Practicing tricks: video star

A few weeks ago I got the bright idea to use my smart phone for something smart!  I recorded WonderGirl playing her latest song at the beginning of our violin lesson, and had her watch it.  Then I asked her to be the teacher and tell me first what she'd done well and then what she could improve on.  I resisted the urge to add my own input which was VERY difficult as a mom and a teacher!

Then, we recorded her again a few times (watching and critiquing her try after each take) until she'd made some real progress on her trouble spots and we called it a day.  Later on at dinner, we played the first video and then the last one for Daddy.  The difference between the two was eye opening and really impressive, even to him!

We could have used our camera, but I had the phone right there and it was quick and convenient.  The best part was she was the teacher, and I was just the coach and camera-mom.  I LOVE any opportunity to give WG the reigns and take responsibility over her playing.  And she loves watching videos of herself (good thing she got me as a mom, huh? ;)  You don't need a smart phone to try this, most basic phones with a camera have video capabilities.  The novelty is priceless, as well.  Try it and let me know how it turns out!

Practicing tricks: step up

WonderGirl and I were practicing yesterday without her Bow-Right - and I was seriously impressed with how straight her arm was without it!  But when I tried to mix things up and do some silly exercises like walk around the room while she played, it was too much to focus on and her bow went every which way.  So we came up with this game - playing in some of my high heels!  (and yes, she was wearing all that already... she's quite dramatic:)

oh, to be that flexible again!

It was a hit!  Just changing things up made her focus a little more to stay steady musically and physically.

Any unfamiliar pair of over-sized shoes would be perfect.  I had a drama teacher who would make us rehearse in our costume shoes because of the same focusing logic.  Try it out!

Living Room Dance Party #16

Who doesn't love Yo Yo Ma?  I have been adoring his collaborations the last few years and his latest- The Goat Rodeo Sessions is fabulous.  Edgar Meyer??? Stuart Duncan??? CHRIS THIELE???? (from Nickel Creek!  swoon!)  I'm in heaven folks.  It is one of our favorite about-the-house-albums, because it is SO varied.  From 20th century to hoedown, it twists and turns and takes my breath away with its complete unpredictability.  It's like my favorite genres of music got together and threw a party for my ears.  Thank you :)

The first track on the album has become a fast favorite in our house.  Attaboy is just perfect for a LRDP because it is a frenzy of contrasting themes - there is so much to move to!

Oh, and be sure to watch this interview they did on the Colbert Show.  Did you know Edgar Meyer was named and MacArthur Fellow??  These guys are so fabulous.

You'll have to watch the video on youtube since it won't embed, but I did add it to my LRDP playlist!  I highly recommend owning this album.  And listening to it at least 3 times a day.

Music theory on the web

Is there anything Pinterest cannot do??  I've found the most amazing recipes, activities for my kids and so much more - and now I'm finding some really fantastic music education gems!  I saw a link to the The Music Interactive and was amazed at the games they have - most of them for free!  There is a note name recognition that was cute and simple enough that my five-year-old had a blast playing it.

A rhythm matching game for strengthening those ears -again, very accessible for my kindergartner and up.

A note recognition game called Staff Wars that was tricky enough that it pushed me to my limit (I made it to level 7 :)

Rhythm math:

And a ton more!  You'll need to register on their forum, but then you can then download the games to your own computer for any time fun. I also found this site that has some of them - plus others - web-based and ready to play now.  I've seen and played with a lot of music theory computer games and these are absolutely fabulous!

Bow arm ideas

Months and months ago, Desiree asked:

I was just practing with Lizeth yesterday and I used the ribbon on her violin. I've noticed that she uses her shoulder and not just her elbow. Do you have any videos or visual ideas I have use to show her about the proper way to move the bow. Its especially hard since I don't play the violin myself.

I have put it off long enough, and since WonderGirl is home sick, I had time to beg her to be my model so I could SHOW what I mean.  Sometimes words just get in the way.  First, find a wall.

Have the student stand at a slight angle, with their right ride touching the wall and the other side at a 45ish degree away from the wall.

Their bow arm, from the shoulder to the elbow, should be touching the wall completely.  Then, have the student play open strings (A is best to start with), but their elbow and entire arm cannot come away from the wall.

They may try to pull the shoulder so the elbow swings away and bumps back into the wall, but gently touch/hold their arm just above the elbow to help their body understand.  Their elbow will begin to kick move the right way.  The next problem may be their bow is still sliding around the string - remind them that it is their wrist's job to help keep it straight.

It's not best to have them practice this way the entire lesson, but it's a great way to remind the body of how playing with a straight bow feels.  Come back to it from time to time as a refresher for older students too.

Also, as I've said before, I use a Bow Right with WonderGirl.  At first I was nervous that I was cheating, but I called my veteran violin teaching aunt and confessed to her, and she laughed and told me to use ANYthing that made it easier for WG to play and enjoy the violin.

I found a video someone made of a student playing with a Bow Right.  As you can see, it doesn't restrict them totally - they can still play with their elbow, but they tap into the device when they do and it reminds them to straighten out.



I grew up with devices my mom invented - from popsicle sticks to pencils rubber-banded to the violin in about the same way.  I've never been as good at makingthem, and since we use the Bow Right daily, it is easy to take on and off and store.  

Also - this is something I've never seen before -the video description says it's a Bow Right but it's not a generation I'm familiar with:



My sincere apologies to Desiree for my tardiness, and my thanks to WG for being my model despite feeling less than tip-top :)  If you have any other ideas, please share them with us in the comments!

Music experiments: perfect pitch

Last week I was busy doing something domestic, when I heard some clinking glass in the kitchen.  I peeked in to see what was going on, and saw this:

Thanks to Bill Nye the Science Guy, WonderGirl has been turning into a regular scientist.  I'm not complaining!  She was doing a pitch experiment that was seriously impressive and simple.  I grabbed the camera and started asking questions.

 To try this, you'll need:
2 glasses
a separate cup/pitcher of water
a metal utensil (she used a spoon)

Fill one glass halfway with water, then put less in the other glass.

 Tap on both glasses to hear the pitch of both.  Does the less full glass sound higher or lower than the other?  Then slowly fill the second glass, testing periodically by tapping, until both glasses are the same pitch.

 Then grab another spoon and start jamming out on both glasses.

Last step - wipe up the mess :)  What a fabulous, quick experiment!  Thanks, WG and Bill Nye!

Sunday inspiration: How Music Warps Our Minds

This photo was taken by photographer Jack Bradley and depicts the exact moment this boy, Harold Whittles, hears for the very first time ever. The doctor treating him has just placed an earpiece in his left ear. Date unknown. 

I read a very interesting interview with Don Campbell, one of the authors of Healing at the Speed of Sound.  It covers the connection between music and the brain and body.  Head on over to Salon to read the whole article. I'll just share one extra-treblemaker-centric part:

From a neurological perspective, why is it important to listen to and play music from an early age?The more participation there is with music early on — through singing and movement — the more it simultaneously activates multiple levels of the brain. If you look at the corpus callosum [of someone who plays music] there are more connections made between right and left sides. A child who is moving, dancing and singing learns coordination between their eye, ear and sound early on. And [the experience of participating in music education] helps integrate the social, the emotional and the real context of what we’re learning. There are studies that show children who play music have higher SAT scores, that learning to control rhythm and tempo not only help them get along with others but plants seeds for similar advantages when we get much older.