Grade 1 & Grade 1/2
Grade 1
Mr. Wong’s Class
Latest Homework
26 March 2016
Director’s Easter Weekend Update (Gr. 1-3)
A very happy Easter Weekend to you all!
I wanted to update you on a few important pieces of information, as well as give you some insight into the rest of the academic year.
Ms. Vachon & Mr. Townsend
Ms. Vachon has begun a parental leave, and Mr. Townsend – who filled in for Ms. Vachon’s illness – will be taking over the rest of the year. We will update you with his biography shortly.
Work to be done
Please continue all work from the previous post.
Drumming (Grades 1-3)
You may have heard about the occasional drumming activity that we do with the kids. There are some different reasons we do this, but they are very deliberate, and music education oriented:
- Focus – the activity is offered for group effort in violin class over a period of days. Low participation and effort means lower chance of the activity occurring.
- Polyphony and imitative polyphony – this is the concept of more than one voice and one voice copying the other. Our drumming allows this concept to be developed in a fun way that is easily and quickly executed.
- Leadership – individual students are given the opportunity to ‘lead’ the group in an imitation session, which allows them to develop rhythmic thinking, and gives them some basic responsibilities in leadership
- Accountability – students that do not participate in class and preparation do not participate in drums
For these grades, this more physical approach to music is an excellent way to channel their energies. I encourage you to take out some pots and pans and wooden spoons, and have your kids lead you (their interpretation) of how we do this in class. This is a good way to encourage musical activity at home, and is an excellent way to engage musically with your children.
I also encourage you to ask your children about this when asking about what they did in violin during the week, as you prepare them for their practice on the weekend. This is, of course, in addition to checking our posts online/email.
7-day Homework Helper & Violin Worksheet
We have had requests for a 7-day version of the homework helper. Click to download it. We do not require this version, but do require the regular homework helper to be submitted every Tuesday.
There is also a new Violin Worksheet available for download. Please take the time to review this with your students over the next week-and-a-half. There may be a pop quiz on it…
Looking Ahead
We have almost reached the end of our 7-week plan. This has been very useful in terms of highlighting engagement, participation, and needs. We’ll be reviewing these things with Dr. Ling in the next 2 weeks, and update you on the remainder of the year when we have done so.
Many thanks,
B.Kerekes
Director
Cornerstone Homework March 6-14
Grade 1
What we did this week:
We learned the rest of Lightly Row. We learned to run through Mary and the technique work for next week.
What did we listen to or watch, that you can watch at home?
Watching the Lightly Row video and trying to play along with it at home will help build confidence.
What work is to be done this weekend:
Next week is review week. Please ensure all technical requirements are memorized and that your child is comfortable running through both pieces. Try to have some living room performances. ??Building confidence is not always a congratulatory act – you can also encourage improvement by remarking your admiration for continuing to try in the face of challenge(s). This will have benefits in other kinds of work.
What are we doing next week?
We will be reviewing our test requirements with a focus on perfecting them. ??Posture, bowing, intonation.
How much time should your student be practicing each day?
Two solid and focused 15 min practice sessions.??If you aren’t directly involved in the practice session, have them play through the list for you at the end of the practice day.
How can you help your child?
We recommend that instruments go home on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the next 2 weeks, and that parents increase focus at this point. If you have not been bringing your instrument home on weekends, this is your home-stretch warning for improving your playing.
Annual Requirements
TEST: Autumn
EXAM: Winter – Feb. 2 & 4, 2016
TEST: Winter 2016 – 7 Week Plan
Scales & Rhythm Requirements
G major scale to be played in 1 Octave metronome at 60 (mm=60) per note.
D & A major arpeggios to be played in 1 Octave metronome at 60 (mm=60) per note.
Pieces (Songs) to be learned
Suzuki Supplemental #1A – Mary had a Little Lamb
Suzuki #2 – Lightly Row
NOTE: Metronome markings on pages to be followed.
EXAM: Spring 2016 – To be announced
Grade 1/2 Split
Miss Wong’s Class
Latest Homework
26 March 2016
Director’s Easter Weekend Update (Gr. 1-3)
A very happy Easter Weekend to you all!
I wanted to update you on a few important pieces of information, as well as give you some insight into the rest of the academic year.
Ms. Vachon & Mr. Townsend
Ms. Vachon has begun a parental leave, and Mr. Townsend – who filled in for Ms. Vachon’s illness – will be taking over the rest of the year. We will update you with his biography shortly.
Work to be done
Please continue all work from the previous post.
Drumming (Grades 1-3)
You may have heard about the occasional drumming activity that we do with the kids. There are some different reasons we do this, but they are very deliberate, and music education oriented:
- Focus – the activity is offered for group effort in violin class over a period of days. Low participation and effort means lower chance of the activity occurring.
- Polyphony and imitative polyphony – this is the concept of more than one voice and one voice copying the other. Our drumming allows this concept to be developed in a fun way that is easily and quickly executed.
- Leadership – individual students are given the opportunity to ‘lead’ the group in an imitation session, which allows them to develop rhythmic thinking, and gives them some basic responsibilities in leadership
- Accountability – students that do not participate in class and preparation do not participate in drums
For these grades, this more physical approach to music is an excellent way to channel their energies. I encourage you to take out some pots and pans and wooden spoons, and have your kids lead you (their interpretation) of how we do this in class. This is a good way to encourage musical activity at home, and is an excellent way to engage musically with your children.
I also encourage you to ask your children about this when asking about what they did in violin during the week, as you prepare them for their practice on the weekend. This is, of course, in addition to checking our posts online/email.
7-day Homework Helper & Violin Worksheet
We have had requests for a 7-day version of the homework helper. Click to download it. We do not require this version, but do require the regular homework helper to be submitted every Tuesday.
There is also a new Violin Worksheet available for download. Please take the time to review this with your students over the next week-and-a-half. There may be a pop quiz on it…
Looking Ahead
We have almost reached the end of our 7-week plan. This has been very useful in terms of highlighting engagement, participation, and needs. We’ll be reviewing these things with Dr. Ling in the next 2 weeks, and update you on the remainder of the year when we have done so.
Many thanks,
B.Kerekes
Director
Cornerstone Homework March 6-14 Grade 2
Grade 2
What we did this week:
We learned the G minor harmonic scale two octaves and we learned the G minor arpeggio. We finished the B section of The Clown.
What did we listen to or watch, that you can watch at home?
We listened to musical examples of minor melodic and minor harmonic scales. We sang through the scales and we also sang through the major and minor arpeggios.
What work is to be done this weekend:
Continue with the intonation work for the scales and arpeggio. Please also review all of The Clown.
What are we doing next week?
Next week is review week where we will be going over all of the material for test week. We will be running through this material with the piano.
How much time should your student be practicing each day?
One solid 20 minute practice session focusing on The Clown and the g minor harmonic scale.
How can you help your child?
We recommend that instruments go home on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the next 2 weeks, and that parents increase focus at this point. If you have not been bringing your instrument home on weekends, this is your home-stretch warning for improving your playing
Annual Requirements
TEST: Autumn – Past