If this week was your last week of lessons before summer and fall, it was a pleasure teaching you and I will miss you! If you have one more make-up lesson next week and/or are signed up for summer lessons, we will not say goodbye just yet and make sure to double check your schedules!

Jaron – I am so proud of you and all the progress you have made! Thank you for sticking with the violin and me for over 2 years, what an accomplishment!
– Recommended practice time: 15 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: G, D, and A Major scales (1 octave, doing our usual posture and bow hold check each time before playing), G Major scale (2 octaves, and practice both ascending and descending scale replacing open strings with fourth finger), and Etude (practice playing through whole piece without stopping and with a consistent and faster tempo).

Olivia – congratulations on finishing your school year!
– Recommended practice time: 30 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: Review 2-octave Major and minor scales (try to memorise fingering patterns for each scale, and try to review F Major scale, which we haven’t done in a while), Go the Distance (practice full run-throughs and prepare to finish by summer), Spring (you tend to be a bit flat in this piece so make sure to move your left hand up the neck of the violin a little bit), and see if there’s anything you’d like to add to our Zero to Hero arrangement!

Amaia – missed you today!
– Recommended practice time: 15 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: G, D, and A Major scales (1 octave, doing our usual posture and bow hold check each time before playing), and Perpetual Motion (play fourth finger exercises 0-1-2-3-4-3-2-1-0 on each string, stretch and exercise pinky finger to build muscles and flexibility in that finger, and practice playing through without stopping and with a faster tempo).

Isabella – I am so happy I got to be your first violin teacher at the beginning of your musical journey! I am so proud of you and the progress you have made in this short time!
– Recommended practice time: 15 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: Practice holding violin under chin with hands and no hands (in both plucking and bowing position, and make sure to maintain posture while playing exercises instead of just first few seconds of playing), review bow hold and window washer exercises, practice bowing down-up-down-up on each string, play A-string, D-string, and G-string bowing exercises on the second page of the packet, and practice first phrase of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star theme in Suzuki Violin Book 1.

Grace – remember that it’s okay if you need to take a little space from the violin!
– Recommended practice time: 30 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: 2-octave Major and minor scales (focus on scales with shifts – the higher you go, the smaller the spaces between your fingers), Waltz (try not to slow down in grace note section and add dynamics) and Bouree (play through slowly and get familiar with the notes).

Hendry – have fun with summer school!
– Recommended practice time: 30 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: C, D, E-flat, E, F, and G Major scales (2 octaves, doing our usual posture and bow hold check each time before playing, and stretching fourth finger in E Major going up and going down the scale), D minor scale (2 octaves – natural, melodic, harmonic), A Major scale (1 octave, open positions with high 3 on G and D strings), Gavotte (aim a little higher for shift to third position in second section, and stretch pinky finger to keep fourth finger A from being too flat).

Thank you, stay safe, and happy playing!