Blog Archives

Week 5: Class on 9/28 and 9/29

9/30/2016

Hello! This week:

Practice marking up melodies on page 9. Don't write a number above each note - watch the video for directions.
Play the pieces on page 9. Use the bow even though they are marked "pizz." (plucked)

I messed up when recording the videos, meaning that violins don't have a video for Jingle Bells, and cellos don't have a video for Clouds of Many Colors. Try and work them out even if you don't have a video to help!

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Week 4: 9/21 and 9/22

9/22/2016

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Hello! This week we added more fingers on the fingerboard to play different notes.

Play I Can Fly lines 1 and 2 to warm up and recap
Go through line 3 again and think about how the shape of the melody relates to the fingering pattern: as the notes get higher, we need to add more fingers on the fingerboard
Watch the videos and play line 3
Play the tunes on page 9 of String Basics (number 31 is Merrily We Roll Along). Use your pencil to write in the fingering over the notes if you need to

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Week 3 - 9/14 and 9/15

9/15/2016

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Hi everyone! This week's assignment:

Practice bow patterns for different rhythms (du, du, du-u = pull, push, slow-bow) using a great bow hold
Practice identifying notes D and A in your music
- Cellos: D is Dead in the middle, A is At the top
- Violins: D is Down underneath the staff, A is on the second space up (think FACE)
Watch the video and play I Can Fly line 1 using the open D and open A strings, then I Can Fly line 2 using the open D and first finger on the D string. Use the practice track to make it sound lovely, and replacement music if you lost your sheet
If you've mastered those two lines, try the exercises on pages 6-8 of String Basics. Play them with your bow even though they are marked "pizz". Play along with the accompaniment tracks on the disc inside the back cover to sound good. Work out the rhythm first, then the note names, then try playing the exercise
Advanced players are welcome to prepare lines 3 and 4 of I Can Fly

See you next week!

i_can_fly_violin_.pdf
File Size:	18 kb
File Type:	pdf

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i_can_fly_cello_.pdf
File Size:	18 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Week 2: 9/7 and 9/8

9/8/2016

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Hi everyone! This week's targets:

Continue developing good playing posture and strength in left hand pinky through last week's plucking exercises
Make a pinky house for your bow if you missed this week's class
Here's what you need to know about rosin
Practice a natural, relaxed bow hold using your pinky house and toilet roll
Play along with the treble clef/bass clef song using the D, G and A strings

D D D D D D D D
G G G G D D D D
A A G G D D D D

Try varying the rhythms you use for the pattern to make it interesting!

If you missed this week's lesson click on the link to find how to make a pinky house, which we did during class:

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Week 1: 8/31 and 9/1

9/1/2016

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Hi everyone! Aims for this week:

Get comfortable with setting up your instrument correctly
Practice sitting and standing correctly with your instrument
Play our silly string song and make up your own, plucking using the left pinky to strengthen its muscles
Test yourself with 3-note patterns (such as D-A-D or G-G-D), trying to avoid looking at your fingers
Play the accompaniment to Twinkle, Twinkle that we played in class. If you know someone who plays the recorder, ask them to play the melody while you pluck the accompaniment!

There's a replacement practice log attached in case yours got mislaid.... Tape it in your book and you will be golden!