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GROUP CLASSES​

 
Group Violin Class - Beginners

 

Beginning students, ages 7 - 12, will be introduced to the violin in a fun and creative class environment. Students will learn basic skills: how to read music, how to practice the assigned repertoire, and how to learn within a group environment that fosters teamwork and encouragement. These classes are 60 minutes in length. A minimum of three students per class. 

 

Group Violin Class  Intermediate / Advanced

 

Intermediate and advanced students will enjoy the challenge of developing and reinforcing their violin skills. Topics include various bow strokes, shifting, complex rhythmic patterns, musical style, phrasing, two and three octave scale work, and more. Appropriate violin repertoire will be studied depending on the playing level of each student. These classes are 90 minutes in length. A minimum of three students per class.

 

 

 Sonatensatz by Johannes Brahms

 

Semi-Private Violin Lessons 

 

Semi-private violin lessons are intended for the beginner and intermediate violinist. Students will learn one and two octave scales, etudes, solo pieces, and duets. Students will continue to learn about rhythmic patterns, symbols and terminology, bowings, fingerings, articulation markings, vocabulary and technique that is specific to the violinist. Students will also learn how to develop ensemble skills. These classes are 60 minutes in length. Two students per lesson.

Beginning Adult Violin Class 

 

This class is designed for adult beginners who have no violin experience. It introduces the violin in an encourging, low-stress, peer-supportive environment. The class will allow participants to decide if their interest in the violin should be further pursued with individual instruction. The class will cover the basics of holding the violin and bow, early bow strokes, and simple pieces. These classes are 60 minutes in length.  A minimum of three students per class. 

 

 

 

Musicianship Classes
 
How to Practice 

 

This class focuses on the self-discipline of learning practice skills in order to develop good habits and planning strategies. Students come to class with specific sections of the music that they find particularly challenging, and learn ways to remedy the difficulties. Problems are addressed and resolved through interactive discussion. These classes are 60 minutes in length.  A minimum of three students per class. 

 

 

 

 

 

Sight Reading 

 

Sight reading is defined as playing or singing a piece without ever having seen the printed music before. During an orchestra audition, for example, the ability of a student to sight read music is usually assessed by presenting the student with a musical excerpt, giving the student an allotted time to review the music and prepare to play it. Good sight reading is an indication of the student's musical aptitude, proficiency and literacy. Sight reading is an important and useful skill not only at auditions, but it enhances the student's ability to read music spontaneously and naturally. Students acquire skills to review music within a short time frame in order that they have more success in reading it at sight. These classes are 60 minutes in length. A minimum of three students per class.

 

 

Music Theory

 

This class is about the elements of musical structure: major and minor scales, intervals, triads and seventh chords, the various clefs, staff notation, ledger lines, enharmonic tones, key signatures and the circle of fifths. Other topics include: symbols and terminology regularly encountered in music, vocabulary that is specific to string players, rhythmic patterns, syncopation, dotted note values, meter signatures, their meaning and how a conductor expresses them. These classes are 45 minutes in length. A minimum of three students per class.

Performance Class 

 

Students perform prepared music and orchestral excerpts in the company of their fellow students. They then critique each other and receive coaching on their performances. The class is designed to help students prepare for auditions, recitals, and to have the experience of performing in a casual setting. These classes are 90 minutes in length. A minimum of three students per class.

Chamber Music

 

Musica da camera is Italian for music of the chamber. The term chamber music refers to a type of classical music that is written for a small group of instrumentalists.  Vocalists are often included in chamber works as well. In chamber music, each player has a different part, and each part is of equal importance. Students learn ensemble skills and receive independent coaching as well. Chamber music - and works for larger ensembles - is an integral part of music education. Chamber music classes are 60 minutes in length. A minimum of two students per chamber music group.

 

Payment for group classes can be paid in cash, by check or by PayPal.

 

 

 

 

Did you know that .....

 

Johann Sebastian Bach

 

Bach's first instrument was the violin, but most of his life was spent working as an organist, teacher, and composer. He had over 20 children, including four who became famous musicians in their own right, including Carl Philipp Emanuel, Wilhelm Friedemann, Johann Christoph Friedrich, and Johann Christian.

 

Ludwig Van Beethoven

 

Beethoven was very temperamental and would end performances if he became aware of anyone in the audience talking. Beethoven’s deafness was the result of lead poisoning, and lead poisoning was also the cause of Beethoven’s death in 1827. 

 

 

Johannes Brahms
 

Brahms was an outdoorsy sort of person. When he wasn't travelling around Europe for concert tours, he was fond of travelling to the hills of Italy for walking holidays and to retreat for solitary composing.

 

Brahms thought Beethoven's symphonies were so great that he took over 20 years to write his own.

Although he began composing his first symphony in 1854, it wasn't premiered until November 1876, twenty-two years later. 

 

 

Antonin Dvorak
 

DvoÅ™ák studied organ, violin and piano. He played viola in the Bohemian Provisional Theatre Orchestra, performing in restaurants and at balls. In 1871, he resigned from the orchestra to concentrate on composing, scraping a living by teaching the piano.
 

 

 

Edward Elgar
 

One of Elgar's most popular works, the 'Enigma' Variations from 1899, is also his most mysterious. Each of the fourteen variations has a cryptic subtitle that relates to a particular person (or animal) in Elgar's life, including his wife, his publisher, and various friends and students.

 

Another interesting fact is that Elgar wrote the main theme for his cello concerto on a napkin after waking up from dental surgery.

 

 

George Frideric Handel

 

In 1703, when Handel was 18 years old, he decided to pursue a career in music by accepting a violin position at the Hamburg Opera’s Goosemarket Theater. During this time, he supplemented his income by teaching private music lessons. While working as a violinist, Handel ironically earned attention for his skill on the organ. In fact, it was Handel’s organ playing that landed him more opportunities to perform. 

 

 

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

 

At a very early age, Mozart was competent on the violin and keyboard. He composed his first piece at the age of five years old. During his final years in Vienna, Mozart composed many of his best-known symphonies concertos, operas and portions of his Requiem. Mozart had a very short life; he died at the age of 35.

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