Keys & Strings Music Studio

                                                       Common bad habit corrections                        are straighten your back, open your wrist, feet slightly separated, violin up!                                                                           This young musician is staying focused on so many things.                                                                     And doing a great job!                                                                     Several weeks ago the educators of Keys and Strings each contributed to a post on practice.                   This week I would like to address the reasons that a weekly lesson is so important.    Continuity in any task or talent that we wish to master is key.     Just as only touching the instrument once a week will not bring on progression, nor will sporadic instruction.    Beginners especially can learn bad habits, practice an assignment incorrectly and then have to unlearn it.   Questions will arise that may then

I hear this question A LOT.  As educators, we all want our students to do their very best. Whether they are graphic artists, musicians, fencers or soccer players. The art of doing something well is in the doing. To master something, you must do it well repeatedly. The repetition (in the correct way) is what makes the lesson (whatever the lesson is) stick. Each of our educators has their own point of view on the "Art of Practice" and we will share them in this blog post. I sometimes ask my students or their parents if they only brush their teeth twice a year when they visit the dentist. Of course this is met with laughter, eye rolls, "of course not's".  Yet sometimes, our students think that just by attending a once a week lesson they will become a great pianist, or violinist, or vocalist. That's just not the case. Would you want a mechanic who had never looked under a hood fixing your automobile? Would you want the neurosurgeon who had

A statement I hear often from adults.... The main thing to remember is it is NEVER too late......but the learning will be different.  I always tell my adult students that they need to think of their lessons as something they do for themselves.  I compare it to a golf game, a manicure, a massage.  If an adult thinks about lessons in this way it gives them a bit of 'permission' to relax and not get stressed about time or money.  Play for the joy of it, or you will add pressure to yourself.  Your life is different from a young musicians.  You have a job to go to, children, spouse or parents to care for, bills to pay, meals to prepare, laundry to do.   Fit in a few minutes when you can, and have no guilt about not playing enough.  The most important thing to remember, is it is something you want to do for YOURSELF.  And love the music.  

Okay, it's now been a few months of your child taking music lessons, and they still don't sound good (to you). Ask their teacher if they have been progressing. I once posted a video of a young violin student playing Allegro (Suzuki 1).    Did she miss some pitches?  Absolutely.   Did she get every rhythm correct?  I should say not.  But had she improved?  Yes, greatly. https://www.facebook.com/KeysandStringsMusicStudio/videos/vb.145667162121232/711069638914312/?type=3&theater What might have sounded like a squeaky rendition of this song to the first time listener didn't tell the entire story.  I saw good posture.  I saw feet planted firmly.  I saw a beautiful and correct bow hold.  Her violin was squarely on her collar.   Her jaw gently rested in chin rest.  Her bow moved fluidly in a straight motion (most of the time)    The biggest improvement I saw?  She lifted her violin without prompting from me after it had slowly drifted down. Progression............is

A past first place fiddle student showing off her trophy.  A music lesson taker does not a music maker make.    My Grandfather used to say this tongue twister to me when I would complain about practicing.  I never really forgot him saying that, but it came back into mind full force with some recent events at the studio. It was recently put in writing to us, that WE were the problem in a families lack of continuity for their children's music progression.  A point that I contemplated, as I do want to be critiqued if I am at fault, and I want to make corrections and adjustments if were were the problem. So, I went back to start dates for both children.  I shared this family with another educator.  We compared notes on attendance.  This is what we found. Both children were quite attentive when with us.  Both children were very bright, and could have made excellent musicians. One child, in a group class, attended three out of twelve lessons paid for.  One of those three s

An odd topic title, I know.    This subject for me as an educator is cyclical, but here we go again.  I have had this come up six times in the last month. Young students (usually female) and parents who are spending lots of money on manicures to have me tell them, nails are too long. To be a strong violinist, you cannot have long nails.  It just doesn't work.  If you were a classical guitarist I might say go for it.  But violinist?  No.  It changes the pitch.  It affects your being able to place your fingers properly on the strings. Nail polish YES!  Long nails NO!  Compromise, long bow hand nails.  Odd looking perhaps, but a compromise.  The photo above, is a perfect example of a good nail length with nice polish.

Our next toddler class is starting soon (February 2016).  I thought I would let you know what's different about what we have to offer here at Keys & Strings Music Studio. Our music class for toddlers (any child who is scooting/crawling/walking and not yet potty trained) is designed to use music as the tool for learning. This sessions 10 week theme is 'Animal Serenade'.  Here is a typical class: Welcome song!  Same each week. Why is it important?  We anticipate hearing our name sung.  We get to pick the activity that is done for our name.  We know that everyone will acknowledge us.  We might hide, but we are learning to expect our name to be sung.  We are learning to socialize! Fine motor activity with age appropriate instruments.  Why are these activities important?  I have to wait my turn to get mine and my grownups instruments.  I have to learn how they make sounds.  I have to learn how to find the steady beat or the rhythm of the chant we are u