#suzukigroup

Excited to be teaching my first live #suzukigroup class @levine_music since the pandemic restrictions began last spring! Our #youngmusicians enjoy the challenge game. Each #youngviolinist randomly chooses a piece they can play well and performs it according to a randomly chosen challenge. I adapted this idea from a @twosetviolin video which featured Hilary Hahn @violincase performing a Paganini Caprice while hula hooping! (Definitely look this up on YouTube!) We don’t hula hoop in my class but we have many fun and educational challenges to choose from. Three videos: 1) Choose your piece. Today’s winner is #waltz by #johannesbrahms ~swipe left~ 2) Choose your challenge! Play the piece with the opposite bowings! ~swipe left~ 3) Perform for the class! Depending on the child and the combination of piece and challenge, if I see a child struggling I may simply do the challenge myself (and include some funny mistakes), or have the child choose a different challenge, or do it all together as a group. In my experience the favorite challenge is “lie on your back while playing!” Note: I am using #decidenow , which is a free app for creating your own custom spin wheels! Children enjoy pushing buttons as well as opportunities to “game-ify” practice. Letting children choose their piece and challenge gives them a feeling of ownership of the practice process. Of course, the menu of options should be carefully chosen by the teacher or parent. #brahms #brahmswaltz #jbrahms #violinteacher #violinpractice #violinlessonsforkids #violintips #musiceducation #violinfun #suzukiteacher #suzukiclass #suzukiviolinmethod #suzukiviolinteacher #suzukiviolinschool #loveviolin #gamifylearning #gamifyyourclassroom #violinguy #musiceducationmatters #musiceducationforkids (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CT7lkmVgm37/?utm_medium=tumblr

Please enjoy this arrangement of #thebeatles #because (Lennon/McCartney) for 4 #violins arranged by my #violinstudent J at the Herndon Suzuki School. We’re excited to be performing this beautiful arrangement at our next #suzukigroup concert! The harmonies in this song are inspired by #beethovenmoonlightsonata . Yoko was playing “Moonlight” and John asked her to play the chords backwards. The resulting harmonic progression bears some similarity to Beethoven’s; however, the final product is not simply a backwards playing of Beethoven’s. If you like this arrangement and would like a copy, let me know and I’ll check with J to see if I can get you a copy! #beatlescover #lennonmccartney #beethoven #moonlightsonata #suzukiviolinteacher #beautifulharmony #beautifulharmonies #beautifulmusic #beatlessong #violincovers #sweetharmonies #violinteacher #60smusic #beatlesfan #abbyroadstudios #beatlesforever #stringplayer #johnlennon #instacover (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTuOUZFgYJK/?utm_medium=tumblr

Practice soft dynamics by playing softer than a hum. Engage #auditorylearning by asking children to hum the soft parts. Then ask them to play the soft parts softer than a hum. Follow up by asking, “#howdidyoudothat ?” They will usually notice that they used less bow. Directly asking children to “use less bow” or “exaggerate the dynamics” often doesn’t work for #younglearners This humming activity gives them a way to discover the technique of using less bow on their own, through the senses rather than by following a direct instruction. I find this activity to be very effective in both #privatelesson and #suzukigroup class settings. For children struggling with humming at the right time, the teacher or parent may sing or play the loud parts and stop when it’s time for the child to hum. Children who are listening to the reference recording many times per day will have no trouble with this. This will work with any #musicalinstrument The answer to #howdidyoudoit ? Will vary depending on the #instrument Two videos: 1) Humming the soft part ~~swipe left~~ 2) Using less bow on the soft part #violateacher #suzukiviola #suzukiviolinmethod #suzukicello #practiceroom #suzukitriangle #musicwithchildren #violinlessonsforkids #violinclasses #violinclass #violinmasterclass #violintechnique #violinpedagogy #violapractice #violapower #violanation #violaworld #gotellauntrhody (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/COApnisAOk_/?igshid=l1l8nmcorb3h

Fun with #musicalmodes Create different shades of brightness and darkness with more than just the usual #majorandminor scales! My advanced #suzukigroup loves playing major key pieces in the minor and vice versa, so I thought I’d introduce the concept of mode. Instead of thinking of major as “happy” and minor as “sad”, we explored subtle shades of darkness and lightness with all 7 of the traditional Greek modes. To get brighter, add sharps or subtract flats; to get darker, subtract sharps or add flats. Always alter the key signature in the order of sharps and flats. Here are some examples from #suzukibook1 For simplicity I used only pieces with the original key of A major. I changed my shirt to accentuate the lightness/darkness visually. I hope you like the fashion show. LOL! 1) Lydian mode - add D# to A major 2) Ionian mode or Major - no change here 3)Mixolydian mode - one shade darker than major with one fewer sharp 4) Dorian mode - one shade brighter than minor with an additional sharp added to the minor key 5) Aeolian mode or natural minor 6) Phrygian mode - one shade darker than minor 7) Locrian mode - two shades darker than minor and very weird. I’m willing to bet this is a world premier of May Song in the locrian mode! Note: This is an activity for intermediate and advanced students who have excellent review habits and who have performed the book 1 pieces many times. #violinist #violinteacher #suzukiteacher #phrygian #locrian #dorianmode #mixolydian #lydianmode #lydian #ionianmode #lightlyrow #suzukitriangle #songofthewind #longlongago #maysong #practiceroom #violinclass #violinlessonsforkids #violinlesson #violinfun #violinlove (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKwRFboAC3h/?igshid=1ugxy1v21mf4v

Tomorrow’s Suzuki group class reading selection! “Bach’s Goldberg Variations” by Anna Harwell Celenza and illustrated by JoAnn E Kitchel #charlesbridgepublishing tells the not necessarily true, but fun and entertaining story behind one of classical music’s most famous keyboard works. It’s a tale of friendship, overcoming challenges and insomnia! Seen here with my Bach action figure from #unemployedphilosophersguild Bach’s music features prominently throughout most books of the #suzukimethodviolin so I thought my students would be interested in a personal and human story about a famous historical figure. #suzukigroup #booksforchildren #musichistory #jsbach #goldbergvariations #suzukitriangle #actionfigurecollector #keyboardmusic #baroquemusiclovers #classicalmusic #pianomusic #bwv988 #suzukiteacher #violinteacher #violinclass #musiceducation #booksaboutmusic #musicianslife #storytimeforkids #violinistsofinstagram #suzukimethod #metodosuzuki (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHQRAQpASTX/?igshid=j613dzu4v637

Lately my Suzuki violin students and I have been spending a few minutes during Sat morning group classes exploring music related children’s books. Tomorrow we’ll read the second installment of Ada’s Violin by Susan Hood. It’s an inspiring true story of how an impoverished community in Paraguay comes together around music to give their children hope for a better future. The full page illustrations by Sally Wern Comport are rich and colorful. This is an inspiring story for children and adults alike. More information about this amazing true story can be found on TED Talks and YouTube. #adasviolin #suzukigroup #suzukitriangle #booksforchildren #childrensbooks #childrensbookillustration #musicbooks #musicbooksforchildren #suzukiviolinteacher #suzukiteacher #violinteacher #violinteachers #recycledorchestra #landfillharmonic #musiceducation #musicsaveslives #musiceducationmatters #musiceducationforkids #practicesaveslives #youthsymphony #youthorchestra #violin #guitar #cello #beautifulmusic #musicsavesyourlife (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGahjgUgVDR/?igshid=sgg9y480pc9o

#twosetviolin #challengegame adapted for #suzukigroup class. I use #decidenow app to randomize the repertoire and challenges. This is the number 1 requested game in my #suzukiviolin group class! Parents can use decide now! To randomize and “game-ify” practice. Custom wheels can be created with lesson assignments. Many children respond positively to this kind of practice as it gives them a sense of control and choice over the practice. In this particular challenge I perform #happyfarmer by #robertschumann from #suzukibook1 using opposite bow direction. Of course this particular challenge would be appropriate for a child who had been playing this piece for a while and not as a new piece. #violinteacher #violinguy #challengeaccepted #twosetviolin #suzukitriangle #suzukiviolinmethod #suzukimethod #violintechnique #violinpedagogy #stringplayer #violinfun #practiceroom #musicforchildren #musiceducation #practicesaveslives #40hoursofpractice #schumann #makeadecision (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFjw-3tAkRw/?igshid=1swbdvyjufcw3

Looking forward to the first Suzuki zoom group class of the year! Here’s my simple setup. #violinteacher #suzukigroup #suzukiteacher #teachersofinstagram #teacherlifestyle #suzukimethod #violintechnique #musiceducation #musiceducationmatters #musiceducator #musiceducationforkids #suzukitriangle #violinclass #teachingathome #musicathome #violinlessonsforkids #practiceroom #practicediaries #suzukimethod #suzukiviolin #suzukiviolinteacher #ipad (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFUQtFJAEBM/?igshid=1424k7gwwl9wt