I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather! Just a reminder that I will be out of town next week, so all lessons will be online on Zoom. If you’re usually online, no need to do anything different, if you’re usually in-person, make sure not to come to the studio next week!

Jaron 
– 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 replacing open strings with fourth finger), and Etude (practice stretching fourth finger more to reach E and review last line, especially the 3-0-3-0 phrase).

Olivia – hope you feel better soon!
– Reminder: get the buzzing in your violin checked out if you haven’t already
– 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 focus on B and B-flat Major – make sure to stretch fourth finger for B Major), Go the Distance (practice full run-throughs and make sure your left hand doesn’t slide up the neck of the violin and cause all your notes to be too sharp), and Spring (first page shifts and bowings, and play through second page slowly and get familiar with the notes).

Amaia –
– 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 phrases with fourth finger 2-4-3-2 ).

Isabella  – missed you today!
– 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, and play A-string, D-string, and G-string bowing exercises on the second page of the packet.

Grace 
– Recommended practice time: 30 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: 2-octave Major and minor scales (focus on D minor scales and the shift to third position, and play scales on piano first before playing on violin), Hunter’s Chorus (practice playing off of the duet page to prepare for playing together – try not to rush at the beginning of the second section), and look ahead at Long Long Ago if you want to!

Hendry – congratulations on finishing Thomas’s Gavotte!
– 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 focus on new scale E Major – make sure to stretch fourth finger higher), D minor scale (2 octaves – natural, melodic, harmonic, make sure second and third finger on C string are squeezed together), Catharsis (focus on second page and playing everything in tempo, and then practice full run-throughs), and look ahead at Lully’s Gavotte if you want to!

Thank you, stay safe, and happy playing!