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Reminder: please note that there are no rehearsals this weekend, 2/13-2/14, due to Presidents' Day. SDYS offices will be closed on Monday, 2/15 and resume regular business hours on Tuesday, 2/16.

Update: Please note that there will be rehearsals on 5/1 due to postponing our annual gala event (Encore!).

Date: Tuesday, February 23

Time: 5:00 - 6:00 pm

Location: Zoom

Composer Brian Balmages is visiting SDYS via Zoom to discuss and rehearse his new piece, You Are Amazing, written and commissioned just for SDYS students! All string students are strongly encouraged to attend this Tuesday evening session in late February.

Zoom link available soon.

Click here to listen to the midi recording of You Are Amazing. We can't wait for our students to be the very first musicians to play and record this beautiful piece! Please make sure you are practicing this piece now, even if you're not yet beginning to record it in your ensemble.

Each Thursday, this February and March, we are happy to continue our free one-time enrichment class offerings via Zoom, to further enhance the student and parent experience. Please check out which classes you, your student, and other family members might enjoy attending.

Open to all enrolled students via Zoom- including any enrolled student who has deferred

Day/Time: Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:00 pm

Cost: Free!

For all SDYS students and parents. Mr. Edmons will share unique insights about conducting and the role of the conductor and will teach everyone introductory conducting concepts, which they can learn and enjoy and practice at home together. Note: Use of video on Zoom during the class is strongly encouraged as this a visually based learning class.

Open to all SDYS students and parents. If you’re a movie lover and have ever wondered what the secret ingredient is to your favorite flick, join Ms. Swift and discover the essential part that music plays in each and every film.

For Showcase and Ovation students. For anyone struggling to keep a consistent practice routine at home, wanting to learn how to practice for less time and get better results, or wanting new tips on useful practice techniques, join Dr. Rausch for some guidance and encouragement!

For parents of students who are in the early stages of reading music. Join Dr. Remson to learn more about how to count, clap, and read basic rhythms to help instill this important skill in your child as they progress. 

Open to all SDYS students. Join Mr. Ruben to learn about the important function of lyrics, an introduction to basic forms and rhymes, and create your own lyrics to share by the end of just one class!

This spring, SDYS and the San Diego Museum of Art will be having another Musical Artstops! Students can either record at the museum in front of their chosen artwork or record at home. Please see instructions below for both recording at the museum and recording at home. Please note: only Sinfonia, Sinfonietta, Wind Symphony, and Ovation students are eligible to participate. 

1. Fill out this form by Monday, February 22, 2021 *extended deadline*

2. Recording will take place in late February/early March. Students must go to the museum at their scheduled time (will be emailed by Anna)

3. Dress nicely for the recording!

****Students will be scheduled to go to the museum after hours with no audience or visitors present. There will be no more than two people from the SDMA crew****

The final video will be similar to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq8O41vegNU

1. Fill out this form by Monday, March 1, 2021

2. Submit video by Friday, March 5, 2021

3. Video should be approximately 5 minutes long and filmed in a landscape/horizontal orientation

4. Presentable attire worn

5. You and your instrument are visible

6. Share a brief introduction of the musical piece and why you chose the piece of art

The final video will be similar to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dy_X7UkUj4

Final videos will drop in March/April, 2021. The schedule and video links will be on upcoming Weekly Updates.

Please tune in to watch our first solo recital on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 5pm!

Questions? Email conservatory@sdys.org

***If your student wasn't able to participate in the February recital, please know that there will be a second SDYS Solo Recital in April, 2021.***

Please fill out the following form if you have any trouble with your microphone, computer, Zoom, Soundtrap, etc. An SDYS staff member will reach out to you to help resolve your technical issues as soon as possible.

IMPORTANT LINKS FOR WINTER 2020-21

SmartMusic: please click here to see the user guide.

SoundTrap: 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.

SDYS plans to continue virtual rehearsals while California is in the purple tier. We continue to make plans for a modified return to in-person rehearsals, and will only be able to consider it once San Diego County has returned to the red tier.

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.

The Young Composers masterclass series invites middle school and high school students to observe our composition faculty working with teen composers from the LA area on their original music. See a window into our teaching style, and hear from our faculty about their own inspiration, writing styles, and techniques. These virtual masterclasses are free and hosted on Zoom.

TUE FEB 23 5-6:15 PM PT – Andrew Norman, Composer Fellowship Program Director

TUE MAR 2 5-6:15 PM PT – Sarah Gibson, Lead Teaching Artist

THU MAR 18 5-6:15 PM PT – Thomas Kotcheff, Teaching Artist

At no cost or effort to you, your students can develop a safe, online peer relationship. They’ll come to their next lesson with quality reflection on assignments — verbally, orally, and with a practice video.

Not only will you be connecting your students with an enriching musical and educational experience, you’ll be helping to grow the wider classical music community by helping to fund lessons for students from backgrounds underrepresented in music.

On Friday, Jan 22nd, at 5 pm ET, MusicAlly director Caeli Smith and flute faculty Anna Urrey will be co-hosting an informational session about the Practice Buddy program. Email info@music-ally.org to RSVP, and for the link.