Intermediate String Orchestra News

What is more important: Rhythm or Notes? The answer is always rhythm! This week I encourage you to use a metronome with every aspect of your playing. Start by turning on your metronome to 60 BPM. Count along with it, subdividing 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &. Play 2 octave scales with the metronome using half notes, then quarter, then eighths and sixteenths. After you are warmed up, work on orchestra or solo music with the metronome extremely slow! When you can play through every section, turn the metronome up one click.… read more about 1/28 Conductor's Notes »

Happy Holidays! It feels good to finally get a break from school and work! I believe it is important to take breaks, but remember this holiday season, practicing is fun! What better time to try your hand at composition. Maybe you start learning new techniques like "ricochet" or "flying spicatto". Whatever you are practicing, do it to the best of your ability. Use a metronome. Play through sections slowly. Enjoy the feeling of steel and wood vibrating underneath your fingertips. Express yourself through your instrument.… read more about Happy Holidays! »

Catharsis VN.1 Catharsis VN.2 Catharsis Viola Catharsis Cello Catharsis Bass Viva La Vida VN.1 Viva La Vida VN.2 Viva La Vida Viola Viva La Vida Cello Viva La Vida Bass Sleepers Wake VN.1 Sleepers Wake VN.2 Sleepers Wake Viola Sleepers Wake Cello Sleepers Wake Bass read more about 2nd Concert Music ISO »

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to learn 90% of the music? But, what about the last 10%? More specifically, I am talking about correct bowing, phrasing, dynamics, and tempo changes. I am also talking about those several measures that get out-of-tune. And, those tricky rhythms you haven’t quite figured out. During practice this week, concentrate on the small. Don’t worry about playing through the entire piece. Look for those few measures that still need work, and fix them!  Our next rehearsal will feature a sight-… read more about 9/8/16 Conductors Notes »

What a great start to the year! I am very excited to be conducting the ISO and feel our first rehearsal went smoothly, thanks to our assistant Macduff Henry and many supportive parents. I have several notes from the rehearsal I’d like to share. Violins: I didn’t mention it, but we need to make sure our bows are all going the same direction. Next rehearsal I will be stopping to correct backwards bowing, so make sure you practice the bowing printed in your music. 1st Violins, work on the shifting/3rd position sections of M to… read more about 9/10 Rehearsal Notes »

Dear Intermediate String Orchestra Students, The following are excerpts for the upcoming leadership auditions for violins, violas, cellos, and bass students for the ISO.  Leaders should be at all rehearsals and set a good example to the other orchestra members with their preparation, posture, and behavior.  Please look for an email in your inbox with a Sign-Up Genius link to pick a time for an audition on either August 27th or 29th.  Please note that Violin Leaders will rotate between 1st and 2nd Violin… read more about ISO Music for Leadership Auditions »

 Hi Everyone, This semester’s winding down and it will be our last weekend of DUSS before our summer break. On Saturday, April 30th, we’ll have our rehearsal, as usual, at Bone Hall. No early sectionals…. Arrive with enough time to tune and be in your seats, ready to start at 8:45 AM. On Sunday, May 1st, we’ll have our dress rehearsal, a short break, and then our last concert of the season! In case I don’t get to say goodbye after the concert: I have enjoyed playing and working with all of you, and I hope you have a… read more about ISO weekly email for Apr 30 »

Hello everyone, On Saturday, March 12th, we will have our rehearsal at Bone Hall, as usual (8:45 to 9:55). On Sunday, March 13th, we will have a dress rehearsal at Baldwin Hall from 4:30 to 5:30PM. The concert will be the same day, Sunday, at 6:30PM, but you’ll need to be dressed in your concert clothes and back at Baldwin at 6PM.  (That means there is only a half hour between the dress rehearsal and the time you’ll need to be getting ready to tune and gather in your designated spots.) We recommend that you come… read more about ISO weekly email for March 12 »

Hello ISO families, Hope you didn’t get swept away in the winds today! This Saturday, Feb. 27th, we will not have any early sectionals. Our March 13th concert is right around the corner (and so is spring!!), so be tuned up and ready to rehearse by our 8:45 start time.   Let me know if you can’t make it to rehearsal. Thanks! --Elizabeth read more about ISO weekly email for Feb 27 »

Hello Intermediate Strings families, This Saturday, Feb 5, please come at 8:30 (or even a little earlier) to be ready for the 8:45 rehearsal. The results of the leadership auditions are in! I will email Mr. Rempher’s new seating chart tomorrow, but listed below are the leaders. Here are some Youtube links to two of our pieces: Shaker Fantasia Radetsky March Leaders for ISO Spring Semester: 1st vln:   1. Lylan Bui   2. Iris Newlin   3. Maya Liu   4. Matthew Erickson 2nd vln:… read more about ISO Weekly emai for Feb 5 »

 Hello Intermediate Strings families, Did you enjoy that snowstorm? It was great sledding snow with that crusty top layer. This Saturday, Jan 30th, please come at 8:30 (or even a little earlier) to be ready for the 8:45 rehearsal.  For those of you interested in a leadership position, here is a link to the sign-up sheet for the auditions. There are 4 leadership positions open for Violin I, 4 for Violin II, 2 for Violin III, 2 for Viola, 4 for Cello, bass 1 (anyone want to play bass? We have a new bass teacher!)… read more about ISO Weekly email for Jan 30 »

Hello Intermediate Strings families, I hope you had a productive first rehearsal of the year! Many thanks to Ms. Livingston for conducting, and Laura Stemmle for assisting with passing out music and making sure everything went smoothly! Mr. Rempher and I will both be there this Saturday, Jan 23rd.  Please come at 8:30 (or even a little earlier) to be ready for the 8:45 rehearsal. Those instruments will be cold and will need extra loving care to warm them up and tune them!  For those of you interested in a… read more about ISO Weekly email for Jan 23 »

Here is the link to download the new parts for spring semester. https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B3sCOy4jJdgNQm9OSEU0YUQ4THM&usp=sharing Please let me know if you have trouble or questions. --Elizabeth shamblin@cs.duke.edu read more about New Music Set - ISO »

Hi Everyone, I hope you had a nice break for Thanksgiving! This weekend will be a busy one. On Saturday, Dec. 5th, we’ll have our rehearsal, as usual, at Bone Hall. No early sectionals…. Arrive with enough time to tune and be in your seats, ready to start at 8:45. On Sunday, Dec. 6th, we’ll have our dress rehearsal, a short break, and then the Holiday concert! Here’s the schedule for Sunday: Show up at Baldwin at 4:15 to be ready to rehearse, on stage, at 4:30. Rehearse from 4:30 to 5:30. We recommend that you come… read more about ISO Weekly email for Dec. 5th »

Hello everyone, This weekend, Saturday, Nov. 21st, it’s your turn Cello players, to get up nice and early to come in for a sectional. (Everybody else, come at 8:30 so we can start right on time at 8:45.) Parents (and assistants) who feel comfortable tuning, help us get everyone in tune before 8:45 so we can start right up at rehearsal time. Assistants, thank you to those who came early last week!! (Cello-playing assistants are welcome to join in at 8AM this week.) Next week, no rehearsal! Rest and digest. See you… read more about ISO Weekly email for Nov. 21 »

Hello everyone, The upcoming December concert will have a different dress rehearsal time than last time. We want to make sure everyone understands the change. On Saturday, Dec. 5th, we will have our rehearsal at Bone hall, as usual. On Sunday, Dec. 6th, we will have a dress rehearsal at Baldwin Hall from 4:30 to 5:30PM. The concert will be the same day, Sunday, at 6:30PM, but you’ll need to be dressed in your concert clothes and back at Baldwin at 6PM.  (That means there is only a half hour between the dress rehearsal… read more about ISO dress rehearsal info »

Hello everyone, This weekend, Saturday, Nov. 14th, it’s your turn Violin III players and Viola players, to get up nice and early to come in for a sectional with Mr. Rempher. (Everybody else, come at 8:30 so we can start right on time at 8:45.) Don’t be late! Parents (and assistants) who feel comfortable tuning, you can help tune in the halls near the practice rooms. That will help get orchestra started on time… Assistants, if you play Viola or Violin III, join us at the early sectional. (I know, it’s early. But it would be… read more about ISO weekly email for Nov. 14th »

Hello everyone, This weekend, Saturday, Nov. 7th, Violin II players need to get up nice and early to come in for a sectional with Mr. Rempher. (Everybody else, come at 8:30 so we can start right on time at 8:45.) Don’t be late! Last week we got a new piece, International Jingle Bells, lots of fun, so if you weren’t here or you don’t have it, let me know and I’ll get you a copy.   (Don’t forget to practice the La Lyra since it is the more challenging piece.) Listen to the YouTube clip: La Lyra by Telemann See you… read more about ISO weekly email for Nov. 7 »

Hello everyone, This weekend, Saturday, Oct. 31, Violin I players need to get up nice and early to come in for a sectional with Mr. Rempher. Show up at the crack of 8AM, or a little before then, and I will have someone let you in the front door. (Even the door thinks it’s early and doesn’t unlock until 8AM.) Don’t worry, you get an extra hour Sunday morning when daylight savings time ends.  Everybody else, come at 8:30 so we can start right on time at 8:45. Don’t be late!  We are going to have assigned seats so… read more about ISO weekly email for Oct. 31 »

 Hello everyone, This weekend, our we will have our normal rehearsal (starting at 8:45) on Saturday. We had to move around a bit last week because Bone Hall was being used by the Duke Jazz Band. This week won’t involve as much shuffling of people, instruments, stands, and cases, and riding on elevators. (But it will still be fun! ) Have a listened to the YouTube clip while looking at your part? If you still don’t have your part because you were absent or you lost it while playing in a leaf pile, you can download… read more about ISO weekly email for Oct 24 »

Hello everyone, Thank you for your hard work and for a lovely concert! It was fun to sit out in the audience and hear the pieces that I usually heard from the back of Bone Hall. It sounded wonderfully rich and professional in Baldwin! Mr. Rempher has picked out a new piece for us to work on Saturday. Have a listen to the YouTube file and download your part from the link below. I will also bring paper copies in on Saturday. YouTube clip: La Lyra by Telemann Download your part here We will have rehearsal at the normal time… read more about ISO Weekly email for Oct. 17 »

Hello everyone, This Saturday, Oct 10th, our morning rehearsal will be held in Baldwin Auditorium. We have a special practice session (sectional) for the 2nd, 3rd violins and violas. So, if you play the 2nd or 3rd violin, or viola, please come to Baldwin Auditorium (through Baldwin’s back entrance) at 8AM for an early practice session. Everyone else, you can come at 8:30 and be ready to play on the stage at 8:45. A note about “dress rehearsals” and the “green room” -- the green room is not green, and for the dress… read more about ISO weekly email for Oct. 10 »

Hello everyone, This Saturday, Oct 3rd, we have special practice sessions (sectionals) for the cellists and the 1st violins. So, if you play cello or the 1st violin part, please arrive as close to 8AM as possible and that will allow you to have a good half hour of specialized group instruction before rehearsal. Cellists will meet in room 086 (the room by the back loading dock door) and work with Mr. Bardales. Violin 1s will be in Bone Hall, where we have rehearsal each week. Everyone else, you can sleep in for an extra… read more about ISO Weekly email for Oct. 3 »