By Ms. Janet Haas, Strings TeacherDear Elementary String Families,
You should be hearing much more from your young string players this week! We have put the bow on the string. All the students are very excited and have worked patiently on all the preliminary steps that we used to prepare them for using the bow. As you listen to your child practice, you should be hearing very slow, even bow strokes. This is constructive practicing. Short, choppy sounds indicate that a player is just fooling around or not using enough bow to make a sustained sound. In the next few weeks we will be teaching the students to combine the left hand fingering with the bow. You will then be able to really hear “Mary Had a Little Lamb”! Coming lessons prepared will help your child maintain his/her enthusiasm. Bringing the instrument and the books on lesson day is one key to your child’s success in string lessons. Please help your child to remember both the Orchestra Expressions and the Supplement Book on lesson day. A child who forgets either the instrument or the books should still attend the lesson but they will miss out on playing in class. Habitually forgetting the instrument or the books will seriously impede your child’s progress. A good habit is to set the instrument next to backpack the night before the lesson and place the two books in the backpack (unless they fit in the case). The second key to a great year in string lessons is regular practicing. Few students will practice without a gentle reminder from a parent. Help your child’s practice habits by establishing a regular practice time. Using a timer to define the length of the practice time can help your child focus on practicing rather than watching the clock. If you can, listen to the practicing once a week. Students should begin with something they know how to play well, work on the new techniques and conclude with another piece that they know and enjoy. If your child is practicing 10-15 minutes a day, s/he will progress well in lessons. If you have any questions about the lessons or if your child is frustrated by some technical challenge, please contact me. Sincerely, Janet Haas
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