Learning How to Play: Why Review is Useful

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1 April 20, 2017 The Gavotte MacPhail Suzuki News Learning How to Play: Why Review is Useful By Nancy Reynolds I am an adult violin student studying at the Suzuki Institute of Boston. Since, I started taking lessons, I have dutifully reviewed pieces because it is expected of the Suzuki method. Now I think I know why. In repeatedly playing songs one has already learned, the student benefits in several ways, among them gaining new levels of mastery, more confidence, and basic enjoyment, a better understanding of techniques that can be applied to later songs, and learning how to practice better. After learning a song, even well enough to be able to play at the CD speed, a student can learn more from repeated playing: Is finger placement precise? Are the long bows really as long as they should be, every time? Is the bow angle the best? What about wrist positioning? How much hair touches the string? Which part of the string how close to the bridge produces the best sound? Is bow placement in the best spot at the beginning of a piece and after a bow circle? What the last note in a measure played as long as it was on the CD? Is the end of my bow stroke as good as the beginning? Are show bows giving crisp sounds so that the bow has a distinct stop when required? Is my bowing as careful and controlled at the end of the song as it was in the beginning? Reviewing pieces gives confidence. Instead of thinking, Ugh, I have to review, the student can think, I m good at this! The student can show off even without an audience. This becomes especially important when the piece to be prepared for the next lesson is more challenging than expected. It s easy to get discouraged and be tempted to avoid practicing as much as necessary, but that s an excellent time to review old pieces. As the student plays old songs, she can remember and feel good about the knowledge she s already acquired. The answers to problems in the current song can sometimes be found in the old ones. Having problems with the sixteenth notes in the Perpetual Motion variation? Play the twinkle variation with sixteenth notes. Another advantage of going back to songs from earlier lessons is that after time, they seem slower. Of course the CD speed is the same, but with great mastery, the song and how to place one s fingers and how to bow come together well enough that the song is sufficiently familiar and no longer overwhelming. It s a good reminder that the song for the next lesson that seems just too fast is merely a friend one is still getting to know. The Suzuki Method encourages regular listening to the CD. I have found it very useful to play the CD, including songs far ahead of what I m playing currently, while doing mundane chores or getting ready for the day. Certainly sometimes I put the CD on and pay close attention, but it s a good idea to have it as background music, too. I may be a few rooms away, I might be reading the newspaper and not actively listening, but something about a song may catch my attention. The next thing I know, I m humming a song from the CD and don t even realize it. While I m most likely to start the CD at this week s song, it can be helpful to do review listening, too. Perhaps there s some subtlety that I didn t notice before and can try at the next practice. What a thrill it can be to play the same old songs from a few weeks or even months ago realizing one s playing is better! Wow that bowing is cleaner, a bow circle was faster! Two of the most valuable reasons to review old songs are to remind oneself how far one has come and to enjoy playing. This is true whether the student is in Book Two or Three and reviewing pieces from Book One or on the last variation of Twinkle and going back to the first Twinkle and Mississippi Hot Dog. To the student who is discouraged or who doesn t want to review, I say, those old pieces are part of your repertoire. Be proud! Remember, most people have never even touched a violin. You can put one under your chin and make music! The Gavotte: MacPhail Suzuki News

2 PAGE 2 CONGRATULATIONS! Paloma Petersen Ethan Peterson 200 days or practicing and listening! Suzuki Piano Book 3 Graduation Elsa Artemiuk Lena Chu 100 days or practicing and listening! 200 days of practicing!

3 PAGE 3 MacPhail Suzuki String Final Play-In Saturday, April 29, 2017, 9:00-9:50 am (Arrive by 8:50 am to tune) DeLaSalle High School Violins: Florence Center Violas: Room 114 (Orchestra Room) Cellos: Room D104 (To your right after you enter the building) Dress: Black bottoms and White Tops Orchestras and Note Reading Meet at Regular Times and Place after the Play-in Tami s PreTwinkle Class will observe Viola or Violin Play-In No Regular Group Classes MacPhail Suzuki Orchestra and Note Reading Concert SUNDAY April 30, 2017, 1:30 pm, Antonello Hall Rehearsal Schedule: Arrive in time to START your rehearsal at the given time. 12:20 pm Chamber Warm-up ANTONELLO HALL 1:00 pm DaCapo Warm-up ANTONELLO HALL 1:00 pm Violin Notereading ROOM 127 1:00 pm Camerata Warm-up ROOM 125 The Scholarships application is now available! The Scholarship application, brochure and an FAQ is available at any Student Services location. Scholarship application deadline: Sunday, May 14, 2017 before 5:00pm A committee will be convened after the deadline to review applications. A select number of students (usually 30-35) will be asked to audition in person on the following dates: Vocal scholarship auditions: Sunday, June 4, 2017 starting at 12:30pm Instrumental scholarship auditions: Saturday, June 10, 2017 starting at 9:30am The Summer Camps 2017 and Fall 2017-Spring 2018 Financial Aid application is available! Financial aid is available to qualifying students in the form of reduced tuition. Awards are determined on a sliding scale that considers family financial resources and number of dependents. See the 2016/17 Financial Aid Grid. Aid is limited to one activity per semester for new students Aid granted for fall semester is renewable for spring semester Summer aid is separate from fall/spring aid. Re-application may be required. Each summer varies, depending on available funding. Contact Student Services with questions. Re-application is required for each new academic year.

4 PAGE 4 UPCOMING EVENTS Friday, April 21 Suzuki Department All Instrument Recital, 6:00 pm, Antonello Hall Friday, April 21 Beth Turco Suzuki Piano Studio Recital, 7:30 pm, Antonello Hall Saturday, April 22, Annette Lee Suzuki Piano Studio Recital, 12:30 pm, Antonello Hall Sunday, April 23 Cindy Malmin Suzuki Piano Studio Recitals, 2:30 and 4:15 pm, Antonello Hall Friday, April 28-Saturday, April 29 Suzuki Piano Workshop Events Saturday, April 29 Suzuki Cello, Viola and Violin Play-Ins, 9:00 am, De LaSalle High School Sunday, April 30 Suzuki Orchestra and Note-Reading Concert, 1:30 pm, Antonello Hall Saturday, May 6 Joy Moeller Suzuki Violin Studio Recital, 10:00 and 11:00 am, Room 107 Suzuki Piano Ensemble Festival on Saturday, April 29 Festival Concert Have you ever wondered how four pianists could play a Suzuki piece together on stage? We figured it out and pianists in Book 2 and up are hard at work preparing. On April 29th, four grand pianos and an upright will fill the Antonello Hall stage. After rehearsing in the room on electric keyboards, pianists will get to perform on their own piano in Antonello. There will be 125 students in over 30 ensembles. Concerts will be held at 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm in Antonello Hall. Trio Concert Nine students will perform a piece with accompaniment provided by Kamini LaRusso, violin and Rebekkah Parker Downes, cello. Come and hear your favorite Suzuki piano pieces with beautiful string parts. This concert takes place at 4:30 pm in Room 127. New Parent Class Panel Fall and Spring Parent Final class will be held on Saturday, April 29, 10-11:15 in D-104 at DeLasalle. This session is always a highlight of the New Parent training at MacPhail. We will have a panel of parents who have been in our program for many years. They will share some of their stories, with some time for questions. Hearing from other parents who have been through the many stages of being a Suzuki parent--the ups and downs--is informative, encouraging and inspirational. We will also have some celebratory treats and coffee. Current parents are also welcome to come listen and participate. MUSIC MATTERS LUNCHEON! Thank you to the following students and parents who helped with the Music Matters Luncheon on Wednesday, April 19, Thank You Alexis McIntosh for your beautiful speech and piano and viola performance. Thank you to Sunni Berg for your harp performance with the high school ensemble. Thank you to Audrey Weber, Christopher Shirk, Maia Ark, Juliette Ark, Lily Ark, Molly Hilton, Yasmin Lahmar, Paloma Gomez Whitney, Cipactli Acosta, Charlie Wright, Cecilia Glidden, Eira Lindberg, Janessa Martin, and Natasha LaRusso for your Strolling Strings Performance at the Music Matters Luncheon!

5 Suzuki Early Childhood Education Class Come discover the Suzuki Early Childhood Education Class this summer during the MacPhail Suzuki Institute. SECE is a program in which a mixed age group of children meet weekly during the school year, building on concepts and skills laid out in the SECE repertoire while interacting with one another, their parents, and the teachers. The parent plays a central role in all activities in the belief that the parent is the child s first and most important teacher. Through parent participation in prenatal, baby, and preschool classes, parents become partners in providing an enriched natural environment for the growth of their children. This class is offered for children ages 0-3 years old with a parent or caregiver. A perfect class for younger siblings! Suzuki ECE seeks to build on the child s natural delight in learning and lays the foundation for life-long learning that meets Dr. Suzuki s goals for all children to create an environment for children, free from pressure, in which they can gain skills, a sense of purpose in life, an understanding of discipline, and an appreciation of beauty. Sign up now! For more information about this or other MacPhail summer camps, visit macphail.org or call Skills developed in SECE weekly classes: Listening/Sequencing Skills Pitch Skills Number Skills Motor Skills Social-Emotional Development Skills Vocabulary Skills Character Development Room: Cost:... $76.00 Class Meeting Times: Monday, July :00-11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July :00-11:00 a.m. Thursday, July :00-11:00 a.m. Friday, July :00-11:00 a.m. MacPhail Center for Music 501 South Second Street Minneapolis, MN Interested in learning about Suzuki Early Childhood Education? Contact Kamini LaRusso larusso.kamini@macphail.org