Practicing: Spot Spotting

   Have any of you ever gone deer spotting? 
Deer spotters take a bright spotlight with them out into a field at night and try to catch deer in their light.  Today we are going Spot Spotting in your music. What does that mean? 

Parents, make a list of all the practice spots mentioned in the last lesson, as well as any other tricky spots your child is struggling with.  

If your child struggles with putting line 3 of Cuckoo hands together, put that on the list.  If they need to practice G arpeggios for Minuet 2, put that on the list. If they keep forgetting the special chord in French Children's song, put that spot on the list. Each spot should be only a few measures long.  Do not put an entire song on the list.

Number the items in your list from 1-6.  If you still have more items, start the numbers again and continue numbering 1-6 until all the items have a number.

Give your child a die to roll.  Declare that Spot Spotting season has begun and have them roll.  How many spots are on the die? Practice the items on your list, checking off each one as you complete it.

Looking for other practice games to play? Check out the Pirates Practice and Dino Stomp games at talentpress.net. 

This game is based on a game by Paula Bird on her blog Teach Suzuki.

Collective Cadenza: Creative Musicians

 The technology we have available to share music today allows us to hear and see more musicians and types of music than ever before. Here are some more creative and knowledgeable musicians who are doing some fun things with music. They are called Collective Cadenza or cdza. 

   Do you know what a musical cadenza is?   A cadenza is an extra, often fancy, part of the piece of music that is sung or played by a soloist or a group of soloists. It is usually not too long. They often have a free feeling, meaning the tempos and rhythms can change from they way they are in the rest of the piece. Sometimes the cadenza is improvised, or made up right then.  Sometimes a cadenza is written out by a composer.
  You can find cadenzas in classical music concertos, vocal pieces, and jazz music. 
If you want a more detailed definition, click here.

Collective Cadenza makes short, creative music videos using ideas from other music. Here is a fun piano piece, featuring 6 guys on one piano! Can you hear where the music changes styles? (Classical...jazz...etc.)

  

Here they are, taking us on a musical tour of the world in 18 songs, in December of 2012. Click on "show more" under the description for a list of the countries and songs they are playing. (Just above the comments.) How many of these songs do you know?

Suzuki Summer Institutes

Even though it is still cold outside, now is the time to be thinking about Suzuki Summer Institutes.  

What is a Suzuki institute?  

Suzuki institutes are a place where students, parents, and teachers come together for about a week to learn and have fun together. It is how the Suzuki community connects and learns from each other.

During the week, students will participate in lessons during a master class, group classes like improvisation, choir, handbells, or Orff instruments, and in daily recitals (either as audience members or performers). Parents accompany their children to most classes, but there is also a daily parent class to talk about Suzuki music study and practice. At the parent class, parents can ask questions and share ideas about working with their children.

The atmosphere is so friendly. Everyone learns a lot, but has fun doing it!

This is also the place where Suzuki teachers get their training. Although I am not planning to attend this year, I have really enjoyed the ones I have attended.  There are two that are relatively close to us here in PA.  I have attended each one at least once and enjoyed both.

The Greater Washington Suzuki Institute is just outside of D.C. in Anandale, VA. The area is very nice and although you do have to drive to get to the institute location each morning, it is easy to access. Their piano institute is June 24-27.  Fees are determined by how old your child is, and whether you take the handbell elective or not. Visit this website for more information: Greater Washington Suzuki Institute or download their brochure here.

The Greater Pittsburgh Suzuki Institute is July 28-August 2. This institute will also include violin, viola, cello, flute and guitar Suzuki students, so you will probably get to hear a variety of instruments at the recitals. Fees are determined by what book your child is in. Visit this website for more information: Greater Pittsburgh Suzuki Institute.

Why attend a Suzuki institute?

Testimonials from parents (and grandparents) of students who attend an institute are that the students grow in their knowledge and ability and that they are reignited with a passion for their instrument. Spending time with a group of students who are also studying their instrument is inspiring and encouraging. 

I highly encourage all of you to consider attending an institute either this year or next year. If you have family in another state, check the Suzuki website for institutes in their area.  Maybe you could combine a family visit with a Suzuki institute!

Here are two short videos from that last institute I attended (Greater Washington). (Sorry about the quality.) This was the final recital of the week, so it featured groups who had been working on pieces all week, like this handbell choir:

and this piano trio: