Violin and...rap?!

http://youtu.be/gEIVzWCRSg8 Now this is something you don't see every day!!!!!!!




~Givi Girl

Throw a private recital

The holidays are coming up...why not add some spark to it this year?




Gather some family and close friends and host your own recital for them.  It could feature just you, you and a fellow musician friend(s), siblings, etc.

Remember, time and place.  Is it Christmas time?  Perform Christmas music.  Is it Halloween time?  How about something more Halloween themed, such as the Adam's Family or the theme song from the Exorcist.  Maybe you can keep it a completely classical performance and select your strongest and favorite pieces. Is it a birthday party for someone? Play the pieces of their selection, plus the traditional "happy birthday song."  Give them the gift of music :)

If you want to make it more formal, here are a couple other tips:


*Make a program.  Just a pretty piece of paper, (either decorate it yourself with stickers or get the specialty paper) with your list of songs.  Make sure to include everyone who is performing and the date.

*Make sure the area you perform is clean and tidy.  You don't want a mess!

*Have a reception afterwards.

*Dress nicely.  (See time and place entry.)

*Perhaps give a brief introduction to a piece before you perform it (composer, description, etc.)



You work so hard, so show it off and have fun with it!








Til next time,
Givi Girl

Keep it CONVENIENT for yourself!

This post is really random, but from my own personal experience, it helps motivate you to practice.

Let's switch gears from music to working out.  For me, personally, it takes a lot of motivation to drag myself to the gym.  I have to change into gym clothes, get in the car, go there, and after alllll that...work out (something I'm not overly excited about to begin with.)  AFTER THAT, I know I have to drive home, shower, re-wash my clothes, and then change into another outfit. 

A lot of this lack of motivation occurred ever since I moved out of my mom's house in Robinson Twp (5 min away from the gym) to Bellevue (20 min away from the gym.)  Why?  BECAUSE NOW IT'S MORE INCONVENIENT.

Now, let's apply this to practicing.  In this case, I'm going to reference my cello since it's more applicable.   My cello is obviously a bigger instrument and it's a bit of a pain to constantly take it out and put it back in it's case.  I find that if it's not staring at me in the face I tend to neglect it because I simply don't want to deal with opening it up.

US HUMANS, ESPECIALLY US AMERICANS, ARE LAZY!!! Why do you think fast food is so popular?? You get to stay in your car, the food is already made, it's cheap....you basically make no effort whatsoever to eat your food. 

Keep your instrument out, (in a safe place, of course,) so you can just grab it easily and play it.

 The less to get in your way of practicing, the better.   Your instrument is saying "Practice me!  I'm right here!  Practice me!" when it's left out. 

Growing up, I left mine on my dining room table that nobody uses. 

Make it convenient for yourself!!!!

Til next time,
~Givi Girl

Your family should always be there to support you

Whether it's a recital...a small gig...whatever...your family should be there to support you.  Not just internal family, but extended family as well.  Aunts, uncles, cousins, family, friends, etc.

A lot of family members might not have an interest or appreciation for music, or at least classical music, like you do.  They might not understand how much work it takes to learn how to play an instrument.  That's OKAY!  They don't have to.

 However, you put a lot of time and dedication of practicing, going to and from lessons, etc.  You deserve your own fan base.  Sure, it's fun to play for any audience: but if you're only playing for a bunch of strangers, then you're cheating yourself.  You are your family's superstar more than anyone else's.

When I was growing up, I lived in Buffalo and had so many different orchestra concerts.  My extended family (grandparents, cousins, aunt/uncle) all lived in Pittsburgh.  They drove to almost every single one-and one time they even spent hours in the car battling one of the worst blizzards on the way here.  Talk about dedication.  My aunt/uncle/cousins didn't care for orchestra music, but they cared for ME.  They were there for ME, and that's what's important.  When I was in rehearsals or lessons, it would motivate me so much to do my very best since I knew they were coming.  I wanted to get the very best seat in the orchestra.  I wanted to sound my very best for solo recitals.  Why?  BECAUSE MY FAMILY WAS COMING TO SEE ME!  Before I would play a single note, while I was playing, and after I was finished, I had one thing on my mind: that they were there watching me.  

My family is a big reason I was always motivated and always stuck with the violin and never quit.  I would have let them all down if I quit, and I'M SO GLAD I DIDN'T!  

Make it fun for them too. Once your performance is over, go out to eat!  Take pictures! Make a day or night out of it!

Your family is your support system.  They should make it a priority to be at your recitals to keep you encouraged.  If they haven't been to any of your past shows, they probably weren't invited!  Try inviting them to the next one!   They are your biggest fans-so it's important they show it.  

Also, remember:  You should support them at their events too, whether it's sports games, musicals, etc.  




Til next time,
~Givi Girl

Keep your instrument clean

Hello Hello!

Sorry I've been slacking with the blog posts...my computer was broken and it's been midterm time so those are the most legit excuses I can give you.  Anyways...my students are playing tomorrow at the local nursing home which I'm excited about.  Should be a good time.  I also have a handful of new students who will be joining us for an event for the first time so I hope they like it.  

The posting today will be simple but still necessary to keep in mind:

The cleanliness of your instrument affects your sound.  For my violinistas out there, here's how you clean it up:

Using a cloth with NO chemicals on it (unless they are meant for violin cleaning-absolutely stay away from anything else) :

**Wipe the strings:  Don't be afraid to use a little bit of force.  They won't break.  The strings collect rosin dust which negatively effects the sound, so that's necessary to do after every time you play!

**Wipe underneath the strings AND underneath the horsehair of the bow.  Underneath the strings, in between the f-holes, is where a lot of the rosin dust ends up.  Remember, the sound comes out of the f-holes, so you want that entire area to be rosin-less.  The bow is where the rosin is applied, so naturally some of it will fall off the minute it hits the strings.  It's important to wipe the STICK of the bow (not the horse hair.) **

Once a year or so, (NOT TOO OFTEN), take your instrument to the music store and have them clean it professionally with the correct polish.  You can probably purchase some and do it yourself as well.  Just make sure it's polish that is MADE FOR VIOLIN CLEANING.  I suggest doing this before a big performance so your violin is sparkling.  

Keep your violin pretty :)  

Until next time,

Givi Girl

"The music of friends."

Hello all!

     I was going to write a completely different article today, but then I realized, it's group lesson week which I'm very excited about!! This is the week my students are divided into groups based on their playing level and get to practice pieces together.  They practice what is called "chamber music."  Chamber music is classical music that's composed for a group; "music made for a group that could fit in a palace chamber."  It's also originally known as the "music of friends."  

     I love getting all the students together for group lessons.  It's sooo important to know how to play in a group, and it's fun! 






Why is it important?

                                                             

    Playing chamber music requires special  musical and social skills.  These skill requirements differ from the skills required for playing solo, or even in a full sized orchestra. Think about it: you are in a group of 5 people trying to learn a piece with 5 different parts.  In order for everyone to reach the common goal of playing the piece correctly,  you need to interact with your group, act as a team, and help each other through.  I really try to push my students to figure out problems themselves, because that forces them to communicate with each other and act as a team.  They must assist and encourage each other.  In a sports team, the players must communicate: this is no different.  Chamber groups involve verbal AND non-verbal communication among the students.  

  Small ensembles usually include one person per part, always without a conductor: Your part is exactly that: your part!  That means, if you mess up in the group, (such as play the wrong note, the wrong rhythm, come in too early, come in too late, etc.) you're pretty much alone.  There's no one to cover up your mistakes like there would be in a big orchestra.  If you're playing solo and you mess up a rhythm-who cares? You're by yourself!  However, you cannot mess up even the slightest rhythm in a group because that will throw you off and either make you ahead or behind of the section in which the group is playing.  There's no conductor to cue you in for your parts-you must be able to count and know exactly when to come in.  

Now, in my students's case, they usually have a stand partner with the same parts as themselves (and also share a music stand.) Their stand partner is their "rock" or "safety net," if you will. If they get lost, they can rely on their stand partner, hopefully, to guide them where they need to be.  

 

Chamber music study develops leadership: The leader of the group plays a very important role in the group. I'll get into that another time.  










It can help you in the "real world"
Most careers (music or non-music related) require working together in some way with other people.  Acquiring skills of patience, teamwork, goals, deadlines, organization, preparation, helpfulness, and much much more occur during group lessons. 

 

 

It's fun!
Although I have very fond, dear, memories from my private lessons-some of the other best memories came when I played with other people!  It's fun to play with other people and it's cool to see the bond you can form with them.  Some people in my group lessons are so different in age, background, and many other ways...but music is what they all have in common and the way they can relate.  They learn a lot from each other and about playing by watching their peers and working together as a team.  It's also a good opportunity to laugh and simply enjoy your talent by sharing it with other people. 

 

  <-Here's a pic of my own students!   Dailyn, Sabrina, Alyssa, Mikki.  Do you think they became tight knit by passing each other to and from lessons? Of course not-they've all played together, and that's their common bond.

Until next time,

~Givi Girl

 

Record yourself

One of my biggest regrets I have is not recording myself enough as I progressed.  Keep in mind...back in the stone age when I was young, we didn't have it so easy with smartphones...digital cameras...etc.  My family eventually bought some video camera but we didn't use it much.  My family's a lot of great things, butt technologically advanced is definitely not one of them.  Neither is cooking...

But anyways...

I look at progressing in an instrument sort of like growing up. Young kids don't notice when you grow, and their parents probably don't so much either since they see them every day.  However, the people who do notice are the ones who see do not see you every day.  The same thing applies to learning an instrument: it's very gradual, so although your teachers who only see you once a week notice your progress, chances are, you don't! Another benefit of recording yourself is that it might help you realize mistakes you make while you play, or bad habits you might have that you didn't even notice! Some people, when they play, are so concentrated that they don't realize they do goofy things such as sticking their tongue out!! I've seen it all!  That's why you need to record yourself!!!
















Til next time,

~Givi Girl