Hello Parents,

Ms. Vachon is still ill this week.  Mr. Townsend will be filling in for her and continuing on with the same lesson plans.

We are including your homework and information for the week below, earlier than normal.  We ask that you add extra days of work between Tuesday and Thursday in addition to your usual routine of Friday through Monday this week in order to help maintain momentum.  I will be on site tomorrow, and likely Thursday, as well, to offer assistance, and to update you if necessary.

What we are doing this week

We reviewed the A major arpeggio and we introduced the A minor harmonic scale two octaves and the B section of the May Song.

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

We listened and sang along to live examples of the A minor harmonic scale and the A major arpeggio.

What work is to be done this weekend

Please work on the dotted quarter and eighth note rhythm pattern with the metronome. This pattern is found in May Song from Suzuki Book 1 (Don’t have the book?  Click to buy and get it delivered to your home.). Please review the A major scale and A minor harmonic scale two octaves.

What are we doing next week?

Next week we will run through all of May Song and introduce A minor melodic scale and A minor arpeggio two octaves.

How much time should your student be practicing each day?

Try for another full 30 minutes to review all the technical requirements as well as the May Song.

How can you help your child?

Please ensure your child is focusing equally on technique as well as their repertoire. Arpeggio work is just as important as the scale and often times this part of the test is unprepared. Please ensure your child spends some practice time with the metronome to correct and solidify rhythmic patterns.

Additionally, be sure to ask about music.  What do they like?  What do you like?  Have you shared your favourites with them?  Watched videos together?  Sharing your musical interests is fundamental to encouraging theirs.  The only thing we usually recommend using discretion with is Gangster Rap, understandably.

Your child’s practice environment – is it good?

It is important that you give your child the environment they need to practice.  Do they have a space that is quiet, and time that is uninterrupted?  Are they away from screens and siblings?  Setting up a dedicated space – even a corner – for music helps bring structure and focus to your child, and is a subtle, but vital way to increase the pace at which they refine their skills.

Are you using the Homework Helper?

Click here to download the homework helper.  This sheet is designed to teach accountability, honesty, and self-evaluation without being overly specific to the class-based work.  You may think that this is just another “standard” worksheet used in classrooms, but we have developed this based on our experience.  There are very few, if any subjects that turn the focus back on the student to get them to ask themselves about how they are doing.

By using this worksheet, and doing it with them (particularly in Grades 1-3), you can lay some excellent foundations for self-evaluation in work.  This skill will be essential in professional life, and one of the many that can help your children get ahead in the future.  Your involvement and guidance helps your children to learn and get good guidance on self-evaluation and focus on the quality of work done.

These worksheets are required every weekend now, and should be given to Ms. Vachon on Tuesdays.

B.Kerekes
Director