auroraviolinlessons.com

Announcements:
1. The music is in. If something was being ordered for you, it is here.

2. Recital: I was informed that I scheduled the next recital on Super Bowl Sunday. So, I will get back to you about that recital. Keep preparing because I do not yet know what is going to happen with it. If you realize I do something like this, please tell me.

3. Viola Day - Registration starts online on Jan 20. All violists should plan to attend. www.rockymountainviolasociety.org. Viola Day is April 14 and is all day in Fort Collins.

4. Graduation recordings: Let me know if you want to do graduation. If you have finished a Suzuki book and not graduated on it you can do graduation. There are specific pieces you must prepare and we must record them w/accompaniment. There is a fee for this. I hope to do a recording sessions later this month or early in Feb.

5. Fiddle Workshop Kenneth Mackintosh and Arlene Patterson are having a Fiddle Workshop. The date has been moved to Jan 15. It is in Denver 1201 S Steele 2:00- 4:00. Violists are also welcome. Attached is the flyer. The cost is $15.

We had a great holiday performance. The audience loved it so much we received a standing ovation! Schuyler loved the cookies afterward. This is always a fun performance. Several have commented how our performance put them in the holiday mood. Fortunately, we didn't start any later as it was snowing when we finished and the roads were becoming treacherous.

I was very impressed with how well the younger students did as it is a longer time for them to have to concentrate. It was fun seeing several of the adults perform. And, hearing the more advanced students as a group was greatly enjoyed by all!

Happy Holidays! Thanks for all of your hard work.

Wow! Some audition results have been arriving.
Jefferson County All County Orchestra - there were five students eligible to audition for it and all 5 made it into their groups! Ryan (senior) is 2nd chair viola and Natalie (sophomore) is 4 chair viola.
Congratulations also to Ian, Sam, and Austin C.

Also, Ryan and Natalie both are in the top group for All State Orchestra!

Austin B is in Cherry Creek School District's Honor Orchestra.

Riley's school (Denver East) has recorded a fundraising CD and he recorded as a solo Ashokan's Farewell on their CD.

Hope I haven't left out anybody.

<a href="http://www.thumbtack.com/Violin-and-Viola-Lessons-Aurora-CO/service/142707">Violin and Viola Lessons</a>

Signed up on thumbtack today. We'll see how it works out. Seems like a win/win deal to me. Can't figure out yet how to put the link into one of the pages on the website. Am excited to see what happens with it.

Really do have to get back to regular blogging. I think about things to say, but don't get them up here.

There was an article (I think in the New York Times) about practicing. Someone did a study where one group practiced 40 minutes daily and another group practiced 20 minutes and then listened for 20 minutes. The study discovered that practicing for 20 minutes and then listening for 20 minutes was as effective as practicing for 40 minutes. The belief is that your brain continues to work on the problem you were practicing while you are listening.

Dr. Suzuki knew what he was doing when he advocated listening. It is so easy to listen to your pieces. Put them on you ipod, or mp3 player. Have the cd loaded and ready to go. Put them on the computer. Keep a cd in the car. Listen while you are eating dinner, doing homework, getting ready for school, getting ready for bed.

One parent last week made a comment about how playing the cd improves the atmosphere in their home. There home is a more peaceful and enjoyable place to be when they are playing their cd. This is a frequently heard comment about playing the cd.

Listening is such an easy way to improve your playing, learn your pieces quickly, improve you musicality and intonation, become aware of what you sound like. You cannot listen too much.

Denver Talent Education has sent the registration forms for group classes which start in the fall. These are in addition to your private lessons. I would encourage everyone to attend. The students really enjoy getting to play with others, and hear others and they are fun!
I will be emailing the forms out soon.

The move is sort of done and I am finally coming up for some air. I am fully out of the apartment in Arvada and into the townhome in Aurora. Still haven't found the living room floor yet but I am working on it. Still quite a bit of work to be done, but it is getting done, though slowly.

Lessons in Arvada will be at Dana's home (our accompanist's), just two doors down from where they were. Now in Unit C rather than Unit E. I am very grateful for her letting us use her home. So far, it seems to be working out fine.

I plan to be able to start teaching in Aurora in August at the new townhome. We will still have lessons at music box on Monday's and Saturdays and at Oasis on Tuesdays, also.

 Sue has again invited my students to attend a workshop to work on the audition music for Western States and All State Orchestra. The workshop is geared toward viola students, but I will ask if violinists can drop in and get out of it what they can. The cost of the workshop is $40 and it is in Fort Collins. Violists who are auditioning need to plan to attend. You will find it very beneficial.

Several students just returned from attending CSU's summer music camp. They all had a wonderful time and can't wait to return next year!
Every one of them had improved tone at their lessons this week and were fabulously enthusiastic about their instruments. They enjoyed the music that they played in orchestra.

This camp is primarily orchestral based and you have to be in 7th grade or higher to attend. Keep it in mind for next year. There are other camps as well.

Suzuki Association of Colorado had a teacher get together this month. It was a good time. I met several teachers who I had only known by name and we had fun discussions. Also, got to see some acquaintances and friends that I haven't seen for a  long while. I commend SAC's new president and board on doing a great job. They have an uphill job but seem to be up to it. It is great to see SAC doing something. SAC is open to parents as well as teachers. If you are looking for a place to use your talents they can always use your help.

The fall schedule will be coming out soon. Let me know if you have changed your email address, so I can be sure everybody gets a copy of it.

You will be getting an email also, but here is the no lesson days for summer 2010.
The summer term starts May 31 and ends 8/29.

No lesson days
Sunday 7/4, 6/20
Monday 5/31, 7/5
Tuesday 8/3 6/15
Wednesday 6/16, 8/4
Thursday 6/17, 7/1
Friday 6/18, 7/2
Saturday 6/19, 7/3.

Tuition remains the same. You may pay for the entire term or by the month.

Laura