Studio IV Summer Update!

Hi everyone! I've been slacking in the blogosphere, but I promise I'm back now!

Summer lessons are going well. I'm really excited about starting up group classes in September. Stay tuned for dates and location! Remember that group classes are no extra charge. It's a great place to chat with other parents, and for the students to have fun playing their instruments together.

Some other fun news:

-I'm now helping out with the violas for The Corona Youth Music Project in Corona, Queens. It's great fun and I've met some really wonderful people.

-I've also been playing viola with The Classical Musicians' Rehearsal Symphony Orchestra, and played violin for a reading session with The Brooklyn Symphony. I'm very excited for regular rehearsals to resume in September.

-I'll be playing an interactive concert for kids at Caribou Baby in Greenpoint on Sunday, September 7th at 4 PM. Current students, bring your instruments! No pressure to play, but you are welcome to join me.  Invite your friends!

Misc:

-If you need a practice video for something that I haven't already sent, let me know. If I don't already have one, I'll make one for you.

-I broke my foot! It may take me a bit longer than usual to get down the stairs, but I'm coming. I promise!

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and current students and parents, watch your inbox for Fall scheduling announcements.

What does a Reading Orchestra do?

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of attending my first rehearsal with The Classical Musicians' Rehearsal Symphony Orchestra. I found out about it because of another group I belong to and love, ACMP - The Chamber Music Network. This orchestra meets at various locations throughout the city, and exists for players to be able to read and enjoy playing music together. There is no plan for performance, rehearsals are held so that we can learn new repertoire, revisit old favorites, and just enjoy playing together.

I decided that I wanted to give the viola a whirl. I've played viola as a soloist, teacher, and in chamber music groups, but (believe it or not!) never in a full orchestral setting. I really enjoyed it, but it was extra challenging to sight read on an instrument I don't usually play.  We read Schumann Symphony 2, Mendelssohn The Hebrides, and two movements of Beethoven's 7th.  I was so happy to be sitting with someone who was a VERY strong player, and I learned a lot from her in those short hours. I'm really looking forward to gong to the next one in July and expanding my viola repertoire even more. 

The Brooklyn Symphony, of which I am also a member, will also hold reading rehearsals this summer. I'll most likely stick to violin with this group, but am looking forward to these rehearsals just as much. We're going to be reading Mahler 7, Beethoven 7, and a few others.

Leave any questions you have in the comments! 

SAA Conference Day 4

The day started at 8:15. I went to a session on Tone Development and creating a beautiful sound. It was a good presentation and I came away with some great ideas on right arm and right hand development. They also gave us some interesting books and I look forward to reading through them when I get home.

After that, I attended a session on copyright. There is so much to learn about this topic! While this was a general overview, I really appreciated the list of resources given to learn more about copyright. It's very good knowledge to have.

I missed the very beginning, but was able to catch the second half of a Master Class with William Preucil, Jr. It was delightful. The students played so beautifully, and it was so much fun to watch him teach. I have always loved his playing, and asked my parents for private lessons after hearing him perform with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony orchestra when I was in middle school. 

I did some running around trying to find something to eat, and had such a hard time! Most things are apparently closed on Sundays in downtown Minneapolis. I ended up having chips and guac and came back to the hotel to peruse the exhibit hall once more and do some practicing.

At 7:30, I had the pleasure of attending an SAA Benefit Concert at Minnesota Orchestra Hall, featuring the Preucil Family Players, members of the Preucil family and some of their students. It was outstanding. My favorite piece was "Suite, Opus 71" by Moritz Moszkowski, performed by Mr. Preucil and his daughter, Alexandra, and pianist Arthur Rowe. It was incredible. I can't wait to get home and study it.  The sound at Orchestra Hall was amazing.

Today is a half day and is the last day of the conference.  I'll be attending a session on vibrato, and then the closing concert. I've had such a wonderful time and have learned so much, but am ready to get home to my husband, students, kitties, and kitchen! I'm looking forward to reviewing all this information and integrating it into my lessons. 

SAA Conference Day 3

I started the day in the best possible way by having breakfast here with an old and dear friend and her partner. We laughed and laughed and ate some delicious food. I've really enjoyed seeing more of Minneapolis that what's just around the hotel. What a cool city!

I roamed around the exhibition hall and found some really great teaching aids, as well as a few things for myself. The SAA set up a photo session where we could get some new head shots done, so I did that as well. I did some serious ones with my instrument, and of course some funny ones as well that I'll share soon. The photographer was lovely. 

Later that afternoon, I attended a session on technology in teaching. It was FANTASTIC. I am so excited about looking into some of the options they presented, and now I've decided I need an iPad. :) (We'll see if that happens). They went over some great apps and how to incorporate them into our studios. We learned about In-Lesson Apps, Home Practice Apps, Other Apps of Note, and Accessories. I'm so glad I attended that one.

Afterward I attended a Masterclass given by Yukari Tate. The children who played were wonderful. It was so inspiring to see such musicianship and technique.

When the Masterclass was over, I met up with another old friend I haven't seen in over 20 years! She is a Suzuki cello teacher and teacher trainer. I used to babysit her children. It was so good for my heart to see her. She has some photos that I'll post at a later time.

Ordered Chinese food and went to BED!  Today is very full and I needed to get some super sleep. I'm looking forward to today's sessions and performances.

Thanks for reading!

SAA Conference Day 2

What a jam-packed day! 

Woke up and got ready for my first session at 8:30. This one was on the Suzuki Quint and Position etudes. It was absolutely wonderful. I am excited about new ways to implement these studies into my teaching.

The second one I attended was a session on how to prepare advanced studies to begin studying the major concerti. Not only did I learn some great things to try with my students, I'm excited to try them all myself. I feel like as I become a better teacher, I continue to become a better player!

The third session was on group classes - Pre-Twinkle, mixed levels, mixed instruments, and advanced students. I am always looking for new Pre-Twinkle activities in particular, and this did not disappoint!

Had a lovely lunch at The Local with a friend that I met in my Book 1 training class, and met a friend of hers who was really great as well.  We made our way back to the Hilton and attended a keynote.

After lunch, I went to a session about studio management that was very, very informative. The panel consisted of five Suzuki teachers who teach in different capacities. It's always interesting to see how and where different people teach.

The last session I attended was a hands-on session on teaching bow strokes. It was so much fun! This was absolutely one of my favorite. We were taught some different exercised to do with our bows and I was blown away at how much these exercises changed our sound. 

I was wiped out after this day, but so excited to meet up with an old friend who lives here. We had an amazing dinner at Barbette and hours and hours of laughing and catching up.

Lots more tomorrow!

SAA Conference, Day 1

The first day of the conference was great. I started to meet new people before I even left LaGuardia! The flight was pleasant, and I took a shuttle from the airport to the hotel. I met some lovely people on the shuttle, and have been blown away at how these people I just met all treat me like an old friend each time I bump into them.

I got checked into the hotel, ate a late lunch, and headed to registration. It was very easy.

The first session I attended was on Wellness. The presenter made some very interesting points and I came away with new thoughts on nurturing within the Suzuki Triangle.

After that, I attended a presentation on Suzuki Early Childhood Education - classes for kids ages zero to three. Oh man, am I ready to be trained! All of you that know me personally know how much I love the wee ones. There was a panel discussion with seven different trained ECE teachers. They all had such interesting things to say. There was a short video, and by the end of that. I was ready to sign up for training. Brooklyn folks, who wants to team teach with me? Let's do this! (I'm serious. I really want to do this.)

The final session I attended was the keynote. What a delight. The speaker was informative, funny, and thoughtful. I left feeling very energized and excited about the rest of the weekend.

MISC:

-There are a LOT of Suzuki teachers named Erin. I've already met three and it wasn't even a full day!

-Minneapolis is cool.  

-I had to do a Target run for coffee creamer. I managed to get out of target spending only $15! I'm not sure that's ever happened. Go self-control!

Today will be a full day with some hands-on sessions. More later!

Practice Methods & Focus

A friend of mine posted this article from Lifehacker.com on Facebook a while ago: (http://lifehacker.com/5939374/a-better-way-to-practice) 

I’d read it a few months ago myself, but not as closely as I read it this time. It’s a great article for anyone who wants to be better at anything, and in a nutshell, stresses being present and mindful in your practice. Read it if you have time! It’s short and well-written.

I too am a violinist. I saw a lot of my own habits in the article, both the good and the bad, and agree with most of what was said.

I’m currently setting weekly goals for my violin and viola practice. This week I focused on left hand dexterity by using my metronome to play passages faster and more accurately. I found that the more thought and deliberation I put into each passage at their slowest metronome marking, the more accurate my intonation and rhythm were once I got to my goal tempo. In contrast, when practicing the etudes at their slowest markings while daydreaming about what was in my crock pot and trying to remember where I’d put some batteries I recently bought, I made nowhere near the progress I’d made earlier when I was truly focusing.

This coming week I’m going to continue working on my left hand dexterity in my violin and viola practice. However, I’m going to practice nothing but focus when it comes to composition. I hope to have something decent to share next week!