Video Collection No. 2: Very Easy = Suzuki 1

Category: Violin Video Tutorials by Kerstin Wartberg

No. 2.1:   Music & Movement: Lightly Row – May Song
By Kerstin Wartberg
 

Examples from volume 1A of the Exercise Book “Let's Practice Together!”
Excerpt from the chapter: Preparatory Exercises WITHOUT THE INSTRUMENT
Publication by ISTEX MUSIC PUBLICATIONS in summer 2020

Arjada Hasanaj, presenter
Rudolf Gaehler, violin
David Andruss, piano and piano arrangements for all recorded pieces
Kerstin Wartberg, concept and video editing
 
0:14 Lightly Row
1:23 Song of the Wind
2:39 Go Tell Aunt Rhody
3:43 O Come, Little Children
5:03 May Song
 
 
Young children enjoy moving around when they hear music. They feel energy, life, joy, and playfulness. Teachers should encourage this desire and include these activities during their teaching. Research has shown that the connection between body movement, rhythm and awareness is beneficial to the development during the whole childhood, which includes not only thinking and feeling, but also motoric abilities.

Concrete aims
- Getting to know and becoming familiar with the violin repertoire of the first volume (LET'S PRACTICE TOGETHER! / SUZUKI VIOLIN SCHOOL / STEP by STEP)
- Through singing, clapping and movement games, the basics in the areas of rhythm and intonation are conveyed.
- The intensive training of the senses (listening, seeing, touching and feeling).
- The development of physical endurance and dexterity in the gross and fine motor skills.
- Growing into the task of daily practice at home. This is a new area of life to be discovered by both, the child and the parents.
- Continuous work on personal and social skills like concentration, memory, endurance, self-esteem, willingness to perform, social behavior in the group.

 

 

No. 2.2:   Bow Hold Games

Example from volume 1A of the Exercise Book “Let's Practice Together!” by Kerstin Wartberg

Excerpt from the chapter "Second Step: The Bow Hold"

Publication by ISTEX MUSIC PUBLICATIONS in summer 2020

Students of Sergej Simkin / German Suzuki Association, present several bow hold games for beginners.

 

 

No. 2.3:   Spotlight on! Rotating attention on "Lightly Row"

Spotlight on! Rotating attention on "Lightly Row", first phrase

Example from volume 1A of the Exercise Book “Let's Practice Together!” by Kerstin Wartberg
Publication by ISTEX MUSIC PUBLICATIONS in summer 2020

The students of Sergej Simkin (German Suzuki Association) use the first phrase from "Lightly Row" to show how effectively this section can be practiced with rotating attention.

Shinichi Suzuki, but also other well-known music teachers such as the cellist Gerhard Mantel have described a practice method that has proved particularly useful for learning new pieces, but also for review pieces: the method of rotating attention.
This practice method can be compared to the image of a spotlight, which lights up different areas one after the other and makes them conscious.
This practice principle can be applied not only to the violin beginning level but to all levels.

The most important lesson is to never repeat things the same way again and again.
The attention can be directed to another area each time a section or a whole piece is repeated:
E.g. on
- posture
- the movement of your right hand
- bow division
- sound quality
- rhythm
- intonation
- the movement of your left hand
- text security

There are countless aspects that can be practised in this way. The successes are easy to recognize, because the muscles are not tired by a too long one-sided effort and furthermore the concentration is revived again and again by changing activities.

 

 

No. 2.4:   Spotlight on! Rotating attention on "Go Tell Aunt Rhody", first phrase

Spotlight on! Rotating attention on "Go Tell Aunt Rhody", first phrase

Example from volume 1A of the Exercise Book “Let's Practice Together!” by Kerstin Wartberg
Publication by ISTEX MUSIC PUBLICATIONS in summer 2020

The students of Sergej Simkin (German Suzuki Association) use the first phrase from "Lightly Row" to show how effectively this section can be practiced with rotating attention.

Shinichi Suzuki, but also other well-known music teachers such as the cellist Gerhard Mantel have described a practice method that has proved particularly useful for learning new pieces, but also for review pieces: the method of rotating attention.
This practice method can be compared to the image of a spotlight, which lights up different areas one after the other and makes them conscious.
This practice principle can be applied not only to the violin beginning level but to all levels.

The most important lesson is to never repeat things the same way again and again.
The attention can be directed to another area each time a section or a whole piece is repeated:
E.g. on
- posture
- the movement of your right hand
- bow division
- sound quality
- rhythm
- intonation
- the movement of your left hand
- text security

There are countless aspects that can be practised in this way. The successes are easy to recognize, because the muscles are not tired by a too long one-sided effort and furthermore the concentration is revived again and again by changing activities.

 

 

No. 2.5:   Music for violin beginners: "Snow and Wind"

ISTEX - International Suzuki Teachers EXchange
Violin Teacher Training Courses and Mini-Workshop for Violin Students in Mallorca, Easter 2016

Here comes another short piece from our Mallorca workshop. It is suitable for students in early book 1.
The song “Snow and Wind” has only 4 notes and can be played with only three fingers on the A string.
David Andruss composed the piano accompaniment and arranged all pieces from Step by Step in an EASY and in an ADVANCED VERSION.
HERE you can download the EASY version of the piano part.
 

 

 

No. 2.6:   Fast Finger Lifting

This short video is an excerpt from "The Journey Through Pre-Twinkle" by Kerstin Wartberg & Charles Krigbaum. It wants to draw attention to the fast finger LIFTING motion.
The fingers should always be moved from the base joint. Make sure that the student practices with a relaxed left hand.
 
Specifically, this means: The thumb is not gripping and the hand is not squeezing.
If the students practice these fast lifting and dropping motions consistently, they will continuously develop
 
• relaxed fingers and left thumb
• clean articulation
• finger strength
• good intonation
• quick reflexes
• security

 

 

 

No. 2.7:   Guinea Pig's Effort - My First Technique Book by Kerstin Wartberg

EFFORT is the Key to SUCCESS or
Enjoying the REWARD of one’s Own EFFORT
The guinea pig demonstrates this important message to young violinists and their parents.

Music: Roller-Coaster Song
"My First Technique Book"
by Kerstin Wartberg
ISTEX MUSIC PUBLICATIONS
ISBN 978-3-946872 01 6



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