Orchestrating Lifelong Participation in the Arts 1629 22nd Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501 | 360-352-1438 | StudentOrchestras.org StudentOrchestras@gmail.com | Facebook.com/StudentOrchestras | May 2021 Vol. XXI No. 9
Behind the Camera: Creating Videos for Auditions by Cameron May, SOGO Music Director
SOGO Senior Albany’s Favorite SOGO Memory “When I was in Academy Orchestra we went to a few different schools and performed. That trip was nothing but fun. From laughing with my friends at lunch in the middle of McDonald’s, or on the bus, or playing get to know you games in the hallways of schools we played at, to a very specific memory of seeing a little girl, probably 6, sitting in the front row. Her eyes were full of excitement, she wasn't really sitting, she was leaning forward listening to every note. Seeing her light up when we played made me feel like I was proud to be a part of something that brings people of all ages as much joy as that young girl had. When she was leaving she tugged on her teachers skirt and said “I want to do that.” I didn't hear the teacher's response but I like to think she said “go for it.” Watch for the June newsletter to read more reflections from SOGO’s graduating seniors. Thank You to our 2020-2021 Sponsors and foundations
SOGO audition preparation videos on YouTube.
It will come as a surprise to no one reading this that the pandemic has required SOGO to rethink our entire model to continue to live out our mission when our “normal” activities were not possible. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used the phrase, “I never learned this in grad school” in the past year, and I know that most of my friends and colleagues across the country would say the same. Never in a million years did I imagine using a USB mic, a ring light, or a teleprompter in my job; yet, after this year, they are practically ubiquitous in a musician’s household! (Incidentally, I rather fear the day I must return to speaking onstage without a teleprompter – it’s definitely become a crutch!) One of the areas in which we had to try to find a new way to reach students this year is audition preparation. How could we provide both current and potential SOGO members with the expectations and resources they needed to prepare for an upcoming audition when our opportunities for interaction are so limited I’ve wasted a lot of time through the ups and downs of this year mindnumbingly allowing myself to be consumed by the sea of entertainment that is YouTube. An unhealthy habit in almost every way, it has nevertheless helped me become more familiar with the rising popularity of the “content creator” as a viable profession. I realized that most educators, particularly in the arts, have had to become makeshift content creators in the past year, and there are takeaways from this emerging industry that have helped us continue to reach students when the traditional avenues are not viable.
(Continued on p2)
Remote Learning: A SOGO Teaching Artist’s Perspective By Anne Edge, SOGO Teaching Artist
As the SOGO Viola Teaching Artist (TA), the terms “remote learning” vs. “in-person learning” were not part of my daily vocabulary prior to the pandemic. My job has always been to have a weekly check-in with the violists in each of the three orchestras, to play alongside them, and to keep track of concerns from both the conductors and students pertaining to the viola parts. Using Zoom for rehearsals gave SOGO TAs the opportunity to do real-time virtual sectionals. We could continue our work on technical points in the music and we addressed ensemble unity and style interpretation. The nature of (Continued on p2)
LEAD • INSPIRE • PERFORM •
}
SO-GO Virtual Concert - Sunday, June 6, 4PM at StudentOrchestras.org.
SOGO viola sectional (2019).
Visit StudentOrchestras.org to donate online.
May 25, 26, 28 Auditions for 2021-2022 June 6 Virtual Concert July 12-16 SOGO Summer Music
May 25, 26, 28
Student musicians from one year experience to advanced high school are invited to audition for the 2021-2022 SOGO Season. All auditions will be held remotely via ZOOM. $35 audition fee or pay what you can during the COVID-19 hardship. Visit StudentOrchestras.org today for more information and to register for an audition!
Olympia Symphony Orchestra (OSO) is proud to award two $500 scholarships to high school graduating seniors. One scholarship will be awarded to a current member of SOGO, and one awarded to a current member of their school band or orchestra program in Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor, or Pacific County. The winners will be announced publicly at SOGO’s Virtual Concert June 6, and again at OSO’s Virtual Concert June 27. Applications are being accepted until May 20. Visit OlympiaSymphony.org to apply.
SOGO Senior Scholarship
Every year SOGO awards a scholarship to a graduating senior (or seniors) who demonstrates many years of leadership and service to SOGO, and who acts as an ambassador for SOGO in the Greater Olympia community. This year’s recipients will be announced during SOGO’s Virtual Concert on June 6.
Thank you to TwinStar Credit Union for underwriting the 2021 SOGO Senior Scholarship. Remote Learning, cont’d
remote learning also meant that we had to encourage the students’ reliance on technical gadgets to assist their personal practicing and self-assessments. Tune in for the Spring SOGO Virtual Concert on Sunday, June 6 at 4PM. The concert is free to view. Please consider making a donation to SOGO as a virtual ticket.
July 12-16
Elementary through high school students can explore and experience all kinds of fun classes at the 2021 SOGO Summer Music at Jefferson M.S. July 12-16! There are 14 in-person class offerings, including Fiddling, Beginning Violin, Bucket Band, Swap Band, Music Theory, Woodwind and Brass Class, Jazz for All, and much more. Visit StudentOrchestras.org today for more information and to register for some musical summer fun!
One of our main focuses was to help students prepare for recording their final individual videos for our composite virtual concerts. We encouraged the students to make several videos and to choose the best of what they were able to do. Most importantly, the TAs were able to help the students with the unique performance anxieties “We’ve had the satisfaction associated with of overcoming challenging making these odds with the help of a little technology and a lot of videos. human kindness; and these Beyond the are the lessons that will teaching we had carry SOGO forward in the the opportunity years to come.” ~ Anne Edge, SOGO Viola TA to get to know students a little better: to briefly gab with one another, to see the home practice settings, finding out about favorite foods and other hobbies, and of course, meeting their pets. One of my favorites was the student who had a golden dragon statue on top of the piano where he practiced. It could get little silly sometimes…like making Goofy Frozen Zoom Faces at one another. We’ve had the satisfaction of overcoming challenging odds with the help of a little technology and a lot of human kindness; and these are the lessons that will carry SOGO forward in the years to come.
Creating Videos for Auditions, cont’d The result of my research and work was a series of four videos that take the viewer through a SOGO audition from beginning to end. The first of these, designed for parents, walks step-by-step through the initial process of getting signed up. The other three videos are aimed at students and break down each of the audition requirements in greater detail. As well as yours truly, four of this year’s SOGO students make appearances, and our student board members contributed to the script writing as well. I’m very pleased with how the videos turned out and am confident that they will be able to be used for many years to come. Auditions for our 2021-2022 season are scheduled for May 25, 26, and 28. You can sign up by going to studentorchestras.org and clicking “Join SOGO”. You’ll find the aforementioned videos on this page, as well as on SOGO’s YouTube channel. So…Like, Comment, Subscribe, and smash that bell! ;)