Kristi Hatch
SJHS Staff Writer

You always hear about Honor Choirs and Marching Bands, or in other words, extra-curricular activities for band and choir members.  But this year, Nebo School District has put together an Honor Orchestra.  Each school had about ten or twelve students who got to go to Springville High School on Thursday, January 21st to participate in this program.

These students were under the direction of Dr. Dabczynski, a professor at Brigham Young University.  They only had two rehearsals to get their music perfected before their concert: a four-hour rehearsal on the 21st, and an all-day practice on the 26th, and then they returned for a concert that night at 7:00.

Ten students from Springville Jr. were able to participate in this great opportunity.   Caryn Crandall, a violinist, said, “I thought it would be a good experience and look good on my college application.”   Honor Orchestra was a great place to make new friends from other schools, learn new music, and to have fun.

The students really enjoyed the conductor. “[Dr. Dabczynski was] very professional and organized,” said Mark Singleton, a cellist.  Elizabeth Elliott, a violinist, also said, “He’s an amazingly cool and talented person.”

This experience was definitely different than the normal orchestra experience.  They had about 72 people participating, so it was definitely a bigger sound. “The Honor Orchestra is a lot larger than the Springville Junior High Orchestra,” said Elizabeth Elliott.  This was also a great experience to meet new friends and associate with other young musicians their age.  Caryn Crandall remarked, “You get to meet new people and you only get to rehearse together for a few hours.”

Dr. Sam Tsugawa plays along with the junior high orchestra.

Sarah Jensen
SJHS Staff Writer

January 20th is the first concert of the year for Springville Junior High’s eighth and ninth grade orchestras. They will play many different songs. Alex Hawker, a seventh grader in the eighth-grade orchestra, said, “We will play six songs, and one we learned it without any music!” Dr. Tsugawa is the director of these orchestras. Students in his eighth-grade orchestra think he is funny. According to Yamina Castro, Dr. Tsugawa teaches music concepts well and jokes with them.

In orchestra, the students learn many songs and do music theory. Dr. Tsugawa helps them with everything they do. Alex Hawker said, “Dr. Tsugawa is nice and funny. He makes learning theory fun and exciting.”

Yamina Castro’s favorite part of being in orchestra is “being able to play with many different parts and harmonies at the same time to make beautiful music.” They play songs called Frolic, Fiddles Down Under, Joust, Nightrider, Ashgrove, and Two English Dances. Remember, the concert is on January 20th at 8:00 p.m.

Hayde Blanco
SJHS Staff Writer

Dr. Sam Tsugawa conducts the Springville High School folk ensemble, which meets every Thursday after school.  This program is mainly for high school students, but two Springville Junior High students are involved. Emily Daybell and Dylan Larsen both play the bass. Anyone in the high school can join. All they have to do is show up.

Members of the folk ensemble play violins, fiddles, basses, mandolins, and banjos. They play Bluegrass, Irish and Folk music. They use no music and play by ear. Dr. Tsugawa said, “We add on more and more as long as it sounds good.” Dylan said, “I like all the music that we play.”

Kalin Stewart takes a playing test using Smart Music.

Christopher Taylor
SJHS Staff Writer

One of the hardest and scariest things about orchestra and band class is taking playing tests.  A playing test is when a student plays a specific song for the teacher, and the teacher grades on how well that student has played.  Dr. Samuel Tsugawa’s orchestra classes at SJHS have a new way of doing playing tests.  They record their playing tests on a computer, and then send them to Dr. Tsugawa using the Internet. This is done using a program called Smart Music.

Smart Music not only records students when they play, but it shows students how well they have done before they send the piece to Dr. Tsugawa.  Students can get the music online or Dr. Tsugawa can scan music into the computer.  Then, when students play, it shows red notes for notes played incorrectly, green notes for notes played correctly, and notes that were not played at all are black. It also plays the sounds of the rest of the orchestra. According to Dr. Tsugawa, this is very useful because students can hear everyone else and know if they are right or wrong. He also likes Smart Music because “I am able to listen to and correct playing tests on my own time, and I can see mistakes more easily.” Another bonus feature of Smart Music: It contains a metronome and a tuner to help you practice rhythm and intonation correctly.

Many students enjoy using Smart Music, and prefer it to the old way of doing playing tests.  Quinn Alleman, a ninth grader in the orchestra program, said, “It’s nice because there are no other people watching you, and it makes practicing at home more fun.”  Reid Dwiggins, an eighth grader who uses Smart Music, said, “It’s great because you don’t have to bring your music home.” It is even useful for kids who don’t wish to buy the program. Dr. Tsugawa has set up several computers for students to take playing tests during class time and before school.  Alexis Fischer, an eighth grader in orchestra, said that she likes this because “We don’t have to play in front of the class.” However, there are some drawbacks to this way of doing playing tests. According to her, you don’t get quite as much time on Smart Music as you would like.  But, all in all, Smart Music is a great way to take playing tests and practice.

Mr. Tsugawa teaches his 8th grade orchestra class.

Julie Barbosa
SJHS Staff Writer

Have you ever wandered through the halls and heard the beautiful melody of the violin? Or perhaps the viola, cello, of bass? Here at Springville Junior High, hearing an instrument isn’t hard to come by.

Mr. Tsugawa not only teaches 96 students at the junior high, but he also teaches many more students at Springville High School. For 21 years he’s been busy spending half days at both schools, and the students have nothing bad to say. Eighth Grader Hayde Blanco said, “He’s really fun, there are lots of things to love about orchestra.”

Mr. Tsugawa is well known for his fun songs and teaching skills. Orchestra is one of the few classes were no text books are needed, so this class isn’t hard to love. Ninth Grader Elizabeth Elloit, who has been playing the violin for four years, said, “His class is really fun and we learn a lot.” With his European Melodies and American songs, students learn a lot about different cultures and religions.

The orchestra students have a lot to look forward and prepare for because every two to four years high school orchestra students have the opportunity to perform at California’s Disneyland. This opportunity helps encourage students to work and have the chance to perform at a real stage.

Jennfer Darlenne Galindo Enriquez
SJHS Staff Writer

The spotlight is on the Director of the Orchestra, Samuel Tsugawa, who has been teaching since 1987. He has enjoyed making music at both Springville Junior High and High School. “He’s outgoing, and not afraid of anything. He’s nice and very awesome,” Hayde Blanco, an orchestra student said. “I enjoyed making music all through junior high and high school. This experience in high school made me make up my mind to become a music teacher,” Mr. Tsugawa said.

Mr. Tsugawa attended Brigham Young University and graduated in 1987. His first teaching job was in Hawaii, and then he moved back to Utah. He started teaching at Springville Junior High School and Springville High School in 1989.

“I like coming up with new ideas to help students learn and love music,” Mr.Tsugawa said.  Students appreciate Mr. Tsugawa and all that he teaches them. “Mr. Tsugawa is really funny. He likes to joke around a lot. He makes boring music really fun. He is a cool teacher,” said Sarah Jensen, another orchestra student.

Mr. Tsugawa grew up in Hawaii where no ethnic group made a majority at school. Mr. Tsugawa loves that there are a lot of different types of people at Springville Junior High School. “They learn to get along. It’s cool having so many types of friends,” said Mr. Tsugawa.

“Teaching was a great career choice,” said Mr. Tsugawa. Mr. Tsugawa spends at least 10 hours a day at school, planning lessons, practicing instruments, or doing homework. He also gets along with students but, he feels sorry for students who are not respectful, he thinks they will not reach their potential they could have and should try harder. “Most students turn out smart and respectful,” said Mr. Tsugawa.

The SJHS Chamber orchestra preparing to go on stage at the festival.

Robin Anderson
SJHS Staff Writer

The orchestras at Springville Junior High School busily prepared all last week for the Utah Valley University (UVU) festival on Wednesday May 6th.  They traveled to UVU and stayed there all day to perform in the district-wide festival.  The festival was held in the Regan Theatre in the Sorensen Center on UVU campus.

There are three orchestras at SJHS. They are the beginning orchestra, (The Young Artists) intermediate orchestra, (Sinfonia), and the advanced orchestra, (the Chamber Orchestra).  All three orhestras attended the festival.

According to Mr. Sam Tsugawa, the orchestra teacher at SJHS, the students did very well in the festival. “They were all very well prepared, especially the Young Artists. They have improved in both staying in tune and staying together.”

The orchestra students arrived at UVU, performed, and listened to other orchestras in the district. “It’s was so much fun hearing how we sounded compared to other schools.  Lots of the time, we sounded much better!” said Carli Sorenson, a student in the Chamber orchestra.

Emily Regan
SJHS Staff Writer

On April 29th Springville Junior High School and Mapleton Junior High School combined their efforts for a spectacular orchestra concert. Held in the SJHS auditorium, students from both junior highs came to play and be conducted under one teacher. There were a total of 85 students on stage, being led by Springville Junior High’s own Mr. Samuel Tsugawa and Mapleton Junior High’s Mrs. Deanne Helquist.

Mr. Tsugawa himself was looking forward to the concert. He and Mrs. Helquist had planned to do the combined concert last year, but it ended up not happening. They decided to do it this year instead, and it was worth it.

“I was pretty eager to see some of our old students again,” Mr. Tsugawa said. “I consider Mapleton our sister school, so it was good for all of us to play together again.”

First, both schools had the chance to perform by themselves. Then they all came together to play Star of County Down, a combination of Irish fiddles, and Lover’s Waltz, by J. Unger. Audience members were wowed by the beautiful tunes, and the students enjoyed playing them for their audience.

“I was so excited to hear how much sound we could make together and be able to hang out with some of my Mapleton friends that I don’t get to see very often,” said Kristi Hatch, eighth grader at SJHS.

Overall, the joint effort of Springville and Mapleton students was a success. Audience members agree that the concert should definitely become a tradition for our two fine orchestra programs.

Kara Dunn
SJHS Staff Writer

Once again, music is filling the halls and, more specifically, the auditorium, at Springville Junior High.  Mr. Samuel Tsagawa, orchestra director at Springville Junior High, has led his Synfonia Orchestra to success and this time is taking a few others along with him. The Springville Junior High Synfonia orchestra was joined with the New Horizons Orchestra from Brigham Young University to perform a joint concert.

The New Horizons Orchestra is made up of students who attend BYU and are over the age of forty. Most members of the orchestra missed their sixth grade window to learn how to play an instrument. However, there are a few who used to play but who forgot and are now re-learning how to play their instrument.

Why, you may ask, did Mr. Tsagawa choose this specific group to join him in his performance? I had the chance to sit down and ask him a few questions. “I’m working on a PhD and for one of the projects you have to do a big research project called a dissertation. I chose to do my project on the New Horizons Orchestra.”

One of the songs that the New Horizons Orchestra performed was called ‘Remote Control’ and sounds just like you changing channels on a television. This song was entertaining to listen to and the orchestra had a blast performing it.

Alex Smith, one of the members of the Synfonia Orchestra commented on the combination of the two orchestras. “It’s a lot of fun to play with them because they’re older, but at our playing level.” Ashley Johnson, another member of the Synfonia Orchestra, told me her favorite thing about taking orchestra, “The music, the challenge, and being able to play with friends.”  The orchestra only had the opportunity to rehearse with New Horizons twice before their big night. However, they performed to the best of their abilities and their best was enough to amaze the audience.

Miranda Grigg, Robin Anderson and Emily Daybell are junior high members of Mr. Tsugawa’s SHS Folk Ensemble.

Emily Regan
SJHS Staff Writer

On an unlucky Friday the 13th a very lucky thing occurred for those who knew about it. Springville High School Folk Ensemble, also known as Sam’s Club, played an enriching performance at the Theuson Barn in Mapleton.

A barn was the perfect place to hold a bluegrass concert. Audience members were able to sit and watch our youth play traditional folk music. People were even stomping their feet and singing along while the songs were being played.

Sam’s Club is made of mostly high school students, even some graduates, but there are three very special members. Robin Anderson, Miranda Grigg, and Emily Daybell are all students at SJHS that are gifted in their musical talents.

“It was fun doing a performance to show off our skills,” said Robin Anderson, ninth grade student at Springville Junior High and member of Sam’s Club.

The only admission to the concert was to bring a dessert. Afterwards, the performers and audience members were able to eat and talk together about the fun they’d had.

Miranda Grigg, ninth grade student at SJHS and member of Sam’s Club, said, “It made me, as a performer, feel accomplished—like I was giving out free smiles and laughs.”

The performers were thrilled at the chance they had to participate. They enjoyed learning from each other and playing together. When asked is she’d do it again, Emily Daybell, eighth grade student at SJHS and performer in Sam’s Club, replied that she found it scary, stressful, and hard, but it was all definitely worth it.

Springville High School Folk Ensemble (Sam’s Club) have regular performances that are available to the public. Mr. Sam Tsugawa, ensemble director, is already planning one in the next month or so. If you enjoy the time-honored sounds of our past then be sure to look into our local folk enthusiasts—you won’t be disappointed.

Kara Dunn
SJHS Staff Writer

For the last few months, students participating in the Chamber and Synfonia orchestras had an opportunity to practice for and attend the Nebo District Orchestra Festival held at Springville Junior High School on March 18, 2009. Schools from Nebo School District came to Springville Junior High to participate in the festival. The festival has been going on for three years and Springville Junior High as participated in each of them.

When asked, Kristi Hatch, a Chamber Orchestra member, said, “My favorite part about participating in the festival is that I get to miss class to listen and play music.” Kristi went on to say why she thought the festival was a good thing for Springville Junior High school to participate in, “It’s really fun and it helps boost your self esteem.”

Mr. Samuel Tsugawa, the orchestra director, explained that this was not a competition. “It’s like a final exam.”  Mr. Tsugawa continued to say, “The festival gives students the opportunity to play for each other and other teachers.”

The Orchestras practiced and worked their hardest. In the end their hard work and diligence paid off.

Kristi Hatch
SJHS Staff Writer

On Tuesday, January 13, Springville Junior High’s Sinfonia and Chamber orchestras performed at SJHS. The orchestras are made up of eighth and ninth grade students who play the various stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello, and bass), and are directed by Mr. Samuel Tsugawa.

The students had different emotions before the concert. Emily Daybell, a bass player in the Chamber orchestra, said “I am excited and nervous because I want to impress my family, but I am very nervous to play for them.” Mike Bartholomew, a viola in the Chamber orchestra, was excited. “I know the music well, and I’m hoping my friends can come see us play,” he explained.

The students also have opinions about the music. “I think it is fun to play and it sounds good,” said Eric Mageno, a bass player in the Sinfonia. Mike Bartholomew also said “Most of it is fun, and it’ll be nice to show others how fun it is to listen.” Mr. Tsugawa, the conductor, said, “I think the students have enjoyed the music. I think the thing students like about music is the rhythm, and all of the songs have good rhythm.”

The students were also looking forward to the music and being able to perform it for an audience. “I think that they will like it because we’ve put a lot of work into it to make it really good,” said Elizabeth Elliott, a member of the Sinfonia.

Prior to the show, Mr. Tsugawa was also looking forward to the concert. “The students are sounding very good, and I enjoy listening to the orchestras and watching them become better musicians.” He also said that he thought the parents would enjoy it, not just because they’re the students’ parents, but because the students will sound good.

The Sinfonia performed first, followed by the Chamber orchestra. Then they combined and played three numbers together. There were a total of fifty students in the combined numbers, but Mr. Tsugawa didn’t think it was hard to bring them together to practice. “It was quite easy because I have good students. They are very professional and cooperative. The all like each other and there are no bullies, so everyone likes being here. I enjoyed putting them together.”

by Kristi Hatch
SJHS Staff Writer

Near the end of every year, students at SJHS choose the classes they want to take the following year. Among these options is the orchestra class. Mr. Samuel Tsugawa is the conductor at Springville Junior High School. He loves teaching orchestra and has been teaching for over twenty years.

Along with teaching at the Junior High, Mr. Tsugawa also teaches at Springville High School. He said that there are some pros and cons of having to go back and forth every day. “I get to see students for a lot of years, and I get to see different ages.” He also likes getting to know more faculty members. However, he doesn’t like keeping track of two classrooms. Mr. Tsugawa loves teaching orchestra because he likes watching students learn, and he gets to play all the different instruments.

Mr. Tsugawa loves to teach teenagers. “Teens are fun because they keep me young. They can do more things than little kids, and teenagers are fun and goofy.” He said he doesn’t think there’s anything he doesn’t like about teaching teenagers.

The orchestra students love having Mr. Tsugawa as their teacher. In his third period class, Alex Smith says, “He is funny and entertaining.” Elizabeth Elliot, an eighth grader also enjoys Mr. Tsugawa’s teaching methods.

In Mr. Tsugawa’s fourth period class, Julianna Sheffield said Mr. Tsugawa has helped her a lot with her sight reading and her rhythm. Michael Bartholomew, a ninth grader, said, “[Mr. Tsugawa has] pushed me to do better and do things I wouldn’t do on my own.”

All students really look forward to being able to play better and have fun. Michael Bartholomew also said he is really excited to go to Springville High School so that he can improve even more.

Springville Junior High School is happy to have Mr. Tsugawa as an orchestra director, and the students who have him love the work that he does.