Student Info Page
Links
to Favorite Sites
Summer 2010 Studio Schedule
Need an online tuner for your violin/fiddle?
How about an online Metronome? Here are 2 choices:
Here is an online ear training program - it is kind of like a game: http://www.learn2hear.org/start.php
Digital Library of Appalachia - Amazing authentic recordings of Appalachian Fiddlers playing all sorts of archaic AND commonly known tunes
Hetzler's Fake Book - great list of tunes in the keys they are most commonly played
Hill Country Tunes by Sam Bayard - lots of sheet music of Appalchian tunes collected in Southwestern Pennsylvania
Studio Children's Recital Feb. 2010
Jim Wood announcing
Pop Wagner, fiddler
at a house concert that followed fiddling workshops
Pegramjam.com - a site with free guitar chords for many of your favorite fiddle tunes, over 60 pages of tunes
Questions or additions to this page?
Email me: mhunke@cox.net
Congratulations
to Ashlynn, Henry,
and Tristan
winners
April/May
practice
contest!
Group Drop In Advanced Beginner lessons Mondays at 8pm all students are welcome.
No pre-registration/reservation necessary
Monday Night Group Lesson
Leila's hand, Brian, Jeanne , Sandy
Meeting Saturday, July 24, 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
Violinmasterclass.com - a site with lots of violin tutorials for proper bowing, left hand and many other interesting topics
Monday
3:00 -3:45 - Renee
3:45 - 4:15-open 1/2 hr
4:15 - 5:00 - Hanila
5:00 - 5:45 - Ashlynn
6:00 - 6:45 - Pat
7:00 - 8:00 - open
8 - 9:30 - INFORMAL
DROP-IN
GROUP
Tuesday
9:15 Killian
10:30 - open
1:00 - 2:00 open
2:15 - 2:45 - Cooper
2:45 - 3:30 - open
3:30 - 4:15 - open
5:30 - 6:15 - Cindy
6:15 - 7 - Tristan
7:15 - 8 - Kate
Wednesday
9:00 - 9:45 - Leila
10:30-11:15 - Erin
1:00 - 2:30 Hannah & Grace
2:30 - 3:30 Zach
3:15 - 4 open
4 - 4:45open
4:30- 5:15 Barb
5:30 - 6:15 Shayna
5:40 - 9:30 - Metro class
Thursday
9:30 - 10:30 Peter
2:00 - 3:00 - open
3:00 - 4:15 - Ted & JT
4:15 - 5pm - open
5 - 5:45 - Hanila
6 - 6:45 - Henry
7 - 7:45 - Sarah
7:45 - 8:30 - Travis
Fri
11 - 2 - RSB Rehear-sals
floating lessons as needed
Toneway - free video tutorials to help you get started jamming
Violin and Fiddle Lessons
Mindy Hunke Omaha, Nebraska
Christmas Caroling At Nursing Homes
December, 2009
Jeanne Finke, Sandy Ford, Brian Hesford, Peter Fucinaro (guitar), Mindy Hunke and Leila Kelley
Metro Summer Class 2010
Week 1:
Assignment: 1. Esential Elements (EE) exercises 1 - 18
2. Try "Ode to Joy" in handout packet 3. Practice saying/thinking your note names on the D string while playing
4. Practice recognizing note names on the staff 5. Practice looking at notes on the staff in the D string area and knowing which finger you would use to play those notes.Bow Technique:
1. Bend your thumb and put the fleshy part right in the center of the stick between the frog and the leather grip, be sure back of thumb is touching bow hair. Keep your pinky on top of the stick just barely to the inside of the top. Rest your index finger on the silver windings on top of the stick. The bow should be touching somehwere between your first and second knuckle of the index finger. Let the middle finger and ring finger drape over the far side of the bow and come close to touching the mother of pearl circle on the far side of the frog (where you can't see)
2. When drawing your bow across the strings, let the full weight of the bow sit on the strings and put a little pressure on your right index finger to push the stick down into the strings. Don't try to hold the bow above the string 3. Pull the bow (down bow)using your elbow
4. Push the bow (up bow) using your elbow
5. Do NOT let your shoulder help pull or push the bow - use ONLY your elbow and wrist to move the bow up and down on the string
6. DO raise or lower your right arm from the shoulder to change strings (from the D to the A string and back)
Violin Technique:
1. Hold the violin in front of you but slightly to the left - pretend the button fits into your neck just left of center - you should be able to sight down the instrument.
2. Use your left jaw line to hold the instrument on your shoulder - with practice you should be able to make your violin sit up there without holding on
3. Let the violin gently rest on the big knuckle of your first (index) finger 4. Your thumb will be across from your index finger and the fleshy part of your thumb will sit where the black fingerboard meets the brown neck. 5. Your index finger (1st finger) will be about 3/4" away from the nut on the fingerboard
6. Your 2nd finger will be about 3/4" away from your first finger (they are NOT friends). 7. Your 3rd finger will be right next to your second finger (they ARE frineds)
8. Play open D string followed by 1st finger (E note), 2nd finger (F# note) and 3rd finger (G note) - then play the open A string
9. Bend your fingers at both knuckles and place the tips of your fingers on the strings
10. DO NOT SMASH your imaginary baby mouse. In other words, don't grip your violin and flatten your palm. - Remember your violin should be sitting on that first big knuckle. Tips and Tricks:
1. Always check your bow hold before playing and make corrections if necessary 2. If you keep smashing the palm of your left hand against the neck, put something in your hand so you can't flatten it.
3. Practice your bow hold with a pencil at work
4. Practice "air bowing" while holding your right arm above your elbow with your left hand (see EE page 8 bottom right picture)
5. Make your own flash cards with notes placed on the staff (five lines for a staff) - put the note name and finger number on the back of the card.
6. Call or email Mindy if you realize that you don't understand something or you have a problem with your instrument - DO NOT WAIT UNTIL CLASS!!!!! I will be terribly disappointed if you struggle unnecessarily out of politeness. I want you all to be successful. If you wait for class to get answers, you may fall behind.
7. Play loud and wildly - we don't care if it isn't perfect! 8. Keep your violin out so that it is easy to practice (remember to loosen your bow when you are done)
9. Be nice to yourself and HAVE FUN :)
Week 2:
Assignment: Essential Elements exercises 19 - 39
Sourwood Mountian from the packet Ode to Joy from the packetAdditional Practice Suggestions:
Practice moving back and forth from the D & A strings Practice going back and forth between two notes to train your fingers to move independently (for instance B to D on the A string first finger to 3rd finger)
Play a slow D major scale starting on an open D and say each note name after you play it:
D - open, E - 1st finger on d string, F# - 2nd finger D string, G - 3rd finger D string, A - open string, B - 1st finger A string, C# - 2nd finger A string, D - 3rd finger A string. . . . .Then go back down.
Test yourself with your homemade flash cards
Start tapping your foot to music that you hear - we will start talking about rhythm soon!
Week 3
Assignment:
1. Essential Elements exercises 40 - 662. String crossing exercise line 3 & 4 in the packet3. Spider Bit the Baby in the PacketAdditional Practice Suggestions:
Try counting and clapping some of your EE exercisesMake music note flash cardsReview last week's assignmentsWeek 4
Assignment:
1. Warm up with D Major scale - try different rhythms such as "Pepperoni Pizza" or "Hamburger Hamburger"2. Essential Elements exercises 67 - 843. Sourwood Mountain and Spider Bit the BabyAdditional Practice Suggestions:
Review note names (flash cards)Review note rhythm values and try clapping your assignmentsSpend time practicing the hardest measure in each exercise or tune by itselfDON'T FORGET TO PRACTICE STRING CROSSING EXERCISES - REMEMBER, THEY ARE GOOD FOR YOU!Week 5
Assignment:
1. EE exercises 85 - 1062. Amazing Grace from Packet3. Practice D major scale4. Practice string crossing from packetAdditional Practice tips:
practice keeping your fingers on the strings when playing scalespractice keeping your 3rd finger, G on the string while playing on the A string for Amazing Grace
