STRINGS FOR KIDS PARENT INFORMATION
PARENTS’ ROLE IN SFK
*Reminding your child to take the violin and book to school on lesson day.
*Tuning and care of the violin
*Care of the bow
*Encouraging daily practice
*Praising for a good practice session
*Helping to fill out the practice log.
*Making sure that correct posture and violin placement and bow hold are part of daily practice.
Practice Logs
Your child brings home an assignment/practice log each week. Parents are to use this to organize daily practice. Start with 5 min a day and increase to 10 by the end of the week. Parents need to sign the practice log each week and have their child return it to the teacher. This is the teacher’s way to track student progress. We want every child to be successful. We need your help.
COMMUNICATIONS
Please let us know how you like to be contacted – phone, email, snail mail. We do not have email for every family in the program. Some of the phone numbers we have are not in service. Please help us effectively communicate with you. If you have email and are not getting emails from Artspace, call us and give us your correct email address. If you don’t have email and have not had phone calls from Artspace, call us and give us your correct number. Thanks.
PERFORMING OPPORTUNITIES - SERENADES & RECITALS
SFK students are invited to perform on Artspace’s Student Serenades and Recitals. Date for the 2010-11 school year will be announced in July. Serenades are an informal performances of works in progress. This is a great opportunity for your child to perform in front of a very supportive audience. Recitals are more formal and are for students who have mastered the music to be performed.
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Summer Strings Intensive with Cecilia Berger & David Tasgal
July 12-16 Ages 6 - 15
Violin, viola and cello students are invited to participate. Students must have 3 months study experience with private teacher or 1 year of group lessons. Participants will play in parts in large and small ensembles. Students will have fun while improving their sight-reading, rhythm and listening skills. Students will look and sound like experienced string players by the end of the week. Concert performance on Friday.
Beginning Violin Intensive with Cecilia Berger and David Tasgal
August 16-20 Ages 8 and older
Participants will find it easy and fun to learn to play 5 cool tunes on the violin (maybe more!) by the end of the week and look and sound pretty good. Each child will receive both individual and group instruction. A kid-size violin will be provided for the week at no extra charge. Concert on Friday. This intensive is a great way to learn if you would be interested in violin instruction in the fall.
FEBRUARY VACATION VIOLIN INTENSIVE – FEB. 21 – 25, 2011
Strings for Kids students are invited to attend a free, weeklong, violin intensive M-F, 9 to noon each day at Artspace the week of Feb. 21. Students will work in small and large groups to learn new music, review music already learned, and to hone their ensemble skills. Artspace will provide transportation to those students needing it.
It’s not too early to register. Just call the office – 413-772-6811 – or email us to let us know that your child will participate. The February intensive is a must do learning experience – one that your child will enjoy and will be proud of the progress he/she will make that week!