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!