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This year, we are having an SDYS costume contest! A poll will be created on band.us and you will be able to vote for your favorite costume. The poll will open 11/1 at 7pm.

There will be one winner per ensemble and one SDYS overall winner. The overall winner will get an Amazon gift card!

To participate in the contest, you will have to take a picture of yourself in costume anytime between now and 11/1. Submit your picture here.

Voting opens on 11/1 at 7pm on band.us. The winners will be announced on 11/3!

All SDYS students are required to attend our upcoming  virtual conference for students, parents, and teachers across the county! We are excited to host an event that will feature musicians from the San Diego Symphony, among other guests from our community and beyond.

The Season's First Performance of our SDYS-wide New World Symphony arrangement will begin right at 2:45pm. It will be a festive conclusion to an afternoon of learning. Click here for more information.

Dr. Carter will be running a small, 40-person session at the SDYS virtual conference. Her session will be about motivation to practice during these times. The session will be held from 2:00pm-2:45pm.

Dr. Carter holds a PhD in performance psychology and is a woodwind resident at Manhattan School of Music in NYC. Students in the Showcase and Ovation level are highly encouraged to attend Dr. Carter's session.

In preparation for the season's first performance, all SDYS ensembles are recording an arrangement of the theme from Dvořák's New World Symphony. Here is some historical context for the piece:

Antonín Leopold Dvořák was born September 8, 1841 in the Czech Republic. He spent most of his life in Europe, but from 1892-1895, the role of the director of the National Conservatory of Music brought Dvořák to New York City. During this time, classical music was exclusively respected in Europe because classical music was still in its adolescence in the United States. Dvořák wanted to establish the sound of "American Music" which led to the creation of Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: From the New World. The symphony was a reflection of what was Dvořák's America and influenced by folk songs from native Americans and African Americans. The symphony premiered in Carnegie Hall on December 16, 1893.

IMPORTANT LINKS FOR FALL 2020

SmartMusic: for those experiencing any confusion, please click here to see the user guide.

SoundTrap: for those experiencing any confusion, please click here to see the user guide.

Zoom Audio: Did you know that you can optimize input for musical instruments on Zoom? These settings remove any choppiness/cuts in the audio caused by echo-cancellation and allow for dynamics to not be altered by the software. Visit this website for step-by-step instructions or view the video below.

*Please note that you will need to update Zoom to the latest version.

Do you have an extra laptop, tablet, webcam, microphone, etc. that your family doesn't use anymore and wants to give to another family in need? If so, please fill out this Google form and we will set up a donation to families in need.

Are you in need of a device? Fill out this form here.

Staff continue to work from home and are available via email and phone. Please visit sdys.org/COVID-19 for any new information.

The events listed below are for information only. They are not sponsored or evaluated by, and do not have a connection with SDYS. Musicians are not allowed to exceed the maximum permitted absences according to the Musician's Handbook by participating in any events listed below.

This free 3-day event will host representatives from colleges, universities, conservatories and summer music festivals (new this year!) from across the country. As part of the virtual experience, online seminars and workshops will focus on Auditioning, Financial Aid, College Admission Process, Careers in Music, Pandemic Tools, and the Musician Beyond the Instrument.

Representatives from schools across the country will be live to talk to you in real time on Wednesday, November 11 from 1-5 PM EST. School profiles will be available 24 hours a day throughout the duration of the 3 day fair.

The Project 440 Virtual College Fair for Musicians will be using the platform Whova. More information about setting up their free and personal profile for the fair will be shared closer to the event!

In our Practice Buddy program, students are paired by age and level as practice accountability partners and penpals. Our students live all over the U.S., as well as in Austria, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, and Romania — and we’re continuing to expand worldwide.

Practice Buddies exchange 2 emails and 2 short practice videos every week. In emails, they’re encouraged to share details from their daily lives (about school; weekly activities; favorite games/movies/TV shows/books; etc). They also explain their practice goals for the week. For example: "This week, my teacher is having me focus on my rhythm. I'm practicing with a metronome and trying different rhythmic combinations. Do you ever practice like this?"

Practice Buddies support one another, re-digest their lesson material, and learn to give and receive constructive feedback. Students can practice foreign language skills when matched with a Practice Buddy from another country.

This exchange creates more engaged and curious students, especially now, when many children aren't able to partake in in-person music making. Children from different parts of the world build friendships based on mutual support and a love of music.

The Philadelphia International Music Festival (PIMF) is a summer music program directed by Kimberly Fisher, Principal Second Violin of The Philadelphia Orchestra, offering student musicians from around the world the unique opportunity to spend up to four weeks immersed in music education and performance training with members of the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra.

Our outstanding summer music programs include: private lessons; master classes and faculty recitals with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra; daily orchestra, ensemble and chamber music rehearsals; daily course electives including: conducting, choir, composition, sight reading, music theory, ear training, fiddle music, and jazz ensemble; ample solo performance and competition opportunities; day trips to Ocean City, New Jersey (America’s Favorite Family Beach Resort), Philadelphia’s Mann Music Center for a Philadelphia Orchestra outdoor concert, and more.

There are six music camp options at PIMF: Symphony Orchestra, Solo Performance Preparation, Piano Studies, Chamber Music Intensive, College Audition Preparation, and Solo Intensive Programs at Music House International (a summer music program for college students and young professionals).