Desert Canyon Strings

480-484-1700 x 4568

dshaeffer@susd.org

 

My name is Debbie Shaeffer and I am excited to have your students in the

Orchestra program here at Desert Canyon Middle School.  My

desire is to develop skilled musicians who love their craft.  Music can and should

be a life-long adventure.  This has certainly been true in my own life.

My husband and I  come from generations of musicians.  We met while singing

together for our college.  We have been married for twenty-three years and have four

children who also enjoy music.  Our oldest daughter is in college studying to be a

music teacher.  Our two high schoolers play multiple instruments and our eighth

grader has played in band and has traveled with the Phoenix Boys’ Choir.  We love making

music together.

I  play the cello, clarinet and piano.  I  am a voice teacher and have directed

Choirs of all ages.  I  consider it a privilege to be a teacher and I  look forward to

working with your student for years to come.  Please don’t hesitate to call or

e-mail me.  We are partners in the educational process and I  look forward to

meeting you personally.  There are many opportunities to volunteer in our program.

Please contact me if you are interested in finding out more information.

 

 

 

September 6, 2007

 

 

Parents and Friends of DCMS Strings,

 

This is going to be a pivotal year in our program.  My goal is two-fold:

 

1.       To establish a strong foundation that will give us the tools that we need to grow.

2.     To capture the imagination of the students, helping them to find their passion in music.

    

We have an ample inventory of beautiful instruments that have been neglected and need repair.  At the very least, they need “body work” and new strings and bows.  On the other end of the spectrum, we have at least six violins, six violas, and six cellos that need repair work from a music store.  Our funding for instrument repair comes from instrument rentals.  We don’t have the instruments to rent unless we have them repaired.    We have several thousand dollars worth of repairs that need to be taken care of as soon as possible.  We cannot use fundraisers for instrument repair.  In order to accomplish this, we need help from community and tax credit donations.  I am asking for your help to accomplish this endeavor. 

 

I have a vision for recruiting new students and doubling the size of the program in two years by exposing them to “Electric Strings”.  Each person has their own preference in musical style.  Strings can play any style of music:  fiddle music, classical, pop, jazz and the ever popular rock-n-roll.  Introducing students to “Electric Strings” will allow students to create and enjoy playing any style of music they want with a new “twist”.  I recently proposed this idea to our PTO board and they quickly acted to give us enough money to start this program.  This includes supplemental curriculum in Jazz/Rock stylings and ten electrical pick-ups and amplifiers.  This will be a tremendous recruiting tool.   Every student will get to experience this opportunity.  While they are having fun, they will be developing their musicianship by learning how to “improvise”; create their own part, on the spot.  This will train their ear and create confidence in their performance skills.  After the winter break, I will select ten students, by audition, to be part of “DC Strings”.  This group will perform additional songs at concerts, and will perform at recruiting assemblies for our feeder schools.  This group will rehearse one or two hours after school, once or twice a week. 

 

Our Disneyland trip has been put on hold this year, in order to take care of basic program needs.  I cannot justify fundraising for an out-of-state trip when I cannot service our DCMS families with rental instruments.  This is why I am choosing this year to implement “DC Strings”.  I do not want to take something special away without adding something new and exciting that will continue to build our program for years to come. 

 

Another new addition to our program this year is a DCMS Strings Booster Club. This will allow us to have more creativity, community involvement and credibility.  Whatever level of involvement you desire to make will be a huge encouragement to your child and to the Strings program.

 

I want to assure you that I am thrilled to be teaching at Desert Canyon.  I bring a lifetime of musical training, over ten years of teaching experience, and most importantly, a passion and a vision to share with your children.  My plan is to be here until I retire.  If you have any questions, ideas or concerns, please feel free to contact me by phone (480-484-4600 x 4568) or e-mail me at dshaeffer@susd.org.  Together we can build a program of excellence at Desert Canyon Middle School.

 

Sincerely,

 

Mrs. Debbie Shaeffer

DCMS Director of Strings