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Dec
15
Lunch Time Concerts
December 15, 2008 | | 1 Comment
Dear Grade 8s and 6s,
Good concerts today…pity most of the 7s forgot their instruments and couldn’t perform.. 
Good luck with this week’s concert…we’ll be great!
http://portal.saschina.org/video/media/1845/MS_Strings_Holiday_PreConcert/
Dec
11
Music…Unmasked!
December 11, 2008 | | 2 Comments
Hi all,
I trust we are all ready and excited for next weeks’ concert! I have asked in class, but please, again, make sure that you have the correct concert wear ready and bring it with on Wednesday morning.
Cellist, please remember to bring your own instruments, unless we have decided that you’ll use the school’s instrument. (SoHeyon, Jeffrey, David, Wallace - I think you’re only ones that will use school cellos)
On Monday we have cafeteria concerts. Please come to my class immediately at the beginning of lunches; pack out, tune and come down to the area in front of the cafeteria where we’ll start playing as soon as everyone is there. Let’s use this opportunity to prepare for Wednesday’s “real” concert! No specific dress-code - If you want to wear Santa hats or something Christmassy, you’re welcome…
Have a great weekend. Alex and Max and Sam - enjoy every second of your concert on Saturday evening! You worked hard…now just play from your hearts… For those lucky enough to have gotten tickets to attend - enjoy as well and remember to be respectful and show your fantastic concert etiquette - dress neatly, sit quietly and clap enthusiastically. Remember you’re a proud SAS eagle…no matter where you go!
Nov
26
Music…Unmasked!
November 26, 2008 | | 1 Comment
Music Unmasked!
Pudong Middle School Concerts December 2008
Music X, Choir and Beginners 6 MONDAY 15th December 6.30pm
Ms Davey’s Bands TUESDAY 16th December 6.30pm
All Strings WEDNESDAY 17th December 6.30pm
All concerts will start at 6.30pm and will run for about 70 minutes.
3.00pm to 5.15pm Performers can watch a movie, work in the library or play basketball. All activities will be supervised by teachers.
5.30pm Dinner and Drinks served in the cafeteria
6.00pm Performers to warm up rooms, change to concert dress and prepare instrument.
6.30pm Performers will move to the theater to perform.
There will be NO BUSES running after the evening concerts, please make arrangements to attend the concert and hear your child perform, and take them home afterwards. If you cannot attend, please make arrangements with neighbors or friends to take care of your child.
What to wear:
Boys: Black concert trousers, black socks, black dress shoes - absolutely NO sneakers, white long sleeved button down shirt and a bow tie - any color. Neat hair.
Girls: Black long skirt with a black top/blouse - no bare shoulders - or a black dress. Make sure the skirt/dress is wide enough to play cello with, or for violinists/violists to be able to sit comfortably with a relaxed playing manner - pencil skirts will not suffice. Black dress shoes and black stockings - absolutely NO sneakers. Hair neat - preferably tied back. Colored hair accessory allowed, like a ribbon or clips – any color.
The general idea is to be neat and be dressed suitably formal for a stage performance.
Happy American Thanksgiving!
Mr. Claassen
Nov
22
Original Recordings - Xmas concert
November 22, 2008 | | Leave a Comment
Hi All,
I uploaded a bunch of tracks to the portal - all very good recordings of some of the stuff we are working on for the December concert. I am linking it all here, so that those interested can listen to as much of it as you want to…
Grade 6s:
Listen to these Gospel Blues tracks - this is the kind of style the Good News Blues piece should be played in.
I’ll riode on a cloud with my Lord
I’m so glad it’s Sunday
Grade 7s
Grade 8s
Try and listen to the complete works that I include here, of which we are only playing the main themes in Fantasia 2000.
Saint Saëns Carnival of the Animals Finale
There are seven sections to the Ghosts of Brandenburg with the recordings linked:
Section 1: Introduction using themes from Brandenburg 3 (movements I and III)
Section 2: String bass (and 2nd cello) feature on Brandenburg 2 (mvts. III and I)
Section 3: Viola feature on Brandenburg 6 (mvt. I)
Section 4: Violin II feature based on Brandenburg 5 (mvt. I)
Section 5: Cello feature based on Brandenburg 1 (the Minuet and Polacca from mvt. IV)
Section 6: Violin I feature based on Brandenburg 4 (mvt. I)
Section 7: Finale based on Brandenburg 3 (mvts. I and III)
Enjoy!
Good luck with test week.
Mr. Claassen
Nov
20
Update: November 21st
November 20, 2008 | | 2 Comments
Dear parents and students,
Next week is test week. We will be using SmartMusic for the first time and I will be monitoring my netvibes page to see that all tests are posted on each individual student’s blog by Thursday, 27 November at local time 20:00. Please do a test run of this whole process this weekend, as if you miss the deadline, you will be penalized severely on your test scores for this term. If you have any problems, please contact Mrs. DeCardy or me. Please check each individual class page for the test requirements and updates.
The deadline for the SmartMusic installation disk to be returned was YESTERDAY. I have only received 50% of the disks…please return it ASAP!
We have had some excellent news regarding AMIS. I sent in audition recordings of 15 students from grade 6-8, and from 5-7 February 2009, 9 of those were chosen to attend the AMIS Junior Honors orchestra at the Singapore American School. We also have one student that was chosen as alternative; if chosen participants can not honor their invitation, he will go. I am extremely proud of all 15 students that made the effort to audition - you are all winners to me.
The following students will be attending:
Sam Wu (grade 8 ) - sub-principal Violin 2
Arial Lee (grade 6) - Violin 2
Amy Zhao (grade8 ) - Violin 2
Jacob Choy (grade 8 ) - Violin 2
Jennifer Yao (grade 8 ) - Violin 2
Jack Im (grade 8 ) - Violin 2
Julia Deng (grade 8 ) - Viola
Max Chen (grade 8 ) - Cello
Alex Yang (grade 7) - Cello
Oliver Yang - Alternative 2 Cello
As you all know, we had the APAC festival concert last Saturday evening here on our campus. This was probably one of the most important concerts of the year for students to attend, as it directly show-cased not only other SAS students, but also 50 of the best string players from all over Asia. Apart from the program being of a very high standard, it was especially important that we attend and supoort this event as hosts of this Festival. I was, to say the least, very dissapointed in the attendance.
Please remember to mark your calendars for our December concert, which will take place on the 17th of December at 18:30 in the Auditorium. There will be no student buses after the concert, so Parents, please make arrangements to be able to attend this event, where you will get the opportunity to see what we have been working on thus far. it promises to be a super festive program! Dress fro all students will be:
Boys: Black concert trousers, black socks, black dress shoes - absolutely NO sneakers, white long sleeved button down shirt and a bow tie - any color. Neat hair.
Girls: Black long skirt with a black top/blouse - no bare shoulders - or a black dress. Make sure the skirt/dress is wide enough to play cello with, or for violinists/violists the be able to sit comfortably with a relaxed playing manner - pencil skirts will not suffice. Black dress shoes and black stockings - absolutely NO sneakers. Hair neat - preferably tied back.
The general idea is to be neat and be dressed suitably formal for a stage performance.
Have a good weekend.
Mr. Claassen
Nov
13
APAC Orchestra Festival Concert
November 13, 2008 | | 2 Comments
Hi Parents and Students,
Rehearsals have been going well….the orchestra rehearsed for almost 7 hours yesterday and today we’ll probably do the same! Hard work!
I hope I will see many of you at the concert on Saturday at 19:00 in the Auditorium here on our campus.
Please see the attached bus schedule: Bus Schedule - 15 November
See you there.
Mr. Claassen
Nov
10
APAC Orchestra Festival Concert
November 10, 2008 | | 1 Comment
Dear parents and Students,
Herewith the link to the bus schedule for Saturday for audience members. It’s going to be a great concert - so please do come.
Mr. Claassen
Nov
7
APAC Rehearsal
November 7, 2008 | | Leave a Comment
Hi APAC students, I put out an announcement yesterday for today, so that you all come see me….I guess it wasn’t announced!?Tomorrow’s rehearsal is ON! At 14:00 till 16:00 at the Green Court I’s club house. I will meet you all at 13:40 in front of the StarBucks, and we can walk there all together. Hope that is still OK. PLEASE please please let me know - 15901985737.See you there! Mr. Claassen
Nov
4
Update: 4 November
November 4, 2008 | | Leave a Comment
Dear Parents and students,
I have now updated the individual pages for each year level. Please check.
Have a good week and see you at the SLCs. 
Mr. Claassen
Nov
4
DOUBLE Extra Credit
November 4, 2008 | | 4 Comments
I bet I have your attention now!?
As you all know you can earn extra credit in Strings for attending concerts - not just classical music concerts. ANY concerts! It really is very important for you to see live entertainment; how the professionals do it - and maybe how one should NOT be doing it. I do my best to be at most concerts, so I would see you there…otherwise just bring me your ticket stub and I’ll ask you a few questions. Voila…extra credit!
So, the following students attended various concerts in Shanghai the first term - from Aida, the Musical, the SSO to Hilary Hahn playing at the oriental Arts center and much more.
Charles
Sam
Deric
Royce
Soo Min
So Hyeon
Belle
Carina
Well done! Every new term you can earn credit…this term, you can even earn DOUBLE EXTRA CREDIT.
This year SAS Pudong will be hosting the High School APAC Orchestra Festival from the 13th to the 15th of November. This is a great honor for us to have 60 of the best string players from across Asia at our school working with a world-class conductor, Conrad van Alphen (check him out: www.conradvanalphen.com) These students have worked very hard to be at this level of playing, and it would be a pity if you missed this. The final concert will be at 19:00 on Saturday the 15th November in our Auditorium. There are 60 students in the orchestra this year and they will be playing Elgar - Serenade, Andriessen - Kuhnau Variations and Fugue, Shostakovich Chamber Symphony 110a and Weiner - Hungarian Folk Dances.
If you attend this concert - and I really urge you to do so, you will get double the amount of extra credit I usually award for concert attendance.
There will be busses, so please let me know if you’re planning on coming by sending me an email to hanrich.claassen@saschina.org or by commenting on this post.
See you there!
Mr. Claassen