How Many Days Can You Play?

It's another New Year. Each year is getting a bit shorter than the last. I'm not one for setting resolutions, but this year for me is a focus on everyday goals. Even though planning for the future and setting long term goals is important to make sure we are on the right path, it can also be extremely overwhelming and before we know it the year is gone and we've spent it worrying about what might be instead of appreciating all the amazing things that can happen everyday. Things in the long run always have a way of working themselves out so by focusing on the individual day we can be more mindful as to how we are spending our time.

So make your to-do list for today. This is a list of the things that we know we should do, that we want to do, but we set aside because we tell ourselves there are more important things and that the things we want for ourselves can wait. Don't wait, start them now and make your list. Keep it small, keep it manageable, but keep it important and realistic.

Help your children to set these small accomplishments for the day. For them it could be responsibilities from putting their breakfast dishes in the dishwasher, to starting their homework without being asked, to picking up their violins and playing through their review independently before they practice with mom or dad. Maybe it's scheduling in time for other things they love like reading a book, colouring or playing catch. There IS actually time in the day to get everything done if we can realistically look at what is important, what we want in the long run and what can we do today to nurture where we want to be and who we want our children to become.

Not sure what to put on your list? Well I've got the first one set for you and your child:

Play/Practice EVERYDAY for 100 Days!

When we ALL complete the challenge, we'll get to record our progress on this banner for all to see! Check it out next week in group class, but get playing today!

As Shinichi Suzuki would say, "You should only practice on the days you eat". Put playing the violin on the list. There are no time requirements, only the action of picking up the violin and playing everyday which will hopefully lead to a successful practice session. You can all do it! Start small, keep it manageable, keep it realistic and keep it important. What else will you accomplish today? Happy Practicing!

Thanks to everyone who braved the snow tonight to make it to group class.

Drive safe through what will hopefully be a nice short winter.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I was able to spend the last few days visiting with my new niece (3 weeks old!) and eating way too much food, as always.

One last reminder before we head into the New Year:
Lessons will resume the week of January 11th. 

That means that the kids will be back at school for one week and then lessons will start the week after. Although we have this extra week off of lessons, I do expect everyone to return to lessons with practice chart assignments ready to go. The next recital will be here before we know it (February 7th!).

If you have the next week off from work, which I hope most of you do so you can spend time with family, make sure to actually spend time with family.

My brain is already making lists and organizing information, wanting to start preparing for the next few months of work. But I have learned that there is such a thing as being too efficient and over prepared especially if it means cutting into spending time with the people who make our lives worth all the hard work we do year round.

Giving this advice is much easier said than done as I sit here contemplating work and writing to all of you as my husband glares at me because he knows what all the typing is about. So on that note, I'm off to spend time with my wonderful husband and our too cute for words cat.

As always, if you have any questions or any tuning emergencies, give me a call or send me an e-mail.

Enjoy your holiday and the people around you. See you in January!

Ceilidh Night

Tuesday's Ceilidh was so much fun. I've called the last group class of the year a Ceilidh for the past two years, but this year it truly felt like one. Request after request, the stage went from being completely full, to only a few playing, to little ones scrambling for their violins and joining in with excitement on pieces they knew, or pieces they just wanted to try, and with mouth fulls of food! The two person piano playing was awesome! Lots of improvising, teamwork and laughter. Thank you to my wonderful accompanists Alison & Drew who play with such heart and joy. It wouldn't have been the same without the two of you!

With no expectations, just a love of music and playing with one another, it was a great evening of music and there wasn't enough time to get in everyone's requests. It's a great moment when class is over but they still want to play!

Thanks for a wonderful evening and for your support in purchasing CD's of the group Celtic Shift I play with. Celtic Shift CD's will continue to be available in lesson for $20. 

Happy listening, 

Merry Christmas & 

Have a Wonderful New Year! 

See you all in 2016!

December News

Some news to wrap up December...

1. My niece, Dagny, was born on December 6th. We are so excited to welcome her to the family and can't wait for lots of visits over the holidays!

2. Celtic Shift, the fiddle group I play with, is releasing their second CD this week! I feel so fortunate to be able to play with and learn from such incredible musicians and you will be able to find and purchase CD's in lesson for $20!

3. Ceilidh Group Class is on Tuesday December 15th. This class will act as a typical Kitchen Party that you might attend out East which includes snacks, a variety of music from classical to fiddle to festive and anything we can think of in between, possibly some dancing, a lot of playing along and a lot of relaxing and enjoying music and the time we spend together. Sounds like the perfect way to finish off 2015! I hope to see everyone there!

4. Next week is the last week of lessons. There are no lessons past December 19th. Lessons will resume the week after the kids get back to school on January 11th. The first Group Class of 2016 is on January 12th.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

What I Love About Group Class

Even though there is NO GROUP CLASS this week (class will resume on Dec. 8th and 15th) I am constantly reminded, especially from our Holiday Recital which featured duets and ensembles, of the importance of group class and the chance to play together.

As we head into the holiday season make plans to play music for family or to get your family and friends involved in singing carols or clapping or jingling along to violin tunes. You all work so hard year round studying music. This is a wonderful time of year to share your music with the people who mean the most to you and to start some musical traditions.

So many students have been figuring out Christmas Carols by ear on their violins. If there is a song you like and want to play on your violin, challenge yourself to try and figure it out or tell me about it in lesson and we can work on it together. We can play anything we want on our violins! There is always a way.

Congratulations to everyone on their performances at the Holiday Recital! I had a wonderful afternoon with everyone! I am so grateful for all the families who let me be a small part of their lives and allow me to do what I love, for my family who attended, my wonderful husband and our jolly Santa!

10 Things I Love About Group Class:
1. Everyone has a voice. Everyone has a chance to be heard and to share their opinions without judgement.

2. Even though most of us only see each other once a week, we play together as one, working toward a common goal.

3. Parental Involvement - whether in the audience or on the stage; your constant support means everything. You are all incredible!

4. Teenage Leadership - the power they have in positively influencing and motivating those who look up to them.

5. Mistakes are allowed. Keep working, keep learning.

6. We are respectful of everyone's position in the class. There is no competition. Our journey is our own and no one else's.

7. Listening - to see little ones who are known to have trouble sitting still, sit through advanced repertoire with ease, quietly listening or strumming their violins to the piece.

8. Play it, even if you don't know it - to see beginners make the decision to play along with a song they don't know in delight or to sit the next song out and listen. Yes, five year old's do choose to listen (well in group class anyway!)

9. Creativity - because mistakes are allowed, there is freedom to try new things without fear. Maybe it's that new harmony part you've been working on or a new technique. Magical things can happen through a simple suggestion (ex. our pizzicato rendition of twinkle with beautiful harmonies a few weeks ago was amazing. So many simple ideas are pondered in class and are brought to lesson to discuss and discover).

10. Group class helps us deal with the world - whether it's a distraction from our hectic work or school lives or an inner fear that we haven't been able to identify yet. Group class challenges us to do more and to be more then we think we are capable of. Facing the vulnerability of joining group class can be a challenge in it's self, but once we do, we are faced with an entirely different way to learn. A way for all ages and levels to learn together and from one another: The Suzuki way.

Holiday Recital - Sunday November 29th

We've made it to the Holiday Recital this Sunday November 29th, at 2:00 at Siloam United Church. Here's what you need to know!

ARRIVAL - No Later than 1:45 for Everyone! You may arrive as early as
1:30.

If you are playing in the O Christmas Tree Ensemble - ARRIVAL TIME is 1:30.

If you are playing in an ensemble where you need sheet music, please make sure to bring your own music!

Dress Code - whatever you would like, as long as you can play comfortably!

NO Reception at the end, but an appearance by a special Holiday Guest!

Family Portrait Sessions from Priya Mchardie

Just another reminder that Priya Mchardie is offering Family Portrait Sessions with $25 going towards Amy's Violin School fund, which benefits all of you!

Get those Christmas cards ready or get some professional photos of your kids with their instruments! Priya makes the process simple and fun! Check out her contact info below.

Contact her today at 519-697-7577 or priya.mchardie@gmail.com.

Check out her website HERE!