April Newsletter

My closet is getting over crowded with props and costumes. So, we must be getting close to concert time! Yay!
As we draw closer to performance time practices become super important. We have almost completed learning all of our material. The next few weeks will be cleaning and polishing. Please make every effort to be to class each week. I realize that things come up and there may be a day that you have a conflict. That’s OK, but other than that le’ts hang out on Thursdays.
I’m, going to attempt to answer any questions that you may have about the concert. If I miss one, please feel free to shoot me an e-mail: betsyga@bellsouth.net

Costumes
Costumes are in…kind of.
Tiny Tunes are complete and have been sent home with your child today. Please have your child try it on to make sure it fits. If anything needs to be adjusted let me know ASAP.
I didn’t super love the scarves on the Tiny’s at the Christmas concert so I have sent home a red silk flower with your child today. Please use this bow instead of the sarf. Having said that, please hold on to the scarf. I may decide to use it as a neck tie in one of our numbers.

Harmonic tunes costumes are where the “kind of” comes in. Their shirts, shrugs, and ribbons are here. But, the jazz pants won’t be here for two more weeks. I decided to send the rest of the costume home today. (Did I mention that I can’t walk into my closet?) As soon as the jazz pants get here I will send them home with your child. Please remember that the pants WILL be too long. They will need to be hemmed.

Solos
Solo try-outs were held today during class. I hope all of you received the e-mail that I sent with the words to the solos attached. I will announce the solos next week. Sometimes I decide to do a duet or tri in place of a solo. I try to be fair. Some kids are more confident and can hold the notes if they sing with a friend or two.

Speaking Parts
I will send home the speaking part assignments with your kids next week. I wanted to wait until after the solo try-outs to assign speaking parts. These speaking parts need to be memorized. They need to be able to deliver them with the right inflection. Most of them are jokes. I usually have to explain to the kids why they are funny. So, if your child doesn’t “get” the joke please explain it to them.

Props
We will start practicing with some of our props during class. Sometimes the kids are sad that I won’t let them have their props. I will let them have their props but not until after the concert. If your baby is sad please help them understand that I have to keep them all together until after our show. Then, by all means, they can have their props. I certainly don’t need 30 fedora hats.

Calendar
April 12- Tuition/Performance fee due/Specialty fee (if applicable)
April 19- Speaking Parts go home
May 3- Tuition Due
May 9- Performance- Bridge Assisted Living Center
220 Collins Industrial Way
Lawrenceville, GA 30043(678) 377-8191
- 6:00- arrive
- 6:30-7:00- perform
May 10- Last Regular Class
May 18- Blocking Rehearsal- Collins Hill High
- 6:00-7:00 (everyone)-6:00-7:30 (Harmonics)
I’ll try to be prompt, but the Harmonics do have some difficult staging.
May 19- Dress Rehearsal
- 9:30-11:30 (full costume no hair or make-up)
May 19- TaVaci School of Performing Arts
Presents: This is Our Moment
6:30- kids arrive ready to go
7:00- 8:00This is Our Moment
May 23- Last day of School
May 26- Memorial Day Parade

What are YOU in charge of?
Tiny Tune Girls- Every little girl needs white footless tights and black ballet shoes. Even if you were here in December, check your tights for holes or runs. Also, make certain that your ballets still fit. Nothing is worse than squished toesies.
Boys- You need black slacks, black socks, and black shoes. Please make sure that your pants fit (no floods). We really need to make sure that your socks are black. Espescially the older boys, white socks will glow brightly in our black light number.
Harmonic tune girls- You will need black socks (again with the black light number) and black jazz shoes.
All Harmonic tunes- Each of you will need a bath robe for the Mom Song. Make sure that it has a pocket and a tie.
Tiny Tunes Specialty- Each of you will need a plain pink leotard.

I guess that will do it for now. If I think of anything else I will send a note home with your kids. Which by the way, your kids are fantastic. I love them all so much. They keep me smiling all week long. Thank you for sharing them with me.

March Newsletter

Ok. Here we go.
Costumes
Costumes have been ordered! Yay! As soon as they get here I will send them home with your kiddos. Please have them try them on to make sure they fit just right. My Harmonic tunes (3rd-7th graders) should remember that the jazz pants WILL be too long. You will have to hem them. You will most likely want to leave some length in the hem to let them down later. I don’t know how it happens, but these kids can grow 5 inches in a week.
If you already have a costume, PLEASE try it on. If something needs to be changed, let me know ASAP.
Props$10
This concert has several props. Many I will order and have for the kids at the concert or in class so that we can practice with them. The tiny’s (pre-k-2nd grade) will have a fedora hat, and a navy baseball hat. The Harmonic’s (grades 3-7) will have gloves, a few things for their MOM song, & a color block.
These are the props that I’ll get. I need a little help with the harmonics. In the “mom song”. I would like to see all of my kids wearing a bath robe. Please look around. Don’t go buy anything new. I’m sure between all of us we can come up with enough. They need to be small enough that the kids won’t trip over them. They need to have a pocket and a belt tie.
CD’s
Last week I sent a CD home with your child. Please let your child listen to it over and over and over again. Sure it will drive you crazy. Sure you may start cursing my name. But, watch out, your kids are going to be AWESOME in May. If you got a defective CD, let me know, I’ll get you a replacement.
Specialties
The tiny tune specialty involves 8 girls. It is a 1920’s song about Singin’ In the Bathtub. It is such a cute number. The girls will need you to get them: a light pink leotard. I will get them everything else. The cost for the additional costume/props will be $8. I will add this to your April Tuition statement.
The harmonic tunes specialty is a cute song that involves all of the harmonic girls. Half of them will be singing about how they’re in love! The other half will be singing about how ridiculous it is that their friends are in love. The ones that are in love will be holding a picture of their “crush”. The cost for the additional costume/props will be $5. I will add this to your April tuition statement. Calendar
March 1- Tuition/costume/prop due CD’s go home
March 8- specialty practice begins
April 5- NO TAVACI- SPRING BREAK
April 12- Tuition/Performance fee due/Specialty fee (if applicable)
May 3- Tuition Due
May 10- Last Regular Class
May 18- Blocking Rehearsal- Collins Hill High
May 19- Dress Rehearsal AM/ Concert PM
May 23- Last day of School
May 26- Memorial Day Parade

February

I'm running...running...running behind!!! Sorry this newsletter is late! I may be running slow but your kids are keeping schedule just fine. Things at TaVaci are great. The new location is working out OK. It's not perfect, but it's not horrible.
The music for this concert is so fun. Our tiny tunes are having a blast learning the Phineas and Ferb music, and the Harmonics are rockin' out to Grease. Look for more fun this month.

If you are new to TaVaci, your child should have been fitted for a concert last week. If you weren't there or for some reason that didn't happen, I will bring the costumes again next week. You will find the costume fee added to your March tuition.
The break down for costume pricing is as follows.
Tiny Tunes Girls $75-
*sparkly dress
*black bike shorts
*black netting skirt
*ribbon for hair
You need to purchase a pair of white footless tights, and black ballet shoes

All Boys $35
*Black button down shirt $25
*red neck tie $10
You need to purchase black slacks, black socks, black church shoes

Harmonic Girls $62
*Black layering shirt-$14
*red sequin shrug-$20
*Black jazz pants-$25
*ribbon for hair-$3
You need to purchase black socks and black jazz shoes

Calendar of Events
February 9- Esther flying solo/Betsy supporting daughter in her debut as "The Magic Carpet" in Alladin!
March 1- Tuition/costume/prop due CD’s go home
March 8- specialty practice begins
April 5- NO TAVACI- SPRING BREAK
April 12- Tuition/Performance fee due
May 3- Tuition Due
May 10- Last Regular Class
May 18- Blocking Rehearsal- Collins Hill High
May 19- Dress Rehearsal AM/ Concert PM
May 23- Last day of School
May 26- Memorial Day Parade

I think that covers it for now. Thank you for your patience. Your kids are super. We love every one of them.

January

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday. We were super busy at our house enjoying being together as a family and celebrating the joy of Christmas together.
The new year brings a lot of “new” for TaVaci.
New Location: Please check the blog: spotlightkids.com for the address for our new practice location. For those of you who have been with us you will remember the Masonic Lodge. It’s an “antique” building right in Down town Dacula. When I called them to ask if we could come back, they told me that we always have a home with them. I thought it was very sweet. With the new location comes a few things to remember:
-shoes must be worn to class. As I mentioned in the other post the floor stays cold all year round because it’s concrete. With that in mind, help our little one choose shoes that are easy to dance in. Flip-Flops always cause trouble.
-The lodge is a big, open, echoy (is that even a real word?) room. Because of the acustics, I will ask that parents and family wait outside. The parking has been changed around the lodge. So, be careful that you park on the correct side of the street =). Because the doors lead right out to the road, I will have Ms. Esther bring the kids to the door at the end of class. Please be there waiting. I don’t want any of my friends running out into the road.
-I always tell my friends to come “hang out with me” if they don’t see their parents right away. If you could just let Esther know that you are there I would appreciate it. I don’t want to lose anyone.
New Music: All of our material is new. It’s kind of sad, but we won’t be singing any of our Christmas songs again. But, keep the CD. I know all of my friends love to remember their TaVaci Christmas songs year after year. I have kids come up to me long after our concerts and tell me that they still listen to their cd’s. So, fun. I know that our kids will love this new music.
New Friends: We have several new friends and siblings joining us for the spring. Welcome. We can’t wait to get to know you and share our fun with you. If you have a friend that has been thinking about TaVaci or wondering what in the world you’re talking about, January is a great time to bring them along. I’m totally fine with that.
New Calendar: We will add dates to this calendar as they become available, but I wanted to let you know a few key dates right away.
January 12th- TaVaci Starts- New location/Tuition due $35
February 2- Tuition due/costume fittings (new students only)
March 1- Tuition due/ CD’s go home
March 8- specialty practice begins
April 5- NO TAVACI- SPRING BREAK
April 12- Tuition/Performance fee due
May 3- Tuition Due
May 10- Last Regular Class
May 18- Blocking Rehearsal- Collins Hill High
May 19- Dress Rehearsal AM/ Concert PM
May 23- Last day of School
May 26- Memorial Day Parade
This is a rough draft and things will be added, but hopefully it gives you a point of reference.
I’m excited for the new year. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you for helping me do what I love,
Betsy Baugh
770-480-4491

location! location! Location!

I got so excited at the concert about how incredible our kids performed that I forgot to make the "location" announcement.
because of it's more central location, we will be holding our classes at the Masonic Lodge in Dacula. I can't find an exact address for the lodge! I know, that's odd. But,the bike shop a couple doors downs address is: 2493 2nd avenue. Dacula, GA 30019. If you're facing the buildings, the lodge is 2 or 3 doors to the right from the bike shop. It's a big white brick building with pillars.
A couple of things To keep in mind. The lodge has concrete floors. So, I won't allow the kids to take off their shoes. I'll go down earlier each Thursday to make sure it's warm, but the floor is ALWAYS cold. I don't want any of my friends to get "cold feet" so shoes must stay on.
It's not the perfect solution, but it works. All we really need is a big room and an outlet.
Our kids are amazing and I'm still smiling about our concert. The new material is exciting. The kids are going to love it.
REMEMBER,CLASSES START NEXT WEEK! Don't come this Thursday, we won't be there.
I can't wait to hear about everyone's vacation. But, I'm also excited to start our new music.
See you next week!

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.