Hello Cornerstone Students!

Good job on your exam! Thank you for preparing so diligently. If you wish to sign up for the talent show please confirm with myself and your parents for Tuesday. Solo pieces have been chosen by some of you. In the coming weels I will be introducing practice sheets. These need to be filled and signed by your parents each week to ensure optimal practice times are being achieved. Please if you have not done so already have your own copy of the materials we are using in class: Suzuki books, Suzuki Supplemental sheets that can be found and printed from the ABC website, rosin, shoulder rests and necessary maintenance or repairs. Thank you!

 

Grade 1:

What we did this week:

Introduced Mary.

What did we listen to or watch, that you can watch at home?

Live examples of Mary in-class.??Try to find different versions online with kids playing, and maybe a ‘Theme and Variation’ to show how simple music can be made fancy.  Please download and print off Mary Had a Little Lamb from ABC website.

What work is to be done this weekend: Review 1st and 2nd division, and learning and working on 3rd/4th division.  Try to put it together.

What are we doing next week? Refining Mary and playing all divisions together.??Introducing G Major Scale.

How much time should your student be practicing each day? A flexible 15 minutes.

How can you help your child? Missing equipment to be secured: Shoulder rests, Stands, Books.??Aim for the same time each day for habit and consistency.??Practicing in front of mirror: Posture/Bowing.??Ensure child loosens bow after playing.??Be sure to review the Homework Helper together.

 

Grade 1/2: What we did this week: We learned a new song! Go Tell Aunt Rhody in the Suzuki Book One. We also reviewed the G major scale in eighth notes.

What did we listen to or watch, that you can watch at home? We listened to a live example of the complete song Go Tell Aunt Rhody.

What work is to be done this weekend: Reviewing the A section (first part of Go Tell Aunt Rhody) and reviewing of the G major scale.

What are we doing next week? We will add the middle section (B section of Go Tell Aunt Rhody as well as introducing second octave of G major scale.

How much time should your student be practicing each day? How much time should your student be practicing each day? A concentrated 20 minutes of practice should be tried for over the weekend.

How can you help your child? You can sing along the song with your child (with lyrics) and you can also clap through the rhythm of the scale with them, Be sure they spend some practice time in front of the mirror to perfect their posture and bow grip.

Grade 3: What we did this week: We learned a new song! Frere Jacques can be found as the Suzuki Supplemental #2A on the ABC website. We also reviewed the A major scale in eighth notes and two note slurs. Please ensure your child has a copy for Tuesday.

What did we listen to or watch, that you can watch at home? We listened to a live example of Frere Jacques as played by the teacher. We sang along with the song lyrics.

What work is to be done this weekend: Please review all of Frere Jacques and sing along with your child including the lyrics. Review the A major scale in eighth notes

What are we doing next week? We will be introducing the first octave of A major scale and running through Frere Jacques with piano.

How much time should your student be practicing each day? Two concentrated 15 minutes in front of the mirror. Make sure you spend even amount of time on the scale and the Frere Jacques piece.

How can you help your child? Please ensure your child their own copy of Suzuki Book One. You can make sure focus is maintained during the 15 minutes. It ok for your child to make mistakes! Please try and let them play through a whole song without stopping even if its not completely secure. Your encouragement as an audience member makes a huge impact!

Grade 4-6: What we did this week: We learned the B major scale both octaves. We also began the Theme from Long Long Ago.

What did we listen to or watch, that you can watch at home? We listened to a recording of the Theme from Long Long Ago.

What work is to be done this weekend: Please review the finger patterns for the two octave B major scale only in quarter notes. We will begin slurs next week.

What are we doing next week? We will be introducing the Variation from Long Long Ago.

How much time should your student be practicing each day? Please ensure your child is practicing at least 30 minutes and paying special attention to rhythm and intonation of the material introduced this week.

How can you help your child? Please ensure your child has their own copy of Suzuki Book Two for class next week. Please ensure your child is maximizing their practice time and if concentration is not optimal encourage them to take a break.

Grades 7-12: What we did this week: We learned about third position and shifting. We also learned the A section of the Gavotte by J.S. Bach in the Suzuki Book Three. Please ensure your child has a copy of Suzuki Book Three

What did we listen to or watch, that you can watch at home? We listened to a live example of the Gavotte by J.S. Bach.

What work is to be done this weekend: The work this weekend should emphasize shifting, intonation and third position. Also please work on the rhythmic and bowing patterns in the Gavotte.

What are we doing next week? Next week we will be learning the B section of the first Gavotte as well as the C major arpeggio two octaves in third position.

How much time should your student be practicing each day? 30 minutes of concentrated and uninterrupted practice time is suggested.

How can you help your child? Please ensure your child pays special attention to the shifting and bowing pattern exercises in the Gavotte as well as the scale. Please ensure your child has their own copy of Suzuki Book Three.