Disney Cancellation News and Praise God Virtual Performance

Hello band and orchestra students and parents,

I hope you are doing well and surviving the crazy week. I pray for God's peace for you this week.

I have just a couple quick updates. 

1. We are going ahead with a cancellation of all Disney tickets, food vouchers, bus, and hotel with the hopes of rescheduling for spring of 2021. We will follow up with more details about refunds for families and for those who will not be able to attend in 2021.

2. If we are able to reschedule for next year as we hope, we will shoot for Wednesday, March 31 to Monday, April 5 with an identical schedule to this year's plan. We will continue to monitor the situation before we finalize plans.

3. Here are the details for our virtual performance. I hope all students can join in. If you don't complete it this weekend you could complete it on Monday in place of any Monday practice time:

We hope to join our musical gifts together to praise our Lord and Savior even though we can't all gather in the same room. This is our communal act of rebellion against COVID-19. I figure it is either this or the stones might cry out.

I am looking for as many band, choir, and orchestra members as possible to make a video recording of themselves playing Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow as possible and submit it to the Google Drive folder linked below. Justin Dreyer is going to combine all of the files into one virtual ensemble. Please complete all submissions by Monday at 3:00 p.m.

Here are the details:

1. Find the music for your voice/instrument and choose which part you will sing/play.

Here is the sheet music. There should be music for voices and all instruments.

2. Listen to this reference video to get an idea for the pacing.

3. Practice singing/playing along with the reference video.  (the reference videos are all the same as linked above)

4. Be sure you are in a room that is quiet with good lighting.

5. Make sure your phone or computer sound level is right, a trumpet too close to the mic will distort the sound.

6. Record your video in landscape mode while listening to the reference video of me in your ear to make sure your timing is just right.

7. Upload your video files to this google drive folder.

Thank you!

Mr. VB

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	Scott Vanden Berg | Director of Instrumental Music Holland Christian Schools 956 Ottawa Ave. Holland, MI 49423  web: hollandchristian.org  blog: http://vandenbergnotes.blogspot.com school: 616.820.2805 | cell: 616.212.8867 Equipping Minds and Nurturing Hearts to Transform the World for Jesus Christ

Making Music at Home

Dear band and orchestra students and parents,

I pray you have a good week of learning in a new way and perhaps some extra time to read, exercise, spend time with family, and play music just for fun.

1. I am waiting on information from Disney, they are swamped and I am told that I will have some answers on Tuesday or Wednesday. Please look for more information to come at that time. I have a lot of questions for them as I am sure you do for me. :) Thank you for your patience.

2. Here are the links to our learning plan for the coming days and weeks:

orchestra

concert band and symphonic band

3. If you forgot your instrument at school let me know and we can figure out a way for you to retrieve it.

4. We are considering a reschedule of Swingin' the Night Away on May 1 and cancelling Band Extravaganza. We will likely use the music that would have been at Band Extravaganza in our end of the year band concert on May 14.

5. We are exploring some different options for the orchestra and the Oratorio Elijah, including joining the choir for a limited number of movements on their concert on May 13. 

Thank you!

Mr. VB

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	Scott Vanden Berg | Director of Instrumental Music Holland Christian Schools 956 Ottawa Ave. Holland, MI 49423  web: hollandchristian.org  blog: http://vandenbergnotes.blogspot.com school: 616.820.2805 | cell: 616.212.8867 Equipping Minds and Nurturing Hearts to Transform the World for Jesus Christ

Fast Passes, State S & E, Band Extravaganza!

Dear band and orchestra students and parents,

I hope you are having a good week! Here are a few announcements and reminders.

1. Florida bound people should have their ticket information and are welcome to sign up at any time for fast passes for our time at Disney World. It is good to coordinate with friend groups so that you can get on rides at the same time. Remember to consider who you can include, look out for others, ask them to join you. Fast Pass sign up starts at 7:00 a.m. and you might find some of fast passes are gone quickly after 7:00 a.m. You can sign up for your first day starting tomorrow morning. We will have volunteers here on Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. in case any students would like assistance in signing up for fast passes. No one is required to come in, but if you would like assistance we will be here.

For your convenience, the itinerary is linked here.

2. Our final pep band is tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. at the Civic.

3. Don't forget that we have a Florida Trip meeting for students and parents on Monday, March 9 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the HC auditorium. You will get to meet your chaperons, sign consent forms, and learn about what to pack and what not to pack.

4. Come one, come all to the Holland Christian Schools Band Extravaganza for a wonderful night of music on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. HC's 5th, 6th, Middle School, and High School Bands will perform at Hope College's Jack H. Miller Center for the Musical Arts at 7:00 p.m. See you there!

5. We are in need of volunteers to help with offering and ushering/handing out program on March 17. Please sign up here if you can help out.

6. State Solo and Ensemble times are here. Please follow this link. Let me know any change requests that you have a.s.a.p. and if you are able to make it work please do so. 

Thank you!

Scott

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	Scott Vanden Berg | Director of Instrumental Music Holland Christian Schools 956 Ottawa Ave. Holland, MI 49423  web: hollandchristian.org  blog: http://vandenbergnotes.blogspot.com school: 616.820.2805 | cell: 616.212.8867 Equipping Minds and Nurturing Hearts to Transform the World for Jesus Christ