Group classes this Saturday

Hi all,
Welcome back! We hope you had a good summer!

This Saturday we'll start our group classes. The schedule is as follows:

1pm Theory class A (students up through 3rd grade enrolled in theory class)
2pm Theory class B (students 4-6th grade enrolled in theory class)
3pm Intermediate violin/viola studio class.

We'll be meeting in Laura's studio at the school. If we have plenty of space, theory and studio classes will continue at the school. If it's a bit cramped, we'll book space at Ivy Chapel just down the street from the school for all future classes.

Theory students should plan to bring any theory materials they own as well as their instrument. We may or may not use instruments in each class, but it's good to have in case you need it.

Studio class students need their music, any scale books they use, and their instruments. Some of you will play a solo for the class, so come prepared to play at least a portion of something you've polished.

Fiddle students are invited to Laura and Dennis' house for a fiddle jam session party this Saturday from 4:30-6pm. Students should come knowing at least a couple of fiddle tunes we've played in past semesters and should bring their instruments. If you are planning to come and have not yet RSVPed, please email Laura by Thursday so she knows how much food to order. We'll be ordering pizza and good stuff. Parents are welcome to stay but are not required to attend. If anyone attending has any special food needs, please let Laura know. Vegetarian food will be available.

Looking forward to seeing you Saturday!

Fall calendar and TV stuff

Hi all,
We hope you've been having a good summer! Our fall semester is starting up in just 3 weeks, so I just posed the calendar for the fall on this blog and will post a copy at the school next Tuesday. Please be sure to look it over and get the dates into you calendar. Please note that some group classes this semester are at our school location and some are at Ivy Chapel, at 620 N. Woods Mill Road just down the street from the school. Also take note that if you are enrolled in group classes and theory, or Suzuki classes and studio classes, then you will have some kind of group class almost every Saturday and should plan accordingly so you can attend regularly. (This may seem like a lot of time, but is necessary for quicker progress.) This year, the fall will be a full 20 weeks, starting on Monday, August 9th. Unfortunately we cannot afford to accomodate requests to start late and cancel those first few lessons, so please let your teacher know now if you'll be on vacation during the first part of the semester so those lessons can be rescheduled.

Here's what I was doing this morning. This was on Fox 2 St. Louis. Enjoy!



We're looking forward to seeing you all soon and hearing about your summer!

Recitals this Saturday and end of semester stuff

Hi All,
Congratulations on another set of successful recitals! We've got our last two recitals this Saturday (May 22) at 11am and 2pm at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church. We're looking forward to seeing all the performances!

We're coming to the end of our semester. The last day of the spring semester is Saturday, June 5th and the summer semester will begin Monday, June 7th. Those of you who have lessons on Fridays through Mondays, you are scheduled for a lesson on Memorial Day weekend unless you already made other plans with your teacher. Because of the large number of make up lessons we all have to give before the end of the semester, we really cannot accomodate any more changes in lesson schedule over the next couple of weeks, so please aim to make your own plans accordingly.

The practice challenge is coming to an end next Saturday, May 29th. Be sure you've reported all your practice days to your teacher since we cannot count any unreported days. Be sure to get lots of practice in this week too so you have as many days as possible. We'll be tallying up the winners as well as comparing studio numbers to find out which teacher's "team" won. We'll have that information for you soon.

Have a good week!

Congratulations and this Saturday

Hi all,
Congratulations to everyone for your hard work on the festival this past weekend! Thanks for sharing Mother's Day with us!

This Saturday, May 15 we have another set of recitals at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church:

11am - piano recital in the chapel
2pm - violin recital in the sanctuary

Students performing in these recitals should plan to arrive AT LEAST 15 minutes before their assigned recital to tune and warm up. Advanced students in particular need to warm up before playing so they can play their best. Students should plan to dress nicely, (Sunday clothes - no sneakers, jeans, etc.) but in clothes that can performed in comfortably.

Everyone else is welcome to come and support our students. They've worked hard this semester! Then join us for goodies afterwards.

Festival

Hi everyone,
Congratulations to those of you who performed in the recitals today. Fantastic job!

Next week we have our spring festival. Here's a reminder of the schedule:

Saturday, May 8 Dress rehearsal (Required)
2pm Suzuki rehearsal
3pm Fiddle rehearsal
Viola students, be sure to be at the Suzuki rehearsal to rehearse the Bach Gavotte with us!

Sunday, May 9 - 2pm concert. (Should be about an hour)

For the Suzuki rehearsal we will start with the pretwinklers for the first 5 or so minutes and then work our way from the twinkles up to the Bach Gavotte. That way, as the pieces get more advanced, the younger students do not have to stay for the entire rehearsal.

Here is the Festival performance order:

Fiddle Group

• La Cumparsita (Tango)
• Redwing
• Bill Cheatem
• Mason's Apron
• Finnish Polka

Pretwinklers: Chicken's on a Fencepost (i.e. Peanut Butter Sandwich)

Violists: Judas Maccabaeus and Minuet 3 (please check these pieces with Maggie as I may have the it wrong!)

Suzuki

• Bach Gavotte in G minor
• The Two Grenadiers
• Waltz
• Musette
• The Happy Farmer
• Minuet 2
• Etude
• Allegro
• May Song
• Go, Tell Aunt Rhody
• Lightly Row
• Twinkle Theme and Variations

We will announce the order as we go. Please be sure to be practicing your festival pieces this week! We want to play really in tune and really together so it's a really enjoyable concert for our audience. Thanks and see you all soon!

Fiddle Assignment and recital clarification

Hello Fiddlers!

This week please be sure to practice the following with your teacher, even if you are sure you are doing it perfectly:

Mason's Apron - intonation at the start of the B section. The F# and G# are both sounding really out of tune in the group. When you place your first finger on the the B and the F# (non-simplified version only) make sure you use the inside corner of the finger or the F# will sound really flat. Be sure to check with your teacher that you are doing this properly and do some slow practice to really listen! This may sound confusing, so ask your teacher to help.

Redwing - Practice the ending note with the repeat back to the beginning. The long note should be three beats. Count "1-2-stop" to get a clean sound. If you don't stop your bow we will not all sound together. Be sure to check this with your teacher.

Bill Cheatem - Practice intonation on the first two notes. Practice with your teacher for good rhythm to make sure you are not coming in early after half notes.

Tango - Continue to practice articulation and musical stuff Kirby mentioned. Remember the spot where you have 3 beats of rest!

Recitals
I also just wanted to clarify in case there was any confusion: although we have student recitals this weekend, not everyone is assigned to play. We have a total of 6 student recitals for violin or piano this semester, so don't worry, you're child is still performing on the day discussed with your teacher. However, everyone is welcome to come and attend the recitals this weekend, regardless of if they are performing or not.

Weekend recitals and Faculty member's orchestra premire

Hello everyone,

Student recitals!
We have some recitals coming up this weekend at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in the Sanctuary. The recitals will be at 11am and 2pm Saturday, May 1 and will be approximately an hour (or less). We'll have goodies available afterwards. Everyone is welcome to attend and support our students who are performing. Feel free to invite family and friends too. The more the merrier!

Students who are performing should plan to arrive no later than 15 minutes before the recital to tune and warm up so we can start right on time. Performers, please wear dressy clothes. Boys should wear nice pants and a collared shirt. Girls should wear nice pants or skirt and a blouse, or a dress. No jeans, t-shirts, tank tops, tennis shoes, crocs, or shorts. Please also be sure the clothing is comfortable for playing.

Ocarina Concerto Premire!
Our flute/ocarina faculty member, Heather Scott, will be premiring the first concerto ever written for ocarina this Sunday, May 2 at 2:30pm with the Town and Country Symphony Orchestra.
The details can be found that the Symphony's website at http://www.tcsomo.org/
The concert will take place at The Principia 13201 Clayton Road, Town & Country, 63131 and admission is free.

We will be having a free reception after the concert at:
Longview Farm House
13525 Clayton Road
Town & Country, MO 63141

You are invited to come and meet the composer and the performer! We hope to see you at our performances this weekend!