Concert!

The concert will be held on Thursday, April 9 at the recital hall inside Summerhays Music Store, at 1006 South State in Orem.  They have graciously donated the hall at no cost, and I feel it's one of the best recital locations, acoustically speaking, in the county.

I'm hoping to start the performance at 7, with call time being 6:30, but I wanted to feel everyone out, about the time.  Would that work for everyone?  Please let me know if it won't, and suggestions about what will.  Thanks!

January 23, 2009

Hi!

First of all, I'm sorry for the delay in getting this updated . . . . but hopefully this will still help everyone practice this week.

1st Period - (9:oo-10:00)

We finished the last 2 lines of Lightly Row today.  I'm hoping they'll practice the whole song, one line per day, at least 10 times, correctly.  If your student stumbles, hesitates, or makes the same mistakes, slow the tempo down, and repeat the line at the slower tempo.  Practicing the line 10 times, if they are making the same mistake every time just cements that mistake into his or her memory.  Those types of learned mistakes are incredibly difficult to correct.  

Also, we began working on stamina.  Most of these students couldn't get through all the Twinkle Variations without getting really tired.  Have them start practicing all 5 of them, in a row, without putting their violin down.  Build up their stamina gradually -- start with 2 in a row, then 3, then 4, etc.

The notes for Lightly Row are as follows.  All the fingers are on A String in this song

E  2  2  -   3  1  1  -   A  1  2  3  E  E  E  -

E  2  2  2  3  1  1  1   A  2  E  E  2  2  2  -

1  1  1  1  1  2  3 -  2  2  2  2  2  3  E  -

(Words = First I play my 1,2,3  Next I play my 2,3,E)

E  2  2  2  3  1  1  1   A  2  E  E  2  2  2  -

2nd Period (10:00 - 11:00)

To begin the class, we worked on tone. Tone is the quality of sound the students are 

producing. There are many elements that contribute to tone, but the one we worked on 

today is using a lot of  bow. So, as they review their songs, help them remember to use 

lots of bow.

We began memorizing pieces for the concert. The memorization assignments for 

this week are:

Twinkle Variations 

Lightly Row

Go Tell Aunt Rhody

Minuet 1 (was probably (supposed to have been) memorized before Christmas)

We also began working on the 1st line of Minuet 2. This is one of the 2 most difficult 

lines in the piece which is why we only worked on the 1st line. We also added a section to 

Puppet Show. At this point, the students should be able to play the 1st 2 sections -- the one 

with the plucking (pizzacato) and the triplet section.

3rd Period (12:00 - 12:30)

This group spent the day reviewing French Folk Song, and the first 2 lines of Lightly Row.  

Lightly Row was learned before Christmas, and I was pleasantly surprised at how many kids 

remembered it. We also discussed the need for increased stamina when playing Twinkles. I've 

listed the notes to Lightly Row in this weeks entry for 1st period, and French Folk Song notes 

were listed last week, if you need them. I plan to help them finish Lightly Row next week, 

though if there are some who would like to surprise me, and finish it on their own, that would

be great!

4th Period (12:30 - 1:00)

This class did so well today! We got through Pepperoni Pizza several times, and even got 

to learn Tiny Little Caterpillar! All in one class!! As they practice Caterpillar, many students 

revert back to Pepperoni Pizza, since the rhythm starts the same way in both songs, and they 

know Pepperoni Pizza sooo well. If this happens, just sing "tiny little caterpillar" with them as 

they play, and within a note or two, they should be back on track.

I'm so proud of everyone, the work they're putting in, and the progress they're making! I can't 

wait for the concert!

January 15, 2009

Hi!

I'm trying to keep up with technology, so I've decided to start a blog for the purpose of updating parents with what we did in Violin each week.  As I learn about blogging, I also plan to add practice charts, suggestions, articles about practicing for parents, etc.  Feel free to let me know if there's other information that may be helpful.

1st Period -- This group worked really hard today and learned three hard parts of Lightly Row.  The first section we worked were the last 2 measures of the 2nd line.  We also worked hard on learning the 1st line.  Parents, when they practice this, have them work the 2nd line part, then the 1st 2 measures of the 1st line, and then the end of the 1st line.  That way the kids work on the hardest parts first, and get to finish up with the easiest one.    I would suggest each section 10x per day, but gauge the number of repititions on how well they're playing it slowly.  If all goes well, we will finish learning the song next week.  As always, be sure they review all the Twinkles, and continue to listen to the CD.

2nd Period -- We made a lot of headway today.  Their assignment today was to work on the 1st section of Puppet Show, memorizing Minuet 1, and for those who haven't done this before, to begin memorizing Go Tell Aunt Rhody, May Song, & Lightly Row.  Listening to the recording will help greatly.  Please, if they don't have the CD, let me know.

4th Period -- 12:00 -- We worked on polishing French Folk Song.  This song is NOT in the Violin Suzuki book, or CD, but it is in the Suzuki books for Viola & Cello.  After nearly 19 years of teaching, I think this song is easier than Lightly Row, expecially for younger students whose fine motor skills are still developing.  Make sure they still review their Twinkles, and if they don't have the notes for the piece, they are

3 3 3 2 2 2 1 2 3  E (on E String)

3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1  A (on A String)

A 1 2 A 1 2 A 1 2 3 (on A String)

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 E (on A String except for the last note which is on E String)

3 2 1 E (on E String) 3 2 1 A 1 A (on A String)

5th Period -- 12:30 -- We worked a lot on the basics today.  We practiced holding the violin up on the shoulder.  Parents, please make sure they are holding the violin correctly.  Holding the violin further down on their chests can lead to Tendonitis later in life.  We also worked on our bow hand position.  Remind your students to make sure they hold the bow correctly.  In addition, we worked on our "Ghost & the Magic X" hand position, which should be down by the scroll, with the thumb and fingers pointing upward.  Keep working on Pepperoni Pizza.  Let's try to have the 1st 8 notes down (unless today was your 2nd class) so your student can play them without using the music.

I'm really proud of all the progress you are all making.  See you on Friday!!