Awesome After School Orchestra
2011-2012
September 22, 2011
Hello AASO Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to the start of the Awesome After School Orchestra’s 2011-2012 Program. We are
excited and happy to have the opportunity to engage your child’s mind, instruct them musically and
enrich their lives with the joys of a classical string instrument education. We would like to thank
and congratulate you on seeking this opportunity for your child. Participation in AASO provides
students who have an interest in classical string instruments with a valuable head start. Early
instruction for children seeking to play string instruments can offer a solid start in their journey
toward mastering their chosen instrument. We know too that music develops the whole child and
can give a child the necessary self-discipline to succeed in life. Following is information regarding
the AASO program.
AASO PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS
Cascade School of Music partners with Bend Metro Park & Recreation District (BMPRD) and the
Bend-LaPine School District to bring the AASO program to Central Oregon 3rd, 4th and 5th graders.
The Cascade School of Music (CSM) interviews and hires the music instructors who then become
employees. CSM sets curriculum goals, conducts instructor evaluations, works with the instructors
to build upon the program and is responsible for funding the program. BMPRD and CSM both
handle class registrations
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Administrators:
Anna Trobaugh, teacher and program administrator
Anna.trobaugh@bend.k12.or.us
(541)322-7725 Sky View Orchestra Office
(541) 410-4569 cell
Cascade School of Music
200 NW Pacific Park Lane
Bend, OR 97701
(541)382-6866
website: www.ccschoolofmusic.org
Contact: Dillon Schneider
Instructors:
Travis Allen – Beginner Program small group instructor
travis.a.allen@gmail.com
Anna Trobaugh – - Advanced Program and Beginner Program large group instructor
anna.trobaugh@bend.k12.or.us
(541)322-7725 Sky View Orchestra Office (weekdays 2:40-3:15)
(541) 410-4569 Cell (anytime)
BEGINNING CLASSES
Beginners will meet twice a week once in a large group setting with all the instruments once in a
small group setting with similar instruments. Everyone meets on Monday, then half the class will
meet Tuesday and half the class will meet Wednesday.
Bear Creek Elementary School –M-3:45-5:15pm – Instructed by Anna Trobaugh
Bear Creek Elementary School –T-3:45-5:15pm OR Wed 2:15-3:30 – Instructed by Travis Allen
ADVANCED CLASS
Bear Creek Elementary School - F – 3:45 – 6:30pm – Instructed by Anna Trobaugh
CLASS START AND END DATES
This program runs in 3- ten week blocks.
Beginners: Monday/Tuesday OR Wednesday classes:
September 26, 2011 – Dec. 7;
January 9 – March 16, and
April 2- June 2, 2012
Intermediates: Fridays: September 30, 2011 – Dec. 9;
January 13- March 16, and
April 6- June 2, 2012
CLASS SCHEDULE
AASO Classes follow the same calendar as the Bend La Pine School District. No elementary school
classes on any given day means no AASO classes for the same day.
The EXCEPTION to this schedule is that AASO will break for two weeks in March. No classes
will be held on the weeks beginning March 19 and March 22, 2012. This will mean that there will
be NO AASO classes held during the week prior to the Bend La Pine School District Spring Break.
AASO CONCERT DATES
Monday, December 12th, 5:30 pm at Bear Creek Elementary School Gymnasium
Monday, March 12th, 5:30 pm at Bear Creek Elementary School Gymnasium
Sunday, May 20, 1pm at Bend High School, students will play in the auditorium
Lobby prior to the Central Oregon Symphony’s Spring Concert.
Saturday, June 2, 2012, mid to late afternoon, Tower Theater
CONCERT INFORMATION
TIMES: Our first two concerts held on Mondays will begin at 5:30 pm. Concerts generally clock in
at less than one hour. All AASO students will attend the dress rehearsal starting at 4:00 that day.
Parents are requested to arrange for transportation of their child to and from the concert venue. You
will receive additional information as we near those dates.
PARTICIPATION: A concert is a culmination of all that your child and his and her peers have
been working on in class. Your child’s attendance at concerts is pivotal to the success of each of the
contributing members of the Awesome After School Orchestra. Please mark your calendars now to
insure that your child will be able to attend all of the AASO concerts.
You can help make the concerts a memorable experience for you child by offering them help in the
following areas:
CONCERT ATTIRE: General concert attire guidelines require dress shirts or blouses with long
sleeves; long skirts and pants are best. Avoid t-shirts with logos, mottos, words of any kind, and
jeans and bare legs. Tights are recommended for skirts and dresses and all skirts/dresses should be
below the knee. When a child is dressed up for a concert it adds to their sense of pride and
accomplishment. Please help your child experience this in a way that is exciting by helping them to
plan out their clothing in advance, doing so can help to alleviate any concert day jitters and establish
a sense of routine in regard to their participation in the more formal setting of a concert.
PREPARATION: Make sure your child is prepared and has learned his/her concert pieces.
ATTEND: Please be there. The greatest gift that you can give to a child who has prepared to share
his/her music with an audience is simply to be there to receive their gift of music.
PLAN IN ADVANCE: In addition to preparing concert attire, make sure that your child gets plenty
of rest and is well fed for their special day. You know your child best, so be sure to limit any foods
that might make them agitated.
BE ON TIME: Make arrangements ahead of time so that your child arrives at the concert location
on time. Punctuality helps to eliminate any stress that your child may be feeling prior to a
performance.
SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION: A small gesture of appreciation goes a long way and can mean
a lot to a child. Things such as flowers, a special cookie, being able to choose dessert for that night,
a special card --- any of these things can add to the positives of the experience for a child and make
it a memorable experience for them.
LEND A HAND: Please plan to stay after the concert for a few minute to help clear the concert
area. Many hands make for little work and we greatly appreciate the help.
PRACTICE TIPS
Students should practice for 20 minutes, three to four times a week.
The sound of practicing at home is quite different than the sound created in the group sessions. It is
imperative that your child is able to hear his or her own sound and that they practice to create a
sound that they enjoy. This probably will not happen the first time that they practice at home.
It is not called ‘perfect.’ It is called ‘practice.’ It is called that because nobody plays perfectly the
first time. This will probably be true of the first notes coming out of your child’s instrument. As a
matter of fact, stringed instruments are capable of some incredibly awful sounds.
Please encourage your child to practice and to be patient with him or herself as they learn their
instrument. It is just as important that you also be patient with your child as they may develop a new
shyness about what they are working on. Be gentle, but persistent in asking that your child play for
you. Your enthusiasm will help him or her gain a sense of pride and encourage them to enjoy their
music successes.
INSTRUMENT CARE
String instruments demand gentle care. The students are taught specifics about the gentle care that
these instruments require. The instruments are made mostly of organic materials. They are very
fragile and respond to changes in temperature and humidity.
PLEASE READ Through these steps in order to keep your child’s instrument safe. Thank you.
1. If possible, NEVER transport the instrument in the trunk of the car. Laying the instrument
flat on the floor in the cab of the vehicle is preferable. Or giving the instrument its own seat,
depending on the size of the instrument. If you must transport the instrument in the trunk of
your car, use towels or blankets to ‘tuck’ it in so that it does not slide back and forth while
driving and don’t forget to remove it from the trunk when you return home.
2. NEVER leave the instrument in your car over night! Our High Desert climate has crazy and
extreme temperature variances. Instruments are not made to withstand these extreme
changes in temperature. Also, instruments have been stolen out of vehicles never to be
recovered. Make sure that your child’s instrument is safe at night.
3. DO store the instrument in a safe and temperature controlled location. It is NOT a good idea
to store an instrument next to a window or heater.
4. Gravity is bad. Please find a safe spot in your home that is NOT leaning against a wall or
corner so that the instrument does not risk falling over. Violins and violas are best stored flat
on the floor in a low traffic area of your home. Cellos and basses need to lie on their side
along a wall, once again avoid areas with high levels of foot traffic.
5. Be aware of pets and younger siblings. Instruments can be knocked over by wagging tails,
scratched by curious pets and can be hard for siblings to resist as a new plaything.
6. ROSIN is available at AASO classes, but you may want to purchase you own.
Rosin is a translucent yellowish to dark brown resin derived from the stumps or sap of
various pine trees and used to increase sliding friction, as on the bows of certain stringed
instruments.
Rosin is relatively inexpensive and should be applied frequently. Rosin can be
purchased at any local music store. It is very fragile and will shatter if dropped so
please encourage your child to use addition care and focus when applying rosin.
INSTRUMENTS RENTALS AND SUPPLIES
Just Joes: 61400 S. Highway 97 #3, Bend, OR
Phone: 541-977-5637 or 541-318-5646
www.justjoesmusic.com
Mountain View Music: 1326 NE 3rd Street, Bend, OR 97701
Phone: 541-389-5416