Dear returning Violinist or Violist, ______in class ______,

I’m SO delighted that you chose to continue the school Orchestra Program! I hope you have had a restful summer and are ready to start making terrific music.

Please rent an instrument from a store below as soon as possible. Try the instrument before you rent it- make sure it plays well and it’s the correct size- most students need a ½ or ¾ sized instrument. PLEASE LABEL YOUR INSTRUMENT CASE WITH YOUR NAME AND CLASS.

You will also need to purchase:

Sound Innovations Book 1 (white and blue), for Violin or Viola, same book as last year, can only be found online at:

http://www.alfred.com/SI/Parents

Labeled with your name & class on the cover- rip the CD out & practice with it at home.

KEEP THE BOOK IN YOUR BINDER POCKET AND BRING THE BOOK TO ALL LESSONS.

*1 Shoulder Pad, try it on your instrument before you buy it

*2 blocks of Violin or Viola Rosin in a wood holder (lasts longer), labeled & kept in your case

*One durable black 1” binder with your name, “Orchestra”, and favorite decorations on the front

*One sharpened pencil in the binder’s pocket

*5 section dividers labeled: Scales, Practice Charts, Concert Music, Important Papers, & Notes

*5 sheets of hole-punched lined paper for the Notes section

Music stores that carry the supplies above (but NOT the book):

Strictly Strings/Debi Maier 116 Mobrey Lane, Smithtown (west off Old Willets) 864-6512

Music & Arts Stony Brook 751-2464

Long Island Violin Shop Huntington (855) 343-3535

Long Island Violin Shop E. Setauket 941-6535

Donato Family Music Islip 277-4898

Musicology Smithtown 352-5535

Music Smith Bohemia 589-1653

Gil Brienes Deer Park 586-1410

Family Melody Patchogue 475-3210

Alan Howard Sherman Patchogue 654-8430

Cornet Music Smithtown 724-0705

Keep your instrument away from heat, cold, and moisture. Label it with your name and class. Try to practice at least 15 minutes every day with your CD at home and mark your time in the practice chart inside your book. Enjoy your practicing- make it a family concert after dinner!

Before-school Advanced Orchestra rehearsals will start on October 2nd and last every Day 1 and Day 3 until our Advanced Spring Concerts. Please be sure you can commit to two mornings for before-school rehearsals.

40-minute lessons during school will begin in late September. You will receive a lesson calendar to let you know when your lesson will be. Please keep in mind that you will be pulled out of class instruction time. Make sure you’re ready for a bit more homework in exchange for a bit more knowledge and fun.

If you have any questions please email me at . This year promises to be very exciting! Thank you SO much for your valuable support of the Orchestra Program. I look forward to making great music with you!

Musically Yours,

Mrs. Timerie Gatto, BW & FB Orchestras

and on the Hauppauge website

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MRS. TIMERIE GATTO’S ADVANCED ORCHESTRA PERMISSION SLIP

*Please put in my school mailbox no later than: Wednesday, September 17th*

I give my child, ______in class ______permission to study the Violin or Viola this year.

(Please PRINT child’s name)

I will purchase the supplies listed and encourage my child to practice at home. My child will attend 2 rehearsals before school.

______

Parent/Guardian Signature Please PRINT parent’s email for correspondence

___ My child does NOT wish to continue in the Orchestra Program. If you wish to donate their music book, please send it in with them.