Didion Violin

Fall 2009

Location:   Room 9

Class One 2:00 – 2:40
Class Two 2:50-3:30
Class Three  3:40 – 4:20

Class Dates  (Updated 10/21)

Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27,
Nov. 3,  (no classes  10, 17)  24 (Half day – class times TBA)
Dec. 1, 8, 15,
Jan.  5, 12, 19
Recital:  Jan. 26^th 5:30 p.m.

Class Notes – Weeks  Four & Five

10/27,  11/3

Class One

We are now working on getting our fingers to go down onto the fingerboard!

The most important thing your child can practice is how to hold their left hand correctly in the V position while putting their finger on the string.   They may not do this naturally, and you will most like have to really work with them on this.   Mastering this position in the beginning makes everything easier, and is often a pivotal point in a child’s progress.

Please practice the following exercises, and watch the videos.

V V Violin

Four Fingers Exercise

The First Finger Exercise

Class Two

We really worked on learning how to read the note letter names, and students should be able to play the notes on the D string  (p.11) without hesitation.   We’ve just started learn the A string notes on p. 12.   Please be sure to practice every day, and it will get easier to read the notes and play WELL at the same time. 

The following songs should be memorized:

Twinkle Rhythm,
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Lightly Row
Song of the Wind

We started Go Tell Aunt Rhody, and students should be able to get through the whole song this week.  Practice sections by themselves for good sound and fingers landing on the tapes.

Class Three

Warm up with the A Major scale.  Pay particular attention to positions and fingers landing in exactly the right spots.

We worked on recognizing the notes on the D string when they are written on the staff, and practiced from our new packets of note reading exercises.  Remember to LOOK at the MUSIC!!! 

Be sure to learn the B part to Country Gardens.   These are all notes that this class knows, but it might be challenging for them to put them all together.  Help your child  break it up into more manageable sections to practice.

The following songs should be memorized by now:

Twinkle Rhythm,
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Lightly Row
Song of the Wind
Go Tell Aunt Rhody

Class Four

Warm up with the A Major Scale, and then go through the harmony part and the harmony with rhythms.   Pay particular attention to the rhythms and remember to count!

Continue to work on the A part of Country Gardens.   Be sure to really count the rhythm.

Harmony parts for Lightly Row and Song of the Wind should be pretty good by now.  Check the rhythms, and pay attention to the sound you are making!

Our new song is Scarborough Fair.  Start practicing the A part, and really go slowly enough to get the right notes, rhythm and bowing.    Break it into smaller parts and practice those parts several times before moving on.  good luck!

Class Notes – Week Three 10/20

There is a change to the schedule -  we WILL be having class on November 3rd, but will NOT be having class on the 10th.   (Or the 17th, as previously scheduled). I have a few more spaces for private lessons on the 11th if anyone is interested.  Lessons on this day will be $20 for a 1/2 hour, and will be at my home studio.  Contact me if you are interested in scheduling some extra time.

class one   10/20

They did a great job getting into the classroom and getting all set up.  Help students remember to handle their violins correctly, and never set them face down.  (This is especially a problem when trying to put on the shoulder pillows)

Students got to use their bows this week!  Very exciting.    Most are on the right path to holding the bow correctly, but it’s still important to really practice this on it’s own, and not just grab the bow any old way when you play.

We practiced holding the violin  properly, as this is still one of our most important tasks.  We reviewed the G G G Song with first finger plucking over the fingerboard.

We learned how to play rhythms on the violin with our bows, and how to move our arms from the elbow.  (Violin arms).    We played Elevator Operator on all four strings.

Elevator Operator:     (use rhythm on each string)

E      A     D      G      D     A      E

Class Two  10/20

We played Twinkle Rhythm, Twinkle Theme, and Lightly Row from memory.  Good job!   Be sure to work on this if it’s not all memorized yet.

Students who had Lightly Row memorized already got the song “Bonny James Campbell’.  There will be another extra song next week for those who have already learned Song of the Wind.

We will continue with our notereading, and students should be very comfortable reading  the notes D E F# and G on the D string by now.  (pp. 8 – 9).

class three  10/20

We’re still figuring out what to do with mix of levels.   One possiblity is to do 20 minutes with class three,  20 minutes as a combined group, and then 20 minutes with class 4.    We’ll try that next week and see how it works.    I’m hesitant to break us up into 2 completely seperate groups, as each group would only have 3 or 4 students.     We’ll see how it goes next week.

In the meantime, students should learn their assigned parts (harmony or melody)  and focus on really playing in tune and keeping a strong, steady beat.   We’ll be working on Country Gardens  next week, and everyone should have had a chance to go through the notes to be somewhat prepared.

Class Notes -  Week Two     10/13

Class one   10/13

Today was an exciting day, as the students received their real violins!  Please click here to read all about violin care.     The most important points are:

• Handle your violin properly – hold with two hands, by it’s neck, or in resting position.
• Never set it face down
• Never leave it unattended – if you are not playing it, it should be in it’s case.
• Do not let anyone else play your violin.
• Keep your violin clean and dry
• Do not let it get too hot or too cold.  It is bad for the wood.
• Take the green shoulder pillow off after you play

Students practiced standing in resting position, and getting into a good playing position.

We learned the “G G G Song”.   Be sure to watch the video of this if they can’t remember what to do.   We also tried  playing the G G G Song with the violins on our shoulders.

All students promised not to touch their bows this week.  It is so important that when we do start using our bows, that we do it properly.  One week of bad practice takes much, much longer to undo.      Don’t worry if there is no bow in your child’s case -  I will make sure everyone has a bow when we need one.

We did practice making a Bow Hand Bunny this week,  and you may try the Pencil How Hold at home.   Watch the videos to make sure you are doing it correctly.

Next week, when the students come to class, they should:

1. Set their backpacks and coats and shoes in the cubbies
2. Put their violin cases on a table.  (Not Ms. Ingrid’s table!)
3. Set their binders behind a foot chart
4. Go back to their violin cases, and get their violins,  green shoulder pillows and rubber bands
5. Line up at the piano for Ms. Ingrid to tune the violin
6. Sit on a foot chart and wait for class to begin

Happy Practicing!

Class Two  10/13

This week we talked about the importance of holding the bow correctly and placing our fingertips exactly on the tapes.   When practicing this week, that should be the main focus.

Practice:

the A major scale
Twinkle Rhythm, Theme
Lightly Row – memorized

notereading review – p. 8 and 9.

I know this is still review for some students.   I will make sure to have extra material next week for those students who need something new.    If this notereading is new for your child, please spend extra time with them this week, so they will catch up with the rest of the class.

Class Three  10/13

All students need to focus on getting their fingertips to land in exactly the right spot.   There are still some left hand problems that are causing out of tune playing.     Slower practice is necessary to fine tune their sound.

A Major Scale
Song of the Wind ( & harmony)
May Song ( & harmony)

NEW – Country Gardens – 1st section.   See Strictly Strings p. 17 and 18 for help remembering how to read notes on the staff.

Class Notes – Week One      10/6

Class One

After a bumpy start, we got settled in the gym and hopped on our foot charts to learn about holding the violin in resting and playing positions.   The children learned some rhythms that they will need to know when they start playing the violin.

Here’s what the children need to practice this week:

• Resting Position   (Rest position Song video) (Handout: Postures)

• Playing Position  (See the “Numbers Game” video) (Handout: Postures)

• Rhythms: (handout)
  

1. Down Up
2. Everybody down up
3. Long Short Short
4. Elevator Operator

Students should be able to clap each rhythm, and “swish” it on their arms.

To “swish” a rhythm, extend your left arm out in front of you.  Place your right hand on your left shoulder, and slide in down to your wrist.  slide it back up again.   Listen for the “swish” sound.  Notice that your right arm is opening and closing from the elbow.  These are “violin arms”.

• Students received 2 pieces of paper today in class:  “Postures” and “Rhythms”.  These need to go into their binders, and the binders need to come with them to class each week.

• Please watch the videos on violin hold with your child, and help them practice getting it up on their shoulder correctly.   Try to practice for abou 5 minutes every day.     It is very important that they learn how to hold the violin and bow  properly from the beginning,  as all other techniques depend on having a good basic form.

Class Two

Welcome back to violin!  It’s so nice to see you all again.   Today we spent some time getting the violins handed out and binders in order.   Please do make sure your child has a binder dedicated to violin, and it comes to class with them each week.   This week we played review songs and remembered all about our good posture and positions.  We will move on to new material next week!

Here’s this week’s assignment:

• Twinkle Rhythm  (review)
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star  (review)
• Lightly Row (review)
• The A Major Scale with a rhythm (review)

We will be note-reading this year, and they will be receiving their new books, “Strictly Strings” in a few weeks.

Class Three  – Ensemble

Since this class has students of various levels,  we decided to name it the “Ensemble”.    Aren’t we fancy?     This year, in addition to learning new songs, the ensemble will be learning how to play multi-part pieces.  Our focus will be on reading and playing together with a strong, steady rhythm.

Assignment

• Lightly Row  – Melody, harmony
  
• Song of the Wind – Melody, harmony

-for students playing the original melody, work on memorizing and perfecting.     Students who have been assigned the harmony part need to learn the part, and focus on the counting.

• May Song – this is new for some students.    Be sure to watch the video to know how it is supposed to go.    Learn the harmony if it has been assigned to you.

Great first week everybody! Please contact me if you have any questions, and I look forward to seeing you all next week.   Practice hard!

Ingrid