Summer Lessons, the Best Time to Start or Keep On

          

        Summer is here and many of us are going on vacation or are right now on vacation!  This does not mean that you have to go without lessons for the entire summer. I know that some of you are thinking whether or not to do them. Short answer: Do It!

If you are looking for a teacher or just want to try something out, take 2 free online lessons with me! And for those of you in the Louisville area, I teach at the Oldham County Arts Center and the University of Louisville Community Music Program. I teach the violin, viola, cello and piano. We can do Suzuki, fiddle, bluegrass, classical and/or church music. Send me an email at: privatelessonmatters@gmail.com for more info.

For those of you who have a teacher, here is what I recommend you keep in mind as you think it over:

1. Some teachers will be able to have lessons earlier in the day since there is no school, so just ask.

2. A few lessons will help keep students going so that they don't fall behind.  Students that do not take any summer lessons forget some of what they have learned. So guess what happens when Fall rolls around? The parents and student get frustrated when things have to be relearned.

3. Some children think they are done with music lessons, so by taking just a few lessons you can avoid misunderstandings.
4. If you take lessons in the summer you will have a spot for sure in the Fall with your teacher. 

5. Summer lessons are a great way to keep your child sharp and moving forward. What I have noticed, is that students have a harder time staying motivated to practice without the weekly lessons

6. Good opportunity to prepare for orchestra auditions.

7. Most importantly, quality time with your favorite teacher.

Louisville Philharmonia Pops Concert!

         On Thursday, 7:30 PM on June 26, 2014, at the Harvey Browne Presbyterian Church (311 Browns Lane in Louisville, Kentucky) the Louisville Philharmonia is putting on their annual Pops Concert!

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           Here are some of the pieces you can expect: Gershwin An American in Paris,  Lloyd Webber/Custer The Phantom of the Opera, Anderson The Typewriter, Shore/Whitney Lord of the Rings, Gliere Russian Sailors' Dance, plus many other favorites!  As usual, the cost is $0, unless you would like to donate. We usually fill the entire auditorium so make sure to get there around 7 p.m. so that you can get a good seat.

        What a nice way to try something new and encourage your children in their musical endeavors, talk about a simple way to make practicing easier. Learn more about the orchestra here

 

Teaching Reflections: Unique Moments

      Every profession, job, and career comes with good things and bad things. For many people in the United States it is easy to focus very much on the disadvantages, it is easy to complain, to be jealous, to just get through the day. Can you imagine how painful it is to go through life that way? We lose so much when we do that?

A little while ago I had the wonderful opportunity to play with one of my students at a private family occasion. The student and I played a song together. As I was there, I realized what rare privileges I have as a private music teacher. I get to see families have fun, celebrate and even grieve, all because of private music lessons. Who would have thought that teaching students can be more than a 30-minute lesson once a week? I am not sure how many other professions get a chance to experience these kinds of unique moments, but these kinds of moments in life encourage me and I praise God for them. 

These kinds of unique moments have also helped me remember that as much as musical excellence is important, sharing life with people is even more important.  This is especially important to remember in the American society that is always "on the go" with no time to breathe.  The priority of the relationship between the parent and child with the teacher is one aspect of the Suzuki method that I find so refreshing.  At times I get the impression that people think of teachers as waiters at the restaurant just giving people what they order.  But how much better to see a teacher, a student and their parents as more than just clients who give me something.

Prioritizing relationships with people makes it possible to have good unique moments. Are you looking for these moments? What do you live for? So, what are some great moments that you have experienced lately?

2014 Teacher Appreciation Week: A Reflection

     I am not sure if you knew, but Teacher Appreciation Week is here.  This year we celebrate teachers between May 4-10 in the United States of America. Many countries in the world celebrate this day to thank and honor teachers for the work that they do in educating their children.

As a private music instructor, I can say that the families I work with have been appreciative of what I do.  It is encouraging that there are so many parents that desire to honor teachers.  But I can tell you that the appreciation that means most to me is not during Teacher Appreciation Week.  As a teacher I feel honored by the respect parents show me whenever we interact by how seriously they take my perspectives, principles and attitude toward their family.  I do not know how it is in other countries, but educators are not the celebrities, stars, or the heroes in society here in the United States of America. The media focuses in on movie stars, sports heroes and artists, that is where a lot of the attention and money goes.

Thus, parents more intentional to teach themselves and their children to honor teachers, because it is easy to take them for granted.  I can tell you that I have taken and still take for granted the teachers in my life, and that is in part because of the society I live in.  This means that it is easy to look at a teacher as a waiter at the restaurant whom is there to please you, but that is not how I or many teachers approach our profession.  To me, teaching is a privilege and a serious calling to invest in other lives, molding their minds, character, attitudes, and view of the world.  This seriousness is done much of the time with lots of joy and fun.  I seek to engender a passion in my students to be better in character and in music.

So, how can you show appreciation to the teachers in your life? Speak respectfully, be patient, be kind, take them seriously, encourage them, point out the good things that are coming out of their teaching.  You can do it face-to-face (best way), call them, write them a letter, send them a card, or even email them.  I highly recommend that you be specific with your appreciation and encouragement.

Franz Liszt, Part 1

 

 
Period: Romantic
Country: Hungary
Born: 1811 in Raiding, Hungary 
Died: 1886 in Bayreuth, Germany
Contemporaries: Beethoven, Berlioz, Borodin, Brahms, Chopin, Dvorak, Franck, Grieg, Moussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rossini, Saint-Saens, Schumann, Sibelius, Smetana, J. Strauss, R. Strauss, Sullivan, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Wagner.
Specialist Genre: Tone-poems, programme symphonies, and piano works. 


What's Happening in History?

      The 1800’s started with the Second Great Awakening in a Kentucky camp meeting presided by James McGready (1800-1809), Europe was taken with Romanticism, in Russia someone killed Tsar Paul I (1801), ultraviolet rays were discovered by the German physicist Johann Wilhelm Ritter (1801), Thomas Jefferson becomes the 3rd president of the United States of America (1801-1809), The Louisiana Purchase (1803), United Kingdom abolished the slave trade thanks in part to William Wilberforce (1807), War of 1812 between USA and England, Napoelon tried to take over the world, Guatemala, Panama, and Santo Domingo proclaim independence from Spain, the Greeks struggle for independence from Turkey and with the help of Russia, France and Britain gain independence (1829), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints forms under Joseph Smith (1830), Charles Spurgeon the “Prince of Preachers” is born in England (1834-1892), Crawford Long uses ether as the first anesthetic (1842), U.S. Civil War (1861-1865), Queen Victoria becomes Empress of India (1877). So many things happening in the world and in the midst of all these things classical music was transforming. One man was very influential in this changing musical world because of his incredible piano playing, fantastic teaching, and constant support of new music. His name is Franz Liszt.

Party Piece: Practice Tips

Violin 1



Party Piece is a Suzuki Violin Book 1 level piece. Here are some tips as you learn the violin 1 or violin 2 part:

• Place your thumb on the edge of the finger to pluck and make sure to pluck with your finger over the fingerboard, don't let the bow touch the string.
• Prepare a nice bowhand during the rests before part 2 of the song, the second line.
• Use stop bow on the quarter notes, since they are staccato.
• Be ready to prepare for a down bow on the next during the quarter rests.
• Remember that part 1 repeats three times.
• The violin 2 part will have longer notes (quarter notes), keep yourself steady.

Violin 2

Tips:

• Make sure to pluck over the fingerboard, don't let the bow touch the string
• Prepare a nice bowhand during the rests before part 2 of the song
• Use stop bow on the quarter notes
• Be ready to prepare for the next part in the song during the quarter rests
• Remember that part 1 repeats
• The violin 1 part plays lots of eighth notes, keep your quarter notes steady by tapping your foot

Upcoming Performance April 10th, 2014

On Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 7:30 PM the Louisville Philharmonia will be performing Grieg Piano Concerto in a minor (featuring pianist Nada Loutfi), Faure Pavane, Dvorak Slavonic Dances No. 1-4 op 46. We will be playing at the Harvey Browne Presbyterian Church, 311 Browns Lane, Louisville, KY. The cost is $0, unless you would like to donate. I will be in the 2nd violin section, hope to see you there!

Learn more about the orchestra here

What's the benefit of coming? It is a good way to relax, nice entertainment. Second, it is a good way to encourage your children to keep practicing their instrument, because they get to see it live! This is one of the easiest ways to keep your family inspired musically, so in the long-term it is a good investment. It will also encourage you to keep practicing when you are thinking it may not be worth all the effort you are putting into all of this. Fourth, it will encourage your children to see a different side of culture in society that they may not be used to.