Campolindo Instrumental Music

Ensemble Course Materials

Posted on August 25, 2011 | Leave a comment

Students and Parents of Campolindo Musicians:
Please peruse the following documents which make up the CHS Ensemble Handbook.
     •  Course Syllabus
     •  Goals of a Comprehensive Music Program
     •  Parental Help and Support
     •  Daily Rehearsal Procedures
     •  Performance Calendar
     •  Extra Credit Form
     •  Performance Review Form
     •  Handbook Acknowledgement Form
Return a signed Handbook Acknowledgement Form, (Both Student and Parent) to Mr. Benstein As soon as possible and no later than Back To School Night on September 13.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in CHS Ensemble Course Materials, Uncategorized

Welcome Back from Mr. Benstein

Posted on August 8, 2011 | Leave a comment

Dear Campolindo Musician:

Welcome to the new academic year! I hope your summer has been relaxing, reenergizing and productive. It is that time of the year for you to prepare for our work together in the fall.

Campolindo enjoys a long and distinguished tradition of musical excellence, supported by a school staff, administration and a community that values your artistic growth and achievement. Each year is a unique musical experience and the success of our ensembles is a direct correlation to the leadership, hard work, dedication and talent of the members of each group. Your participation in this program requires your commitment to do your personal best to achieve the artistic goals of the music and to be a productive member of the ensemble.

Please make sure that your instrument is in top working order. If needed take it to a reputable instrumental repair facility to assure that it is working correctly, some area shops include Best Instrument Repair, Oakland; Forrests (double Reeds) in Berkeley; Ifshins (Strings) Berkeley or Jack Gu at Moraga Strings Workshop (510) 725-5385. You will not need to bring your instrument to school on the first day. PLEASE NOTE: Jazz Band WILL NOT meet on the first day of school – First rehearsal, Thursday, August 25 - 7 AM.

You are responsible to prepare a short audition at the beginning of school to establish part and seating assignments. You should pick something age appropriate that you enjoy to play and that demonstrates your musical strengths (2-3 minutes), plus a chromatic scale (your range), and major scales. If you are new to the program and need to sign out an instrument, contact me as soon as possible to accommodate your needs.

We are looking to balance our instrumentation needs. Students interested in switching to Bassoon, Viola, Double Bass, Tuba and Trombone should contact me to see what we can work out. The Campolindo Music Boosters will provide private lesson support for students switching instruments and the school has instruments available for your use.

The Back to School Barbeque is a great time to catch up and meet new friends. The date is scheduled for Friday night, August 19 – check out our website (www.campomusic.org) for details.

All Instrumental Music parents are members of the Campolindo Music Boosters; this vibrant organization provides enrichment activities and resources for our program. Information on dues, donations and activities will be online for Cougar Days.

Thank you in advance for all of your efforts. Good luck and have a great year!

Sincerely,

Harvey Benstein
Print letter

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

2011-12 Boosters Board/Committee Chairs

Posted on August 8, 2011 | Leave a comment

2011-12 MUSIC BOOSTERS

President:     Sue Carlson
Vice President:     Chitra Suri
Secretary:     Anu Kuefner
Treasurer:     Bill Doherty
Project Chairpersons:
Welcome Back BBQ:     Laura Chen
Concert Attire:     Laura Chen
POPS Potluck:     Necia Hasler
Homecoming Concessions:     Mary Beth Leonard
Hospitality Receptions:     Laura Smyrl
Senior Gifts:     Dana Gill
Photography:     Kevin Goto,
Photography:     Curran Kwan
Publicity:     Seri Gomberg
Webmaster:     Teresa Chow
Newsletter:

2011-12 STUDENT MUSIC COUNCIL

Presidents
      Bands:     Parker Hasler, 925-234-0850; 377-0661
      Orchestra:     Luther Kuefner, 925-399-2435
Symphonic Band Representatives:
      Annie Guo, 925-588-1829; 376-7862
      Athan Gousios, 925-858-7583
Orchestra Representatives:     Annie Carlson, 925-989-9462
Concert Band representative:
Sophomore Representative:     Newton Kwan, 377-8886

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Parent Boosters Info

Music Booster needs 2011-12 volunteers

Posted on May 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

To keep Music Boosters going we need parents who would like to get involved in CampoMusic 2011-2012.
We still need two parents to take on our newsletter - one as the editor and one for the layout - and we’d like to invite especially incoming freshmen parents to consider joining the Music Booster team if you like to be more involved in your child’s music education.
Everything is well established and it is not a big time commitment. It’s a fun way to get involved in your child’s school and to meet other parents and to stay connected. Please contact Sue Carlson (sushiq@aol.com or 925-878-9362) if you are interested or need more information.

Here is more detail about the positions:

NEWSLETTER - We need someone as editor and someone for layout. Our newsletter is issued three times a year by using Constant Contact, a web service. Time: 3-4 hours, three times a year.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Parent Boosters Info, Uncategorized

Wanted: Music Mentors

Posted on November 16, 2010 | Leave a comment

Campo musicians: When you mentor an elementary school music student you invest in Moraga’s music future.

Music Mentors is a volunteer group designed to link high school music talent with elementary school kids who are learning music.

Based on an idea advanced by Adam Noel, Music Director at Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School, Music Mentors will work one-on-one with music students in the JM after-school music program (4th-6th graders). This is a fun opportunity to help younger kids build their music skills and, at the same time, invest in Moraga’s music community. Mentors will commit to a regular schedule (monthly, twice a month, weekly, or twice a week)

Interested? Questions? Contact Emily Spitz (emily.spitz@earthlink.net) for Band and Inno Asuncion (inno@asuncion.us) for Orchestra.

Schedule:
Mondays 3:40-4:30pm: Beginning Brass and Woodwinds
Mondays 4:40-5:30pm: Beginning Percussion
Tuesdays 3:35-4:30pm: Beginning Strings:Violins, Violas, Cellos
Tuesdays 4:40-5:30pm: Intermediate Strings: Violins, Violas, Cellos
Thursdays 3:35-4:30pm: Beginning Strings – Violins, Violas, Cellos
Thursdays 4:40-5:30pm: Intermediate Band: Brass Woodwinds, Percussion
Fridays 3:40-4:30pm: Beginning Brass and Woodwinds

Requirements:
High school Music Mentors must be under the regular instruction of private music instructors so that they are familiar with proper music technique for their instruments.

A commitment of at least once monthly is requested so that there is some continuity and relationship building between the mentors and the younger students.

Schedules will be rotated to allow for changes in sports commitments and other after-school activities. If you have special schedule limitations and still want to help, please get in touch with Emily to work something out.

Benefits:
This is a fun activity and it gives you some great community volunteer experience. It’s also a good college resume builder. And best of all, it helps these kids improve their musicianship. Remember when other people helped you begin playing? Pay it back to young musicians in Moraga and have some fun.

Transportation and Liability Limitations:

Please note that Music Mentors is a group organized by and for students to help the community, and is neither endorsed nor sponsored by CampolindoHigh School, Joaquin Moraga Middle School, or their respective school district administrations. Transportation to and from JM is the responsibility of the individual volunteer. For kids who do not yet drive, there is regular bus service from Campolindo to JM on County Connection Bus #106. It picks up in front of Campolindo on Moraga Road, near Campolindo Drive. Bus service coming back to Campolindo-or even to Lafayette BART-is available on the same #106 return line. For info and schedules, check the CountyConnection website at www.cccta.org .

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Student Information, Uncategorized, Why Music? Information for 8th Graders and Parents

Why Music? Voices in the Arts – Perspectives on the Importance of the Arts in Education

Posted on November 15, 2010 | Leave a comment

For more than a decade, intense interest in how the arts stimulate learning has engaged researchers. Their efforts show that the study of music, drama, writing, dance and the visual arts helps excite and reinforce learning in subjects beyond the arts, like math, English and science. Yet, as budgets shrink, the arts have been withdrawn from many of our schools and classrooms.

We need to change this. Arts education is not a frill; it is beneficial to every student.
Read more from the College Board… Voices in the Arts

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Parent Boosters Info, Student Information, Uncategorized, Why Music? Information for 8th Graders and Parents

Arts at the Core – The College Board is promoting the performing arts in our schools

Posted on November 15, 2010 | Leave a comment

Art has the power to help students understand and shape the world. However, arts education in America’s schools, colleges and universities is facing an escalating crisis which, if not dealt with soon, will deepen in both intensity and gravity. It will continue to directly and adversely affect the quality of education available to our students and the well-being of our nation.

To reverse this trend, the College Board established the National Task Force on the Arts in Education (NTFAE) to address the opportunities and challenges facing arts education in the United States. The College Board is committed to making the arts accessible to all students.

Follow this link for more information: http://advocacy.collegeboard.org/preparation-access/arts-core

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Student Information, Uncategorized, Why Music? Information for 8th Graders and Parents

To all Campolindo Music families

Posted on October 6, 2010 | Leave a comment

Thank you to everyone for your support! Every year, we strive for 100% membership and after our Pops kick-off event last Monday, we now have almost 80%! Thank you for supporting the Music Boosters by becoming a member or patron.

Last year, we provided more than $7,300 for the purchase of new instruments for the Campo Music department and we spent more than $6,000 on guest artists and clinicians to work and perform with our young musicians. With our new budget, we now can provide the same amounts for the current school year. This benefits all music students.

Please go to our page “About us” for more information or contact Carola Ziermann with any questions you have.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Parent Boosters Info, Uncategorized

About Campolindo Instrumental Music

Posted on October 1, 2010 | Leave a comment

Music Director, Harvey Benstein

CONCERT BAND
This first-level wind band draws experienced music students, primarily freshmen who studied at JM, Stanley Middle or other middle schools, but also older students who will benefit from the experience.

SYMPHONIC BAND
The advanced symphonic band includes winds, brass and percussion instrumentalists, primarily sophomores, juniors and seniors, although incoming freshmen may audition in the spring. This band plays high school and college level repertoire.

ORCHESTRA
Campolindo’s string orchestra includes freshmen through seniors and performs high school and college level repertoire. Some repertoire, such as Beethoven’s symphonies, are performed with brass, wind and percussion musicians drawn from the symphonic band.

JAZZ BAND
Entrance to Jazz Band is by audition only. In addition to concerts and competitions, the jazz band also performs at the annual Jazz Dinner Dance, this year slated for Feb. 26, 2011 (tickets to go on sale in December/January) at the Temple Isaiah in Lafayette.

MUSIC THEORY
This advanced placement course is open to any sophomore, junior or senior interested in music. It includes basic music theory and composing.

CONCERTS, MUSICALS, TOURS
Campolindo’s musicians perform at Campolindo’s Performing Arts Center (CPAC) for all concerts and in the orchestra pit for the spring musical. The 2011 musical, which runs March 17-26, will be “Fiddler on the Roof”.
The performing ensembles also occasionally tour. Past tours have included performances at Carnegie Hall, Disneyland, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, and the State Cappella Concert Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia in 2007. This school year, the orchestra is going to Beijing, China in the spring 2011.

AUDITIONING for incoming freshmen students
Depending on the individual skill level, an 8th grade band student may want to join the Symphonic and Jazz Band right away. In that case, contact Mr. Benstein for an audition. Auditions are held in the spring and by appointment only.

THE CAMPOLINDO MUSIC BOOSTERS is the parent organization responsible for supporting Campo’s Instrumental Music program. Membership dues and donations are used to help enrich the instrumental music program. Go to our About Us page for more information.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Campo Instrumental Music, FAQ, Parent Boosters Info, Student Information, Uncategorized, Why Music? Information for 8th Graders and Parents