Halloween Music, Forgotten Violins

Dear Parents,

There were a number of instruments forgotten this week, particularly in 4th grade.  It can confusing with our shift and schedule and missed class.  As a reminder, 4th graders need instruments on Tuesdays and Fridays, 5th graders on Mondays and Wednesdays, and 6th to 8th graders on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

4th Grade Detectives  Students are at very different levels of technique and comfort with how music works.  We will stay on the songs on page 13 for a while to let students catch up.  If a student is not receiving regular private lessons and remains confused about the notation on page 13, a parent could go over the information presented on pages 9 to 12.  If, for example, a student forgets how to play F#, page 9 is entitled "Learning E and F# on the D string" and will help remind student and parent.  If students find the songs on page 13 very easy, of course, it would be good for them to work on and practice other material (such as Suzuki) with their private teacher.

5th Grade  While we will continue to work in Strictly Strings Book 2 on page 3 (Scarborough Fair) and the four songs on page 5, students who have mastered the material (or others who are motivated) can work on "Danse Macabre" and "A Scary Night" on page 12.  A number of students seemed interested in learning Halloween material when I introduced these songs in class.  They contain some new technical challenges (low first finger, double stops, tremolo).

6th to 8th Grade  Students still seem to enjoy playing Bluegrass Blastoff, German Dance, Daydreams, and Fanfare Minuet on pages 2 to 5 of More Strings Extraordinaire.  I will keep playing them (though not all songs every class).  We have moved on to "Round and Round" on page 6 and "Ghoulish Gavotte" on page 12.  Students seem to enjoy Jazz Philharmonic; with the exception of an industrious cellist, however, students are avoiding taking solos.  We are gaining good experience playing swing rhythms and off-beats, nonetheless.  I plan to put the first 2 songs to rest for a bit and introduce "Daydeam" (pages 10 and 11) today and "Devious" (pages 12 to 14) next week.