Dear Parents

*Dear Parents

_Listening is IMPORTANT!  There are NEW options to obtain your appropriate listening material, which is always the Suzuki Revised Violin Volume you are studying. Click this link for the newest recordings Volumes 1-3. https://www.alfred.com/suzuki-violin-overview/ 

We do not learn a language without first listening, then copying, and finally reading.  Inspiring your student to listen daily to the violin recordings is YOUR job.  Please obtain the best recording possible by purchasing the CD, the downloaded music from https://www.alfred.com/suzuki-violin-overview/, iTunes or Amazon if Volume 4 or above, and additionally please check into Spotify playlists. I know some of them are titled correctly but the contents are incomplete.  

It is your responsibility if you are the practice partner at home to keep the equipment in working condition.  This includes 

• tuned violin,
• a device for listening to the recordings, 

• device for viewing lessons if we go online, FaceTime, Zoom and perhaps another app as well

• printed materials as recommended by the teacher,  

• *Apps for tuning: My favorite is Tonal Energy.  

• Frozen Ape “Tempo,”  is my metronome app.  All available at the iTunes App Store

• sharpened pencils, never pens!, for marking music and note-taking

• three hole binder for collecting materials

• keeping records on your assignment sheet 

_Please learn to celebrate the efforts, not the results. It takes tremendous effort some days for a child to take the instrument from the case and play. Just to focus on the teacher or the parent while learning is effort.

_Learn to let the music itself be the reward ( "Wasn't that a beautiful tone?" " I loved the expression when you sang that"  " There is so much joy in your bowing, expression, voice, tone, etc.")

_In the words of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, "Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, start all over again." When a practice, or repetition, or lesson, or performance or attitude goes amuck, just reset the buttons with love.  A very wise mom of three once told me "When they act out, they are usually telling you they need something."  Is it a nap? Is it a hug? Is it your attention? Is it more structure? Is it a compliment? Is it a nutritious snack? Is it a more creative way to practice?  

Bravo! Brava! Bravissimo! 

News you can use

Flying with your instrument: reprinted from Strad Magazine (online)

US Department of Transportation finalizes law for carrying instruments onboard airlines

Small instruments such as violins are now legally allowed as carry-on baggage provided there is available stowage space

January 2, 2015

On 30 December the US Department of Transportation fully implemented section 403 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2012 – the law authorizing musical instruments as carry-on baggage on board US airlines. The move follows discussions between the American Federation of Musicians and representatives of the airlines and industry associations over the past year.

It is now a legal requirement that airlines allow small musical instruments, such as violins and guitars, to be carried in the cabin and stowed ‘in an approved stowage area’ provided there is space available. The rule states:

‘With the exception of certain disability assistance devices, overhead bins or under-seat stowage space is available to all passengers and crew members for their carry-on baggage on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Accordingly, carriers are not required to remove other passengers’ or crew members’ carry-on baggage that is already stowed to make space for a musical instrument. However, this also means carriers are not allowed to require a passenger to remove his or her musical instrument that is safely stowed to make room for carry-on baggage of other passengers who boarded the aircraft later than the passenger with the musical instrument. This is true even if the space taken by the musical instrument could accommodate one or more carry-on items’.

The report admits that although many airlines have already adopted similar policies, ‘frontline customer service agents and flight crew may not always be well-versed in those policies and may not communicate those policies accurately.’ Airlines are now required to train aircrews, gate agents, counter agents, and baggage personnel in the appropriate procedures necessary to comply with all FAA musical instrument transportation policies.

The full rule can be read here: http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/final-rule-musical-instruments

T Shirts for StringsUnlimited:We need a minimum order of 12 T shirts.  Please tell me if you need to make an order.  The price is usually less than $15.00 . The performance uniform is jeans and the StringsUnlimited T shirt.

Replacing strings, correcting bridge position: 

http://www.thestrad.com/cpt-latests/ask-experts-correct-violin-bridge-position/

You really do benefit from listening!  Here’s proof. http://www.wired.com/2010/09/how-much-should-we-practice/

http://www.theviolinchannel.com/    Good source of news, products, people.  You can like TVC on FB and get plenty of news.

From ABC News:

Music Can Be Helpful In Shaping Better Future For Kids

A recent study by researchers at Michigan University reveals that children, who are musically inclined or involved in any creative arts, are more successful in later life.

 Earlier studies have proved that children who indulge in arts and crafts develop better brains but researchers could not pinpoint how that translates into later success.

The findings are based on a survey conducted on 82 former students of Michigan University, who passed out between 1990-1995. Many of the participants were found to be engaged in music since childhood and around 93 percent of them were still continuing with the practice.  The former students, who had relatively greater exposure to music and related arts than the rest, were found to be more successful, well known for their accomplishments and had even got some of their works patented and were heading renowned companies.

The study revealed that successful participants had eight times more exposure to fine arts than the others.

"If you started as a young child and continued in your adult years, you're more likely to be an inventor as measured by the number of patents generated, businesses formed, or articles published. And that was something we were surprised to discover," said Rex LaMore, heading the research team and director of the center for community and economic development at Michigan University reports ABC news.

"We conclude, therefore, that a very strong case can be made that arts and crafts training correlates significantly with success as a scientist or an engineer and that this success can be measured in economically valuable products such as patentable inventions and founding new companies" said the researchers in a statement.

An earlier study by scientists from the Concordia University in Montreal showed how music lessons taught at an early age help in brain development. Children below seven years of age if given music lessons have better motor control in the region of the brain responsible for planning and executing body movements reveals the study.

*Make your practice count!  This is a wonderful article for independent learners and parents of not-so-independent learners. http://www.bulletproofmusician.com/why-the-progress-in-the-practice-room-seems-to-disappear-overnight/

*Two new books for parents:  Tips and Winning Ways.  Click Here

*“Great” Article about “Great” Violins: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-ehnes/violins-_b_2939437.html

*A very good case for more, not less, music education: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=hearing-the-music-honing

16 ARTICLES FOR PARENTS click on article   --Suzuki Association help for Parents

*Another great iphone app is Musical Memory, which incorporates tones, colors and muscle memory to play the game. Find it on the App Store.

*Prize and fun resources, music, books, and DVDs: http://www.musicmotion.com/

*Great video about violin making with an appropriate soundtrack: Click HERE

“Time for Three” on YouTube search.  Great trio of musicians!  Their music is also available on iTunes.

Lindsey Stirling is popular with older students and adults.

*In Mrs. Joyce’s violin case: A,D,G strings by Zyex. Pirastro Gold E string; 2 or 3 bows (1 for performing, 1 for teaching, 1 for emergencies); fingernail file; mechanical pencils; eraser; polishing cloth (from any violin shop); and of course----rosin (my favorite is Motrya gold). 

*Fun sites:  www.dsokids.com;  and other links at tmea.org as well.  For those who want to write music, http://finale-notepad.en.softonic.com  is free.