Brigitte

Starting to make good (resonant) bow sounds, dear! Now, work on that intonation!! The more you practice — in rhythm — the easier it will get to manage all of the aspects of music/cello playing.

Minutes to practice: 45 per day.
What to practice: The exercises in your book marked with today’s date.
How to practice it most effectively: Besides moving to the rhythm, if your attention is focused on matching the exact pitch and you allow your left hand fingers immediately adjust accordingly on the string as you play, in no time you will be playing ‘in tune’. Like riding a bike.

Mazin

Excellent continued progress on ‘Dill Pickles’, Maz. Good work on ‘St. James..’, ‘Wild Flowers’ and ‘Gigue in A Major’, too. Keep this up and you will need a new piece, soon!

Minutes to practice: 45 (or more) per day.
What to practice: The pieces noted in your notebook.
How to practice it most effectively: Calm, cool and collected — you are getting really good at this!
How parents can support practice: Make sure Maz has enough time to practice.

Nicole

Lovely to meet and teach you, Nicole!!! I am very excited to have you on as a new cello student.

Minutes to practice: 60 per day.
What to practice: The bow grip exercises I showed you, and open strings (double-stops and single strings).
How to practice it most effectively: ALWAYS engage your core and MOVE to a rhythm while playing. Music can be described as lyricism riding on a rhythmic pulse expressed through the sound one is producing.

Jabari

Now, that was a turn around today, young sir! What a difference a little concentration and willpower on the task at hand can do. Keep it up!!

Minutes to practice: 30 per day.
What to practice: The pieces marked in your book with today’s date.
How to practice it most effectively: By focusing on the task at hand, aiming for perfection! You proved you can do it!!
How parents can support practice: Practice with Jabari over the next few days in order to reinforce what we did in the lesson today, and then check in on him on a regular basis to make sure he continues in this new way of behaving.

Michael

I am sorry if I touched a nerve in the lesson today. I would like you to know the freedom of what it means to make beautiful sounds and interestingly-shaped phrases, and, if I pushed too hard, I apologize. I don’t want to turn you off of learning the piano.

Minutes to practice: 45 (or more) per day.
What to practice: The pieces marked in your notebook.
How to practice it most effectively: At your own pace. Do not stress out about it, Michael. Music’s purpose is to release and express energy, so we cannot approach with tension or fear. If you’re feeling discouraged, take a break, breathe, and try again. You will get there.

Chloe

Lovely meeting and teaching you today. I can sense the musician in you just wanting to come out. Happy to be joining you on this musical ride!!

Minutes to practice: 30 per day.
What to practice: The pieces in your book marked with today’s date.
How to practice it most effectively: MOVING to the strong beats (circled counts) as you play!
How parents can support practice: Encourage, encourage, encourage!!!