Lesson Slots: Get'em While They're Hot!

Hope everyone has had a wonderful summer! As Summer 2012 comes to a close and the temperatures are becoming (ever-so-slightly!) cooler, parents are looking ahead to get their kids back into lessons for the fall. Now is the time sign your son or daughter up for music lessons! This is a very busy time of year for private music teachers. Continuing students return from vacation ready to resume lessons and prepare for the upcoming school year.  Brand-spanking-new students, eager to have a head-start on their school strings program, are also signing on for lessons. I currently have just a couple of spaces available for new violin and viola students, so if you are considering it, please do email me asap! A few performances coming up:

Welcome to Summer!

Ah, summer. One of my favorite things about working with kids is being a part of all of the adventure of each school year.  For most kids, the first day of summer is the highlight of that year! Over here at my violin studio, we kicked it off with a end-of the year recital last weekend.  All of my students were excited and nervous to perform... and I think a little relieved when it  was all over. I'm excited to continue working with them over the summer in between all the camps and fun vacations! On the performance front, I'll have a couple shows coming up this week. On Wednesday, June 20, I'll perform with The Beanstalk Library at The Evening Star Cafe as part of the Del Ray Music Festival. Can't wait!

 

The Hills Are Alive...

The hills of Alexandria, that is. With the sounds of sweet violin music. Lots and lots of performances lately! My piano trio recital on March 25 with friends C.J. Capen (pianist) and Emily Greget (cello) was well-received and well-attended. It was a very satisfying performance to cap off many months of rehearsal! The Last Monarchs had the pleasure of performing 4 shows during the month of March, including the one below at the Rock n Roll Hotel, opening for Aunt Martha.

I also had a great time sitting in on violin with my friends The Beanstalk Library at the Black Cat on April 4.  D.C. Music Download featured TBL in a nice little review of that show.

So what's next? I'll be performing with The Maret School's pit orchestra next week for their production of "Legally Blonde" on April 19-21. I've been working with the amazing musicians in the country/folk/jazz/bluegrass group East of Monroe, and we will be scheduling a show very soon. And The Last Monarchs will return to the Velvet Lounge on Friday May 4!

On the classical front, my quartet, the Cherry Blossom String Quartet is keeping busy with many weddings on the horizon for spring, as well as an exciting re-design of our quartet website!

New Shows coming up!

Exciting news: I'll be appearing onstage in the following performances! 1.) Saturday, March 3, 2012, 10:00 pm

IOTA Club and Music Cafe

Guesting on 2 songs with The Beanstalk Library, Arlington, VA

2) Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 9:00 pm

IOTA Club and Music Cafe, Arlington, VA

Violin and backup vocals with The Last Monarchs

3) Sunday, March 25, 2012, 7:00 pm

St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Reston, VA

Chamber recital: Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor & Brahms Piano Trio in B major, Op. 8

 

Hope to see you there!

Student Recital: Mission Accomplished!

This past weekend, I held my Winter Recital at the Sanctuary at Convergence for 20 of my young students. It was a wonderful opportunity to have them show off to their friends and family all that they had learned in their lessons. Each student performed one or two solos (by memory) while I accompanied them on the piano. At the end of the recital, I even performed a movement of the Mendelssohn Piano Trio I've been working on with my friends CJ (piano) and Emily (cello) - this time with me on violin of course. :) I believe that it is so important that students become comfortable with performing -it's certainly one of those things that becomes easier with practice. Sure, there were lots of  butterflies and shaky knees on Saturday, but the sense of accomplishment after a performance well-done surely outweighs the nervousness beforehand.

Looking forward to the Spring Recital!

Take a Bow

Last fall, I offered some advice for parents and students on where to get a quality student-level violin. But in addition to the violin, one must consider the other "half" of the instrument: the bow. Most folks would argue that a good sounding violin is more important than a quality bow, and I would agree, but only to a certain point. That is, once a student reaches a certain playing level, say after a year or two of solid work on the violin, he or she will really notice that their bow might be holding him back. As a student learns new types of bow strokes and attempts to do various nuanced things with their sound, a junky bow can really get in the way. The fiberglass (read: junky) bows that come with today's rental instruments can feel like you are trying to play the violin with a wooden club: they feel heavy, unwielding, and dead in your bow hand. Richard Ward offers a nice summary of the various types of violin bows and what to look for when upgrading your bow.

Students with a bit of experience will really notice the improved sound of an upgraded bow. A new bow, if one is not ready for a new fiddle, would be a great way to start off the new school year. Again, you can try any of the local violin shops mentioned in previous posts (Brobst or Potters), or Shar offers trial periods on bows as well.

...dear old golden rule days

That's right...school days are right around the corner. It's time for violin students across the area to return from their practicing sabbaticals and crack open their cases again. This is a busy time of year for music teachers and music stores such as Alexandria Music Company, Foxes Music and Brobst Violin Shop, as families flock to rent instruments and sign up for lessons. If you or your child are planning on learning an instrument this fall, I highly recommend signing up for some private lessons. (And not just because I'm a music teacher!) Individual lessons offer a source of motivation, inspiration, and challenge, particularly for students who are just starting out on their musical journey. Contact me for more information!

Solo & Ensemble Festival!!

It's that time of year again! Many of my students are preparing pieces for the annual Solo & Ensemble Festival. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Solo & Ensemble is a chance for students participating in their school music programs to perform (you guessed it!) solo or ensemble pieces for a judge. The students receive a rating as well as specific comments on strengths and areas for growth. It's a wonderful opportunity for students to perform  -- it encourages extra practice and is always a learning experience! As a student growing up in the Northern Virginia area, I always enjoyed getting a group of my friends together to perform a duet or larger ensemble piece. It was a fun way to connect with my friends and classmates!

A little change of pace

I recently was invited to perform as part of the musical ensemble for a new theatre production at the Arena Stage called "I've Never Been So Happy." The show was part of Arena Stage's New Play Festival. It was presented by a small  (but very talented) theatre company based out of Austin called the Rude Mechs.  Unfortunately the performances (Jan. 28 and 29) are over and the Rude Mechs are back in Texas, but I have great memories of an amazing show. The whole thing was a blast!

Just Call Me Mr. Scruggs

Throughout my teaching career, I've taught many adult students who are just picking up the violin for the first time. It can certainly be a challenge to learn an instrument as an adult -- but with regular practice and lots of patience, I believe anyone can do it. Easier said than done, right? I've had the unique opportunity to put myself in my students' shoes for the past month. I received a banjo for Christmas, and what an adventure it's been to practice and begin learning to play! I've always loved the sound, and thought it seemed like a fun addition to the bowed strings. Plus, my attempt at the guitar at age 10 never really took flight, so I wanted another crack at it.

I've been facing many of those challenges that everyone must face as a beginner: learning to properly hold the instrument, producing a good sound on just the open strings, and finally, learning to chord.

I have to say - maybe I'm biased, but starting out on the banjo has to be a bit easier than the violin (hello, frets!!!). But, I'm still experiencing the frustration of practicing the simplest things over and over again until muscle memory takes over.  Despite the little difficulties, it's been an absolutely rewarding experience. I'm noticing improvements (albeit small ones) day by day, and there's such a sense of excitement when I notice my own progress!

As a teacher, it's been wonderful to observe my own learning process -- it gives me a nice sense of perspective and reminds me that we never, ever stop learning. Up next, Foggy Mountain Breakdown. ;)

Performances to Catch this Month

Happy New Year! As we all get our fresh new start this January, a great way to get yourself or your child re-inspired about playing violin is to attend a live performance. Bundle up and venture out into the cold this month to catch one of the DC area's excellent performances:

1) January 15: The NSO at the Kennedy Center

As a former member of the Development Department at the Kennedy Center, I'm still enthralled by the top-notch performances and amazing atmosphere that the KC offers.

Update 1/14/11: Just saw this performance last night -- it was very enjoyable. The soloist was excellent, but I'm partial to the Sibelius in the 2nd half of the concert. It was worth it if you can get tickets for tonight or tomorrow!

2) January 15, Fairfax Symphony at the Center for the Arts, GMU

3) January 29, NSO Prelude on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center

This is a free performance of two great pieces. You'll love the somewhat rarely heard instrumental combination of piano, horn, and violin.

The Bow Hold for First-Timers

Ah, the bow hold. Students young and old may struggle with developing a comfortable, effective bow hold. Today, I was inspired to find this video after helping a first-time student learn how to hold her bow. Mr. Ehle offers a nice introduction on bow finger placement. And, practicing on a pencil is a great way to get a better understanding of how it should look and feel! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBXFdJ3rJFc

Squeezing in Practice Time

Especially at this busy season, practice time can sometimes fall by the wayside. Playing the violin involves very intricate muscle movements that must be maintained and practiced on a daily basis. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts in violin practice, but here are some tips to get you or your child into the practice groove. 1) Get into a routine. Schedule practice time for yourself or your child at the same time every day.

2) If necessary, break it up: Spend 25 minutes on scales and/or etudes in the morning, 25 minutes on your solo piece at some point in the afternoon and evening. (The actual amount of practice time depends on the playing level of the student.)

3) Be realistic - give yourself a day off. Try to practice 6 out of the 7 days of the week.  I know that some students won't be able to practice every single day. However, it's crucial to maintain regularity in the practice schedule. Practicing 30 minutes on a daily basis will be much more productive than "cramming" the day before your lesson or a big performance.

4) Use a practice chart to record daily and weekly practice. And be honest! :) This will help you and your teacher know how you are progressing. If necessary, for younger students, parents can work with the teacher to arrange rewards for diligent practice.

'Tis the season

..for giving and getting gifts! Here are some of my favorite gift ideas for the string player in your life: 1) New strings!

Seems a little dull, but the right set of strings can really make a difference. The wintry weather can be especially hard on string instruments, causing strings to break more frequently. Why not make a little upgrade to those strings? My faves are Evah Pirazzi.

2) A new metronome

Honestly, all musicians should have one of these anyway. But if not, try this one. Reasonably priced, and it does the job. I prefer the "clicking" metronome to the "beeping" ones -- the beeps can sometimes be inaudible over the sound of the violin!

3) "Fun" music.

Sometimes my students become bored of their lesson materials. Gasp! Pop or fiddle music can help keep students motivated and interested in learning the violin. Try searching for sheet music from their favorite movie or band.

4) A fancy case

Students tend to love the rectangular cases. I've always been a fan of Bobelock cases. They're beautiful and sturdy. As a word of advice, I would stay away from anything over 7 lbs., as it can become quite heavy to carry around. Which leads me to my favorite recommendation...

5) A padded case strap

If you or your student have to carry a violin around a lot, this Case Sling neoprene shoulder strap somehow makes it feel much, much lighter. The strap has a layer of gel-like padding and just a bit of stretch to it. I've had mine for several years and I'm not sure how I managed without it! It makes carrying the violin so much more comfy.

I know, I plug Shar Music so much you'd think I get a commission for it. I don't!