Lesson 6

Bread and Cheese songs on the arm . . . and whisper tube.

Put the bow on the string between the three inch spaced sticker markers between the bridge and the bottom of the black piece that goes through the neck of the violin on the A string (the second one in).

Practice bridge rolls--going from the G to the E strings and back right on the bridge. It will help train arms to stay straight.

10 tuck-a-tuck-a-stop-stop and up-itty-down-itty.

Just a note Tiffany, do you think we could get that new rhythm. I think S would really love it!

Thanks! You're super!

Lesson 5

Play the games: "Am I holding the bow correctly?" and "What song is this?"  Bread or the cheese song with the whisper tube.

Sing the song "Pop Goes the Weasel" with the pinky pops (when the weasel pops in the song) on the bow.

Practice 10 rabbits, rabbit biting the carrot, stir the soup, wheels on the bus.

Draw four pictures or make a cheese sandwich together 2 pieces of bread and 2 cheese--cheese goes in the middle and then play on the arm and in the whisper tube.

I would add videos only blogger won't let me lately. Not sure what I am doing wrong. :/

Today's lesson: December 9th, 2011

More info. on bow holds

This is an incorrect bow hold because of two things: the pointer finger is literally pointing, instead of curving over the bow.   Also, the thumb is bent (good!), but it isn't perpendicular to the bow...

Notice the difference in the pointer finger and the thumb in this bow hold.  This bow hold is correct.

How to put the violin up into play position

STEP ONE: violin is in rest position.  Using the violin (left) hand, grasp the violin on its back (thumb) and beach (fingers).

STE TWO:  pull the violin out from under the arm and hold it in front of  your body.

STEP THREE:  raise the violin above body.

STEP FOUR: lower violin to shoulder (make sure left/violin wrist is straight)

STEP FIVE:  turn head to left and drop chin onto chin rest.

left thumb/violin thumb should still be on the back of the violin...step six removes the thumb from the back...

and places it here.  STEP SIX:   left/violin thumb is placed in the soft spot.

This is what the violin looks like when placed between shoulder and chin.

Violin should rest on shoulder and part of clavicle.  Chin should be on top of black chin rest.

BOWING part 1

1. Rabbit bites the carrots on the bow. Ten times.

2. Tap your pinky on the bow. Ten times.

3.Wheels on the bus circle around the face; doors on the bus go open and shut; windows go up and down; people go on and off

4. Bread song with tucka-tucka-STOP STOP

5. Down itty-Up itty (one quarter note with two eighth notes)

VIOLIN

6. Violin to the neck balanced on shoulder and clavicle. Thumb goes on the lower half of the violin. Make sure the violin is flat.

7. Finger pops. Thumb goes on the soft curved spot under the neck. Keep the wrist straight and fingers popping on the beach of the violin.

BOWING part 2

8.  "Whisper Tube" hold empty toilet paper tube up in the position that you'd be holding the neck of the violin. Put the bow into the tube and using the bow hand pull the bow in and out of the tube.  

9. Play the bread song--tucka-tucka-STOP STOP and down-itty-up-itty.  Aim to keep the tape on the bow inside the tube.

10. Keep the pinky on its tip. If it falls over or the hand becomes grabby  on the bow, then take the bow out of her hand.  Think "soft like a marshmallow."

Putting a rag on the bottom of the violin so the round part doesn't stick out into his neck.