Gail Heil fiddle workshops - March 12th & 13th
- intermediate/advanced 7:30pm Fri. March 12
- beginning/intermediate 1pm Sat. March 13
Group Drop In Advanced Beginner lessons Mondays at 8pm all students are welcome.
No pre-registration/reservation necessary
(no group lessons on Wednesdays at this time)
Playing St. Patrick's Day March 17th
American Legion Post # 1
78th & Davenport
5 - 7:30pm
there is a cover charge
Meeting Saturday, March 27th, 3pm at Jim Harvey's house. email me if you need the address Mindy
Contra Dance
Come dance or just come for the music of Rivertown String Band and Friends 3rd Saturday, every month Seymour Elementary School - Ralston adults $7 admission, kids free
Metro Class Assignments
Week #1
1. Essential Elements exercises 1 - 8
2. Essential Elements exercises 9 - 13
3. Ode to Joy (in handout packet) first 4 measures
4. Memorize the string names (G-D-A-E) Good Dogs Always Eat - and where the open D string note and open A string note are positioned on the staff
Technique
Be sure your violin is held up and in front just slightly to the left (not out to the side). You should be able to sight down the fingerboard.
Check your bow hold. Your thumb should be bent and should sit betweent he frong and the wrapping on the stick (thumb doesn't stick through). First finger is on the stick between two knuckles. Middle two fingers relaxed over the stick. Pinky to the inside of the top with pinky bent.
Don't smash your imaginary mice with your left hand. Thumb and first finger sit approximately an inch from the end of the fingerboard. Bend your fingers at both knuckles and push down on the string with the fleshy part of the finger.
Down bow: pull the bow from the frog towards the tip
Up bow: push the bow from the tip towards the frog
Extra Credit
Show a co worker, family member or friend how to hold a bow using a pencil.
Clap your hands or tap your feet to the beat of songs you are playing on cd or the radio
Define pitch, tone and rhythm
Helpful Tips
If you don't like the tone you are producing, check your shoulder. Is it moving back and forth? If it is, make it stop! Try to bow from your elbow, wrist and fingers.
Having a hard time getting a good bow hold? Wave "Bye Bye" and let your hand flop, bring your bow up to your relaxed hand.