This is what can happen if you never say "can't"!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Strings Class Warm-ups for Beginners
My K-3 violin class had a great warm-up the other day that I would like to share with you.
I wrote combinations of A, B, and C# on the board for the class to sight-read. (e.g., ABC#, AAB, C#AB)
My simple instructions were as follows:
It's nothing special, but think about this for a moment. First, this exercises allows an opportunity for your beginners to sight-read. (It's never too early!) Second, it helps demonstrate their proficiency in transferring finger numbers into to letter names, and then into playing their instrument. Last, but not least, it forces your budding musicians take time to set the pitches in their ears before they ever touch bow to string to play those notes. How often you have your string players sing. Hopefully the answer is "all the time", as we all know that "if you can sing it, you can play it", and how important that is for intonation in string playing!
I wrote combinations of A, B, and C# on the board for the class to sight-read. (e.g., ABC#, AAB, C#AB)
My simple instructions were as follows:
- Sing the letter names.
- Sing the finger numbers.
- Play it on your instrument.
It's nothing special, but think about this for a moment. First, this exercises allows an opportunity for your beginners to sight-read. (It's never too early!) Second, it helps demonstrate their proficiency in transferring finger numbers into to letter names, and then into playing their instrument. Last, but not least, it forces your budding musicians take time to set the pitches in their ears before they ever touch bow to string to play those notes. How often you have your string players sing. Hopefully the answer is "all the time", as we all know that "if you can sing it, you can play it", and how important that is for intonation in string playing!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Life Beyond Classical Music
Today I want to share two videos that demonstrate what else string instruments can do aside from "the usual" classical works. Enjoy.
Stephane Grappelli - "Makin' a Whoopee"
Jazz violin
Diego Stocco - "Experibass"
a combination of string stuff built onto a string bass
Stephane Grappelli - "Makin' a Whoopee"
Jazz violin
Diego Stocco - "Experibass"
a combination of string stuff built onto a string bass
Sunday, February 21, 2010
"The Two Grenadiers"
If you ever used the Suzuki violin method books when you first started out, you may be familiar with this tune:
From: http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=9837
THE TWO GRENADIERS.
(DIE BEIDEN GRENADIERE.)
English words by L. C. Elson. Music by R. Schumann, Op. 49. No. 1.
Toward France there travell'd two Grenadiers,
Their Russian captivity leaving.
As thro' the German camp slowly they drew,
Their heads were bow'd down with grieving.
For there first they heard of a sorrowful tale,
Disasters their country had shaken.
The army so brave had borne rout and defeat,
And the Emp'ror, the Emp'ror was taken.
Then sorrow'd together the grenadiers,
Such doleful news to be learning,
And one spoke out amidst his tears:
"My wounds once again are burning."
The other spoke: "The song is done.
Would that I too were dying;
Yet I have wife and child at home,
On me for bread relying.
"Nor wife nor child give care to me.
What matter if they are forsaken?
Let them beg their food, if they hungry be.
My Emp'ror, my Emp'ror is taken!
"Oh, grant a last request to me:
If here my life be over,
Then take thou my body to France with thee,
No soil but of France my cover.
"The cross of honor with its band
Leave on my bosom lying.
My musket place within my hand,
My dagger round me tying.
"Then there shall I lie within the tomb,
A sentry still and unstirring,
Till the war of cannon resounds thro' its gloom
And tramp of the horsemen spurring.
"Then rideth my Emp'ror swift over my grave,
While swords with clash are descending,
While swords with clash are descending.
Then will I arise fully armed from my grave,
My Emp'ror, my Emp'ror defending."
[The sheet music also contains German lyrics, but there are some differences in spelling from the German lyrics I posted on 23 Mar 05 - 09:54 AM:
"Nach Frankreich sogen swei Grenadier...."]
THE TWO GRENADIERS.
(DIE BEIDEN GRENADIERE.)
English words by L. C. Elson. Music by R. Schumann, Op. 49. No. 1.
Toward France there travell'd two Grenadiers,
Their Russian captivity leaving.
As thro' the German camp slowly they drew,
Their heads were bow'd down with grieving.
For there first they heard of a sorrowful tale,
Disasters their country had shaken.
The army so brave had borne rout and defeat,
And the Emp'ror, the Emp'ror was taken.
Then sorrow'd together the grenadiers,
Such doleful news to be learning,
And one spoke out amidst his tears:
"My wounds once again are burning."
The other spoke: "The song is done.
Would that I too were dying;
Yet I have wife and child at home,
On me for bread relying.
"Nor wife nor child give care to me.
What matter if they are forsaken?
Let them beg their food, if they hungry be.
My Emp'ror, my Emp'ror is taken!
"Oh, grant a last request to me:
If here my life be over,
Then take thou my body to France with thee,
No soil but of France my cover.
"The cross of honor with its band
Leave on my bosom lying.
My musket place within my hand,
My dagger round me tying.
"Then there shall I lie within the tomb,
A sentry still and unstirring,
Till the war of cannon resounds thro' its gloom
And tramp of the horsemen spurring.
"Then rideth my Emp'ror swift over my grave,
While swords with clash are descending,
While swords with clash are descending.
Then will I arise fully armed from my grave,
My Emp'ror, my Emp'ror defending."
[The sheet music also contains German lyrics, but there are some differences in spelling from the German lyrics I posted on 23 Mar 05 - 09:54 AM:
"Nach Frankreich sogen swei Grenadier...."]
Playing in Color
I had a great violin lesson the other day, when my student and I worked on practicing music "in color". Now, don't think I made this all up on my own. I read an article about this in a magazine that suggested that a great way to practice is to decide on what color the music sounds like. We tried it together and found that once she started looking at the music this way, I could hear so much more variation in tone. It is a great way to stay engaged with the music and to really make practicing an active process. Well, what are you waiting for? Go on, get off the computer and try it.
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