Go Tell Aunt Rhody

Please use this video to practice Go Tell Aunt Rhody for violin from Suzuki Volume One.

Online Music Lessons

Online music lessons are often a wonderful option for students of all ages and abilities.

Utilizing the power of technology, online music lessons use traditional music materials with modern instructional techniques, engage students through technology and music, provide easy access to high-quality teachers, and teach lifelong learning skills all from the convenience of your home or high speed internet connection.

What can I expect from online music lessons?

Lesson experience is similar in many ways to in-person studio lessons. Robert teaches lessons at your scheduled time, provides personalized instruction for your specific interests and abilities, and provides resources to have a rich musical experience.

Young students will require the same parental involvement as during studio lessons. Parents assist in practicing by correcting technique, providing positive support, and nurturing their child through this daily special practice time.

Teenage students will benefit from both the music and technology. We are in a digital world, Robert teaches through the medium that students are most familiar.

Adult students and parents will also find online lessons convenient as lessons take place most often at home. The weekly lesson commute is to your computer!

What do I need to get started?

Instruments can be rented or purchased from your local music shop or purchased online. You will need a computer, a high speed internet connection, an internal or external web camera, a Skype account, and Skype installed on your computer.

Your First Lesson

Your first private music lesson will introduce the lesson organization, cover questions relating to practice, instrument care, posture, lesson notebook, and teacher expectations, and lesson policies (My Lesson Policies). What you need to start your first lesson: instrument, rosin, cleaning cloth, shoulder rest, music and a pencil. If you are a beginning student, you may not have music or a shoulder rest and should follow your instructor's recommendation for each.

Lesson Organization

For 30 minute lessons, I structure the lesson as follows:

• scales - 5 minutes
• etudes - 10 minutes
• concert music - 15 minutes

Scales are a rudimentary technique applicable to all styles and skill levels. Etudes and concert music are broad categories. Etudes are musical pieces and exercises used to perfect technique and may be performed for concerts. Concert music can include concertos, chamber music, etudes, caprices, orchestral music, and any piece that may be performed.

Questions to Ask

• How long should I practice?
• What ways should I practice?
• What are your lesson policies?
• What are your lesson expectations?
• How should I care for my instrument?

Information to Share

• What are you hoping to get out of music lessons?
• What are your other time commitments?
• Are there any special needs that I need to be aware of?

How much should I practice?

Practicing is necessary to master any skill, especially a musical instrument. The amount of time one practices per day and per week is dependent several factors including teacher expectations, student age, student skill level, parent involvement, lesson frequency, and the difficulty level of the music. Routines play a vital role as they establish a time for daily practice. I have organized practice into School-Age and Adult Students.

General Guide - read below for explanation

• Preschool-Early Elementary - 10 minutes, twice a day
• Beginner/Upper Elementary - 15-30 minutes a day
• Intermediate/Middle School - 30-45 minutes a day
• Advanced/High School - 45+ minutes a day

School-Age Students

Preschool and early elementary students typically view practice as playtime. Encouraging children to "go practice" alone at this age is an unreasonable expectation. Besides, two people make a better playtime! How early should students start playing (See bottom of FAQ)? They should show interest in their instrument, be able to focus on the instrument during lessons and at-home practice. You need to know your child and understand the parental requirement involved with young students. A reasonable expectation is 5-10 minutes of practice, two times a day.

Upper elementary and middle school students are typically offered band and string classes in their schools. 4th-8th grade students are more independent and will require less parent involvement.

Parents should be involved in:

• Establishing and maintaining daily practice routines (same as homework)
• Maintaining the student's music schedule including school practice days, lesson days, and concerts
• Making sure the student has necessary supplies for school, lessons, and concerts
• Giving positive support and encouragement at their wonderful achievement!

It is reasonable to expect 15-30 minutes of daily practice from 4th-6th grade students. Middle school students should attain 30-45 minutes of daily practice.

High school students can be expected to practice 45-60 minutes of daily practice. Music is challenging, expectations are higher, and students are capable of thorough, independent work.

Adult Students

Adult students can use the above times as a guide. However, total time is based upon individual skill level,  time available for practice, and interests. I offer these situations as actual examples of adult students.

Student A travels frequently for work, but wished to continue their study of violin. We schedule lessons when Student A is in town, typically 1-2 lesson per month. Lessons are 30 minutes in length.

Student B plays with a local band. Student B wanted to learn American Fiddle to expand their band's repertoire. Student B takes weekly 45 minute lessons, chooses specific music to learn, and practices 30-60 minutes a day.

Student C chose to perform a violin concerto. Student C chose the concerto and had weekly lessons for one year prior to the performance. Lessons were 60 minutes long. Following the performance, Student C retired from playing violin.

TSO Concert - February 21, 2011

What a wonderful concert! I had a delightful time performing this evening. I smiled the entire way home. As I sit reflecting upon the performance, I am joyful that I have a wonderful group of people to perform alongside each Monday night. The audience was fantastic, adding the special something to the evening's music.

Congratulations to all the soloists on the Sheherazade, they were wonderful. Thank-you symphony members for your dedication to performing as a community orchestra.

Upcoming Concert - February 21, 2011

Please join the Tempe Symphony Orchestra as we perform Barber's Adagio for Strings, Glinka's Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture, and Rimsky-Korsakov's Sheherazade. Concert is Monday, February 21, 2011 at 7:30 P.M. Admission is free and the performance is at the Tempe Center for the Arts.

What do I need to start music lessons?

"What do I need to start lessons?" One of the most frequently asked questions, supplies are needed to begin private and school music lessons. I will address both private and school music program supplies as much overlaps.

Necessary Items

School and private violin and viola lessons need only a few items:

• Instrument
• Stand
• Rosin
• Cleaning cloth
• Music
• Pencil

String instruments need to be appropriately sized. All music store employees and music teachers can evaluate students for size. Violin sizes include 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 4/4 or full size. Violas are sized by inches, 12-14" are common for young students and 15-16.5" for full size violas. Rentals include a monthly fee, case, instrument, and bow.

A traditional folding music stand is perfect for home practice. A music stand allows the student to stand and read music at an appropriate height. Tall students, taller than six feet, may need to purchase an extra tall music stand. Music stands stay home in most circumstances. Schools and studios typically provide a music stand during the lesson.

Rosin is sold in small cakes and range in price from $3-10. Rosin is vital to sound production. Without rosin, you cannot produce a sound on the instrument. Rosin does dry out and should be replaced once or twice a year. A small amount of rosin should be rubbed into the bow hair before practice. Frequency of rosin application is variable dependent upon practice time and amount of rosin applied.

For bowed string instruments, rosin that's applied wears off onto the instrument and must be cleaned off after each use. Rosin is necessary for sound production. However, when left on the instrument and strings it lowers the sound quality, reduces instrument performance, leaves an instrument dirty, and makes for sticky hands. A clean, soft cotton cloth works for a cleaning cloth. Micro-fiber cloths are an excellent choice as well.

Music is part of the lesson as much as the instrument. It is the written language we perform, the legacy of composers, and a page that we color through performance. Teachers require specific books, orchestras program concerts, and students select music of interest to study.

Study techniques are many but a good pencil should be in every student's case. Pens are permanent, pencils allow for future changes in finger selection, bow direction, and reminders.

Additional Items

Do I need to buy the cleaning kit? Do I need to buy the beginner book? Do I need to buy a shoulder rest? Do I need a tuner? Do I need a metronome? You may be confronted by these and many other decisions when renting an instrument.

Beginner kits and cleaning kits often have all the supplies and more to outfit a beginner. Rosin, shoulder rests, finger tapes, strings, micro-fiber cleaning cloths, and polish are common in kits. Each of these items has their value, but are not required to start playing. Use common sense. If the kit is similar in price to a few individual items, it may be worth the investment.

School music programs and private teachers have their own curriculum. Books are a must for all lessons. Please contact your teacher to find out the specific book required for lessons. Music stores carry in stock the books used in local music programs and those required for private lessons.

Shoulder rests help most students. Shoulder rests allow for comfort and support while holding the instrument. Please allow a teacher to recommend a quality shoulder rest that is appropriate shape for the student. A student may not need a shoulder rest. A student may only require a small kitchen sponge. If the student needs a shoulder rest, it should be consistently used. Bring your shoulder rest to all lessons and classes. Please see Shoulder Rests for finding a shoulder rest.

Tuners are beneficial to tune an instrument and metronomes provide a steady beat for practice. Metronomes are a must for students who continue with lessons beyond an introductory period. Metronomes provide a consistent tempo to practice music at incremental speeds. Tuners provide beginners with the ability to accurately tune strings. Tuners provide all students a fixed reference point for intonation and may provide a drone note to tune to during practice.