JULY Studio News
Wednesday, July 1, 2020 by Cortney Baker | Uncategorized
July tuition
is due at your first lesson of the month. Consult your monthly invoice for the exact amount.
Ways to pay:
- MAIL CHECK: 814 Pineland Dr, Cary, 27511
- ONLINE PAYMENT: PayPal (include fee) or Google Pay (no fee)
What to do:
Reply to your invoice email on July 1 and let me know how you will send tuition this month.
1. Check is in the mail,
2. PayPal link on invoice (you will pay the 2.9% fee), or
3. Google Pay (I will need to send you money request to go this route. I will send out requests to everyone who chose this option prior)
July Schedule
No Lessons the week of July 6 to 10. I am on vacation that week.
No Lessons the week of July 17-31. I was supposed to be at a Bk 9/10 teacher development course all week.
Consult your registration form or log in to your MyMusicStaff portal to see your specific lesson dates, times and location.
Online Community Play-In
Use this link to register to participate in a weekly Virtual Book 1 or 2 Play In! https://www.cyosc.org/violin-play-in.html
Book 1
- Every Thursday at 5:00-5:30PM PDT
- Every Friday at 9:00-9:30AM PDT
Book 2
- Every Thursday at 5:30PM PDT
- Every Friday at 9:30AM PDT
How wonderful is this to be able to play with other Suzuki students from all over the country!! From what I understand the accompaniment track is an orchestra (a unique opportunity) and there will be a "conductor" leading the class. If you are able to participate, please let me know how it goes!
ZOOM Virtual Lessons
Here is the link to use for lessons this month: https://zoom.us/j/9799595937
Password: cbviolin
Thank you all for continuing to work on establishing lesson etiquette online. A few reminders:
- Set up your lesson space with ample time to log in 5 minutes before your lesson time. (music stand, music, tuned instrument, etc)
- Please have the video in landscape (horizontal) setting so I can see both arms. Test out your bow arm at the tip...can you see your bow hold in the picture with your arm extended? I do not need to see your music stand, that can be off to the side of the camera.
- Turn off as many Wi-Fi devices in your house as you are able. The more devices you have accessing your router, the more delays and cut outs happen when you are playing. Airplane mode? I will have most everything here at my house removed from our router during lesson times to help us out.
- Mute yourself and even turn off your video to be less of a distraction to the lesson in progress.
- Feel free to experiment with speakers or mics on your end to be able to hear me / make your audio sharper.
March Madness - Practice Challenge
Congratulations to all of the students who have completed the March Madness challenge! I know several more of you have finished as well. Please send me pictures of your completed bracket sheet so I can update the list below and our webpage. Thanks!
CHECK OUT your studio colleagues progress: https://pinelandsuzukistrings.mymusicstaff.com/March-Madness-Review
|
PERFORMER: |
WINNER: |
|
Timothy Baker |
Gavotte in D Major by J.S. Bach |
|
Claire Catalano |
Gavotte by Gossec |
|
Hannah Katragadda |
Can Can by Offenbach |
|
Lillian Moore |
Bourree by Handel |
|
Noah Wallace |
Etude |
Studio Videos
Reminder: link to our YouTube folders: https://pinelandsuzukistrings.mymusicstaff.com/Video-Links
For now, I have posted links to the Pre-Twinkle videos, Book 1 accompaniment, Daily Do (for Music Mind Games class), and Christmas Carols.
Parent Education
I have loaded several articles to the Library & Downloads page in your MMS portal with articles and handouts for parents. Find a title that interests you and read it! I highly encourage you to take a moment this month to choose one and read it. There is so much value in motivation for the Suzuki parent. Let these articles give you that blessing!!
This month I am pointing us back to an article I had shared a while back. In the wake of COVD-19, I am observing many of you living out the benefits of precisely the topic of this article: Compound Interest, Every Day Practice and Review. Written by Suzuki teacher and dad, Tom Yang, this article looks at the effects of time and review on a student's progress. Check it out and see what parallels you can make between this dad's observations and your own!
If you have time, let me know your reaction, thoughts. etc.
Special Listening
Just a reminder that wonderful videos and audio recordings of professional performers can be seen/heard on YouTube. Use this as the Special Listening assignment for each week. This month's famous performer is Augustin Hadelich (see notes below).
There are other recordings - enjoy looking around and learning more about this great artist of our time.
Enjoy!
Please share these with the kids.
NPR Tiny Desk: https://www.npr.org/2020/05/11/847834279/augustin-hadelich-tiny-desk-concert
- Adams: Road Movies, III. "40% Swing" - (1 st 5 minutes)
- DvoÅ™ák: Humoresque in G-flat (arr. Kreisler) – (2 nd 5 minutes)
- Suk: 4 Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 17: IV. Burleska – (starts at 10:30)
Kreisler, Praeludium and Allegro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT-Fgag0OT4
Handel-Halverson, Passacgalia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1odhcjdcUDc
Sarasate, Carmen Fantasy: https://youtu.be/iwo-vKPR4Lo
Augustin Hadelich was born in Cecina, Italy, to German parents. When he was five he began his studies on the violin with his father, an amateur cellist. In 1999, Augustin was injured in a fire on his family's farm in Italy, and was airlifted to be treated in Germany. The accident left Hadelich unable to play for over a year. "It is perhaps because of this experience—because I had this moment where I wasn't sure if I would ever play the violin again—that I appreciate what is happening in my life more. I really try to enjoy every moment. It made me realize how important music was to me" After graduating from The Juilliard School, Hadelich continued to make his home in New York and became an American citizen in 2014.
Hadelich is known to perform a wide range of repertoire. Although he is often scheduled to perform from the standard violin concerto repertoire (Beethoven, Brahms, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, etc), he is also a champion of contemporary works, such as the violin concertos by Thomas Adès, Henri Dutilleux and György Ligeti, and recital works by Brett Dean, David Lang, György Kurtag, Toru Takemitsu and Bernd Alois Zimmermann.
JUNE Studio News
Monday, June 1, 2020 by Cortney Baker | Uncategorized
June tuition
is due at your first lesson of the month. Consult your monthly invoice for the exact amount.
Ways to pay:
- MAIL CHECK: 814 Pineland Dr, Cary, 27511
- ONLINE PAYMENT: I have been looking into ways for payments to be made online this month. After considering absorbing the PayPal fee for you all (which I just don't think I can swing right now), I learned about the Google Pay option.
What to do:
Reply to your invoice email on June 1 and let me know how you will send tuition this month.
1. Check is in the mail,
2. PayPal link on invoice (you will pay the 2.9% fee), or
3. Google Pay (I will need to send you money request to go this route. I will send out requests to everyone who chose this option prior)
June Schedule
Summer Lesson Registration information was emailed out May 29. You can view your entire summer lesson schedule in that invoice or in the monthly invoices sent on the 1st. You will need to log into the MyMusicStaff portal to know the location of your lesson each week. Be in touch if there are any questions on how to access your portal account.
Consult your registration form or log in to your MyMusicStaff portal to see your specific lesson dates, times and location.
Online Community Play-In
Use this link to register to participate in a weekly Virtual Book 1 or 2 Play In! https://www.cyosc.org/violin-play-in.html
Book 1
- Every Thursday at 5:00-5:30PM PDT
- Every Friday at 9:00-9:30AM PDT
Book 2
- Every Thursday at 5:30PM PDT
- Every Friday at 9:30AM PDT
How wonderful is this to be able to play with other Suzuki students from all over the country!! From what I understand the accompaniment track is an orchestra (a unique opportunity) and there will be a "conductor" leading the class. If you are able to participate, please let me know how it goes!
ZOOM Virtual Lessons
Here is the link to use for lessons this month: https://zoom.us/j/9799595937
Password: cbviolin
Thank you all for working so hard these past 2 weeks to figure out how to make this time together successful. A few thoughts as we move into the weeks ahead:
- Set up your lesson space with ample time to log in 5 minutes before your lesson time. (music stand, music, tuned instrument, etc)
- Please have the video in landscape (horizontal) setting so I can see both arms. Test out your bow arm at the tip...can you see your bow hold in the picture with your arm extended? I do not need to see your music stand, that can be off to the side of the camera.
- Turn off as many Wi-Fi devices in your house as you are able. The more devices you have accessing your router, the more delays and cut outs happen when you are playing. Airplane mode? I will have most everything here at my house removed from our router during lesson times to help us out.
- Mute yourself and even turn off your video to be less of a distraction to the lesson in progress.
- Feel free to experiment with speakers or mics on your end to be able to hear me / make your audio sharper.
March Madness - Practice Challenge
Congratulations to all of the students who have completed the March Madness challenge! I know several more of you have finished as well. Please send me pictures of your completed bracket sheet so I can update the list below and our webpage. Thanks!
CHECK OUT your studio colleagues progress: https://pinelandsuzukistrings.mymusicstaff.com/March-Madness-Review
|
PERFORMER: |
WINNER: |
|
Carter Bettini |
Song of the Wind |
|
Campbell Fox |
Chorus from ‘Judas Maccabeaus’ |
|
Luke Fox |
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Variation E |
|
Maitri Potukuchi |
Go Tell Aunt Rhody |
|
Connor Raeman |
Allegro |
|
Ameris Rood |
Concerto No. 2, mvt. 3 by F. Seitz |
|
Selah Wallace |
May Song |
|
Annabelle Zipparo |
May Song |
|
Gabrielle Zipparo |
Allegretto |
Studio Videos
Reminder: link to our YouTube folders: https://pinelandsuzukistrings.mymusicstaff.com/Video-Links
For now, I have posted links to the Pre-Twinkle videos, Book 1 accompaniment, Daily Do (for Music Mind Games class), and Christmas Carols.
Special Listening
Just a reminder that wonderful videos and audio recordings of professional performers can be seen/heard on YouTube. Use this as the Special Listening assignment for each week. This month's famous performer is Sayaka Shoji (see notes below).
There are other recordings - enjoy looking around and learning more about this great artist of our time.
Enjoy!
Please share these with the kids.
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor: https://youtu.be/qVrkc6zRzEE
Prokofiev Concerto No. 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGlgAZlde3Y&list=RD0Ze45maxD9Q&index=2
Bach Chaconne from Partita No.2: https://youtu.be/sU9lrF4h52w
Sibelius Water Drops: https://youtu.be/uAlQu4Kk4j0
Paganini La Campanella: https://youtu.be/YAAKOXR44Q4
Paganini Concerto (performance when she was young): https://youtu.be/9KtmZxaTx20
Sayaka Shoji (born 30 January 1983) is a Japanese classical violinist. She was the first Japanese and youngest winner at the Paganini Competition in Genoa in 1999.
Shoji was born in Tokyo and spent her early childhood in Siena, Italy. When she was 5 years old her family moved back to Japan, where she started studying the violin. At the age of 13, she went to Germany for a year to study. with Saschko Gawriloff. In 1998, she moved to Germany to study at Hochschule für Musik Köln under Zakhar Bron and graduated in 2004.
In 1997, she made her debut at Lucerne Festival and Musikverein in Vienna with Rudolf Baumgartner. Two years later, she took the First Prize at the 1999 Paganini Competition.
Shoji records with Deutsche Grammophone. Until 2009 she used the 1715 Joachim Stradivarius on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation; today she plays the 1729 Recamier Stradivarius on loan from Ryuzo Ueno, Honorary Chairman, Ueno Fine Chemicals Industry, Ltd.
Summer Camps
BLUE RIDGE CHAMBER MUSIC INSTITUTE Orkney Springs, VA
MAY Studio News
Friday, May 1, 2020 by Cortney Baker | Studio news
May tuition
is due at your first lesson of the month. Consult your monthly invoice for the exact amount.
Ways to pay:
- MAIL CHECK: 814 Pineland Dr, Cary, 27511
- ONLINE PAYMENT: I have been looking into ways for payments to be made online this month. After considering absorbing the PayPal fee for you all (which I just don't think I can swing right now), I learned about the Google Pay option.
What to do:
Reply to your invoice email on April 1 and let me know how you will send tuition this month.
1. Check is in the mail,
2. PayPal link on invoice (you will pay the 2.9% fee), or
3. Google Pay (I will need to send you money request to go this route. I have sent out requests to everyone who chose this option in April.)
Thank you for helping me navigate this new terrain!!
May Schedule
No lessons Monday, May 25 through Friday, May 29. Break week between Spring and Summer sessions.
Consult your registration form or log in to your MyMusicStaff portal to see your specific lesson dates and times.
Summer Lesson Sign up
Summer lesson sign up calendars are due by May 15 (May's group class date). Calendars are available in the email sent out May 2nd or in your MyMusicStaff account>Online Resources>Registration Files. If you have questions regarding how to fill out this calendar, please ask. Looking forward to our summer months of lessons and practicing! ♫☺♥ Let's keep the momentum going!!
Online Community Play-In
Use this link to Register to participate in a Virtual Book 1 Play In! https://www.cyosc.org/violin-
Right now, only Book 1 repertoire will be covered, but there are plans to have these play-ins for other levels after this initial round is launched. I will keep you updated and will email you directly when your book is posted for registration.
How cool is this to be able to play with other Suzuki students from all over the country!! From what I understand the accompaniment track is an orchestra (a unique opportunity) and there will be a "conductor" leading the class. If you are able to participate, please let me know how it goes!
Group Class
Group Classes will meet on both Friday, May 15th via ZOOM. The Zoom link will be the same as for lessons. A link will be attached to the event in MMS. Please have all of your MMG materials and Suzuki books ready where you will be playing. Siblings might want to be in separate rooms and on separate devices. But, you are welcome to play together, too!!
I have adjusted the times slightly for our change of venue. Since this will be a new venture for all of us, I wanted to have built in "learning the ropes" time.
|
4:00-4:35 MMG 1
|
Ruthie, Charlotte, Zoey, Glover, Logan, Annabelle, Selah, Luke, Maitri, Connor |
|
4:35-5:00 Book 1
(Twinkle to Andantino)
|
Ruthie, Charlotte, Zoey, Glover, Logan (*first 10 min)
Annabelle, Selah, Luke, Maitri, Connor
Carter, Noah, Gabrielle
|
|
5:00-5:25 Book 2
(Etude to Gavotte by Lully)
|
Claire, Campbell, Wesley, Lillian, Timothy, Elizabeth, Ameris
(Carter, Noah, Gabrielle**) |
| 5:25-6:00 MMG 2 |
Carter, Noah, Gabrielle, Claire, Campbell, Wesley, Lillian,
Timothy, Elizabeth, Ameris |
| 6:00-6:45 Book 3+ |
Timothy, Elizabeth, Ameris,
Caitlin, Ella, Rachel, Hannah |
*Plan to play rhythms on the open A or E string for all of the Twinkle Variations. Moms, please be right there with them to help sort out any bowing needs that arise.
**Stick around for the end of Bk. 1 pieces: observe, participate, and be ready for MMG 2 @ 5:25
April Solo Recital
Wonderful job last weekend! I was so proud of each of these students! Here are the photos I was able to collect to document this very different recital experience for us all. https://pinelandsuzukistrings.mymusicstaff.com/April-2020-Virtual-Recital
Here is a link to view the whole recital on YouTube. It is an unlisted video, so you will need to share the link with others if you want anyone to view it.
ZOOM Virtual Lessons
Here is the link to use for lessons this month: https://zoom.us/j/9799595937
Password: cbviolin
Thank you all for working so hard these past 2 weeks to figure out how to make this time together successful. A few thoughts as we move into the weeks ahead:
- Set up your lesson space with ample time to log in 5 minutes before your lesson time. (music stand, music, tuned instrument, etc)
- Please have the video in landscape (horizontal) setting so I can see both arms. Test out your bow arm at the tip...can you see your bow hold in the picture with your arm extended? I do not need to see your music stand, that can be off to the side of the camera.
- Turn off as many Wi-Fi devices in your house as you are able. The more devices you have accessing your router, the more delays and cut outs happen when you are playing. Airplane mode? I will have most everything here at my house removed from our router during lesson times to help us out.
- Mute yourself and even turn off your video to be less of a distraction to the lesson in progress.
- Feel free to experiment with speakers or mics on your end to be able to hear me / make your audio sharper.
March Madness - Practice Challenge
How providential was it that we began this challenge just as we needed to be apart? I know Timothy has blessed others by sharing his music with in a way that he would not have if not for this practice challenge. Congratulations to all of the students who have completed the challenge! For those of you working to finish it this month - GOOD LUCK! I will publish the winning pieces in our June News.
CHECK OUT your studio colleagues progress: https://pinelandsuzukistrings.mymusicstaff.com/March-Madness-Review
Studio Videos
Reminder: link to our YouTube folders: https://pinelandsuzukistrings.mymusicstaff.com/Video-Links
For now, I have posted links to the Pre-Twinkle videos, Book 1 accompaniment, Daily Do (for Music Mind Games class), and Christmas Carols.
Parent Education
I have loaded several articles to the Library & Downloads page in your MMS portal with articles and handouts for parents. Find a title that interests you and read it! I highly encourage you to take a moment this month to choose one and read it. There is so much value in motivation for the Suzuki parent. Let these articles give you that blessing!!
This month I am uploading an article from the SAA 2000 mini-journal, I Love to Practice by Joann Bath. Mrs. Bath is faculty at UNC-Greenville and a long time Suzuki trainer for the SAA. I feel during this time of social distancing, being reminded of how love of practicing can be fostered might be just what we need to read about!!
If you have time, let me know your reaction, thoughts. etc.
Special Listening
Just a reminder that wonderful videos and audio recordings of professional performers can be seen/heard on YouTube. Use this as the Special Listening assignment for each week. This month's famous performer is David Garrett (see notes below).
There are other recordings - enjoy looking around and learning more about this great artist of our time.
Enjoy!
Please share these with the kids.
N. Paganini Caprice No. 24: https://youtu.be/qVrkc6zRzEE
V. Monti Chardas: hhttps://youtu.be/WTc-KoBAKts
N. Paganini "Carneval di Venezia": https://youtu.be/nW34vdnjBO0
La Viva Vida: https://youtu.be/bZ_BoOlAXyk
Tico Tico: https://youtu.be/8J_dn3pvvfQ
David Garrett, is a German classical and crossoverviolinist and recording artist. When Garrett was four years old his father purchased a violin for his older brother. The young Garrett took an interest and soon learned to play. A year later, he took part in a competition and won first prize. By the age of seven, he studied violin at the Lübeck Conservatoire. When he was nine years old he gave his debut at the Festival Kissinger Sommer. In 1999 he moved to New York to attend the Juilliard School, in 2003 winning the School’s Composition Competition with a fugue composed in the style of Johann Sebastian Bach. At Juilliard he studied under Itzhak Perlman, one of the first people to do so, and graduated in 2004.
Garrett's 2008 album Encore pursues an aim of piquing young people’s interest in classical music. The release contains his own compositions and arrangements of pieces and melodies that have accompanied him in his life so far. Together with his band, consisting of keyboard, guitar and drums, he gives concerts that include classical sonatas (accompanied by a concert grand piano), arrangements, and compositions, as well as rock songs and movie themes.
Summer Camps
BLUE RIDGE CHAMBER MUSIC INSTITUTE Orkney Springs, VA
Zoom Recital Etiquette
Saturday, April 25, 2020 by Cortney Baker | Recital
Day of the recital:
- Have the performer's violin tuned to A 440 using a chromatic tuner. (The piano here is at 440.6) All 4 strings need to be tuned. I will do my best to check everyone's strings in the lesson this week. Please do this before 3:45. If you need to call me so I can talk you through tuning the instrument, I would like to do that before I need to be attentive to starting the recital.
- Log into the Zoom Recital link at 4:15. I would like to admit everyone to the zoom space before our audience.
- Audience members will be admitted at 4:30. Before that they will be able to hang out in the waiting room.
- All audience members will need to be on mute for the duration of the recital.
- Set your Zoom screen to be on "Speaker View." This will allow the current performer to be large on your screen while you view the recital.
April 25th Recital Zoom Preparation
Saturday, April 18, 2020 by Cortney Baker | Recital
Parents and Performers,
We are 1 week away from our April solo recital! Since a live stream recital is new for all of us, I wanted to share the ideas below with each of you, so I'm making a mid-month post for everyone to reference as needed.
Preparing your "Stage":
- Find a somewhat uncluttered wall to stand in front of. A musically themed space or fireplace might be a nice touch. IDEAL: a spot close to your router as this can reduce the lag between sound and audio - feel free to experiment with this. If you have a strong router or one of those boosters, then this is less necessary.
- Check that there are no windows/light sources behind the performer that create a glow or halo and darken the face of the performer.
- Figure out a way to elevate the camera you will be playing for to the performer's eye level. If you are using a music stand, it can be off to the left side, out of the camera frame.
- For best sound and streaming experience for the audience, use a computer or tablet. I have heard that the sound and streaming abilities of mobile phones is the least conducive to musical streaming. But obviously, you will need to use what you have access to.
- Have a way to play your accompaniment track that will not interfere with the audience hearing the performer.
- Know where your computer mic is. Mine is under the front of my computer, so I feel that elevating the computer actually helps with transmitting my sound. The best distance for audio quality is roughly 4 feet away. Consider this when setting up your "stage." Would an external mic help? Play around with different configurations.
Preparing your computer:
- Set your Zoom Audio settings to disable the persistent and intermittent background noise.
To get to this window, click on Advanced in the audio settings.
This setting can be adjusted while you are in a Zoom meeting. So, if you would like help during the lesson this week, please plan to bring the computer you will be using for the recital. - Restart your computer close to the recital day as many music teachers have found that this reduces many of the tech problems that arise (I need to remember this one!)
Inviting the audience:
We have a unique opportunity to include relatives and friends who live out of town. I will be creating a shareable invite for you to send out. Look for this in your email inbox this week.
Are you ready for this adventure? It will be different for us all. Nevertheless, I am excited to be able to share each student's hard work and preparation with everyone next weekend. Thank you for going the extra mile this week to prepare for our spring solo recital.
My best,
Dr. B
