Thursday, March 18, 2021 by Chrissy Misso | performing

We hope everyone had a fun St. Patrick's Day!

Our string students had some fiddling fun with some traditional Irish and Drinking Songs ... it's the perfect time to work on our quick bowing and furiously fast fingers.

Because fiddling tunes take a few different techniques than the classical repertoire that our students usually have in their rotation, we start working on these tunes at the beginning of February.  Learning gentle slides, triplet rhythm and beat balance, and double stop bowing . . . we just need them to jig and play simultaneously! (haha! anyone know someone who teaches Irish dancing?)

Check out Evan & Michelle's work on our Facebook page:

Irish Washerwoman: https://fb.watch/4SNL5h1XEg/

Drunken Sailor: https://fb.watch/4SNNzjWOaJ/

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 by Chrissy Misso | STEAM

Who hasn't taken a sea shell and held it up to their ear in hopes of hearing the ocean?  Who hasn't hunted for that perfect shell?

How about making an instrument with a shell?

What instrument can you think of that would work?

Prehistoric humans made a horn from a conch shell . . . and someone FINALLY tried playing it even though it was discovered (in France) about 90 years ago.  The musician was able to play 3 chromatic notes (equivalent to C, C#/Db, & D)!!

There have been other prehistoric instruments found over the years, nor the oldest, but it is unique --most have been flutes and percussion instruments!

Cool, huh??

Check out this story from NPR to learn more!

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Wednesday, January 13, 2021 by Chrissy Misso | info

So many people make New Year's Resolutions, but do they stick with them??

If you're looking to change or develop a new or better habit, you need to take it slowly . . . this applies to practicing your instrument too!!!

Students have heard me say it in lessons, write it in their notebooks, sometimes send it in a email . . .  here are some of my TOP tips (and a link at the bottom for a full list from another teacher . . . you might see some similarities!!).

1. Do it EVERY SINGLE DAY!!
   1. Make it a scheduled thing -- before breakfast, while dinner is cooking, right after school. Pick a time that works you and your family 99% of the time.
   2. Smaller chunks of practice are better than 1-2 giant sessions - - this works for school work too!!  Our brains get bored after 30-40min of the same thing.  Do some homework, play your instrument for a while, do some more homework, . . . 
2. Break it down . . . then build it back up!
   1. Start in the middle or at the end so each part of a piece gets worked on.  You won't remember where you made a mistake or had trouble near the beginning once you play through the whole thing!
   2. There are exercises to help you with that!! use part of your practice time for scales, chord progression repeats, or finger exercises to help master those tricky spots in your pieces!
   3. If you make a mistake, STOP!!!!!  Fix it now, figure out why it happened, play that teeny section 5 times correctly in a row before going on.
3. LISTEN!!
   1. Record yourself - not sure what's going on?  Not sure how to improve?  You need to listen to yourself and be a good critic . . . remember you have counting & rhythm, dynamics, articulations . . . !
   2. Listen to others' recordings of your piece (maybe not your specific arrangement) -- what did they do well? what did you like about it? are you doing those thing?

Download a list and chart at HERE or ask Chrissy for a special one just for you! 

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Sunday, December 6, 2020 by Chrissy Misso | Uncategorized

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