Summer Fiddle Camp a Success!

We were definitely a small but mighty group! 

On Saturday July 12th, four violin students and myself provided about 20 minutes of music to the residents at Masonville Manor. In only 5 days, we learned 4 new fiddle tunes as well as spoon rhythms and a step dance routine. We played some book 1 pieces with a fiddle twist to them. All in all, it was a great week of music, collaboration, great ideas, and lots of fun. I think everyone, including myself, was inspired by the work we did. I am so proud of the hard work and commitment from everyone and am so happy by the success of this fiddle camp as well as the Winter 2014 fiddle class. I can't wait until the Fall session!

Want to start working on your fiddle skills now? 

First of all, the following phrase is not allowed: "I can't".

Just because something is new, doesn't mean we can't do it. As long as we try, we can do it, by starting small.

Things are not going to be perfect. Perfection is not what being a musician is. It's about playing from your heart and loving what you are doing. If you're having fun, your doing it right!

Try something new today! 

Try to play that song on the radio that you love. 

Go to the music store and purchase some new books to sight read. 

The library is a great resource for listening material (especially for fiddle music which is hard to purchase). Find a song you like and try to learn it by ear.

Already have a piece in mind but are having trouble learning it by ear? Go to www.thesession.org and find the sheet music to help you along. 

For classical music try www.imslp.org.

Hear a tune in your head? Try to find it on your violin and then play around with it. 

There are no wrong answers!

Have something else in mind but really don't know where to start? Ask me for some recommendations!

I find there are many musicians who are either/or. Either they're classical or fiddle, read music or learn by ear, can improvise, can't improvise, can play this style but can't play that style, can do this technique, but cannot do that technique. I have felt like this, probably still do a bit. It's too easy to say that you are good at one area and if you're not good in others to just say it's not what you do. It's only not what you do because you have decided you are not good enough. But we can all be good enough in whatever we choose to do. If we want something, all we have to do is try. At least if it doesn't work out, we can live on with no regrets.

Decide today what it is you want, and then just take that first step. It doesn't matter how small or big that step is. The journey is what is important so just start somewhere and enjoy the process. Everyone who has participated in the fiddle classes has taken a chance and tried something new. Congratulations and keep it up!

Leahy Music Camp

I hope everyone is having a nice summer so far. I have so much to report from this last month but I'll try to send it out sporadically over the course of the summer.

You all need to purchase this CD.
Find it on Amazon.ca here!

Leahy Camp in Lakefield Ontario
This camp ran from Sunday June 29th to Friday July 4th at the beautiful Lakefield College School in Lakefield Ontario. If you haven't heard of the family fiddle group Leahy (the lead fiddler Donnell Leahy is married to Natalie MacMaster) they are an incredible Canadian Fiddle group that I have been following since I was about 12. It was so exciting to finally get to go to this camp. Although, Donnell and Natalie couldn't make it this year, the week was filled with so much music and dance and many incredible musicians and instructors.

I spent my mornings learning new fiddle tunes and techniques from some incredible performers (see below) and my afternoons brushing up on my step dancing skills. The evenings consisted of incredible concerts put on by the instructors. My mom attended with me and she studied piano accompaniment technique to fiddle music and even some tin whistle and vocal lessons! We made a recording, had numerous jam sessions, performed on stage, learned a clog step, shopped, ate, practiced. Although we were only gone for 5 days, it felt like 2 weeks. There was just so much to do.

Next year is the 10 year anniversary of the camp. I expect it is going to be huge, and even more of the big names will be attending. I cannot wait!

Here's a list of some of the great instructors we got to work with this week. Try clicking on their names to check out their websites:

Maria, Erin, Julie, Chrissy, Denise, Siobhean Leahy (Sisters) - piano and vocals

Frank Leahy - drums

Tom Fitzgerald - fiddle

Kerry Fitzgerald - step dance

Tim Chaisson - fiddle

Louis Schryer - fiddle

Daniel Gervais - fiddle

Winifred Horan - fiddle

Seamus Egan - banjo, whistle

Tony McManus - guitar

Stephanie Cadman - step dance

I highly recommend this camp. It is suitable for any age and any skill level. Everything is broken down if needed or challenged if needed. All musical styles are present from fiddle, classical, blues, swing, jazz, gypsy jazz (this was new!), french Canadian, Irish, country, etc. Find more info on the camp here.

The Home County Folk Festival in Victoria Park!

Ashley has a tone of CD`s to purchase
featuring his popular rock infused fiddling
to more traditional Cape Breton styles.

You'll find me there on Saturday July 19th at 1:30 at the center stage listening to Ashley MacIsaac (Cape Breton Rock Fiddler), Rant Maggie Rant (Ontario based Irish folk group featuring Lindsay Shindler!), and Stephanie Cadman (Fiddler and step dancer). All performances at this festival are free!

If you can stay up for it, Ashley MacIsaac will be the last show of the evening at 10:00 pm on the main stage.


The Goderich Celtic Roots Festival!

Those of you who have taken my
fiddle classes might remember what a
Cut technique is.

The festival runs from Friday August 8th to Sunday August 10th. I'll be there on Saturday for the afternoon listening to even more great performers:

On the Main Stage II

Noon: Rant Maggie Rant (Ontario Irish Folk)

2:15 Liz Carroll (Irish American Fiddler)

3:45 Andrea Beaton (Cape Breton NS Fiddler)

5:15 Joy Dunlop (Scottish Gaelic Singer) - incredible! Gaelic singers are rare. Check her out!

There is a fee for this festival, but for the performers they have this year, I'd say its worth it. Shane Cook (Ontario Fiddler) is performing the Sunday afternoon as well. Check out the website for more details.

Fill your summer with music! Get inspired, look for these artists on youtube, purchase cds that you find. You won't be disappointed!

The Practice Shop Free Printables

Looking for some summer inspiration to keep the practicing going?

Check out The Practice Shop! Click Free Downloads here or at the top of the Practice Shoppe homepage, then all you need to do is print and play! Quick and painless fun. Create a new practice chart together, keep track of all review pieces played (maybe working towards an ice cream treat, beach day, new book etc), get crazy and play pieces on one foot, with tongue sticking out, etc. The possibilities are endless. Try something new this summer and keep the fun of practicing going!

They also have a great shop of bead counters, dice, stickers, and other music accessories, with a flat rate shipping cost of $11 to Canada.

I've just placed an order to try out their fingerboard tapes so I'll give you feedback shortly on product quality, shipping speed, customer service, etc. So far so good!

Celtic Shift at the London Music Club

Check your calendars! I'll be playing with Celtic Shift at the London Music Club on Friday June 20th, doors open at 7:30, show starts at 8:00. Tickets are $10 at the door. 

I've been having so much fun rehearsing and performing with this group. Join me along with pianist Steve Holowitz, whistler David Nuttall and percussionist Greg Mainprize for an evening filled with Celtic traditions fused my many other musical styles. 

Last Call for Fiddle Camp Registration!

Join me on July 7th-12th from 10:00-11:30 in the morning to learn some fiddle tunes, dance steps, percussion rhythms, harmony composition and theory training!

I am in the process of getting a 'gig' lined up for the Saturday at a local nursing/retirement home so we can share what we've learned with the community. Parents are welcome to attend the recital.

Registration is $90 for the week. All music will be provided, you will be able to access recordings of all the music here under the fiddle tab on this site, and all classes will take place at my house!

Bring your violins, a binder for music, pencils and erasers, and an open mind to try some new things!

E-mail or call me right away if you are interested in filling the last few spots. 

Fiddle Classes will be back in the fall for another 8 week session on Saturdays from 1:30-2:30.

Conference Summary

Well, I'm sorry to say that the conference exhibits were rather disappointing. Hundreds of violins to try out and purchase, but hardly any violin accessories or practice helpers. I picked up a few new lesson gadgets, some piano harmonies, new tonalization exercises, Christmas tunes for 4 violins, and some revised Suzuki Cello to continue my painful attempt at learning the cello. Although I don't have anything tangible to bring home to you (other than some free printable practice aids) I think what I do have to offer is even better; and that is knowledge gained. 

I have a whole notebook and mind full of new ideas and inspiration. I've heard so many wonderful speakers from both older and newer generations. From those with first hand Shinchi Suzuki experiences to new ideas on maintaining music education in a fast paced ever changing world to the immense necessity of our Suzuki Early Childhood Education program (more on this later). 

One thing that is irrefutable and was impossible to escape this weekend is the importance music has in shaping our lives and our character.

Music helps us to learn, focus, discover, heal, survive, grow and love.

Every one can learn music. You can never been too young or too old.

Everyone has the capacity to let music change them for the better.

I look forward to our last full week of lessons before summer and am so excited about new ideas for the fall. I would like to leave you all with a simple yet beautiful Suzuki quote which I want you all to focus on and remember over the summer months:

"Beautiful tone, beautiful heart."

Let's continue to provide high quality models for children to listen to and encourage them to always listen to the quality of their own sound, to ask questions, and to never give up.

One last reminder: 

Pool Party at Sharon's is on for this Saturday May 31st at 2:00. 

Bring your bathing suits, a snack to share and your violins!

Off to Minneapolis

I'm off to Minneapolis tomorrow until Monday. Please feel free to continue to send me any e-mails, including signing up for summer lessons and practice questions. 

I also wanted to tell you all that because of the incredible turnout at the past two silent auctions, the money raised is covering the majority of this trip. This is because of all of you and your continued support and generosity. Thank you all so much for the contributions that continue to make the Thames Valley Suzuki School an incredible growing community. I hope to bring back some unique violin trinkets from the many exhibits that will be at the conference. If there is anything specific you may be looking for your child, please let me know and I'll see what I can find. Thank you again.

One other big announcement is please notice my name change on the registration forms.
My new name is Amy Barten. 
Please make the 12 monthly postdated cheques out to this name.

I also have a new e-mail on the registration; amybarten5@gmail.com. 
Please make this change in your contacts list. I will have both e-mails open for a while, but get into the habit now of the new address so there won't be any confusion when I do close the account.

I hope everyone had a nice long weekend. One year ago yesterday (May 19th), Steve and I got married on just as sunny and warm a day. I am truly convinced that the older we get, the faster time flies. Each year that passes seems to get shorter and shorter. It is so easy to get caught up in the stresses of the day and forget all the moments that really truly matter and all the people in our lives that make every hard day worth getting through. I prescribe that on the next sunny day we have, to take your family and enjoy some time outside just being together. Leave the electronics at home and enjoy everyone just as they are. These moments are the ones that will stick with us and will make our relationships stronger.

See everyone in a week!