Music is More Than Just the Notes

Music is More Than Just the Notes
By Kylie Brader


It is scientifically proven that people who play instruments get higher scores in school. Albert Einstein once said "A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit, and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?". What better place to find happiness and sharpen your I.Q. than our very own West Hills orchestra?

What is an orchestra?

An orchestra is a group of musicians who sit in a half circle and play stringed instruments. The five sections (violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, and bass) work together and join their five separate parts to create a piece of music.

Who is in the orchestra?

Students that you see everyday walking from class to class. The class is taught by Steve Lorentz and assisted by Sicily Famolaro. The class has kids from ages 14-18 who all have the same passion- to playa stringed instrument.

Where is the orchestra?

The orchestra is located in PA1, which is on the side of the performing arts building closest to the back senior parking lot, right next to the choir room.

When is it?

The class is during sixth period everyday and rehearses Monday night from 6:00-8:00 PM.

Why join it?

It helps you expand your musical horizons. Even if you have never played an
instrument or have been playing for ten years, our orchestra has a place for you.
We have tons of fun with songs throughout the year and you'll always find yourself
smiling and having fun.

How will you learn?

Our instructor, Steve Lorentz, and our assistant instructor,
 Sicily Famolaro, work together to teach you how to hold
the instrument and how to get the best sound out of it.
You'll learn how to read music, play music
(eat, live, breath, etc.), and even to write music.
There are some little tests to see how you're doing,
but don't fret- everyone starts somewhere.

Is it easy?

Playing a stringed instrument, or ay instrument, takes
a lot of practice and time. You need to be devoted and
if you're having trouble with a certain part, practice
slow, then build up speed to the proper tempo. There
are phone apps for metronomes, which keep a beat,
and tuners, which keep you in the proper pitches.

Is it fun?

Orchestra is as much fun as you make it. First semester is spent teaching you the fundamentals and second semester is a little more fun, with projects and field trips.

Being part of an orchestra takes devotion and time, and if you aren't devoted, then this isn't for you. But if you are interested and devoted, come on down to PA1 and we'll grab you an instrument and teach you to play!

"Knock-knock." "Who's there?" "Doctor." "Doctor Who?"

Time travelling, aliens, and a blue police box fill this British TV programme called Doctor Who. The show centres around a two-hearted timelord they call the Doctor. He travels throughout space and time in his TARDIS, saving the universe as he goes. The premier of the brand-new season was on 1 September. 

Darvill, Smith, Gillan, with daleks

The premiere began with the Doctor on a planet that even the evilest of the daleks fear -- the Asylum. The Doctor was taken hostage by his oldest rival and brought there against his will. The Asylum is a prison designed to keep the most dangerous of the daleks confined. The Doctor and his sidekicks, a married couple who seem to be having problems, must find a way to escape. The Ponds, what with their marital conflict, are hardly any help. There is also an army of "mad" daleks closing in on our heroes as well and it is up to the Doctor to get them out of the Asylum, save their lives, and also save the Ponds' marriage. This episode features nearly every dalek known to man and it is full of sci-fi action-packed fun.

Daleks and the TARDIS

 The episode was written by Steven Moffat (Press Gary) and directed by Nick Hurran (It's A Boy Girl Thing). Nearly every episode of Doctor Who has a different head-writer and director. This show has been on television for a very long time (since 1963!) and consists of 26 seasons, one TV movie, and 7 series. There are, in total, 788 episodes. That's a lot of the Doctor. Or, Doctors. There have been eleven Doctors total, for this long-running series. The Doctor regenerates every couple seasons, but the action and adventure never changes. Doctor Who has always depicted the adventure of  time-travelling humanoid alien that we call the Doctor. He has also always travelled through space and time in his TARDIS, which looks like a blue police box (but bigger on the inside). 

Critics call this show one of the finest British TV programmes. Doctor Who has won many awards, which makes the Whovians -- a nickname for the Doctor Who fans -- very happy. The show won the 2006 British Academy Television Award for best drama series. It also won the National Television Award five years in a row, from 2005 until 2010. A lot of guest stars have been on the show all these years, and already this season, but three are very important. Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and Arthur Darvill make up the cast of Doctor Who. 

(from left to right) Gillan, Darvill, Smith

Matt Smith plays the eleventh Doctor. The actor has been on TV before; he played Jim Taylor in "The Ruby in the Smoke" and Danny in "Party Animals". 

Amy and Rory are played by Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill. Gillan (Amy) also played as Terry Cotter in "Rebus" and Darvill (Rory) played in "Robin Hood" as Groom. 

Amy and Rory left the Doctor to his own devices, but he soon finds another companion. This season of Doctor Who will run until late Spring of 2013 and this is the last season with Matt Smith. Are we ready to say goodbye to him? And will the twelfth Doctor be as dear to us as our previous Doctors have been? We will have to stay tuned to find out.

Wollen wir ins Kino gehen?

Nein. Ich geh' lieber die Violine spielen.

my first post

this is my first post for writing for the world