December News

Here it is: the last newsletter of the year! Because our concert is just around the corner, I am trying to answer any questions you may have in this newsletter. Of course, if your still uncertain about anything, please feel free to call or e-mail me.
Invitation to the concert-
I have created an e-vite for our concert. Here is the link: http://new.evite.com/services/links/NMGHBU2DWT
Please feel free to add as many of your friends and family as you would like to the guest list. They will receive the e-vite in the e-mail. Quick, simple, green, done.
December 1- Regular class/tuition+and remaining balance due
We will be running the whole concert from top to bottom during our last couple of classes. That will include all speaking parts and solos/duets. Please have your child prepared with their speaking part memorized. We won’t have time to learn their parts. We will go over delivery and timing and enunciation. If you would like to pop in to the class room the last 10/15 minutes, that would be great. We could use an audience.
Also, I will be handing out all costumes! Yay! The Tiny’s new costume comes with a red sparkly headband. You can put it in your childs hair however you like. If you wear it as a headband, make sure that you add bobby pins so that it won’t go flying across the stage. =0) If you chose to use it as a scrunchy, just make sure that it secure and won’t fall out.
December 3- PERFORMANCE!!!
Harbins elementary
Breakfast with Santa
3550 New Hope Road
Dacula, GA 30019
Time: 9:00- 10:00ish
Wear your costume. Harbins has lots of fun crafts and activities available at their Breakfast with Santa. Tickets can be purchased for these activities upon entering the school. You do not have to pay to come in unless you want to do the crafts or eat breakfast.
We will sing about half of the music from our concert. We will not use any props or deliver any speaking parts. If we are singing a song that has a solo, the soloist WILL perform their part.
December 7- PERFORMANCE!
The Bridge Assisted Living Center
220 Collins Industrial Way
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Time: 6:00PM- 7:00ish
The format for this performance is very much the same as for the Breakfast with Santa. Wear your costume, no speaking parts.
We go to this same assisted living center before every one of our concerts. The Grandmas and Grandpas there LOVE our kids. After we sing they will want to talk with them and enjoy their fun personalities. For some of my kids it’s great and they love it. For others, not so much. I’ll let you decide for your own child if you want to encourage them to interact with the residents or just head out.
December 8- Last Regular class- All accounts should have a $0 balance
Same format as the 1st. If you would like to come in the last 10/15 minutes, be my guest.
If all of the Dads and brothers that are participating in the specialty song could be to class it would be great. Y’all have been so good.
December 16- Blocking Rehearsal
Collins Hill High School
50 Taylor Road
Suwanee, GA 30024
Time: 6:00-7:00 (everyone)
6:00-7:30 (Harmonics, if Dads/brothers that are participating in the specialty could be there the last 10 min, I would be so grateful)
This is a technical run through of our concert. It helps the kids learn how to get on and off the stage, where the stand/sit, if they have a costume change they will learn where to go for that as well. It is not an optional rehearsal. It is very important that every child is present so that we can get the spacing on the stage just right.
December 17- Dress Rehearsal
Collins Hill High School
Time: 10:00- 11:30
Everyone should wear their full costume. Having hair and make-up done is not important. This will be a complete run through of our costume. We will use props, costume changes, speaking parts… the whole caboodle. I do not allow parents to stay in the theater unless they are a “helper parent” or are unable to attend the concert that evening.
December 17- CONCERT!
Collins Hill High School
Time: 6:30- Kids arrive ready to go
7:00- Comin’ Up Christmas time
When you bring your child into the school for the concert, please stop by the restroom and encourage them to go. Little tummies get butterflies and they almost every time will need to go. Make sure their hair is pulled away from their face so that we can see their beautiful eyes and smiles. The stage lights are harsh. A little mascara, blush, and lipstick help define facial features on stage. It does not have to be over the top. Just a little to help outline their natural features.
If you have them change from their outside shoes to their ballets or jazz shoes, please hold their regular shoe at YOUR seat. That goes for coats and jackets as well. They will be up and down the whole concert and we don’t want them tripping over anything that we can prevent.
The seating in the theater is first come first serve. There will plenty of room for everyone. Just a hint, the best seats are about half way back. That is where the speakers are.
Santa has not missed a TaVaci Christmas concert yet! He is planning to attend. So, put on your holiday best and come visit with Santa. He will be taking last minute requests, as long as you’ve had a good year, that is.
Bring along your video camera and shoot away. I will ask that you turn the light off of your camera. It’s distracting to our performers to see a random light in the sea of blackness.
Still cameras are fine for before and after the concert. But, the flashing during the concert is hard for them to deal with. If you could wait to snap your photos until after, we would appreciate it.
December 18- January 11- Break
Enjoy your Christmas holiday. We will resume classes the first FULL week of school. Which is really their second week back. I like to let them get their grove on in school before adding TaVaci back into the picture.
January 12- TaVaci starts!!!
It’s a whole new year. New music, games, dances, and friends.
This is a great time to invite any of your friends that are interested in joining us to come along.
Bump in the road-
They say the only constant in this life is change. Well, here we go. The gym has decided to use their dance room for… gymnastics. How rude. I guess it is their building and they can do with it what they want, but it does put us out of a class room.
We have two options:
1- We can go back to the Masonic lodge. They have been dying to get us back. They have a nice big room and it’s available. But, it’s cold and a little dirty.
2- We can use the dance room in my basement. It’s a little smaller than what we’re used to, but I think it will be fine. I live very close to Harbins elementary.
I don’t want to lose any of my students. I know that some of you travel a long way. So, time how long it takes for you to get to Harbins this weekend, add in time for traffic and let me know if it will work for you. I know that some of you have signed up for gymnastics classes right before or after TaVaci. That was so convenient. I’m so sorry to throw a kink in your way. I’m hoping that they have a class on a different day that will work for you.
I’m leaning toward holding class at my house. But, again, if you have strong feelings one way or another please let me know.
Thank You-
Thank you for letting me be a part of your childs life. They mean so much to me. We have all kinds of fun together in class. Teaching TaVaci lets me use a side of my personality that I don’t get to use anywhere else. If they have come home telling you some crazy story about Esther and I, it’s probably true. We have more crazy silly fun than an adult is allowed to enjoy. So, thank you. I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas. This time of year helps me reflect on the things I am thankful for. You and your kids are right up at the top of my list.
Call Me-
If it’s an emergency, call 911.
If it’s a question that you have that has not been answered in this super long newsletter, call me.
Home- 770-237-0647
Cell-770-480-4491
betsyga@bellsouth.net
spotlightkids@shasouth.com

November News

I’m thankful for: electricity, indoor plumbing, my family, your kids and music. This is a big month at TaVaci so read the calendar closely to make sure you don’t miss anything.
Costumes:
All costumes have been ordered! As soon as they come in I will send them home with your child. They get SO excited about their costumes, but please don’t let them play in them. We want them to look nice and new when we get on the stage.
Remember that you are responsible for part of your childs costume.
Boys need: black dress slacks, black dress socks, & black dress shoes.
Tiny Tune girls need: black ballet shoes, white footless opaque tights (Justice brand are really nice and thick, Walmart has some as well. As long as their opaque and not shiny I’m good)
Harmonic Tune girls need: black socks, & black jazz shoes
PROPS:
You will notice the prop fee has been added to your statement this month. All of my kids will be getting a red shiny Santa hat ($5). My Harmonic Tunes will be getting Maracas ($5), and a book ($2) in addition to the Santa hat. So, the Tiny’s prop fee is $5, and the Harmonic’s prop fee is $12.
Performance Fee:
Also added to this month’s tuition is the performance fee. This money helps me rent the theater and hire a sound and light crew for the concert.
Solos/Speaking Parts/Specialties:
Last week we held try-outs for solos. Every one of my friends were fantastic. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of solos in each concert. Having said that, each child will have a special part whether it is a solo, specialty or speaking part. I hope that everyone is pleased with the parts that they get.
Speaking Parts:
If your child received a speaking part, please help them memorize it. Most of the parts are a joke. If your child doesn’t “get it”, explain it to them. It’s easier to tell a joke if you understand why it’s funny. Practice saying the part with expression and enthusiasm. Have your child stand in front of the mirror and say their part. They’re ALWAYS more expressive when they can see what they look like. Plus it’s funny to stand back and watch the silly things they do in front of a mirror. Grab your video camera and let it roll.
Boys Specialty:
Thank you to all of the dads and brothers that volunteered to help us out with this song. I neglected to assign the female actresses that I need for this number. They will be all of my 3rd grade girls as well as a few additional surprise actresses that you may recognize. I may need some help collecting props for my actresses. I’ll let you know specifics as soon as I can. All of my actresses need to plan on attending the specialty rehearsals. Dads and brothers should just learn the music at home. We will ask everyone to be to the last class rehearsal, Dec. 8th, as well as the dress rehearsal. Again, thank you so much for your help.
Video Slide Show:

Our Christmas concert includes a slide show. Every year I fight with myself about how to make it fun for the kids to watch. This year I want to do a video slide show. I want each of the kids to tell me about a funny thing they asked Santa for or something weird that he gave them OR their favorite TaVaci or caroling memory OR a light the lights, decorating type of memory or tradition. Their stories or memories should be short 10 sec or so. I will bring my video camera to class next week! So, help your child practice telling about their memory. I will be cute.

Calendar of Events:
Nov. 3- tuition/prop/performance fee due
Speaking parts go home
Specialty rehearsals begin
Tinys- 5:15-5:30
Monks- 6:15-6:30
Boys- 7:15-7:30Nov.24- No TaVaci- Thanksgiving Dec. 1- tuition dueDec. 3- Breakfast with Santa (Harbins Elementary) OR Grayson Ward Christmas Party Times TBA
Dec. 7 Performance at The Bridge Assisted Living Center6:00- arrive6:30-7:00- perform
Dec. 8- Last regular classDec. 16- Blocking rehearsal- Collins Hill High School
6:00-7:00 (everyone)
6:00-7:30 (Harmonics)
Dec. 17- Dress Rehearsal- CHHS
10:00-11:30 (full costume no hair or make-up)
Dec. 17- TaVaci School of Performing Arts Presents:Comin’ Up Christmas Time
6:30- kids arrive ready to go
7:00- 8:00- Comin’Up Christmas TimeCollins Hill High School

I was trying to be so on top of my ball game last week. I went over to the studio and set everything up. Being such a smarty, I forgot my account book at the studio. So, I was unable to send home statements last week. SORRY. So, if you need to wait until next Thursday to pay your tuition, it's all good.

TAVACI TRIVIA:

Tiny Tunes: sing to me the 2nd verse of "Hoofin' It": Come of reindeer......

Harmonic Tunes: sing to me the 1st verse of "Comin' Up Christmas Time"

any student that can complete me challenge next week (Nov. 10) will recieve a special treat.