FAMILY and FRIENDS of the
HARWICH SUZUKI STRINGS NEWSLETTER
mid - November, 2001

 Pre-Holidays "Seasons' Greetings" to fellow Families and Friends of the Harwich Suzuki Strings.  Wishing all the best to you and your loved ones, especially during this time.

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This weekend, on November 18, at 2pm, The HARWICH FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ORCHESTRA will perform its fall concert.  This 40-plus person intergenrational orchestra includes Harwich Suzuki String's own Lauren Milligan, Serena Walsh, Sarah Kelley (both high school seniors), Marnie Rowe (high schol sophomore), and Juliana Strode (junior high-age).  They will be playing works of Bizet, Corelli, Grieg, Gershwin, Ravel, and Kander. Those who attended last year said that it was "great"; and recommend that you arrive early to get a good seat.  What a inspiration these young women are - we applaud their excellent efforts.  The concert is at the First Congregational Church of Harwich, in Harwich Center; and is free.  Donations are welcome and will go towards the orchestra's music fund.                                               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
REHEARSAL DATES for the Annual Holiday Concert at the Harwichport Christmas Stroll: November 19, 4:30 at the Harwich Middle School Auditorium and November 26, 4:30 at Cape Cod 5 in Harwichport
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On November 29, from 4-6pm Penelope Wayne-Shapiro, the Cape Symphony Orchestra's concertmaster and  violinist, will offer a "VIOLIN MASTER CLASS" for pre-selected young violinists.  This will be held in the band room of Barnstable High School.   Interested members of Harwich Suzuki Strings have been invited to observe.  Contact Lauren (432-4104) if you think you might want to attend.  This evemtis sponsored by the CSO's Education and Access Program.                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6 pm, Friday, November 30 - HARWICH SUZUKI STRINGS' ANNUAL HOLIDAY CONCERT during the Harwich Port Christmas Stroll will take place at the H'port Cape Cod 5 Cents Savings Bank.  Violinists are requested to arrive by 5:40pm.   Lauren has distributed a notice with relevant details.  We especially invite the younger members of the H.S. Strings and their families to join with us in a music-filled holiday treat.
Excerpted from a memo of last year: "The Holiday Concert -  part of the 'Harwichport Christmas Stroll', was a wonderful, uplifting event.  Twenty one Santa Claus-hatted young violinists played seasonal tunes to a packed and enthusiastic audience.  Once again, Lisa Stroker and Ron Remondino, parents of violinist Calista, generously hosted the group at their Harwichport store.   At the end of the concert Lauren gave each student a holiday gift of professional-quality resin (for their bows).  In turn, the children presented their conductor/instructor with a bouquet of roses.  We missed Mrs. Barca, who was ill.
     Mr. Birmingham, father of violinist Ellen, kindly videotaped the concert, getting good footage of everyone, so that we could duplicate it and distribute copies to all who would like one.  It came out great... "
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The SECOND ANNUAL HOLIDAY GET-TOGETHER will be held on Thursday, December 13 at the Harwich Community Center.   If you would be willing to contribute your ideas about the format and details of this event, please contact me.  To the greatest degree possible, we want this to be appealing and do-able for the whole group.
The initial notice of this event should be enclosed in this mailing.
The following is excerpted from last January's newsletter reporting about the "First Annual Get-together" to give you an idea of what we did.  "Our First Annual Holiday Get-together took place at the Harwich Community Center on December 21.  This  was a relatively last-minute idea with mixed results.... Some of our group... didn't even realize that there was an event happening.  It was unintentionally scheduled for the height of seasonal hectic-ness and on the first night of Hanukkah (the only date the Community Center then had available).  Cancellations resulted from the pre-vacation "epidemic" among Harwich schoolchildren.   And now ... the good news... About sixty students and families attended our party and had a good meal, got to better know others in the group, and experienced some fun.  Everyone enjoyed Lauren's musical activities (most students brought their violins; and Mrs Doane kindly lent us some of the Elementary School's rhythm instruments).  Many made holiday ornaments; and most had a great time spending relaxed time with each other.  Lauren was a good sport as the recipient of a decidedly un-melodious tribute of "Twinkle" by the hastily assembled "World's Only Suzuki Kazoo Ensemble".  She also ceremoniously cut the cake.  Lasagna from 24-Carat Catering (the Mason Jar) and a beautiful cake from Stop and Shop received rave reviews.  We learned a lot that can be put to use in staging future events.  And we only wished that more of us could have enjoyed the festivities with us. (Those who were there will not be surprised to learn that my family is still eating the lasagna.)"
     What would make something like this worthwhile to your family?  How can we make it enjoyable and enriching for all of the violinists (boys and girls, from K-12)?  Please let me know what you think.   Pot-luck/not pot-luck?  Format: Activities? Games? Music? Crafts? Reasonable cost?  We do definitely want to get a gift and card for the violin instructors: Lauren, Mrs Barca, and Becky Barca-Tinis.
     Several folks signed up to help out before, during, or after this upcoming event on the occasion of our Parent Meetings last Monday.  Thanks so much !   As you can tell from the above, I would also welcome participation in making decisions.    So, as the invitation requests, "To commemt or inquire; to assist with decisions or details; or to RSVP - Please call Anne Hynes at 432-3343".   I look forward to hearing from you.
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     Many of you already picked-up a sheet describing an opportunity to DESIGN A LOGO/DESIGN A T-SHIRT  for "The Harwich Suzuki Strings" and "The Families and Friends of the Harwich Suzuki Strings".   It might be a good idea to have a symbol that represents our group.  Maybe we could use it to identify ourselves in various ways, for example on t-shirts/sweatshirts, baseball-type caps, a banner, pencils, bumper stickers, ... whatever.  You may submit as many ideas as you would like.  Have fun!  Be creative!   Sketch, draw, paint, do collage, ...it's your choice.  You may use the paper provided (at violin lessons), or any other.   This is open to all violin students and family members (children and adults).  Please remember to put your name on your work.       You may submit your creations 1) into the box at violin lessons (at the Middle School or Lauren's or Mrs. Barca's house  OR  2) to my home (drop in the mailbox, between the storm and wooden doors, or into the mail: Anne Hynes 10 Woody Glen Road, Harwich  02645
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If you are possibly interested in learning more about the following OPPORTUNITIES,  please get in touch with me soon, as I would like to try and initiate some of them in the near future.  No previous experience required:  just the desire to learn, to have fun, and to contribute to the group.
   - the proposed Web site,
   - the Newsletter and calendar;        I would gladly set these up as a type of "club"/extra-curricular activity whereby
                                                                         interested kids and adults gather at more-or-less regular intervals to
                                                                         learn skills, then cooperatively produce something to benefit the group.
    - attending performances in small or larger groups (using group-rate tickets, when possible)
    - identifying and gathering resources that may be of interest to us (books, videos, websites, etc);
    - an educational series? (bringing in members of the local music community);
    - fundraising [grants, making and selling crafts or other items (at holiday fairs or others), car washes,
              or other "traditional' or less-traditional methods];
    - "violining" as a form of community service (eg. at the Council on Aging, nursing homes, etc.)
If any of you is interested in consulting/brainstorming with me about any of these/or other ideas, or in spearheading any of this yourself, please let me know soon.  I encourage your involvement.
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On Mondays with group lessons, I will try to have a NEWS AND INFORMATION TABLE set up with notices of upcoming performance opportunities and events, newletters, applications, etc to be taken home; and photos, books, magazines, and catalogues for perusal during or following violin time.  We are also trying to establish an unobtrusive-but-effective place at Mrs. Barca's and Lauren's for our communications.  Please be on the lookout for new material ('Sorry.  I didn't mean to put anyone on high alert by that phrasing.)
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If you have not filled out a basic INFORMATION FORM (including current mailing address, etc), please considering taking the time out and doing so.  If you are willing to indicate the type of activities that your child and family might be intereested in pursuing with the Harwich Suzuki Strings, that would be a welcome bonus.  These can be found at the info table, Lauren's, and Mrs Barca's.  Thank you.  And Thank you to the many of us who have already done so.
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While many folks indicated that they were interested in going to performances as part of a group, there were not many who signed up.  As you already know, there are many music/cultural opportunities coming up.  A surprising number of performances are free/free-will offering or inexpensive, especially for children/youth/students.  W> 

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ntage of them as you can.  If you want to do something as a group, and/or if you want something that is not mentioned below, please let me know, and I may be able to make an arrangement.  Currently, the GROUP RATES of which we know, available for me to request as "The Families and Friends of the Harwich Suzuki Strings" are
Harwich Junior Theatre - on opening weekend of each new show: half price for youth and adults for the first 10-15 of the group who are interested.  Rate applies for each of the three performances (Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm).  They give tickets out to eligible groups on a "first-come, first served" basis.
     Next show: CHILDREN'S LETTERS TO GOD Book by Stuart Hample.  Music:David Evans, Lyrics: Douglas J. Cohen.  Directed by Lisa Canto Nikula.  This is the New England premier of a heartwarming musical which will leave you with full appreciation of the lessons children teach. Runs from December 7 - December 30.  We can apply for tickets on December 7 and 8 at 8pm and December 9 at 2pm.
Cape Symphony Orchestra  - Regular tickets prices are - students: $6 - $15 and adults: $25 - $50 (depending on seats chosen) and Group Rates are 20% off.
- The next performance is December 1, 8pm and December 2, 3pm  "Holiday Pops!" - the CSO joined by The Chatham Chorale at Barnstable High School Performing Arts Center. The woman at the CSO suggested we try for the Sunday show and that we ask for Section B, which would mean adult tickets: $28 and youth tickets: $850.
- Then, on January 19, 8pm and January 20, 3pm, Amit Peled, cellist, joins the Symphony in a concert including Dvorak's "Concerto for Cello and Orchestra" and Berlioz' "Symphonie Fantastique"(pre-concert talk 1hour before).
Chatham Chorale - students already may attend for free (but reservations must be made); and they are willing to discuss a group rate for adults.
- December 8, 8pm and December 9, 3pm Chatham Chorale Chamber Singers at St. David's Episcopal
        Church, Yarmouth.
- December 14, 8pm "Messiah Sing" sponsored by the Chatham Chorale at St. David's Episcopal
Let me know if I might be of some help.  Sign-up sheets have been at violin lessons at the Middle School, Lauren's, and Mrs. Barca's - but at this point, it might be best to call me (432-3343).   Enjoy !
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As a group, we just received permission to have LIGHT REFRESHMENTS at our Middle School gatherings (of course, not in the auditorium, though), which may make lesson time or meeting time more pleasant.  Would refreshments during this time be of interest to anyone?  Let me know what you think, and maybe we can try to set something up on a regular basis.  "Thank you" Ms Mary Childress, HMS Principal, for making us feel welcome in the Middle School.
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Thank you to all who took the time to participate in the series of  "PARENTS' MEETINGS"  held early last week during Group Lessons and Ensemble.  It was great to get to know more of you (& to see you meet each other), and to share ideas about our children, music, etc..  Let's do it again ... with even better attendance (and "light refreshments").
PEACE