Why Learn Music?
July 7, 2011
Just two months ago, many local school music teachers received pink slips because the state decided to cut music programs from the schools around here. When I heard about this, I was actually thinking of sending my son to a private school where I know the music program won’t be cut. Due to the large amount of upset parents who responded to the state’s decision, our local school music programs were saved! HOORAY!!!!!!
Here is a list of WHY we learn music for your reference:
Appreciation of music
Focus / concentration
Perseverance
Time management
Fine motor control
Coordination
Self-discipline
Self-expression
Self-esteem
Confidence
Performance skills
Stage presence
Poise
Public speaking
Problem solving
Goal setting
Responsibility
Memory
Intelligence
Realizing one’s potential
Sense of perfecting each step
Group skills
Noncompetitive attitude
Sharing of ideas
Creativity Cooperation
Tenacity
Delayed gratification
Ability to listen
Ability to take instruction
Respect Self control
Tolerance
Ability to prioritize
Flexibility
Leadership
Ability to follow
Learn from mistakes
Share emotions
Preparedness
Positive attitude
The pleasure of giving the gift of music
I’m sure there are other great reasons why people learn music that are not on this list. Therefore, please support your child’s school music program and let the principals know just how important music is to you and your child:)
It’s been a while since I blogged, and I apologize! I should be getting better at blogging from here on. First off, our whole family moved back to Northern CA from Taipei early June, and as soon as we moved back, I went to attend the Colorado Suzuki Institute training courses for violin teachers for 2 weeks! I just got back from a wonderful time in Beaver Creek, CO. I would highly recommend anyone who is studying in the Suzuki method to attend this institute. We had beautiful weather and music everyday:) Here is a photo of the view I was looking at everyday as I went up to observe a class. Remember to visit http://www.suzukiassociation.org for more info on Summer Institutes:) ~ Keep Violinin’
It’s been a while since I updated this site. One of the many reasons for being not as up-to-date is the surgery on my right shoulder. Last Thursday, the doctor finally took out 2 lipomas and a tumor(hoping it’s nothing too serious). The doctor said the cause to these lumps on my shoulder is the excessive usage of it probably during my work and during my violin practices. I will need to rest for a couple weeks before it’s fully recovered. However, I’m still going to try and manage to conduct this Friday’s Spring Concert at school, since it is going to be my last concert at Bethany:(
I would like to share with all of you a picture from the most recent event I attended, which is a full day music festival at Morrison Academy in Taichung, Taiwan. It was awesome meeting all of the other talented music teachers from other campuses and just having a great time enjoying the presence of a huge ensemble group. Middle school students from all 3 Morrison campuses joined together in Choir, Band, and Orchestra. Each ensemble group presented 2-3 pieces. The orchestra presented Spring Breezes and Queen Noor Suites, where I conducted Spring Breezes and another teacher conducted Queen Noor Suites. It was a very successful concert and we had some very positive feedbacks! Good job students and teachers from Morrison!!!:)
Rehearsal Time
The Rubber Band Technique
March 30, 2011
This video was shared with all of my students because sometimes it’s just too difficult to explain to the students how to relax and just use the wrist. When I watched this video, everything just made a lot of sense:) Hope it’s helpful to you as well!
The Prayer
March 12, 2011
Dear Heavenly Father,
May You comfort the people of Japan and provide them the strength they will need to get through this difficult time.
Bring together all of humanity to do our parts to help. Use Your wisdom to guide the leaders – point the way to begin the clean up and the healing process.
I pray that You will send Your angels to assist in a mighty way, and may many turn to You for comfort and understanding.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
They’ve Arrived!!!:)
March 1, 2011
I’ve waited for these T-shirts, Buttons, and Bags for 3 weeks and they’ve FINALLY arrived in my place!!! I’m sooooo excited to share these with my students and with anyone else that’s interested in purchasing them from me. I’m going to try and figure out how to set up Paypal on this site so people can order directly from me online, instead of emailing me for their orders. If you are interested in ordering now, please email me at keepviolinin@gmail.com.
T-shirts are $15 each, Canvas bags are $10 each, and Buttons are $1 each. I will have some of my students wear these shirts so I’ll be posting those pictures on here at a later date. Sizes range from XS for kids all the way to XL in adults.
*Shipping fee will vary depending on your location.
These are some photos of the items that came in today:
The Vibrato
February 20, 2011
I wanted to write about vibrato today because so many of my students just can’t wait to master vibrato so they can sound good. However, they must be very patient with trying to master this technique. Acquiring a fine vibrato may take a long time, but the student and the teacher should be convinced that he/she can acquire it. I remember when I was studying vibrato from Dr. Starr, he told me I had to control my vibrato, it shouldn’t control me. I didn’t quite understand it until I started teaching vibrato to a student of mine who was already doing well with his vibrato. The same phrase came out of my mouth as I was teaching him vibrato, because his speed of the vibrato was not steady and sometimes the first finger would have a better vibrato sound than the second finger. Basically, he wasn’t taking control of his vibrato. I think these three physical requirements are really important for a nice vibrato:
1. Proper support of the violin
2. An even, relaxed hand oscillation
3. Flexibility in the finger joints
I suggest all students who are currently learning vibrato to have lots and lots of patience and practice 5-10 minutes a day just on vibrato and remember it is a slow progress, but never give up on it:) Show your teacher what you have accomplished every time you have a lesson and that way your teacher can tell you if you are going in the right direction or not.
Have fun and Keep Violinin’ ^_^
Being Thankful
February 15, 2011
I’ve been teaching private lessons for more than 13 years now. Through the years of teaching students from the age of 4 all the way to the age of 18 has been quite challenging, but also the most rewarding experience. I remember when my violin teacher, Dr.William Starr, told me that the only way I can become even better is to start being a violin teacher myself. What he really wanted to me to understand is in order for me to become an even better player, I’d have to spend lots of time practicing. However, he didn’t directly just tell me to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! Instead, he wanted me to realize it by obtaining students of my own and telling my own students the only way they’d become better players is if they PRACTICED on a regular basis.
You see, I started learning violin from Dr. Starr when I was 12 years old. My previous violin teachers were all very strict and they all used the Russian traditional method of teaching me how to play the violin. It wasn’t until I began studying with Dr. Starr that I found out there is actually a fun side to learning the violin. I remember I always looked forward to our violin lessons together. Dr. Starr encouraged me to audition for all sorts of ensembles and orchestras. As I began to become more involved in different ensemble groups, I found more joy in playing the violin. I think my personality also became alive after being in groups and seeing others who played much better than me on the violin with their hearts out during rehearsals. Not only did attending different ensemble groups encourage my daily practice, it also helped me understand how to appreciate music and make friends with other students that had similar experiences like myself.
I want to dedicate this blog to the people that helped me KEEP VIOLININ’ throughout these years. My parents are the first ones I have to thank, because they are the ones that kept me going on the violin even though I wanted to quit so badly. They are the ones that rode their bikes for an hour to bring me to group lessons every Sunday while I was little. Now that I am a parent, I can only imagine what I put them through by fighting with them and complaining to them how much I disliked the violin. Although I wanted to quit, they never once told me it was OK for me to give it up. Secondly, I want to thank my violin teachers, even the ones that hit me, yelled at me, and made me cry during our lessons, because they made me a stronger person and they did what was best for me as a violinist. They didn’t teach me the wrong posture, they saved me at an early age and they all believed in me! Thirdly, I want to thank my students for allowing me to have so much fun with them during our lessons. I love their curiosity, their enthusiasm, and their humor in appreciating music. If it weren’t for the students, I would have no fun teaching by myself, AND…my job would not be rewarding, since I wouldn’t be able to see steady progress if I didn’t have any students:)
Finally, I want to thank God for allowing me to enjoy teaching violin wherever I am. Whether it was living in California, China, or Taiwan. God has allowed me to teach students every time I moved to a new place. He also has allowed me to develop strong relationships with my students and their families, which I have enjoyed thoroughly. Now I have friends allll over the world:) This year, He has allowed me to teach the orchestra class at a Christian Academy in Taipei, Taiwan, even though the school knew I was leaving in June of this year. I have truly been blessed by my Father in heaven. I have to remind myself to always be thankful for what He has given me and be glad in it:) AMEN!
The Challenge
February 8, 2011
In order to give my students another challenge, I’ve decided to invite them to my 100 day practice journey. If they are able to complete this 100 day practice journey without missing even one day of practice, they will get my newly designed tshirt FOR FREE! I have many students that are going to participate in this challenge, and I’m going to be very excited to announce their names in the end of May 2011:)
~Keep Violinin’
Music Best Understood By Children...Keep Violinin'
The Alpha
February 8, 2011
I didn’t realize how much time is needed to establish a personal website. I did a lot of research before deciding on using wordpress as my webpage. My purpose of opening this site is not to become a millionaire from selling these custom-designed tshirts for violin lovers. It’s more of a place where I can share my love and passion for the violin with the rest of the world.
Through my many years of teaching private violin lessons, group lessons, and string ensembles, I have decided to share some of my thoughts and experiences as a violin teacher online not only for current violin students, but also for future violin students, other violin teachers and parents of these young musicians.
I hope I can update this site often as I am finishing up my last semester as an orchestra teacher at Morrison Academy, Bethany campus in Taipei, Taiwan and making the big move back to Mountain House, CA.
I welcome all comments and feedbacks and I hope I can also learn from other music teachers through this online tool.
Thanks for stopping by my site and hope you visit me again in the near future:)
~ Keep Violinin’
Keepviolinin 