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Mission statement: "Teach values of teamwork and excellence through musical training, enabling talented young musicians to advance in musical performance."
"Teach values of teamwork and excellence through musical training, enabling talented young musicians to advance in musical performance."
Feel the passion!
Tuition (tuition prices are still one of the lowest in Wa.!)
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$375 for full season symphony
- Two payment plan - $187.50 each( Sept.9th and Jan.6th)
- Monthy payments - Nine payments of $45. (We no longer accept tuition payments through Paypal because of their fees. Those making monthly payments will receive a coupon booklet and should include the correct coupon with their payment. Thank you for your consideration.)
- Sinfonette is $295 for full season, no further discounts
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Tuition Discount
- Pay in full by September 9th - $365
- Additional siblings for only $365
All members are required to register. New members and those returning members wishing to move from junior into youth should make an appointment with Sharyn to be placed in either Youth or Junior. You may schedule your placement interview by contacting Mrs Hobson: webmaster@fysmusic.org or call 360-293-8180. Please bring instrument, registration form and tuition payment to appointment.
Where: Riverbend Building, located at 205 Stewart Road Mt. Vernon. Directions: Take exit 227 off I-5, go west on College Way (towards Lowe's) and at the light turn right onto Freeway Drive. Travel approximately 1/2 mile and you're there!
When: Sept. 9th 6pm to 8:30pm
>>New members welcome! - Placement interview for
new members, or those wishing to step up from Junior to
Youth. Contact Mrs. Hobsonfor an appointment at webmaster@fysmusic.org or 360-293-8180
>>Rehearsals: thursday evenings
Sinfonette-5:30-6:30, Junior
Symphony-5:30-7:00, Youth Symphony-6:30-8:30
(Juniors and Youth rehearse together from 6:30-7:00 for festival piece)
Placement Requirements:
-Strings -Youth- one major and one minor scale of your choice, three octaves
-short 2-minute solo of your most advanced piece
-brief sight-reading
-Strings-Junior-same as Youth except two octaves of scales
-Winds
-same as strings, but include a chromatic scale
-Sinfonette
-no audition required
Section Leaders and Principals Click on link to view pdf file outlining duties and responsibilities of section leaders and principals.
Every musician plays an important role in achieving artistic success. Orchestra members depend upon each other, not only at the concert, but at every rehearsal. It is only fair to expect a high level of team effort in maintaining the orchestra upward progress.
Weekly rehearsals begin September 16th and are held every Thursday during the academic year.
WHERE:
Riverbend Bldg, 205 Stewart Rd., Mt. Vernon. Directions: Take exit 227 off
I-5, go west on College Way (towards Lowe's) and at the light turn
right onto Freeway Drive. Travel approximately 1/2 mile and
you're there!
WHEN: Thursday evenings:
- Sinfonette 5:30 - 6:30pm
- Junior Symphony 5:30 - 7:00 PM
- Youth Symphony 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Attendance at all rehearsals is required. Arrive to rehearsal early enough to warm your instrument up and tune.
Absences: It is of utmost importance to communicate concerning absences, to facilitate specially scheduled sectionals. (This is only normal courtesy to our supplemental professional instructors.)
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Only three absences, per term are allowed with prior notice.
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Notify the director as early as possible before the anticipated absence.
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When the fourth absence occurs, participation in the upcoming concert is at the discretion of the conductor.
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Continued absences will result in being dropped from roles.
FYS owns a modest library of symphonic works. We also rent and borrow music. Each year we add to our music library.
Music is issued to students at the beginning of each concert session. Taking care of your music is very important. You are responsible for music assigned to you. A replacement cost may be charged for lost or damaged music. Please take care of your music. Use only black pencil ( no pen, highlighter, or red pencil. )
Practice and PreparationTURN IN YOUR MUSIC AFTER THE LAST PERFORMANCE PER CONCERT SESSION
All students are expected to come to rehearsals prepared, with their music and instruments in order. It is necessary to spend time practicing for rehearsals since this music is challenging, and needs both individual and group preparation. By fourth rehearsal the student should be able to correctly play all the notes and rhythm in their parts. This will enable our orchestra rehearsal to focus on ensemble precision and interpretation. It is expected that each student will practice their FYS music and that there will be an audible improvement in the part each week.(top)
Concert DressFYS maintains a dress code for concert performances because a simple, integrated visual appearance promotes the image of the orchestra as a team. Musicians should arrive in their concert attire ready for pre-concert rehearsal. This will ensure extra practice time and a smooth transition to actual performance. Musicians who are not dressed appropriately will be required to change into something provided by the board of directors. (top)
Junior Symphony and Sinfonette
Ladies: White long sleeved blouse, long black skirt or full length dress slacks; black shoes and stockings. Please no sparkles or jewelry.
Gentlemen: White long sleeved shirt, black bow tie, black trousers, black shoes and socks.
Youth Symphony
Symphony EtiquetteLadies: Long black dress or long sleeved or 3/4 length sleeve(not sleevless)black blouse and long or ankle length black skirt or dress slacks, black shoes and stockings. Please no sparkles or jewelry.
Gentlemen: Black jacket and slacks, black bow tie, White long sleeved shirt, black shoes and socks.
Code Of Conduct:
Any musician who exhibits inappropriate behavior at FYS rehearsals, concerts, or activities jeopardizes their good standing in the orchestra. Examples include, but are not limited to, disrespect toward other musicians or adults, verbal or physical threats towards others, horseplay, inappropriate physical conduct with others, inappropriate language, or any other behavior that undermines the integrity of the symphony. Inappropriate conduct may result in immediate forfeiture of membership in the symphony. Final determination regarding dismissal will be made by the Artistic Director and FYS President.
Fidalgo Youth Symphony maintains a drug free environment and any drug use by a member will not be tolerated resulting in dismissal from the program. The FYS artistic director, staff, and board of directors are committed to providing musical experiences in a safe, wholesome environment for all students.
1. Walk (not run) in the halls, and respect the facility, leaving each room as you found it.
2. Play ONLY your own instrument during breaks and rehearsals.
3. Food and drink are not permitted in rehearsal space.
4. Brass instruments please make arrangements to empty spit valves onto paper or other appropriate receptacle.
5. Avoid conversing during rehearsal-stay focused on the task at hand.
6. Avoid foot-tapping.
7. Prepare sections of your music each week, with a plan to have all of the notes and rhythms mastered well in advance of the concerts.
8. Arrive early enough to be ready to play at the start time. Lateness is very disruptive and does a disservice to you and your colleagues.
9. Rehearsals are intended to establish group unity in musical expression, not teach the individual notes. This is your challenge during the week-take the part to your private teachers!
Seating: All students will sit in the front rows of the audience when they are not performing. The exception will be that the Junior Symphony will be on deck (waiting in the wings) while the Sinfonette performs.
1. Warm up with full and strong tone, not tentatively.
2. Keep posture excellent-spine straight, legs uncrossed.
3. Ladies-no short skirts. Wear a long skirt-it looks much more elegant and professional.
4. Everyone must wear black stockings and shoes for a unified appearance on stage.
5. Jewelry should not be distracting, visually or audibly.
6. For the Conductor's first entrance, stand together at attention and wait to be seated.
7. During a solo section, don't move unnecessarily-it distracts.
8. Never talk to your neighbor during a concert!
9. Control your facial expressions-they are dismayingly obvious and distracting to the audience! Never acknowledge mistakes physically.
10. At the end of the piece, remain seated until signaled to stand, and smile when applauded, no matter how you feel you performed!
11. Congratulate yourself for the hundreds of notes you played right, and do not berate yourself for the few you missed! Have fun sharing great masterpieces with your family and friends!