TJS Information

Training in ensemble playing through musicianship classes, individual coaching and orchestral playing in a chamber music style.

Six levels of orchestra organized with a progressive system of technical requirements. In each rehearsal of a Sinfonia III or Sinfonia II level orchestra, all members will participate in full rehearsal plus sectional rehearsal.

Three chamber orchestras do guest appearances in the community. The upper Chamber orchestras ~ Chamber II, and Chamber I ~ perform out of town. Chamber I takes a seven to eight day tour each spring.

Each orchestra meets once per week and performs in a TJS concert at the conclusion of the 12-week session.

Leadership Skills
One of the main benefits of TJS is that it encourages individual responsibility. All TJS orchestras learn to play without a conductor. During the first five or six weeks Mr. Bourret conducts the orchestras through rehearsal, however, as soon as the music has been “learned”, each orchestra is taught to play the selections without a conductor and the leaders are the first chairs of each section.

There is also no assigned seating within the first three orchestras (Sinfonias III, II, and I) and each player is encouraged to sit as “first chair” to lead their section — and in the case of first chair first violin, to lead the orchestra. Because each violinist must meet the same technical requirement, there is no assigned first or second violin section. Every violin player plays a first violin and a second violin selection. Even the violas and cellos get the opportunity to lead the orchestra as well as their section when their section starts a piece!

An Incentive
Because TJS is structured according to technical ability rather than by age or grade, and because players have to learn certain technical skills on their instrument in order to pass from one orchestra to the next, there is an incentive to learn — by working hard in their school orchestra program and learning those skills offered by their school orchestra director and if their family has the means to do so, by taking private lessons and working with a teacher to learn the new skills needed to meet the technical requirements of the next orchestra.

Processing Skills
A benefit from studying music which helps in all fields (and, incidentally, is fast becoming a feature looked for by employers and college recruiters) is the processing skill which come about from learning to practice a musical instrument.

Tours
TJS tours are working tours — they serve the purpose of teaching our members how to react to playing under different circumstances (different stages, very small audiences and packed houses, playing out-of-doors, climate changes, tight schedules, etc.). Tour also gives each orchestra a chance to perform their program several times in succession therefore providing the opportunity of gaining a performance edge — and, besides that, they are fun!!

Rehearsals for the Sinfonia orchestras and Junior Chamber are held on Saturday mornings at
Lutheran Church of the King
2450 South Kolb Road
(between 22nd and Golf Links on the west side of the Road)

Eastside Sinfonia 3
tuning at 7:50
full rehearsal - 8:00 to 8:30
sectionals - 8:30 to 9:00

Eastside Sinfonia 2
tuning at 8:15
full rehearsal - 8:30 to 9:15
sectionals - 9:15 to 9:45

Eastside Sinfonia 1
tuning at 9:00
full rehearsal - 9:15 to 10:00
sectionals - 10:00 to 10:45

Junior Chamber
tuning at 9:45
full rehearsal 10:00 to 11:00
sectionals - 11:00 to 11:45
Junior Chamber parents, PLEASE pick up your child BEFORE 12 Noon
as staff must leave location to drive to the northwest rehearsal location AND get lunch.
Thank you for your cooperation.

Eastside Chamber II rehearses on Tuesday evenings at
First Church of the Brethren
201 North Columbus Boulevard
(two blocks north of Broadway on the west side of the street)
tuning: 6:50
full rehearsal - 7:00 to 8:10
sectionals - 8:15 to 9:15

Chamber I rehearses on Monday evenings at
First Church of the Brethren
201 North Columbus Boulevard
(two blocks north of Broadway on the west side of the street)
tuning: 6:50
full rehearsal - 7:00 to 8:10
sectionals - 8:15 to 9:15

NORTHWEST TJS

The Northwest TJS is comprised of Sinfonia III, Sinfonia II and Sinfonia I, and Chamber II orchestras.
Junior Chamber rehearses only at Lutheran Church of the King and Chamber I rehearses only at First Church of the Brethren.

Rehearsals for NW Sinfonia III, NW Sinfonia II and NW Sinfonia I are held on Saturday afternoons at
St. Odilia Catholic Church
7570 North Paseo del Norte (the SOUTHEAST corner in the Library)

Northwest Sinfonia 3
tuning at 12:50
full rehearsal - 1:00 to 1:30
sectionals - 1:30 to 2:00

Northwest Sinfonia 2
tuning at 1:15
full rehearsal - 1:30 to 2:15
sectionals - 2:15 to 2:45

Northwest Sinfonia 1
tuning at 2:00
full rehearsal - 2:15 to 3:00
sectionals - 3:00 to 3:45
Northwest Sinfonia 1 parents, PLEASE pick up your child BEFORE 4:00
We must leave the premises by 4:00 to get to our next appointment.
Thank you for your cooperation.

Northwest Chamber II rehearses on Thursday evenings at
Community of Christ Church
1111 West Ina
tuning: 6:50
full rehearsal - 7:00 to 8:10
sectionals - 8:15 to 9:15