Brigitte
Another great lesson today, Brigitte. Just remember, more practice = faster improvement!
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: By focusing on making every bow stroke SOUND as beautiful/interesting as possible with your R.H., and by making sure every L.H. articulation is a) in tune and b) ‘plucks’ the string when coming off.
Mazin
‘Dill Pickles’ is really starting to sound good! Remember to practice those exercises daily to make your left pinky stay curved when off the keys.
Minutes to practice: 45 (or more) per day.
What to practice: The pieces marked with today’s date in your book.
How to practice it most effectively: Your lower bass clef and below the clef note-reading needs improvement. Please study! And, remember to count the 8th counts out loud in ‘Gigue in A major’ as you practice.
How parents can support practice: Make sure Maz has enough time to practice!
Nicole
Thanks for the honesty in sharing your hand tension while articulating the bow, Nicole. Cello is not a good choice for you right now, but maybe one day. Glad to see you picked up the piano again so quickly!! Hopefully it doesn’t cause you pain. Remember to do the finger/wrist stretches before and throughout as you play, and, please, do not overdue it!!
Minutes to practice: 45 per day.
What to practice: Familiarize yourself with the first few songs in Piano Adventures Level One Lesson Book One.
How to practice it most effectively: By a) figuring out where the strong beats in the piece should be, then b) moving to them while pushing your wrists forward as you play.
Jabari
Good behavior in the lesson today, Jabari! Please practice on your own when your mom isn’t home. Take responsibility, young sir!!!
Minutes to practice: 30 per day.
What to practice: The pieces/pages marked with today’s date.
How to practice it most effectively: Keeping wrists high, steady tempo and correct rhythm, notes and fingerings.
How parents can support practice: Please practice with him when you can, and encourage him to practice on his own when you’re not home!
Chloe
Lovely teaching you for the second week, dear! I am glad we found something (math and science) we both appreciate. I hope you understand my ‘music equation’ and how important it is to making sure the sounds you create sound musical!
Minutes to practice: 30 (or 45?) per day.
What to practice: The pieces in your book marked with today’s date.
How to practice it most effectively: a) with a metronome, making sure you’re playing the notes to the click of the metronome in sync b) then without the metronome, trying to move ONLY to the circled counts (the strong beats) as you play.
How parents can support practice: Ask Chloe to show you what we did in the lesson today, read the notes I wrote, practice with her in the beginning of the week, then check in on her practice over the week.