Theory and studio classes this Saturday, March 14. Assignements from fiddle and group classes

Hi all,

First of an apology to those students who did not get a juice box this Saturday. I bought enough for everyone, but I forgot to bring one of the packs I'd bought so we ended up a bit short at the end there. Sorry about that, but hopefully the cookies were delicious in spite of having nothing with which to wash them down. They were a new brand I thought we'd try, so let me know if you all liked them.

This Saturday we have studio and theory classes with Ms. Kirby at St. Timothy's. The schedule is:

1pm: Beginning/intermediate studio class (50 minutes)
2pm: Theory group A (45 minutes)
3pm: Theory group B (45 minutes)

Group class assignment:
Continue to practice festival pieces during your review sessions. If you have not received a festival review sheet by now, please pester your teacher for one this week! Pieces need to be polished and performance ready 3 weeks before the Festival so it's necessary to start reviewing now!

Also, group class 2, in regard to metronomes, they can be purchased for $10-$40 or there are free ones online as well as very cheap iphone applications. (I have a terrific app called "Tempo" on iphone which was only $4.99.)

For online metronomes, these are rather fun because of mimicking the old-fashion type. You get to "wind" it before it starts!
http://simple.bestmetronome.com/

This one is pretty good I think.
http://www.metronomeonline.com/

I would definately recommend some kind of metronome to help develop rhythmic steadiness. They are also fun!

Fiddle Assignment:
We ran out of time to practice Bill Cheatem and Redwing this past week so be prepared to do a lot of them both at our next rehearsal on March 27th! I have a harmony part for the second half of Redwing that some of us will be adding in as well. We'll be trying it out to see how it sounds. Tango players, please do A LOT of intonation and articulation practice during practice sessions and lessons! We'll definately be rehearsing Tango at the next fiddle class.

Also, all fiddlers, be sure to practice "spelling" chords (ex. A C E, or D F A). If you feel courageous enough, try droning some back up notes with your teacher on Finnish Polka in your lessons this week.

Happy Spring everyone! Looks like it's arriving soon!

Group and Fiddle this Saturday

Hi all,
We have more Suzuki and fiddle classes this weekend, Saturday, March 6th. We're back at St. Timothy's. We found out that we will unfortunately not have use of the Parish Hall downstairs, so one class will be in the choir room, one in the double classroom upstairs, and one in the main lobby. We'll show you where to go if you're not sure!

The schedule is:

1pm Advanced violin studio class (don't forget to bring your assignment that Kirby emailed!)
2pm Suzuki groups 1, 2, and 4
3pm Fiddle group

Thanks and Assignments/Another Summer Suzuki Institute

Hi all,

Thank you all for your flexibility this weekend with the location change for group and fiddle classes. Although it was stressful to find out last minute that we couldn't be in our usual spot, Ivy Chapel was wonderfully accomodating and a beautiful space, so it was a nice provision. Thanks again to you all for bearing with us as we got things sorted out.

I'd like to pass along the assignments for the group and fiddle classes.

For Suzuki groups:

We'll be passing out review lists this week that will have all of the songs we'll be performing as a group on the Spring Festival at 2pm Sunday, May 9th. Students should plan to extensively review these pieces to have them performance ready. As pieces are ready, your teacher will give you a check for each piece on your review sheet. Once you receive a check for a piece, it should stay that good which means continually reviewing it. If you work on it really hard and then forget it, your teacher will have to erase the check! Any piece you would like to perform in the festival must be performance ready (have a check) at least 3 weeks before the Festival. Students must also attend the dress rehearsal on May 8th. (2pm-3pm Suzuki students, 3pm-4pm fiddle students.)

For fiddle students:

Please, please, please work on getting first fingers more in tune! We sound so great when we are all in tune! A great way to practice intonation is to practice scales or twinkles very slowly and really listen to the pitch. When you play too fast, you don't have time to hear if you are in tune. Try also practicing your fiddle music slowly and try stopping on the first fingers to hear if they sound in tune. Have your teacher help you with this if necessary.

Mason's Apron (fast version): in the second half, practice making sure your first finger doesn't "lean" when you place it on the E and A strings. If it leans you will be out of tune on one of the strings. Be sure to work on this with your teacher. (It's called playing on the "inside corners")

Mason's Apron (slower version): rememer the circle bows! and remember to watch the leader!

Finnish Polka: Have at least the first line learned for next week's rehearsal if you have not already learned this piece.

Tango students: I believe we may have our accordion player joining us for a bit this weekend. It's not confirmed yet, but we may get to rehearse with him a bit on Saturday. Because of that, let's really do some good practice on tango at home and in lessons this week.

Redwing: please work on the spot where there is a D# (high 3). We want to be really in tune there!

Overall, please really listen that you are in tune. Be picky! We sound great when we all match pitch together so let's do more of it.

Last of all, I received an email about another summer Suzuki institute. It's in Idaho. You can learn more here http://idahosuzuki.org/

Group class change

Hello everyone,
We've got group classes this weekend, but we'll be at a new place just for this weekend. We'll be at Ivy Chapel at 620 N. Woods Mill Road in Chesterfield 63017. It's just a couple of minutes down the street from the school.

Here's the schedule
2pm: Suzuki groups 3 and 5
3pm: Fiddle group.

We'll have goodies and juice available after the Suzuki group classes.

Sorry for any inconvenience the changed location causes. See you soon!

More Suzuki summer institutes and camps

Hello,
I received another email about a Suzuki institute this summer. This one's in Ottawa, Kansas.
You can see the information here http://suzukiassociation.org/email/95/

The website for the program is here http://www.ottawasuzukistrings.org/

I also received an email about the summer Suzuki camp at SIUE. Here's the email:

What? SIUE String Camp
When? JULY 20-23, 2010 Tues.-Fri.
What time? 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Final Concert: Friday, July 23, 2:00 pm
Dunham Hall, Room 1115

Who should come? Violin, Viola, Cello Students
Parents and Observers welcome!

Vera McCoy-Sulentic, Camp Director Susanna Woodard, Co-Director
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Dunham Hall


Tuition: $135 includes 3 Daily Group Classes (Technique, Repertoire, and Music Reading/String Orchestra/Chamber Music)

Additional Opportunities:
Private Lessons: $45
Two 20 minute private lessons before or after classes.
Mariachi Violin: $35 (2-3 pm Tues, Wed, Thurs)
Class will be taught by Alicia Kulla Branz, former Suzuki Student, and teacher from Parkway School District
Musical Theater: $35 (2-3pm Tues, Wed,Thurs)
Class will be taught by Marc Schapman, SIUE Voice Faculty

Faculty: Teachers from SIUE Suzuki Program, Webster University
Community Music School Suzuki Program, and Local String Teachers

**Students 5th grade and above will be chaperoned at all times.
**Children younger than 5th grade must be accompanied by Parent or Responsible Adult

Further information: Contact Vera McCoy-Sulentic: vmccoys@siue.edu,
Susanna Woodard: swoodar@siue.edu or SIUe Suzuki Program Office:
Ph: 618-650-2839 618-650-2839, Fax: 618-650-5988, www.siue.edu/artsandsciences/music/suzuki

Go to www.siue.edu/artsandsciences/music/suzuki for more info!

Let your teacher know if you have any questions or if you need suggestions for summer programs. In the meantime, stay warm!

TANGO!

Hi again Fiddlers!

I've got the last of the fiddle recordings for you. Thanks to Kirby and Maggie for recording it for me! Since the recording is just to help with practice, it doesn't have the piano part. When we perform it, our pianist will be filling in some of the gaps with some cool piano parts.
You can download the audio file at http://public.me.com/laurayeh. Just go to the file that says "Fiddle Tunes Spring 2010."
See you at our next fiddle class on Saturday, February 27th at 3pm. Kids that play the tango will be in a separate class with Kirby for the whole class. Everyone else will be with me (Laura) downstairs in the Parish Hall.

See you then!

Theory/reading classes this Saturday

Hi Guys,
We'll be having the theory/reading classes again this Saturday, February 20th at 2pm and 3pm. We'll be at St. Timothy's as usual. See you then!