UPDATED SPRING CONCERT, DRESS REHEARSAL AND RECITAL INFORMATION

Dear Preparatory 2 Families:

Cantabile's All Choir Concert  celebrating our 20th anniversary year is on Saturday May 16th. There is a mandatory dress rehearsal for this concert on Friday May 15. Please see below for important information regarding call times, uniforms and concert tickets. Please email for more information if you have questions: jina@cantabile.org 

Cantabile's All Choir Concert is Cantabile’s annual year end concert- this we are celebrating Cantabile's 20th anniversary year. Vocalise, Ensemble, Intermediate, Aria, Bravi, Prep 3 and Prep 2 will join together for a fabulous performance. Your Prep 3 singer will have the opportunity to perform with the Prep 2 and Intermediate Choir, as well as with the older singers and this is an exciting opportunity for them to participate in live performance before an audience and to watch other choristers perform as well. Tickets sell out quickly for this event- buy your tickets online here!

To prepare for this concert there will be a mandatory dress rehearsal on Friday May 15th  at First United Methodist Church in Palo Alto!  Children should be dropped off in the parking lot behind the church on Byron Street. Please check your child in with our volunteers.  

Please come to the dress rehearsal wearing exactly what children plan to wear at the concert-see below for a description of uniform and costume options.

EVENT #1

Dress Rehearsal

May 15th, Friday

Prep 2 and 3 Call Time 4:15PM- to Byron street parking lot behind the church

Pick Up at 6:30PM

EVENT #2

Cantabile's All Choir Concert

May 16 at 1:00PM 

Prep 2 and 3 Call Time: 11:30AM- to Byron street parking lot behind the church

First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto

Address for both May 15 (dress rehearsal) and 16 (concert):

625 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Uniform

All Choir Concert - We invite singers to wear something that reflects their heritage and ancestry, like a scarf or sash, with their full, Cantabile concert uniform. Alternatively, singers can chose to wear a whole costume instead of their uniform. (No hats please)

Prep Recitals - Singers must purchase and wear their Cantabile uniform - Cantabile red polo shirt, black pants and black shoes & socks for boys; Cantabile red polo shirt,black pleated skirt, black stockings & shoes for girls. Uniforms are purchased from Merry Mart Uniforms in Santa Clara, either in store or online.

EVENT #3

Spring Recitals at Foothills Congregational Church, Los Altos

In addition to our big concert with the other choirs, Cantabile’s Prep classes all have their own recitals at the end of each term to showcase what we have accomplished. (Monday and Tuesday Prep 3 classes each have their own recital, as do all classes in the Prep division). The recitals take place at our regular rehearsal location. Please come and support your young singers by enjoying a performance of our songs, games, and activities. This is a relaxed and fun event that you don’t want to miss! All singers must come in their Cantabile uniform – please see instructions above.

Recital Times

Monday Prep 2 (4:00-5:00)

Tuesday Prep 2 (4:00-5:00)

Thursday Prep 2 (5:00-6:00)

Recital Potluck

It is a Cantabile tradition for us to follow our recitals with a potluck for singers and families. Please sign up by clicking a link below:

Prep 2 Monday 4:00-5:00

Prep 2 Tuesday 4:00-5:00

Prep 2 Thursday 5:00-6:00

Classes at alternate location April 27-May 4

Dear Preparatory 2 Families:

Next week classes will take place at Los Altos United Methodist Church- 

655 Magdalena Ave, Los Altos Hills

Please park in the back parking lot and sign your singer in with your choir parent or teacher.

Please note the following dates and room numbers:

Monday, April 27th Prep 2 Room 7

Tuesday, April 28th Prep 2 Room 9

Thursday, April 30th Prep 2 Room 9

For the month of May, we are getting ready for our two upcoming performances – the Cantabile's All Choir Concert on May 16th, and your class Spring Recital the following week:

Cantabile's All Choir Concert

May 16 at 1:00PM 

First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto

Cantabile's All Choir Concert is Cantabile’s annual May concert, where Vocalise, Ensemble, Intermediate, Bravi, Prep 3 and Prep 2 join together for a fabulous performance. Prep 3 will have the opportunity to perform with the Prep 2 and Intermediate Choir, as well as with the older singers in what we call “Mass Choir” repertoire. Tickets sell out quickly for this event so visit the Cantabile website (or refer to your SCOOP emails) for information on how to purchase them.

Uniform

All Choir Concert - We invite singers to wear something that reflects their heritage and ancestry, like a scarf or sash, with their full, Cantabile concert uniform (blue ties for boys). Alternatively, singers can chose to wear a whole costume instead of their uniform. (No hats please)
 

Prep Recitals - Singers must purchase and wear their Cantabile uniform - Cantabile red polo shirt, black pants and black shoes & socks for boys; Cantabile red polo shirt,black pleated skirt, black stockings & shoes for girls. Uniforms are purchased from Merry Mart Uniforms in Santa Clara, either in store or online.

Please also make sure that your calendars are marked with our dress rehearsal on May 15th at First United Methodist Church in Palo Alto! Information about call times, pick-up and drop-off procedures for May 15th and May 16th is coming soon!

Spring Recitals at Foothills Congregational Church, Los Altos

In addition to our big concert with the other choirs, Cantabile’s Prep classes all have their own recitals at the end of each term to showcase what we have accomplished. (Monday and Tuesday Prep 3 classes each have their own recital, as do all classes in the Prep division). The recitals take place at our regular rehearsal location. Please come and support your young singers by enjoying a performance of our songs, games, and activities. This is a relaxed and fun event that you don’t want to miss! All singers must come in their Cantabile uniform – please see instructions above.

Recital Times

Prep 2 Monday, May 18, 4:00-5:00pm

Prep 2 Tuesday, May 19, 4:00-5:00pm

Prep 2 Thursday, May 21, 5:00-6:00pm

Recital Potluck

It is a Cantabile tradition for us to follow our recitals with a potluck for singers and families. Instructions on what to bring will be coming soon!

"Siyahamba" Choreo Upload

Dear Preparatory 2 Families:

We have four more classes until the Spring Concert, May 16th. As we approach crunch time for this main event, I asked children to get into "performance mode" and really dig into music and memorizing words. 

Here is the the choreo of "Siyahamba" led by Ms. Natalie. Please click below and practice movement with singing:

Siyahamba (Prep 2)

(This is the only song with movement at the concert)

Preparatory 2 Concert Participation Songs:

Silver Birch Tree

Al Tambor

Siyahamba

Doraji

Uniform:

Please make sure that you have already ordered your singer’s Cantabile uniform for the Spring Concert and Recital (last class of the semester)! Here is a link to our uniform page: http://cantabile.org/index.php/tickets-a-store/uniforms.html

The Cantabile Prep 2 uniform must include black socks (boys) or tights (girls), black dress shoes, and hair neatly combed/tied back and off the face (so we can see your beautiful facial expressions!) Please, no boots, noticeable jewelry (watches, dangling earrings, bracelets, etc.), or colorful hairbands/ties.

Class Next Week

Dear Preparatory 2 Families:

A reminder that we do hold classes next week!

We are currently at week nine and cruising along for more fun, engaging and singing activities. This week, I was impressed with children making great progress of memorizing words in music. We can now pay attention to details of each music including articulation, dynamic and making beautiful phrases.

I hope they are singing at their home as well.
Please have children listen to the recordings previously uploaded and have them share what about the music that they like.

Our goal next week is to make more eye contacts with me and less on the lyric packet/music. 

I am suffering from a cold and resting at home- please stay warm and watch out for that cold!

Have a great weekend.

Summer Camp Registration is Now Opened!

Dear Preparatory Division Singers and Families:

We invite you to join us this summer for Cantabile’s Singing Summer Camp.  Cantabile has partnered with the Parks and Recreation Departments of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills to offer this exciting summer camp.   Our program offers singing, theater, crafts and outdoor fun all taught with Cantabile’s signature Kodaly/Orff approach to children’s music education for a truly enriching and exciting experience.  This year camp is offered for three one-week sessions each with a different musical theme.  Campers can sign up for one, two or all three sessions.  Cantabile’s Singing Summer Camp is a non-auditioned camp for children entering first-fourth grade in Fall 2015.

We will hold a performance on Fridays for families and their invited guests. Children will experience teamwork and build social skills through making props together at camp, preparing their production for an audience.  This is where creativity starts!

Camp Sessions

Session	Week	Time	Performance
Peter and the Wolf	7/6-7/10	8:30AM- NOON	7/10, Friday
Ahoy, There Mate!	7/13-7/17	8:30AM- NOON	7/17, Friday
Tell Me a Tale	7/20-7/24	8:30AM- NOON	7/24, Friday

Camp Location:  Los Altos Hills Town Hall; 26379 Fremont Rd, Los Altos Hills

Registration

You can register two ways: 

Through the Parks and Rec Department in Los Altos Hills please click here and scroll down to register on line: Los Altos Hills Registration

Los Altos Hills residents: $295/ Non-resident: $309

Through the Parks and Rec department in Los Altos please click here:

Los Altos Registration 

Los Altos residents: $307/ Non-resident: $325

You can also register over the phone through each Parks Department:

Los Altos Hills Parks and Recreation: Sarah Gualtieri; 650-947-2518

Los Altos Parks and Recreation: 650-947-2790

Camp is also listed in the Parks and Rec guides for each city and we will have a limited supply of these at prep classes starting the week of March 16.

Materials Fee

Please note that the materials fee of $35 will be collected on the first day of each session. This fee includes materials for crafts, music and our Cantabile Singing Summer Camp T-Shirt! Please make your check payable to Cantabile Youth Singers.

Weekly Camp Themes

Peter and the Wolf               Week 1 (7/6-7/10)

Children will learn to improvise melodies and movements by understanding the concept of leitmotif, a recurrent theme throughout a composition that describes a character. Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev, is loved by children from all around the world. This famous orchestral musical tale is a perfect way to understand the timbre of different instruments since each different character has a specific instrument that represents it in the score. Based on Cantabile’s signature youth music education model Teacher Jina will help campers combine the elements of speech, rhythm, movement, dance and song to present a full musical play of Peter and the Wolf.

Ahoy There Mate!                 Week 2 (7/13-7/17)

Children will hoist the sail and join the pirate crew in Greg Gilpin’s “How to Be a Pirates.” This mini-musical introduces an ornery yet sweet Captain and a reliable First Mate who transform landlubber students into pirates. Through story and song, the shipmates dress in pirate costumes, raise the Jolly Roger, spy with telescopes, find buried treasure, and show “thar” pride in a raucous pirate party. This is fast-paced, funny, and perfect way to splash summer away! Children will be making their own props and costumes for this full stage production.

Tell Me a Tale                      Week 3 (7/20-7/24)

Our Tell Me a Tale program exposes children to world cultures through music. This week features new tales from around the world, explored through multi-instrument and multi-cultural elements each day. The tales include an around-the-imagination adventure of stories from Europe, Malaysia, India, South Africa and other cultures. This collection brings storytelling and literature to life through music. Through singing, dancing, and instrument play, children will discover five delightful folk tales that represents the rich, diverse, humorous and profound legacies of the cultures and eras they feature.

Please contact Jina Han at:  jina@cantabile.org or 510-919-4648 with any questions you have or for more information about the program.

New solfege, Re!

Dear Preparatory 2 Families,

We have discovered "Re" this week through songs, "Hot Cross Buns" and "Who's That."
Please click below to listen to these two songs:

Hot Cross Buns
Who's That?

Assignment #1: Hot Cross Buns

1. Listen to "Hot Cross Buns" and see if children can dictate rhythm on a piece of paper.
2. Listen to "Hot Cross Buns" and see if they can sing on solfege.

(Answer key)

1. [ta, ta, ta, rest][ta, ta, ta, rest][titi, titi, titi, titi][ta, ta, ta, rest]
2. mi-re-do-rest, mi-re-do-rest, do-do-do-do, re-re-re-re, mi-re-do-rest

Assignment#2: Who's That?

1. Listen to "Who's That?" and solfege the first two notes of a song (who's that?).
2. Sing "do(low)-do(low)-sol-sol-la-la-sol." Can they discover what song this is?

(Answer key)

1. Do-Sol
2. Beginning of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

Assignment#3: Listen to all concert recordings and review words from their "lyric packet" that was distributed in class. Please find these recordings from last week's post. 

1. Review verse 4 of "Silver Birch Tree." All the Rs in the music; sing with soft R. NO PIRATES ARRR!
2. "Al Tambor": Review Latin diction by listening to the recording. The section "yo quiero que tu  me lleves" is sung with staccato (short).
3. "Doraji" is making great progress! Thank you!

Please remind children NOT TO:

1. Overshoot sing
2. Push, strain vocal cord
3. Shout sing
4. Loud sing
5. Spread vowel (must sing with tall, spacious and round vowels)

Happy Singing!

More recordings

Dear Preparatory 2 Families:

All Prep 2 students now have "lyric packet" that was distributed this week.
Please have them review words while listening to the recordings below.

More recordings:

The Little Birch Tree
(I apologize for the quality of recording)

Al Tambor
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=al+tambor+children+

Along with these two recordings listed above, continue reviewing Doraji and Siyahamba as well.
I will upload practice recordings as soon as they are ready.

Please send me an email at [jina@cantabile.org] if your child has not received a lyric packet. I can send that to you via email.

Cantabile Singing Summer Camp (7/6-7/24)

Dear Preparatory 2 Families:

I am safely back from the 2015 National ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. I cannot wait to share my experience and many new music I have received with my students next week!

Update on Summer Camp

I would like to inform parents that our summer camp registration is now opened and accessible online. Please click here to register as it will fill up fast! I am also including the description of the camp for your review below. Please e-mail me at [jina@cantabile.org] or [510-919-4648] with any concern or questions you may have regarding the camp.

Cantabile Singing Summer Camp

Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley offers the first year of exciting summer camp that includes singing, theatre, crafts and outdoor fun! Cantabile Youth Singers marks twentieth year of anniversary since found by the artistic director, Elena Sharkova who is recognized nationally and internationally an inspirational and versatile conductor, clinician, music educator, and lecturer. Along with the artistic director, the director of preparatory division, Jina Han is thrilled to lead summer camp with the background of master’s degree in choral conducting, teaching in Kindermusik, Kodaly, and Orff. The summer activities are based on Kodály and Orff methodology, a renowned music approach to children that was developed in Hungary and Germany. It is designed to be fun, educational and inspirational. One of our highlights is the location of the camp. Children will experience the beauty of music in a serene environment where nature is close by. Each week, we invite children to their favorite places including under the sea, exploring ranch and animals, and an adventure to multicultural tales!

Ahoy, There Mate! is a fun theme where children will be rocking their boats, visiting long-legged sailors and pirates, and exploring different sounds under the ocean. They will create music with Orff instruments; swim around with great sea creatures with their singing voices! With the added ocean props, children will spend their best summer here!

Many of us may know the story of Peter and the Wolf. This theme will not only educate children to learn orchestral instruments and its timbre, but they will also be learning leitmotivs, the little melody that describes a “character.” Similarly, voices have many different characters, ranges, and uniqueness that we are going to discuss, and eventually transcribe original orchestral work to choral.

What great way is to explore the world through music than anything else? Tell Me a Tale features a new tale from around the world, explored through multi-instrument and multi-cultural elements each day. It’s an around-the-imagination adventure of stories from Europe, Malaysia, South Africa and other cultures!

We will hold performance on Fridays for friends and families. Children will experience teamwork and build social skills through making props together at the camp, bringing unlimited imagination to a theatre, and singing with movements in unity. This is where creativity starts!

Dates                                                Theme                      Time

Week 1  July 6-10             Peter and the Wolf          8:30-12:00

Week 2  July 13-17          Ahoy, There Mate!           8:30-12:00

Week 3  July 20-24          Tell Me a Tale                    8:30-12:00

Location: Los Altos Hills Town Hall

Ages: 6-9

Fee: $325 per week (material fee included)

Happy Singing!

Spring Concert Repertoire for Prep 2

Dear Families:

I would like to remind you that there will be NO rehearsals next week February 16-20. Rehearsals will resume the following week starting Monday, February 23.

Here are the list of songs for Prep 2 at the Spring concert:

Prep 2 alone- The Little Birch Tree
Prep 2 and Prep 3- Siyahamba, Al Tambor
Prep2, Prep 3 and Intermediate- Doraji
All choir- New commissioned piece from Will Todd (not arrived yet)

During this break, please download the practice recordings below in preparation for the concert:

Doraji

Siyahamba

Stay tuned for more recordings!

Happy Singing!

Working toward memorization

Dear Families:

Please have your children keep listening to the recordings previously uploaded. They will have to memorize songs that we are learning in class for the Spring concert. Children will receive a lyric packet at some point in the semester. Meanwhile, it is important that they listen to these recordings and be familiarize themselves with melody, rhythm of each music.

Doraji:

Doraji, doraji
Bek doraji

Shim shin san chun ae
Bek doraji

Han dool poo ri man
Ke uh do

Dae ba goo ni ga
Chul chul
Num nen da

Siyahamba:

Siyahambe khuka nye ni kwen khos



Solfge Hand Sign

Happy Singing!

First Week of Spring

Dear Preparatory 2 Families:

It was great to see everyone at our first class of the term. A special hello to the new faces that are joining us in 2015 – welcome to the Cantabile family! For those of you who are new to the organization, this blog is reading for Preparatory 2 singers and families. It’s updated once a week, and contains class materials on your weekly practice, recordings and details on upcoming special events and performances. Please check the blog regularly, and email jina@cantabile.org if you are experiencing any technical difficulties.

Our theme of the semester is "Around the World." We will be exploring multicultural music and learning about different cultures and ethnicity. Here are the recordings of songs that will be sang at the Spring concert:

Doraji
Korean Traditional Folk Song 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Gb6rGycbk
Diction:
http://picosong.com/L5tw/

Translation
Doraji, white doraji by the mountain stream,
Dig up one or two roots to fill the bamboo basket to overflowing.

Pronunciation Guide
A= ah as in fall
E= eh as in set
I= ee as in marine
IH= ih as in tin
O= oh as in hold
OO= oo as in noon
U= uh as in run
R= lightly tongued or flipped, not a hard R
CH= ch as  in children
G= hard G as in gate

Siyahamba (We Are Marching)
South African Hymn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6XUBIwi1NA

Translation:
We are marching in the light of God

Happy Singing!

Welcome to the 2015 spring semester!

Dear Preparatory Families:

Welcome to the 2015 spring semester with Cantabile Youth Singers. I hope each of you had a terrific winter break. I welcome each of our returning singers and I am very happy to see you continue with us this term. A special welcome also to our new Cantabile families- we are delighted to have you join us and look forward to a wonderful semester. 

Throughout our twenty year history, Cantabile has consistently offered children the opportunity to experience the joy of singing, to learn music reading and participate in one of the fastest growing and most important youth activities in the country: singing in a choir. What differentiates Cantabile is our attention to each singer’s musical, emotional and social development as a whole person: voice, body, mind, and heart. Every year we are thrilled and moved by the commitment each family shows in bringing their child to our classes to share the important value of a musical education. This choice will enhance and support your child’s development throughout their school years and beyond.

Our preparatory classes start on the week of January 26th. Please visit our website http://cantabile.org/ to find the yearly calendar, class time schedules and other important information including how to obtain a uniform for your singer and information about Cantabile’s history and mission as well as all of the events and concerts that will happen this semester for the upper choirs- we encourage you to join us!

We will hold parent orientation during the first week of preparatory classes, and we ask that all families participate. We ask that you come to the beginning of your child’s scheduled class time and stay for about 10 minutes to learn about the program and the logistics of your child’s class.

FAQ document:

http://bit.ly/Cantabile-FAQ2014

Please feel free to e-mail me at [jina@cantabile.org] with questions or for more information.

Yours in song,

Jina Han