I hope everyone had a lovely March break!
Jaron – great work with the G Major 2-octave scale 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), G Major scale (2 octaves, going up and down the scale and taking note of when our second finger is squeezed with our first or third finger), and Etude (first line, play through slowly and get familiar with the notes).
Olivia – good luck with the play!
– Recommended practice time: 30 min/day, 5 days/week (remember to make small achievable goals)
– Practice: review 2-octave Major and minor scales (try to memorise fingering pattern for each scale, and focus on E Major shift to fourth position), Go the Distance (play through whole song multiple times and watch out for when third finger is stretched, and make sure your hand isn’t slowly inching up the fingerboard), and Spring (first page, make sure second position shift isn’t too low and practice bowing for brook section in “2”).
Amaia – thank you for getting your violin tuned!
– 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 Long Long Ago (prepare for final play-through next week, playing through the whole song without stopping or slowing down).
Isabella – great work with adding the bow to your violin today!
– Recommended practice time: 15 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: practice holding violin under the chin with no hands and also with hand in plucking position (making sure the thumb is on the corner of the fingerboard while plucking), play first page of music in Violin Starter Packet with plucking (with focus on Les Toreador), and review how to hold the bow and have fun experimenting with bowing the open strings!
Thea – good luck with your schoolwork for the next few weeks!
– Recommended practice time: 30 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 and A Major scale (2 octaves), Concerning Hobbits (practice shifts and rhythms), Gavotte (try not to “linger” on some notes and practice playing the middle section with a faster tempo), and vibrato (anchor violin to wall and see if that helps, and practice all fingers if you have time!).
Grace – missed you today, hope you feel better soon! Keep on practicing those 2-octave Major and minor scales and Musette.
Hendry – have a good rest of your break!
– Recommended practice time: 30 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: C, D, E-flat, F, and G Major scales (2 octaves, doing our usual posture and bow hold check each time before playing), D minor scale (2 octaves: natural, harmonic, melodic), Gavotte (whole piece now – watch out for accidentals and play through ending section slowly and get familiar with the notes), and Catharsis (viola 2 part – beginning until m. 37, play through slowly and get familiar with the notes).
Thank you, stay safe, and happy playing!