Welcome to Waterloo Orchestra!Greetings from Mr. Velsey: (updated August 22, 2023)
I'm Mr. Velsey and I'm delighted to be your orchestra teacher at Waterloo ES. This website is where you'll find all the important information on our program. Please bookmark this page for easy access on your family's computer. I am really excited to be back for another great year of orchestra! It's been wonderful reconnecting with last year's students who are now 4th and 5th graders. I also look forward to getting to know my 3rd graders, who will be joining strings for the first time this year! You can find the answers to our most frequently asked questions about Waterloo Orchestra on the FAQ page. Interested in signing up your child? Please make sure to read the FAQs page and "Join Orchestra!" pages first. These will take you to my Google sign-up forms. We tend to think of orchestra in terms of the concerts themselves, the pre-concert jitters, the exciting performances and thunderous applause from an appreciative audience. But, there's a lot that goes on "backstage" that involves such things as bringing the instrument to school as well as the daily practice and preparation of the concert music. As a Waterloo Orchestra parent, you can play a vital role in the success of your child's orchestra experience by helping him/her with these simple things: 1. Keeping your child mindful of the schedule and help him/her remember what days orchestra happens on each week. 2. Helping your child remember to bring the instrument and music folder containing the method book and a pencil to each class. 3. Encouraging regular home practice (I expect 10-15 minutes a day, 5 days a week) even if it may not sound like music in the early weeks. Should you wish to reach me, my contact information is: [email protected] (email) 410-313-5014 (Waterloo main office phone) -Mr. Velsey |
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Music Matters |
Congratulations for choosing music and starting on a great journey! Studies have shown that participating in music increases our cognitive and memory skills and gives us a "whole brain" experience, since it involves using both sides of the brain. Music can also be a nice way to take a break or unplug from our busy lives and let our imaginations soar!
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