Blog: Saint Francis de Sales

Your last Newsletter! (for now!)

Posted: Wednesday, May 27

 

           The Buzz 

What’s POPpin at St. Francis?

Last week of POP out of the Box

I simply cannot believe it is already our last week of POP out of the Box. I hope that your students have enjoyed these classes, workshops, and performances, and that they’ve learned something new, met a new Teaching Artist, made a new friend, or all of the above!. It has been such a joy for me to peek in on classes and see so many familiar faces (and to get to know some new ones!) Your students resiliency during this time, and their commitment to their musical activities/education is nothing short of amazing, and it has given me renewed hope for what we can create together as we continue to navigate this challenging time.

End of year JUBILEE – Friday!

 

WHEN?

Friday, 5:00 pm

WHERE?

THIS LINK

You must register at this page beforehand!

 

WHAT?

A virtual celebration to bring together our community in appreciation and reflection on our past year as we hope for brighter days ahead. ALL ARE WELCOME! Join POP staff, Teaching Artists, and Guest Artist Tommy Mesa for a spectacular virtual performance, as we conclude our POP out of the Box series together. 

 

#POPlayback – we want to hear from you!

PROMPT:

 

What’s your first experience with, or impression of POP? What happened? 
Submit your entry HERE
 
For some inspiration, check out our kick-off posts on Facebook or Instagram!

 

 

POP FAMILY PORTAL STILL OPEN

The Family Portal will remain open/accessible for any families wishing to utilize the 100+ instructional videos created by POP TA’s for at-home practice. While we encourage you to continue to use this excellent resource, students and families should shift their focus to the new online classes through ‘Pop out of the Box’.

 

How to access the Portal & POP Resources:

  1. Go to www.playonphilly.org (bookmark this site if you haven’t already!)
  2. Click on ‘POP Family’ (right side of the screen, next to ‘About’, ‘Programs’, ‘How we work’, etc)
  3. Type in password: popfamily
  4. Click on ‘RESOURCES’ (right side of the screen)
  5. This will take you to the bottom of the page – find the button that says ‘CLICK HERE’
  6. After clicking the button, a new page should open on your browser with a Google Drive Folder called ‘Family Resources’. I recommend bookmarking this page on your device(s).
  7. Here you will see the different resources labeled accordingly. 
  8. NOTE: the Practice Videos are organized by level and instrument. The Music Theory videos are not always instrument specific, and can apply to more than one instrument family.

 

 

Teacher Feature

 

Meet our fabulous Teaching Artists!

 

Each week we will shine a spotlight one of the
18 teachers on our St. Francis team.

We are so lucky to have each and every one of them here at POP!

Niki Purdy

 

Niki Purdy grew up in Iowa City, Iowa where she started playing bass in her school orchestra in the fourth grade. After several family moves, first to Chicago and then to a suburb of Philadelphia, Niki moved into the city to study Music Education at Temple University and fell in love with the Philadelphia, where she has been ever since. Niki studied bass at Temple with John Hood of the Philadelphia Orchestra and loves orchestral playing herself. She is the principal bass player of the Newark Symphony Orchestra and serves on the orchestra’s board as Chair of the Education and Outreach committee. She teaches locally and all throughout Northern Delaware privately, and in West Philadelphia at Play on, Philly! at St. Francis de Sales. Niki has been teaching bass at St. Francis for more than five years. In her time at POP she also teaches/ has taught general music, string orchestra, theory, community ensemble, and cello studio. She feels lucky to be a part of the St. Francis and Play on, Philly communities where she has had the pleasure to work with some of the most fabulous kids on the planet and loves her students very much

Stay safe, stay hopeful, stay STRONG!

 

-Ms. Allie

 

St. Francis weekly newsletter – 5/15

Posted: Friday, May 15

 

           The Buzz 

What’s POPpin at St. Francis?

Let’s celebrate YOU

As we get ready for the final [virtual] POP Jubilee concert in just a few weeks (Friday May 29 at 5:00 pm), we are asking for photos of Essential Workers. Here’s the catch – you are ALL essential. Whether you’re a healthcare worker, social worker, postal service employee, or a parent who has turned into an at-home teacher for your kids, we want to celebrate everything you’re doing to keep each other and our community safe and your kids involved/invested in their education.

Please see Ms. Allie’s email for more details
Send your photo(s) to allison@playonphilly.org 

 

SUMMER CAMP ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Play on Philly has decided to move forward with virtual learning for the summer.

We will offer POP Virtual Camp from July 6 – 31

All students will be eligible to sign up 

The Summer Camp schedule and sign-up instructions will be available on the POP website no later than June 15

Please see the email from Ms. Alex for more details
If you have further questions, email alexandra@playonphilly.org

 

#POPlayback – we want to hear from you!

PROMPT:

 

What’s your first experience with, or impression of POP? What happened? 
Submit your entry HERE
 
For some inspiration, check out our kick-off posts on Facebook or Instagram!

 

 

POP FAMILY PORTAL STILL OPEN

The Family Portal will remain open/accessible for any families wishing to utilize the 100+ instructional videos created by POP TA’s for at-home practice. While we encourage you to continue to use this excellent resource, students and families should shift their focus to the new online classes through ‘Pop out of the Box’.

 

How to access the Portal & POP Resources:

  1. Go to www.playonphilly.org (bookmark this site if you haven’t already!)
  2. Click on ‘POP Family’ (right side of the screen, next to ‘About’, ‘Programs’, ‘How we work’, etc)
  3. Type in password: popfamily
  4. Click on ‘RESOURCES’ (right side of the screen)
  5. This will take you to the bottom of the page – find the button that says ‘CLICK HERE’
  6. After clicking the button, a new page should open on your browser with a Google Drive Folder called ‘Family Resources’. I recommend bookmarking this page on your device(s).
  7. Here you will see the different resources labeled accordingly. 
  8. NOTE: the Practice Videos are organized by level and instrument. The Music Theory videos are not always instrument specific, and can apply to more than one instrument family.

 

 

Teacher Feature

 

Meet our fabulous Teaching Artists!

 

Each week we will shine a spotlight one of the
18 teachers on our St. Francis team.

We are so lucky to have each and every one of them here at POP!

Carlota Rodriguez Ruiz-Healy

 

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Carlota Rodriguez Ruiz-Healy is a violist, string teacher and researcher who has decided to call Philadelphia home. This is her tenth year teaching, during which she has taught and played in Mexico, the United Kingdom and United States. After playing in La Orquesta Sinfonica Infatil de Mexico (National Youth Orchestra of Mexico) she attended Sistema Nacional de Fomento Musical, an El Sistema inspired collegiate conservatory program in Mexico City, for two years. This experience fomented an interest in both music pedagogy and Latin American music. Following her time in Mexico City, she earned a bachelors degree in music education with a focus in string pedagogy from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 2015. After graduation, she moved to Los Angeles where she worked with the Boyle Heights Community Youth Orchestra, a socially engaged music program. From there, she decided to explore music research and moved to London to pursue a Masters in Musicology from City, University of London where her main areas of research were Latin American Music and The Global impact of El Sistema programs. While in London, she was principal violist of The Central London Orchestra and a member of the City University Chamber Orchestra. Upon completion of her masters degree, she returned to Texas where she taught studio viola and violin lessons in San Antonio and performed as a violist with the Kerrville Symphony Orchestra and the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra. Since moving to Philadelphia, she has performed with the Delaware County Orchestra. Along with Play on Philly, Carlota also teaches for Settlement Music School. 

Hope to continue to see many of you online at POP Out of the Box!

 

-Ms. Allie

 

St. Francis weekly newsletter – 5/8

Posted: Friday, May 8

 

           The Buzz 

What’s POPpin at St. Francis?

General Updates & Reminders

Important POP out of the Box Reminders:

 

If you are signed up for a class, workshop, or performance:

 

  • You should receive an email and text reminder in the morning on the day of your scheduled class
  • This email comes from the POP staff member who is facilitating your event (so be ready for an email from any of the people below)
  • Your Zoom username must match your student’s name (FIRST AND LAST) or you cannot be admitted to the room (for security reasons)

 

WORKSHOPS & PERFORMANCES

Allie Mion (allison@playonphilly.org)

Anna Meyer (anna@playonphilly.org)

Alexandra Graham (alexandra@playonphilly.org)

Andres Gonzales (andres@playonphilly.org)

 

WEEKLY CLASSES

Christa Converse (Grades K-5) – christa@playonphilly.org

Moriah Sultes (Grades 6-12) – moriah@playonphilly.org

 

 

#POPlayback – we want to hear from you!

This week’s prompt is:

 

What’s your first experience with, or impression of POP? What happened? 
Submit your entry HERE
 
For some inspiration, check out our kick-off posts on Facebook or Instagram!

 

 

POP FAMILY PORTAL STILL OPEN

The Family Portal will remain open/accessible for any families wishing to utilize the 100+ instructional videos created by POP TA’s for at-home practice. While we encourage you to continue to use this excellent resource, students and families should shift their focus to the new online classes through ‘Pop out of the Box’.

 

How to access the Portal & POP Resources:

  1. Go to www.playonphilly.org (bookmark this site if you haven’t already!)
  2. Click on ‘POP Family’ (right side of the screen, next to ‘About’, ‘Programs’, ‘How we work’, etc)
  3. Type in password: popfamily
  4. Click on ‘RESOURCES’ (right side of the screen)
  5. This will take you to the bottom of the page – find the button that says ‘CLICK HERE’
  6. After clicking the button, a new page should open on your browser with a Google Drive Folder called ‘Family Resources’. I recommend bookmarking this page on your device(s).
  7. Here you will see the different resources labeled accordingly. 
  8. NOTE: the Practice Videos are organized by level and instrument. The Music Theory videos are not always instrument specific, and can apply to more than one instrument family.

 

 

Teacher Feature

 

Meet our fabulous Teaching Artists!

 

Each week we will shine a spotlight one of the
18 teachers on our St. Francis team.

We are so lucky to have each and every one of them here at POP!

Candace Truitt

 

Candace Truitt is a K-12 certified music teacher, and clarinetist.  She received a Masters of Music Education from Temple University.  Her undergraduate work included a dual degree of Clarinet Performance and Music Education.  She spent several seasons with 2nd Star Productions in Bowie, Maryland, where she played clarinet and saxophone in the pit orchestra.  She also enjoyed conducting and performing with the Temple Night Owls, while residing in Philadelphia.

 

Hope to continue to see many of you online at POP Out of the Box!

 

-Ms. Allie

 

St. Francis weekly newsletter – 5/4

Posted: Monday, May 4

 

           The Buzz 

What’s POPpin at St. Francis?

General Updates & Reminders

It’s not too late to sign up for classes!

If you missed the chance to sign-up before the May 1 deadline and are interested in joining and class, workshop, or virtual performance, please email Ms. Allie at allison@playonphilly.org

  1. Core Classes (occurring 2-3 time a week and focusing on music theory and literacy skills)
  2. Online Workshops and Performances (virtual gatherings and performances with some of your favorite POP Teaching Artists, every Monday and Friday at 5:00 pm)

 

#POPlayback – we want to hear from you!

This week’s prompt is:

 

What’s your first experience with, or impression of POP? What happened? 
Submit your entry HERE
 
For some inspiration, check out our kick-off posts on Facebook or Instagram!

POP FAMILY PORTAL STILL OPEN

The Family Portal will remain open/accessible for any families wishing to utilize the 100+ instructional videos created by POP TA’s for at-home practice. While we encourage you to continue to use this excellent resource, students and families should shift their focus to the new online classes through ‘Pop out of the Box’.

 

How to access the Portal & POP Resources:

  1. Go to www.playonphilly.org (bookmark this site if you haven’t already!)
  2. Click on ‘POP Family’ (right side of the screen, next to ‘About’, ‘Programs’, ‘How we work’, etc)
  3. Type in password: popfamily
  4. Click on ‘RESOURCES’ (right side of the screen)
  5. This will take you to the bottom of the page – find the button that says ‘CLICK HERE’
  6. After clicking the button, a new page should open on your browser with a Google Drive Folder called ‘Family Resources’. I recommend bookmarking this page on your device(s).
  7. Here you will see the different resources labeled accordingly. 
  8. NOTE: the Practice Videos are organized by level and instrument. The Music Theory videos are not always instrument specific, and can apply to more than one instrument family.

 

 

Teacher Feature

 

Meet our fabulous Teaching Artists!

 

Each week we will shine a spotlight one of the
18 teachers on our St. Francis team.

We are so lucky to have each and every one of them here at POP!

Dave Tarantino

 

Percussionist Dave Tarantino currently resides in Philadelphia after recently completing his Doctorate of Musical Arts at Boston University. A native of the Philadelphia area, he is excited to return and become a part of the vibrant music and arts community! Prior to relocating, Dave was a teaching assistant for the music education department at Boston University, where he taught non-major lessons and methods class. He was also on faculty and Percussion Department Coordinator for the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, as well as maintaining a private studio with many of his students going on to place in district and all state honors ensembles. Now in Philly, Dave is immersing himself in the music and arts community as an educator and freelance performer. In addition to his work at Play on Philly, he is a member of many of the areas premier orchestras including the Reading Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra 2001.

 

Hope to continue to see many of you online at POP Out of the Box!

 

-Ms. Allie

 

St. Francis weekly newsletter – 4/24

Posted: Friday, April 24

 

           The Buzz 

What’s POPpin at St. Francis?

17 Inspiring, Hope-Filled Quotes From Famous Writers | Writer's Relief

General Updates & Reminders

 

ANNOUNCING: POP OUT OF THE BOX

We’re so excited to announce the next phase of online learning!

All POP families should have received an email from Ms. Jess on Thursday with details about this exciting new initiative, which features 2 main components: 

  1. Core Classes (occurring 2-3 time a week and focusing on music theory and literacy skills)
  2. Online Workshops and Performances (virtual gatherings and performances with some of your favorite POP Teaching Artists, every Monday and Friday at 5:00 pm)

 

Follow the link below to check out all the offerings, and sign-up your student today! (Sign up link as it the bottom of the page, following the class & workshop descriptions). Students can be signed up for both Core Instruction AND workshops/performances!

Classes begin on May 4, and the deadline to register is May 1!

POP OUT OF THE BOX – Click here to Register

POP FAMILY PORTAL STILL OPEN

The Family Portal will remain open/accessible for any families wishing to utilize the 100+ instructional videos created by POP TA’s for at-home practice. While we encourage you to continue to use this excellent resource, students and families should shift their focus to the new online classes through ‘Pop out of the Box’.

 

How to access the Portal & POP Resources:

  1. Go to www.playonphilly.org (bookmark this site if you haven’t already!)
  2. Click on ‘POP Family’ (right side of the screen, next to ‘About’, ‘Programs’, ‘How we work’, etc)
  3. Type in password: popfamily
  4. Click on ‘RESOURCES’ (right side of the screen)
  5. This will take you to the bottom of the page – find the button that says ‘CLICK HERE’
  6. After clicking the button, a new page should open on your browser with a Google Drive Folder called ‘Family Resources’. I recommend bookmarking this page on your device(s).
  7. Here you will see the different resources labeled accordingly. 
  8. NOTE: the Practice Videos are organized by level and instrument. The Music Theory videos are not always instrument specific, and can apply to more than one instrument family.

 

 

Teacher Feature

 

Meet our fabulous Teaching Artists!

 

Each week we will shine a spotlight one of the
18 teachers on our St. Francis team.

We are so lucky to have each and every one of them here at POP!

Paige Nelson

 

Paige Nelson is an active teacher and performer in the New Jersey and Philadelphia areas. She plays solo cornet with the Atlantic Brass Band and performs in the trumpet section with the Philadelphia Wind Symphony. Ms. Nelson is currently a Teaching Artist with Play On Philly in Philadelphia, PA, and she has a private studio of brass students based in Mount Holly, New Jersey. She received a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Bachelor of Music degree from The University of South Alabama.

 

Looking forward to seeing your shining faces on my screen in May!!

 

-Ms. Allie

 

St. Francis weekly newsletter – 4/17

Posted: Friday, April 17

 

           The Buzz 

What’s POPpin at St. Francis?

General Updates & Reminders

#POPlayback

Don’t forget to check your emails for this week’s prompt. 

The goal of this Social Media campaign is to engage the entire POP family and bring us together by reflecting on memories from the past few months (or years!) We also hope that sharing these uplifting moments will bring joy to the newsfeeds of the broader community. 

Every two weeks, we’ll post a new prompt (and you will receive an email announcing it.)

 

POP FAMILY PORTAL

New Practice Videos added weekly! Be sure to check out these online resources for at-home learning.

 

Keep up with your POP teachers right from the portal. Our wonderful TA’s are recording multiple videos per week.

You can also check out a lesson with a different Teaching Artist on your instrument from another POP site to mix it up! 

Resources include:

  • Practice videos
  • Music theory videos
  • Mini lessons on repertoire and technique (3-4 minutes, focusing on different sections of the piece/s)
  • Music theory worksheets
  • Sheet music
  • Links to some fun online Music Theory games, exercises, and other interactive learning

 

How to access the Portal & POP Resources:

  1. Go to www.playonphilly.org (bookmark this site if you haven’t already!)
  2. Click on ‘POP Family’ (right side of the screen, next to ‘About’, ‘Programs’, ‘How we work’, etc)
  3. Type in password: popfamily
  4. Click on ‘RESOURCES’ (right side of the screen)
  5. This will take you to the bottom of the page – find the button that says ‘CLICK HERE’
  6. After clicking the button, a new page should open on your browser with a Google Drive Folder called ‘Family Resources’. I recommend bookmarking this page on your device(s).
  7. Here you will see the different resources labeled accordingly. 
  8. NOTE: the Practice Videos are organized by level and instrument. The Music Theory videos are not always instrument specific, and can apply to more than one instrument family.

 

 

Teacher Feature

 

Meet our fabulous Teaching Artists!

 

Each week we will shine a spotlight one of the
18 teachers on our St. Francis team.

We are so lucky to have each and every one of them here at POP!

Carolina Diazgranados

 

Carolina Diazgranados is a dynamic cellist who has performed at venues such as the Mann Center, the Curtis Institute of Music, the Keswick Theater, the Fillmore, and Verizon Hall. She maintains an active performing career moving fluidly between roles as an orchestral musician, chamber musician, and soloist and has appeared on NPR’s The Moth live show. Carolina is the co-founder and cellist of Bismuth Quartet, an emerging string quartet that takes the medium into new territory through diverse repertoire and collaborations. Bismuth has recorded the music of Caroline Shaw and collaborated with a broad range of artists including Jazmine Sullivan, Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, Whitney, and Japanese Breakfast. As a member of Philadelphia’s Arcana New Music Ensemble, Carolina pushes the boundaries of the music of the 21st century and the expectations of audiences alike. Carolina has received degrees from Temple University and the University of Georgia and serves as a teaching artist for the El Sistema inspired music program, Play On Philly.

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

ALL UPCOMING POP PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS ARE CANCELLED
THROUGH THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. 

BE SURE TO CHECK EMAIL REGULARLY FOR UPDATES FROM THE POP STAFF.

 

Be well, stay healthy, stay inside!

 

-Ms. Allie

 

St. Francis weekly newsletter – 4/10

Posted: Friday, April 10

 

           The Buzz 

What’s POPpin at St. Francis?

 

General Updates & Reminders

 

DRESS REHEARSAL VIDEO IS READY!

Even though our Spring Concert was cancelled, the wonderful team and students at St. Francis were able to pull together a fantastic Dress Rehearsal on Friday, March 13, which was filmed in place of the Concert (huge Thank You’s to Mr. Andres, Mr. Vince, and Mr. Mike for making that happen!)

As professional artists around the country are rising to meet this virtual moment, we are reminded just how important the arts are in our lives. I hope this video lifts your spirits, and gives you hope that we will all be making music together again on the other end of this!

POP families can enjoy the video HERE and can see a full list of the Concert Repertoire below.

 

Combined Choir (Ms. Liz)‘Kye Kye Kule’
Percussion Ensemble (Mr. Dave) – ‘Kaleidescope’
Exploratory Class (Ms. Tessa) – ‘I don’t care if the rain comes down’
Harp Studio (Ms. Manijeh) – ‘Triptic Dance’
Intermediate Violin Studio (Ms. Annija) – ‘The Clown’
Choir 1 (Ms. Liz) – ‘Three Little Birds’, ‘Do-re-me’
Choir 2 (Ms. Liz) – ‘Dear Theodosia’, ‘Stand by me’
String Ensemble I (Ms. Yeliza) – ‘Freire Jacques’, ‘London Bridge’
String Ensemble II (Ms. Niki) – ‘Symphony No. 5’
Brass Ensemble (Mr. Caleb) – ‘Overture (La Clemenza di Tito)’, ‘William Tell’, ‘London Bridge’
Bassoon Studio (Ms. Rachel) – ‘Rigadoon’
Wind Ensemble (Mr. Nic and Ms. Candace) – ‘Festival Overture’, ‘Legend of the Irish Giant’
Wind Trio (Ms. Rachel) – ‘Divertimento’, mvmt. 5
St. Francis Upper Intermediate Strings (Ms. Yeliza) – ‘Sonata Vivant’, ‘Sinfonia’, ‘We will rock you’

 

“If music be the food of love, play on!”

 

POP FAMILY PORTAL

New Practice Videos added weekly! Be sure to check out these online resources for at-home learning.

 

Keep up with your POP teachers right from the portal. Our wonderful TA’s are recording multiple videos per week.

You can also check out a lesson with a different Teaching Artist on your instrument from another POP site to mix it up! 

Resources include:

  • Practice videos
  • Music theory videos
  • Mini lessons on repertoire and technique (3-4 minutes, focusing on different sections of the piece/s)
  • Music theory worksheets
  • Sheet music
  • Links to some fun online Music Theory games, exercises, and other interactive learning

 

How to access the Portal & POP Resources:

  1. Go to www.playonphilly.org (bookmark this site if you haven’t already!)
  2. Click on ‘POP Family’ (right side of the screen, next to ‘About’, ‘Programs’, ‘How we work’, etc)
  3. Type in password: popfamily
  4. Click on ‘RESOURCES’ (right side of the screen)
  5. This will take you to the bottom of the page – find the button that says ‘CLICK HERE’
  6. After clicking the button, a new page should open on your browser with a Google Drive Folder called ‘Family Resources’. I recommend bookmarking this page on your device(s).
  7. Here you will see the different resources labeled accordingly. 
  8. NOTE: the Practice Videos are organized by level and instrument. The Music Theory videos are not always instrument specific, and can apply to more than one instrument family.

 

 

Teacher Feature

 

Meet our fabulous Teaching Artists!

 

Each week we will shine a spotlight one of the
18 teachers on our St. Francis team.

We are so lucky to have each and every one of them here at POP!

Wing-Chuen Augustina Au

 

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Wing-Chuen Augustina Au started playing French horn in Secondary School. Augustina graduated with a Masters of Music in Horn Performance under Mr. Jeff Lang at Temple University. A dual citizen of Hong Kong and the United States, Augustina has performed performed locally with Symphony in C, Riverside Symphonia, Mendelssohn’s Club in Philadelphia and Orchestra 2001 in the Philadelphia area, as well as the Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Strings, and the Hong Kong Oratorio Society in Hong Kong. She has worked with many world-renowned musicians, including Christoph Eschenbach, Simone Lamsma and Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Augustina currently resides in Philadelphia and operates as as a freelance performer and private teacher. She was thrilled to join Play On Philly this year as a Horn Teaching Artist at St. Francis de Sales and POP Symphony Orchestra.

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

ALL UPCOMING POP PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS ARE CANCELLED
THROUGH THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. 

BE SURE TO CHECK EMAIL REGULARLY FOR UPDATES FROM THE POP STAFF.

 

Be well, stay healthy, stay inside!

 

-Ms. Allie

 

St. Francis weekly newsletter – 4/3

Posted: Friday, April 3

 

           The Buzz 

What’s POPpin at St. Francis?

 

General Updates & Reminders

 

 

PLEASE COMPLETE HOME PRACTICE SURVEY

This is a reminder to please complete the [very short!] survey by the end of the day. Your responses will help POP determine the best ways to provide our students with continued access to music education, and prepare for a longer distance-learning period ahead of us.

Click here to complete the survey

(takes less than a minute!)

POP FAMILY PORTAL:

New Practice Videos added weekly! Be sure to check out these online resources for at-home learning.

 

Keep up with your POP teachers right from the portal. Our wonderful TA’s are recording multiple videos per week.

You can also check out a lesson with a different Teaching Artist on your instrument from another POP site to mix it up! 

Resources include:

  • Practice videos
  • Music theory videos
  • Mini lessons on repertoire and technique (3-4 minutes, focusing on different sections of the piece/s)
  • Music theory worksheets
  • Sheet music
  • Links to some fun online Music Theory games, exercises, and other interactive learning

 

How to access the Portal & POP Resources:

  1. Go to www.playonphilly.org (bookmark this site if you haven’t already!)
  2. Click on ‘POP Family’ (right side of the screen, next to ‘About’, ‘Programs’, ‘How we work’, etc)
  3. Type in password: popfamily
  4. Click on ‘RESOURCES’ (right side of the screen)
  5. This will take you to the bottom of the page – find the button that says ‘CLICK HERE’
  6. After clicking the button, a new page should open on your browser with a Google Drive Folder called ‘Family Resources’. I recommend bookmarking this page on your device(s).
  7. Here you will see the different resources labeled accordingly. 
  8. NOTE: the Practice Videos are organized by level and instrument. The Music Theory videos are not always instrument specific, and can apply to more than one instrument family.

 

DRESS REHEARSAL VIDEO UPDATE

We are currently in the process of editing the filmed Dress Rehearsal. An email will go out upon its completion, and POP families will have access to the link of the performance, which you can enjoy at any time! We can’t wait to share it with you soon!

 

 

Teacher Feature

 

Meet our fabulous Teaching Artists!

 

Each week we will shine a spotlight one of the
18 teachers on our St. Francis team.

We are so lucky to have each and every one of them here at POP!

M0lly Germer

 

Molly Germer is a Philadelphia and NYC based violinist. She is a former member of the Erie Philharmonic, and has recently performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony, Wordless Music Orchestra, Ensemble LPR, Contemporaneous, and Ensemble Signal. She can be heard on Signal’s recordings of music by David Felder, Tristan Perich, and David Lang. Molly collaborates with numerous groups in NYC while continuing as a teaching artist at Play On Philly and Settlement Music School. She has performed at venues such as The Stone, BAM, Madison Square Garden, Miller Theater, Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Alice Tully Hall. Most recently, Molly participated several festivals across the world, including the New Music for Strings Festival in Denmark and Iceland, the Lincoln Center Festival, Annapolis Chamber Music Festival, Banff Centre’s Evolution of the String Quartet, June in Buffalo, Lucerne Festival Academy, Bang on a Can at Mass MoCA, and Spoleto Festival USA. Molly has recorded and/or performed with several notable artists, including Alex G, Whitney, Japanese Breakfast, Jazmine Sullivan, The Districts, The Who, Kimbra, Frances Quinlan, and Rhiannon Giddens, among others. Molly is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music (BM), and of the Contemporary Performance Program at the Manhattan School of Music (MM).

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

ALL UPCOMING POP PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS ARE CANCELLED
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

 

Be well, stay healthy, stay inside!

 

-Ms. Allie

 

St. Francis weekly newsletter – 3/27

Posted: Friday, March 27

 

           The Buzz 

What’s POPpin at St. Francis?

 

General Updates & Reminders

 

 

POP FAMILY PORTAL:

Online learning resources now available!

Our wonderful Teaching Artists have been hard at work on learning materials for students to use right from their homes (even students who did not bring home their instrument!).

These resources include:

  • Practice videos
  • Music theory videos
  • Mini lessons on repertoire and technique (3-4 minutes, focusing on different sections of the piece/s)
  • Music theory worksheets
  • Sheet music
  • Links to some fun online Music Theory games, exercises, and other interactive learning

 

How to access the Portal & POP Resources:

  1. Go to www.playonphilly.org (bookmark this site if you haven’t already!)
  2. Click on ‘POP Family’ (right side of the screen, next to ‘About’, ‘Programs’, ‘How we work’, etc)
  3. Type in password: popfamily
  4. Click on ‘RESOURCES’ (right side of the screen)
  5. This will take you to the bottom of the page – find the button that says ‘CLICK HERE’
  6. After clicking the button, a new page should open on your browser with a Google Drive Folder called ‘Family Resources’. I recommend bookmarking this page on your device(s).
  7. Here you will see the different resources labeled accordingly. 
  8. NOTE: the Practice Videos are organized by level and instrument. The Music Theory videos are not always instrument specific, and can apply to more than one instrument family.

 

 

POP SUMMER CAMP : 

Last day to sign-up is this TUESDAY!

 

  • Registration will close after the 31st, and late registration will not be possible
  • The only fee for current POP students to attend camp is the $25 registration fee – there is no additional tuition!
  • Payment can be made up until June 8 (but registration must be completed by Tuesday)

 

Registration steps:

  1. Go to https://playonphilly.org/programs/summer-camp/ (or click this link)
  2. Scroll down to click ‘REGISTER NOW’ 
  3. Make sure you select the ‘My student currently participates in POP programming’option
  4. Fill out and submit the online form – You may pay the registration fee at this time, but it is not due until June 8.

 

DRESS REHEARSAL VIDEO UPDATE

We are currently in the process of editing the filmed Dress Rehearsal. An email will go out upon its completion, and POP families will have access to the link of the performance, which you can enjoy at any time! We can’t wait to share it with you soon!

 

 

Teacher Feature

 

Meet our fabulous Teaching Artists!

Each week we will shine a spotlight one of the
18 teachers on our St. Francis team.

We are so lucky to have each and every one of them here at POP!

Tessa Ellis

 

Tessa Ellis is the Exploratory Music teaching artist at St. Francis de Sales. She completed a Bachelor’s of Music degree and a Community Artist Fellowship at the Curtis Institute of Music. During her fellowship, Tessa taught general music to pre-K students at Cramp Elementary School and she was thrilled to have the opportunity to keep working with young children through Play On, Philly! Tessa is also on faculty for the Settlement Music School, where she teaches Children’s Music Playshop to students ages six months – three years. In her classroom, she plays the baritone ukelele and sings, but her primary instrument is the trumpet. Tessa is a founding member of the Arcana New Music Ensemble and the Opus Five Brass Quintet, and performs as a freelancer throughout the greater Philadelphia area. She won first place in two divisions of the National Trumpet Competition, won second place at an International Trumpet Guild competition, and was a finalist at the Ellsworth-Smith International Trumpet Competition in 2016. Tessa became a mother this past September, with the birth of her (10 pound 5 ounce!) son, named Luigi.

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

ALL UPCOMING POP EVENTS ARE CANCELLED
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

 

POP is currently scheduled to resume on MONDAY, APRIL 13. 
Any changes to this and other information will be emailed out promptly by your Site Coordinator or the POP Leadership Team.

 

Be well, stay healthy, stay inside!

 

-Ms. Allie

 

St. Francis weekly newsletter

Posted: Tuesday, March 17

 

           The Buzz 

What’s POPpin at St. Francis?

General Updates & Reminders

INTRODUCING THE POP FAMILY PORTAL!

The POP Family Portal is officially live! All POP families can access this portal at any time to view information for both your site and POP in general. The portal can now be used to make payments, access the weekly newsletter (blog) and online musical resources, view site and POP-wide calendars and upcoming events, and more!

How to access the POP Family Portal:

  1. Go to www.playonphilly.org (bookmark this site if you haven’t already!)
  2. Click on ‘POP Family’ (tabs across top of the screen: ‘About’, ‘Programs’, ‘How we work’, etc)
  3. Type in password: popfamily

 

To view the weekly St. Francis newsletter (which is now called a blog):

  1. Click the ‘POP Family Blog‘ box
  2. Click ‘SFDS’ blog. 

 

I will still send out a weekly email with a link to each individual blog post.

 

REGISTER FOR POP SUMMER CAMP 
Registration for POP Summer Programming is still open. Now is a great time to secure your spot with us this summer (limited spots remaining!) Click the link below to fill out a registration form online and read more about summer programming at POP! 

POP SUMMER CAMP – CLICK HERE

Registration Deadline: March 31

 

PAYMENT REMINDER
All outstanding balances are due at this time. Visit the FAMILY PORTAL to make a payment online (checks/money orders are still accepted in person).

 

Teacher Feature

 

Meet our fabulous Teaching Artists!

Each week we will shine a spotlight one of the
18 teachers on our St. Francis team.

We are so lucky to have each and every one of them here at POP!

 

Caleb Wiebe

Caleb Wiebe, a trumpeter from Philadelphia, has performed professionally with the International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico, with organist Clara Gerdes at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, and with members of the American Brass Quintet at the Aspen Music Festival. While attending Curtis Institute of Music, he and his colleagues won first prize at the National Trumpet Competition in the trumpet ensemble division. During his time as a founding member of The Brass Project, Caleb performed at Santa Fe Pro Musica, at National Sawdust in Brooklyn, and at Music from Angel Fire, and premiered over thirty works written for the ensemble. Their debut album, “Cityscaping,” released in December 2018. Caleb received his bachelor’s degree at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. He continued his studies at the Colburn School in Los Angeles before earning an Artist Diploma at the Curtis Institute of Music

 

Upcoming Events

 

ALL UPCOMING POP EVENTS ARE CANCELLED
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

POP is scheduled to resume on MONDAY, APRIL 13.

 

Updates/changes will be sent out regularly by our staff.

Please keep your eyes open for emails and texts!

 

Be well, stay healthy, stay inside!

-Ms. Allie