Ways to practice WITHOUT your instrument!

      

• When you are away from home without your instrument
• When you are watching a video or listening to your music recordings
• When you are bored waiting (in a line, after an assignment is finished, etc.)
• When you are too sick to play
• When you are warming up to get ready to practice with your instrument
• These ideas work for all instruments, piano, violin, viola and cello included. (with the exception of the bow hold, #3)

   

https://pin.it/5QMIZaK 

1. LISTEN  Find a professional recording of each song you are learning (or listen to your Suzuki Recording) and make a playlist you can listen to in the car, around the house, or while doing homework, reading, etc.) You will reinforce tricky rhythms, changin tempos, dynamics, etc. each time you hear it being played accurately.
2. PRACTICE HAND SHAPE If you have a squishy ball, pick it up and look at your hand shape - you should be able to see all three knuckles. After observing your hand, put the ball down and keep the same hand shape. You should be able to touch the desktop with all four fingertips and the side tip of your thumb.Be Sure your wrist is straight and lifted off the table top. Now try tapping finger individually without letting the knuckles wiggle or collapse.
3. PRACTICE BOW HOLD Put a pencil on your desk. With your right hand, make a circle with your thumb and middle finger. Use these two fingers to pick up the pencil in the middle of the pencil. Now  the index and ring fingers can relax around the pencil and the pinky can sit on top of the pencil. Make sure that the thumb is still bent and has a 'bump' on the first knuckle.  Now you can also practice other bow hold exercises with the pencil in the correct bow hold.
4. ELIMINATE TENSION If you typically feel like our muscles are all knotted up after you finish a practice session, you are probably allowing tension to build up without even knowing it. Being aware of how tension fells and where you feel it the most, as well as when you feel it the most, are the first steps toward elimination it.
5. TRY THIS EXERCISE Start with your spine and think about your posture. Center yourself from the bottom up. If you are near a wall, stand and let the back of your head rest on the wall. Go back to your seated or standing playing position and hold this position quietly for 10 seconds with the correct posture. With consisten reminders, your posture will improve. When standing to play, make sure that feet are shouler width apart and the violin is in line from left foot to left elbow to nose, all pointed the same way, with head balanced on the violin and the jaw and collar bone holding the violin without squeezing too tightly.

Welcome Back! Fall Semester News!

 I hope that you have all had a wonderful Summer! For us, it was wonderful to see our grandchildren in Texas (in person anyway) for the first time since 2019!  Now let's get back on track for an exciting new school year!

Below is our Studio Policies as well as the Group Class Schedule for the Fall Semester . 

Group Classes this semester will be grouped:

  Book 1 -2 Fridays at 5:00 p.m.

 Books 3 - 6 Fridays at 5:30 p.m. 

Fall Group Class Dates (Fridays)
at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 3303 Belcher Road, Dunedin

Book 1 -2  – 5:00 p.m. ___Book 3 – 6 at 5:30  

August 26 – 5:00 – 6:00  - 3303 Belcher Road, Dunedin
September 16 – 5:00 – 6:00 – 3303 Belcher Road
September 30 – 5:00 – 6:00 – 3303 Belcher Road
October 7 – 5:00 – 6:00 – 3303 Belcher Road
October 14 – 5:00 – 6:00 - 3303 Belcher Road
November 4 – 5:00 – 6:00 -  3303 Belcher Road
November 18 – 5:00 – 6:00 – 3303 Belcher Road
December 9 – 5:00 – 6:00 – 3303 Belcher Road

Holiday Lights and other performances TBA

Spring Recital Tentatively set for May 6, 2023

We will combine all the levels when preparing for performances.

Also watch Here for Practice and Listening Ideas, COMING SOON!

STRING THINGS SUZUKI STUDIO

2022-23 POLICIES AND TUITION

Fall Semester –Aug 12, 2020 through the end of the semester on December 20, 2020.*Note: Attendance and payment for the lessons at the beginning of the semester indicates that you accept these policies.

·       No lessons – Oct 17-22:  Nov. 7-12.

·        30 minute private lessons, group classes and performances $500 for semester or $120 per month for 5 months, August through December

·       45 minute private lessons, group classes and performances $800 for semester or $180 per month for 5 months, August through December

·       1 hour private lessons, group classes and performances - $1,000 for semester

Or $240 per month for 5 months, August through December

Spring Semester –January 4, 2020 through June 3, 2021 * Note: Attendance and payment for the lessons at the beginning of the semester indicates that you accept these policies.

·       No lessons Jan 16 – 20: Feb. 13-18:  Aoril  10 - 15

·        Private 30 minute lessons, group classes plus 1 recital - $500 for semester or $120 per month for 5 months, Jan. through May

·       Private 45 minute lessons, group classes, plus 1 recital - $800 for semester or $180 per month for 5 months, Jan through May

·       Private 1 hour lessons and group classes plus one recital - $1,000

For semester or $240 per month for 5 months Jan through May

(Tuition is based on all classes for the semester and includes lesson fees, group classes*, and performances, NOT a certain number of lessons per month)

.*Group Class and Performance dates will be posted  at  www.stringthingssuzuki.blogspot.com

Make-ups are at the teacher’s discretion. Make- up lessons will not be given for less than 24 hour notice, unless the teacher grants exceptions for true emergencies or illnesses. There will be two scheduled ‘make-up master class days’ during the year which will be used for make-up times, with appointments determined by the teacher. If a make-up lesson is missed, the lesson is forfeited and may not be rescheduled again.

My intention is to maintain open communication with each of my families.  If you find something unsatisfactory, I ask that you bring it to my attention right away so we can work towards resolution. I’m available through email, text or phone.

 

 

 

Each teacher is not necessarily the best fit for every student, and there are various reasons to find a new teacher. If you desire to discontinue lessons with me or find another teacher, I am available to discuss your needs and aid in the referral process.* Four weeks notice is required if you plan to discontinue lessons, and you are financially responsible for those remaining four lessons.
____ Discontinuing Lessons: If we / I need to discontinue lessons for any reason, I will let my teacher, Virginia Lamboley, know at least one month in advance of my final lesson. I understand I am financially responsible for the balance remaining for the month of lessons after notification.

Fall Group Class Dates (Fridays)

Book 1 -2  – 5:00 p.m. ___Book 3 – 6 at 5:00  

August 26 – 5:00 – 6:00 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 3303 Belcher Road
September 16 – 5:00 – 6:00 – 3303 Belcher Road
September 30 – 5:00 – 6:00 – 3303 Belcher Road
October 7 – 5:00 – 6:00 – 3303 Belcher Road
October 14 – 5:00 – 6:00 - 3303 Belcher Road
November 4 – 5:00 – 6:00 -  3303 Belcher Road
November 18 – 5:00 – 6:00 – 3303 Belcher Road
December 9 – 5:00 – 6:00 – 3303 Belcher Road

Holiday Lights and other performances TBA

New School Year - Good Choices to Start it Right!

Here are some great things to read to start your year off, courtesy of Laurie Niles at Violinist.com:

Commit to practicing every day

Daily practice leads to success - and success leads to satisfaction with your music-making. Practicing every day accomplishes more than practicing long hours infrequently. Playing the violin requires physical strength, coordination, balance and mental concentration. Just as athletes need consistency routines to develop their talents, so do musicians. Daily practice also creates a virtuous circle: the more you practice, the better you play. The better you play, the more you practice! Start with the goal of practicing 21 days in a row, to set the practice habit. Then aim for a longer streak of practice days -- a month, 100 days, a year! The more days you practice in a row, the easier it becomes to keep your daily practice going.

Choose a good violin

You might want to wait until you have a teacher, so that your teacher can help you pick a good violin. Buyer beware: there are a lot of "deals" out there that are not really good deals! A cheap violin can create a lot of headache and frustration. A good violin is like a good computer, it serves the function and allows you to explore more possibilities.

Pay very close attention to physical set-up

Your teacher will show you how to hold you violin and bow -- and doing so correctly turns out to be very important! Playing the violin is an awkward endeavor, so at first it will likely feel strange. A lot of people get hung up on trying to make something awkward feel better; hold off on that. When you develop the relevant muscles and callouses, things will feel better. Setting yourself up with the proper ergonomics for playing will allow your technique to develop in a much more efficient way, and it will allow you to avoid injury. If, say, you hold your bow improperly, you can still play "Twinkle," but you will run into a wall down the line when you need to play "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso." Both you (and your teacher) should have big goals like that, even as a beginner! So set yourself up for full success.

Master small steps and be patient with your progress

Good violin-playing flows from having a solid foundation that includes a good set-up, accurate technique and a well-developed musical vocabulary. If you skip steps and take shortcuts, you may arrive at a juncture where you aren't able to progress further or your playing simply doesn't sound good. Master each step along the way, and you'll build a strong foundation that will serve you well for a lifetime of making beautiful music.

Spring Recital Program

String Things Spring Recital

May 30, 2020

Allegro		Suzuki
	Emery Neyer
Twinkle Variation A		Suzuki
	Michael and Rob Romeyn
Twinkle Theme		Folk Song
	Elliott Mueller
Allegro		Suzuki
	Tristan Trivitayakhun
Perpetual Motion		Suzuki
	Samantha Rocktoff
Etude		Suzuki
	Lila Lutes
Rain on the Roof A Message		Thompson
	Birdie Kulick
The Honeybee		Folk Song
	Elliott Mueller
Spanish Caballero		Faber
	Royal Kulick
Gavotte		J.S. Bach
	Lola Malizia
Concerto in C Minor		J.C. Bach/Casadesus
	Alexis Young
Duet with Two Eyeglasses Obbligato		Beethoven
	Virginia and Lyle Lamboley
	Virtual May Pole Dance

May 30th Virtual Recital

String Things Recital

May 30, 2020 5:00 p.m.

Please join us on www.zoom.us for our first ever VIRTUAL Recital. It will be solos shown on zoom from video, as well as a LIVE VIRTUAL May Pole done in experimental style with great fun and much laughter.

We will all enjoy chatting, virtual applause, and seeing each other on screen while hopefully having our own choice of refreshments afterward!

Please  let us know if you would like to have the zoom ID and Pasword for this event.

http://evite.me/t9hWwYJBy6

April 15, 2020

April 15, 2020