    We really want to know if you've read the blog so, if you've read it and if you'd like to be included for the consideration of the chocolate bar, please send an email to me at jose@mayomusic.org or a message to me on Facebook when you've read it so we can count you in and understand the usefulness of this feature.

Take the poll!
We would really like to know what you would like to do with the orchestra this year and next.  The webmaster, also known as Executive Director Kristen Bellisario, has informed me that the poll will be valid for a short time.  Please look at this with your family: MAYO Online Poll.

Sections for personal practice:
Please look at these following sections for the coming week.
Mozart: measures 272 through the end of the movement. 
Holst: Mars and Jupiter
Holst: Venus: violins practice from Andante before rehearsal 2 to rehearsal 3
Holst: Jupiter: rehearsal 17 to the end.
Star Wars

And, finally, our rehearsal schedule for Monday, October 19th:
6:30  Announcements
6:35  Sectionals (winds on Venus, brass on Star Wars and Holst, Strings on Mozart, Venus)
7:15  Mozart (measures 272 through end)
7:40  Holst: Venus
8:00  Break
8:12  Star Wars
8:40  Holst: Mars
8:50  Holst: Jupiter

Keep checking in!  I'm eager that we do our best tog

Gearing up for a great concert
We have only four rehearsals left.  Please prepare for these rehearsals so that we can perform to the best of our abilities. 

Big picture plan for the next four rehearsals includes:
1. Working with the soloists on their pieces.  The music should be arriving soon.  Please listen to the Sarasate Zigeunerweisen and the Elgar Cello Concerto this week. 
--Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhyzk6Ty-Ms&feature=related
--Elgar: Cello Concerto, 4th mvmt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rjudv2woxQ
2. Mozart
3. Planets
4. Star Wars

Blog readership up this week.
Good news.  There were 14 e-mails/facebook posts/blog comments this past week, up from the twelce people who read the blog last week and responded that they had done so.  Matthew Munroe won the chocolate bar that I bought just before rehearsal.    We really want to know if you've read the blog so, if you've read it and if you'd like to be included for the consideration of the chocolate bar, please send an email to me at jose@mayomusic.org or a message to me on Facebook when you've read it so we can count you in and understand the usefulness of this feature.

Take the poll!
We would really like to know what you would like to do with the orchestra this year and next.  The webmaster, also known as Executive Director Kristen Bellisario, has informed me that the poll will be valid for a short time.  Please look at this with your family: MAYO Online Poll.

Sections for personal practice:
Please look at these following sections for the coming week.
Mozart: measures 272 through the end of the movement. 
Holst: Mars and Jupiter
Holst: Venus: violins practice from Andante before rehearsal 2 to rehearsal 3
Holst: Jupiter: rehearsal 17 to the end.
Star Wars

And, finally, our rehearsal schedule for Monday, October 19th:
6:30  Announcements
6:35  Sectionals (winds on Venus, brass on Star Wars and Holst, Strings on Mozart, Venus)
7:15  Mozart (measures 272 through end)
7:40  Holst: Venus
8:00  Break
8:12  Star Wars
8:40  Holst: Mars
8:50  Holst: Jupiter (stringendo and the end)

Keep checking in!  I'm eager that we do our best tog

Intonation Improving
Thanks for your patience and focus on the intonation.  i know it's not easy and not fun but, we'll enjoy the fruits of your labor.  I think your audiences will enjoy it, too.

Big picture plan for the next four rehearsals includes:
1. Focus on Venus
2. Work on Mozart
3. Working with the soloists on their pieces.  The music should be arriving soon.  Please listen to the Sarasate Zigeunerweisen and the Elgar Cello Concerto this week. 
--Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhyzk6Ty-Ms&feature=related
--Elgar: Cello Concerto, 4th mvmt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rjudv2woxQ

Blog readership down this week.
Hmmm.  There were 12 e-mails/facebook posts/blog comments this past week, down from seventeen people who read the blog last week and responded that they had done so.  Katherine McDaniel won the chocolate bar that I bought just before rehearsal.    If you'd like to be included, please send an email to me at jose@mayomusic.org or a message to me on Facebook when you've read it so we can count you in and understand the usefulness of this feature.

Take the poll!
We would really like to know what you would like to do with the orchestra this year and next.  The webmaster, also known as Executive Director Kristen Bellisario, has informed me that the poll will be valid for a short time.  Please look at this with your family: MAYO Online Poll.

Sections for personal practice:
Please look at these following sections for the coming week.
Mozart: measures 158 through the end of the movement.  I promise we will do more Mozart this week.
Holst: Mars: General Intonation.  find your function in the triad and tune against a drone (I know some of you know what this means.  It is the type of exercise we were doing at number 10, slow, and making it more beautiful).
Holst: Venus: violins practice from Andante before rehearsal 2 to rehearsal 3
Holst: Jupiter: rehearsal 17 to the end.

And, finally, our rehearsal schedule for Monday, October 19th:
6:30  Announcements
6:35  Sectionals (winds on Venus, brass on Star Wars and Holst, Strings on Mozart, Venus)
7:15  Mozart (measures 158 through end)
7:50 Break
8:05  Holst: Venus
8:17  Star Wars
8:35  Holst: Mars (more triad tuning and the coda)
8:50  Holst: Jupiter (stringendo and the end)

Keep up the hard work.  We have a ways to go, though, and a concert coming up very soon!