Wednesday, March 25

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am doing much better, and will be back at school on Friday.  Please practice really, really hard, since Friday will be our last rehearsal before the piano joins us next week.  Thank you so much for all your good wishes and prayers.

Concert Information!

Our concert will be on Thursday, April 9, 2009 at the Recital Hall inside Summerhays Music at 1006 South State in Orem.  We will begin at 7 p.m. but call time for the kids is 6:40.  I need them there early to tune, and warm up.  Dress is Sunday best -- Gentleman, please wear a tie if you have one, but you don't need to go out and buy one.  Ladies, please wear a dress or skirt.  

Summerhays Music has graciously donated the use of their hall at no charge to the school.  However, there are other costs with associated with the performance that Liberty is unable to pay for.  I am asking that those parents who can, make a concert donation to the front office at Liberty to help offset those costs.  For example, there is the accompanist cost, and she will be spending our last rehearsal with us at school, so you parents don't have to try to fit in another extra rehearsal or two into your schedules.  This is NOT REQUIRED, but if you are in a position where you are able to make a donation, and feel that your children deserve a high quality, professional performance, and that it is worth a small financial cost, I would greatly appreciate it.   Any money donated that exceeds the recital costs will go toward the costs associated with keeping the program running through the summer.  Again, this is NOT REQUIRED.

Thank you for all your hard work, and your kids' hard work.  I'm really excited about this performance.  Please contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns.

March 13, 2009

First of all, I should again apologize for the late update.  I spent all weekend down with morning sickness, and it just didn't happen.  Hopefully this is soon enough for everyone to get something out of it, though.

1st Period -- We are working very hard to finish all our concert songs this week.  The songs we will be performing are:

May Song  (A 2 E 3 1 3 1 E)  (I think . . . remind me if we didn't get this far)

Go Tell Aunt Rhody (2 2 1 a a . . . )

Lightly Row  (E 2 2 3 1 1  . . .)

French Folk Song ( 3 3 3 2 2 2 )  (Don't panic, we learned it around Christmas)

Twinkles

Bile (slang for boil) 'em Cabbage Down

We will finish working on Bile em' Cabbage Down next class, and re-fresh French Folk Song. (it may get cut if it doesn't go well)  What I need everyone to do this week is to make sure the rest of the Suzuki songs are polished and memorized as perfectly as possible!  Thanks!

2nd Period -- We decided to not push for Pirates, and will learn it over the summer instead.  Our assignment this week is to memorize Turkey in the Straw, and finalize any issues with the rest of the pieces.  Our performance list is as follows:

Minuet 2

Puppet Show

Turkey in the Straw

Allegro

May Song

Go Tell Aunt Rhody

Lightly Row

Twinkles

Bile 'em Cabbage Down (I'll post the notes for this song at the end of this entry)

3rd Period

Our assignment is to finish up our pieces for the concert, and really work on putting our fingers on the tapes.  Even though we've been playing for awhile now, we still need to watch our fingers, or we won't be playing in tune.  Our pieces for the concert are:

Go Tell Aunt Rhody

Lightly Row

French Folk Song

Twinkles

Bile 'em Cabbage Down

Please focus on the Suzuki pieces, and get them as polished and perfect as possible.  We'll work on the fiddle song next time.

4th Period

We learned so much this week!  We are going to continue working on Pepperoni Pizza, Caterpillar (or Elevator), and Strawberry, Raspberry.  We also added Ice Cream shh Cone, AND Twinkle Theme!  Mom's, don't panic if Ice Cream doesn't come easily -- it's hard.  We'll work on it on Friday.  Focus on Twinkle Theme.  If Ice Cream doesn't work out, this group will play a drone A during the piece with the correct rhythm, and we'll finish it up during the summer.

Bile (Boil) 'em Cabbage Down

Vamp (beginning)-- Open A & E together to the rhythm Strawberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Stop

Body of song -- All fingers are on the A String, AND we play this part twice.

2 3 2 1 2 3 2 1 a  (the regular notes, we play both Strawberry, Raspberry -- the ones that are bolded, we play only Strawberry)

Tag -- Ending -- All fingers are on E String

3 E E 1 E 2 3 -- no repeating rhythm -- just single notes.

February 28

First of all, there is no school on Friday, March 6, so y'all have 2 weeks to shock & amaze me next time.  :-)  Also, they need to be reviewing the songs they know every day as well as working on the new one(s.)

1st Period -- Today, we worked really hard on May Song.  I'm really impressed with how quickly they've mastered (mostly) Go Tell Aunt Rhody.  In addition, we also learned Allegro.  Two songs in one week!!!!  That's unprecedented, especially in a group class setting, so be sure to tell your students how proud of them you are.  I certainly am very proud of them.  I'll post the notes for May Song & Allegro at the end of this entry.

2nd Period -- We've almost got everything from the Suzuki book memorized.  They've worked really hard, and hopefully everything will be solid next class.   We're memorizing Puppet Show this week, and starting Turkey in the Straw.  Now, Turkey in the Straw has a hard section with an extended 4th finger. (C)  If this is confusing, or frustrating to them, please contact me during the week, so I can help them.  We also learned Bile 'em Cabbage Down, and chose our piece from Pirates of the Caribbean.  In order to get their Pirates music, all the songs from the following memorization list, MUST be memorized.

Memorization List

Minuet 2

Long Long Ago

Allegro

May Song

Go Tell Aunt Rhody

Lightly Row

Twinkles

Puppet Show

Bile 'em Cabbage Down fingers

2 3 2 1 2 3 2 1 A  (all on A String)

This is the low priority piece . . . work on Turkey in the Straw first.

3rd Period -- We began working on Go Tell Aunt Rhody with everyone today, and it went pretty well.  They were challenged to begin working on May Song as well as memorizing and polishing Go Tell Aunt Rhody, and I think they'll do it.  They're sounding really good, but a little reminding about keeping the fingers on the tapes may be necessary at home.

4th Period -- We started Twinkle Theme this week, and I couldn't believe how quickly it all came together.  Keep them working on all their Twinkles this week, and if it goes well, we'll start a non-Twinkle song next time.

Suzuki Songs for this week

Go Tell Aunt Rhody

                                                         E E 

2 2 1 A A 1 1 2 1 A         3 2 2 1 A 1 2 A

--------------------------------------------  

E E 1 1 E      E E 1 1 E

2 2 3                3 2  2 2 3 

--------------------------------------------

                                 E E 

2 2 1 A A 1 1 2 1 A         3 2 2 1 A 1 2 A

--------------------------------------------

May Song

E 3 1 3 1 E      E 

A 2      3      2 A 1 A 

--------------------------------------

E E            E         E E            E 

3 3 2     2 1          3 3 2      2 1 

--------------------------------------

E 3 1 3 1 E      E 

A 2      3      2 A 1 A         

---------------------------------------     

Allegro

3 3 E E 1 2 3 1 E E 

3 3 2 2 1 A 1 2 A   (circle bow)

-----------------------------------------                

3 3 E E 1 2 3 1 E E 

3 3 2 2 1 A 1 2 A   (circle bow)

-----------------------------------------           

1 1 E     1 1 E      1 2 3 1 E 

 A           A                  2 1        (watch teacher)

-----------------------------------------                

3 3 E E 1 2 3 1 E E 

3 3 2 2 1 A 1 2 A   (circle bow)

-----------------------------------------           

Schedule change for February 20 --

Next week -- I will be rescheduling the 12:00 and 12:30 classes to meet together from 11:00-11:30.  My daughter is playing the violin for her school talent show, and they moved the day on me, so I will have to be back in Springville by noon in order to be there for her performance.  As such, next week only, we'll all be meeting together @ 11:00.  Thanks for understanding!!

February 13

1st Period -- We worked on solidifying  Go Tell Aunt Rhody, and Lightly Row.  Both pieces have been posted here in previous weeks, so I'm not going to post the notes again.  However, let me know if you have questions.  We started clapping the rhythm for May Song, which I hope to start with the kids next week.  The rhythm for the first line is as follows:

Long  short long long long short short long -- Long short short long long long

Please start listening to May Song & Long Long Ago as much as possible.

2nd Period -- We worked really hard on Minuet 2 -- please try to memorize at least the 1st 4 lines for next class.    We also finished learning Puppet Show, but feel free to call me if you have questions.  The following pieces should be memorized:

Twinkles

Lightly Row

Go Tell  Aunt Rhody

May Song

Long Long Ago

Allegro

Minuet 1

3rd Period -- We worked on the first line of Go Tell Aunt Rhody, primarily, but if we can work really hard this week to finish Go Tell Aunt Rhody, that would be amazing.

4th Period -- We learned Ice Cream sshhh Cone this week, which is the 2nd Twinkle variation on the CD.  They were doing well in class, but if it doesn't go well at home this week, please let me know.

February 6

I don't know that I will ever get this updated by Friday afternoon, but I keep trying.  Let's make this an amazing practice week!

1st Period -- We learned all of Go Tell Aunt Rhody!  Let's work really hard, line by line to make sure nothing gets forgotten (at least 10x per day, one line per day.  Then,  at the end of the week, put together the whole song, and play it 5-10x per day until next class).  We are also working hard on being able to play our Twinkles faster.  Parents, the secret to this is using less bow.  Keep reviewing French Folk Song & Lightly Row as well.  I'm putting the "music" to Go Tell Aunt Rhody at the end of this entry.

2nd Period -- We worked really hard finishing Minuet 2 this week.  Make sure to practice the green box part at least 10x per day.  Work on any additional hard spots 10x per day as well.  Then, make sure you do the whole song WITH repeats at least 3-4x per day as well.  Our practice focus this week for Minuet 2 is having PERFECT NOTES & BOWINGS, and I know y'all can do it.  Also, please finish memorizing the following, if you haven't already.

Twinkles

Lightly Row

Aunt Rhody

Minuet 1

4th Period -- We also started working on Go Tell Aunt Rhody this week, and learned the 1st line.  Please work on those really hard.  If you want to try to go on, with Mom's help, you can try to learn the middle part, and then surprise me this week.  We are also reviewing French Folk Song, & Lightly Row.  This group is doing really well speeding up the Twinkles . . . . remember to keep your violins up.  I haven't listed numbers of repititions for this group, because it seems that whatever they're already doing at home is working -- so keep up the great work!

Go Tell Aunt Rhody (Bracketed notes are shorter, eighth notes while the rest are quarter notes, or longer)

2 [2 1] A A 1 1 [2 1] A E [E 3] 2 2 [1 A 1 2] A

2 [2 3] E E 1 1 [E 3] 2 2 [2 3] E E 1 1 E

2 [2 1] A A 1 1 [2 1] A E [E 3] 2 2 [1 A 1 2] A

Have a great week!!!