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Greetings everyone, Happy Columbus Day Weekend Holiday time!

THIS SUNDAY: The Adult Choir, have a safe and beautiful Holiday Weekend.

LOOKING AHEAD:
The following Sunday 14 October:
Morning: The Girls’ Choir with HS Singers and Adults is on.
Afternoon: The Choir of Men and Boys will offer Britten’s REJOICE IN THE LAMB as part of choral evensong in the church at 4:00 p.m.
It is child friendly, bring the whole family, friends and neighbors and enjoy this beautiful musical offering while supporting the choir.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: for support and hospitality at the Evensong on 14 November:
2 readers for the lessons
2 ushers
Please contact PA if you can volunteer to help with this.

November is around the corner – it’s almost pie time!

Repeated from Last week:

Creative Scheduling and Problem Solving:

Something for the think tank wise and very creative parents:

Everyone gets busier and busier, I don’t think it will ever grow less, most likely as time passes it will only increase, it seems to be the way in our “real time” world.

So……..we can’t look at old rehearsal/practice/musical training solutions for a structure – we need to be creative and find new ways to make sure it is possible for the choirs to continue to be healthy and renew. I’m convinced only by growing to a larger size than we have historically maintained that momentum and quality of offering will be healthy while members come and go from all the activities and commitments of contemporary life.

Remember – live into the spirit rather than the letter of the plan. Our solutions need to focus on quality rather than quantity of experience that leads to personal and musical growth for the individual and as a result the health of our community.

So…….keep talking, and suggesting and don’t assume an idea or solution can’t work.

Some of you have already told me of schedule difficulties – when your chorister must leave early and/or miss a rehearsal or Sunday Service or Tuesday Evensong – Can I suggest for trial – make up the lost experience by:

Attending another practice:

Novice and 3rd grade Junior Boys are welcome at the Thursday morning practice as make up, Girls on Friday morning.

Novice choristers are welcome on Tuesday at the 5:00 Junior Practice and Evensong.

Novice and Junior Choristers are welcome to sign up for After School Vocal Coaching.

4th grade and above Juniors can attend an hour or so of the Sunday afternoon Senior Practices.

Seniors can serve as mentors at any of the Novice and Junior Rehearsals and Services.

Pair with someone and ask for a special coaching.

My old teacher said “can’t never could” so let’s leave what isn’t possible behind and find and enjoy the possible and let our community flourish. To quote a great man: “never give up, never surrender!”

Sorry to go on so long, but I’ve been hearing a lot with concern about the intensity of our lives and spent quite a bit of time meditating on it this summer.

Please check the attached “newsletter” for other details and links.

Have a beautiful day and weekend, love, Patrick

A Choir Family Newsletter!
Friday 5 October 2018

NEXT SUNDAY 14 October
Morning:
SENIOR GIRLS REQUIED, Optional for Novices and Juniors
Senior Chorister Call is 9:45 a.m.
Novice and Junior Chorister Call is 10:15 a.m.

No Lunch or afternoon rehearsals today.

Afternoon: ALL BOYS REQUIED
Senior Chorister Call is 2:45 p.m.
Novice and Junior Chorister Call is 3:30 p.m., come to the Honor Room.

The Service begins at 4:00 p.m. and will last just under one hour.

FACE BOOK: Did you know there is a Music at Grace Church Facebook page?
There is. We use it to get the word out about all the musical offerings that take place at the Church especially those of the choirs!
HELP US build the community of followers and listeners to the choirs – FRIEND THE Music at Grace Church page and let the word spread 

RECRUITING is never over!
We have an amazing group of novice choristers for the fall term but…
If anyone asks, it is never too late to join the choir and they should reach out to me at: gracechoir1894@gmail.com

For entering 4th and 5th graders it is also not too late to join as new choristers, we have had good luck at getting them up to speed quickly as your children are the best teachers. What schedule a 4th or 5th grader might follow would depend on the child and their family.

Note about third grade juniors: the third grade juniors will only attend the Tuesday rehearsal session from 5:00 – 6:30. Older juniors still also attend for boys, Thursday morning or girls, Friday morning practice.

This year we will have the second season for 2nd grade novices! Last year was a great success and these now third graders fast tracked themselves to junior level ahead of what I thought would happen. I am so proud of them.

HOMEWORK FOR SENIOR CHORISTERS:

Please locate a recording with your parents approval and listen to:
1. BOYS: Rejoice in the Lamb, B. Britten
2. GIRLS: A CEREMONY OF CAROLS, B. Britten
3. BOTH: J.S. Bach Motet: “Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf” BWV 226
4. BOTH: Bernstein Chichester Psalms (I love the recording by the Wells Cathedral Choir)

WEBSITE: www.gracechurchnyc.org
CLICK: MUSIC
CLICK: login
User Name: helfenstein
Password: Stanfordlives1894

CHOIR SCHEDULES 2018 – 2019: REMEMBER Kathy’s Link to our Goggle Doc Schedules, they are ready to go for 2018-2019:
http://www.gchoirsched.info/schedules.html
(If the heading still has 17 – 18, don’t worry, we are working on it)

THIS WEEKS SCHEDULE:

• 5 October to 14 October

• No Friday Vocal Coaching today – Holiday Weekend mode.

• 7 October (Sunday) – Sunday Service-The Adult Choir

• No Choir Activities on Tuesday due to the Columbus Day Holiday

• Wednesday Morning – 7:00 – 8:10 a.m. Senior Girl Rehearsal.
Breakfast Club in the Reception room

• Wednesday, September 26 Regular Afternoon Rehearsal Schedule for Girl Novices 3:00 – 4:15p.m.

• Thursday Morning – 7:00 – 8:10 a.m. Junior (4th grade) and Senior Boy Rehearsal.
Breakfast Club in the Reception room

• Thursday Afternoon – 3:00 to 4:15 pm. Novice (2nd grade)
Required for Boy Novices. Gather and dismiss in the Honor Room. Rehearse in the Chantry.

• Friday Morning – 7:00 – 8:10 a.m. Junior (4th grade) and Senior Girl Rehearsal.
Breakfast Club in the Reception room

• Friday Afternoon, 3:20 – 4:30
After School Voice Coaching in the Chantry.

• October 14 (Sunday) –
• Morning:
• SENIOR GIRLS REQUIED, Optional for Novices and Juniors
• Senior Chorister Call is 9:45 a.m.
• Novice and Junior Chorister Call is 10:15 a.m.

• No Lunch or afternoon rehearsals today.

• Afternoon: ALL BOYS REQUIED
• Senior Chorister Call is 2:45 p.m.
• Novice and Junior Chorister Call is 3:30 p.m., come to the Honor Room.

• The Service begins at 4:00 p.m. and will last just under one hour.

SPECIAL LISTENING PROJECT:
Please find a time to watch and listen to these YouTube excerpts. They are from some of our fellow choirs around the world and are lovely and fun. They can help give us all a better idea of our tradition and celebrate the 1000 year old heritage that we participate in. I was in Wells this week and really, the church and choral tradition is just shy of it’s 1000th birthday! This year is the 120th birthday for our choir foundation.

King’s College Cambridge

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=kings+college+all+bells&vid=902f93ee8b3b28415cae01da013ce611&l=4%3A45&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608020223790746048%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DP8TyKNycHes&tit=John+Rutter%3A+All+Bells+In+Paradise+-+Official+Video&c=1&sigr=11aoutisl&sigt=11jh9sqci&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=king%27s+college+choir&vid=110003f8b24834b111ae4be397650d76&l=5%3A08&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608026301171238103%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dq5n6X9sUznI&tit=O+Holy+Night+%3A+Kings+College%2C+Cambridge&c=2&sigr=11arr3iog&sigt=117mk8a8i&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

Wells Cathedral Choir

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=wells+cathedral+malcolm+archer&vid=c373efcfd3df46151072adc636c2fe0c&l=5%3A21&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608030682034081441%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dyrs5XR9Pd7k&tit=God+is+Gone+Up+%28Finzi%29+—+Choir+of+Wells+Cathedral&c=3&sigr=11ac3plli&sigt=11jlvlhgk&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=wells+cathedral+malcolm+archer&vid=415d1018bf24c3aee0db1ac9e836f0b9&l=4%3A41&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608049227703257238%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DXac1w1OdELI&tit=The+Twelve+Days+of+Christmas+—+Choir+of+Wells+Cathedral&c=10&sigr=11aigreat&sigt=11pa650ni&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=Aj1K1PW2VDs1RKVFJfzbu2uevZx4?p=you+tube+wells+cathedral+choir&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-901&fp=1

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=youtube+wells+cathedral+have+yourself+choir&vid=853d06e7cf55b5383b84e5d4a1556ae3&l=3%3A22&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608034453018248291%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAf8nD6KGGec&tit=Have+Yourself+a+Merry+Little+Christmas+—+Wells+Cathedral+Choir&c=0&sigr=11au0j7su&sigt=1207t1bd2&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

St. John’s College Cambridge, A Guest in Cambridge

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=st+john%27s+college+cambridge&vid=9425021b6896bda9a630f27d01e90a6d&l=6%3A52&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608042969937282548%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DPSYK5JHgRnA&tit=Haydn-+Insanae+Et+Vanae+Curae+%28St.+John%26%2339%3Bs+College+Choir.%29&c=25&sigr=11apkam02&sigt=11tjuig47&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=st+john%27s+college+cambridge&vid=7264786b7c16e797614ba97ea5fc7ef7&l=14%3A59&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.607990240621363343%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D8udJ5MjjLcY&tit=St+John%26%2339%3Bs+College+Choir+Cambridge+1978+under+George+Guest+1&c=21&sigr=11aunqee0&sigt=11vism07r&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

Salisbury Cathedral

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=salisbury+cathedral+choir&vid=0a5806f316d0f326ea4cef4513e591f4&l=4%3A12&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608027666970052142%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DzfAO9iCzZJ0&tit=The+Choristers+of+Salisbury+Cathedral+Part1&c=1&sigr=11avnbi5n&sigt=11b62d3g4&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=the+choristers+of+salisbury+cathedral+part+2&vid=64773de37238958c6b12328935c8a115&l=6%3A47&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.607986108865709804%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DE2RY22cAIO4&tit=The+Choristers+of+Salisbury+Cathedral+Part2&c=0&sigr=11a94tmkv&sigt=11bm9mqbj&ct=p&age=0&fr=yfp-t-901&tt=b

FIN – THE END
Please forgive the length of this newsletter. You all have lots of wonderful questions and this is my attempt to get us organized and put as much information as you have asked about in one place.

Have a wonderful safe remainder of the summer! The rain has stopped, the Swan has moved on to another boat and it’s time to head to the market for the shopping.

With all my love and anticipation of a great new season, Patrick

ONGOING INFORMATION SOURCES:

*Like us on FACEBOOK! Music at Grace Church in New York

*The Goggle Choir Schedule Calendar Link: http://gchoirsched.info/home.html

*Sign Up Genius for Choir Parent Volunteer Sign Link:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/30E084CADAF2BA1FA7-choir

*Sign Up Genius for After School Vocal Coaching: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0e4ba4a628abf94-after

*Accessing the Secure Choir Family Area of the Music Website:
www.gracechurchnyc.org
CLICK: MUSIC
CLICK: login
User Name: helfenstein
Password: Stanfordlives1894

*REMEMBER: If your contact information changes or you notice a typo in a communication don’t hesitate to let PA (P. Allen, not the Parents Association) know. “If you see something, say something”

*REMEMBER…please keep an eye out around the house and make sure you cash all choir checks you have received. When the books are closed at the audit for each operating budget year checks can no longer be redeemed or replaced.