Music Has Power to Train the Brain

"That's the view of brain and music specialist Frank R. Wilson, M.D., a California neurologist. Amazed by his daughter's progress on the piano, he wondered how she learned so swiftly to coordinate hands, ears, eyes, brain.
His research showed that skill in playing an instrument results from effective use of the cerebellum, the part of the brain that directs muscle control and coordination. When music meets the brain, there's a two-way transaction that somehow benefits both motor skills and mental faculties. What's more, emotions are stimulated too.
Back when your mother told you to practice, practice, practice, she was thinking mostly of social graces. Now you have a more persuasive argument-- you can talk about brain power when you encourage your son or daughter to master the piano, violin, guitar, flute, or drums."

21-Day Vibrato Challenge

Many of you are starting the basics of vibrato study. In order to vibrato, we need to develop the muscles of the left hand that allow us to have a beautiful controlled vibrato. I have given exercises at lessons to do this, but here is the key: You must do vibrato exercises every day without missing a day to benefit from the exercises. So we are having a 21-day vibrato challenge starting this week. You must do a vibrato exercise (some can be done without the violin) EVERY DAY for 21 days. If you miss a day, you must start over the 21-day challenge. Have fun with your vibrato and don't forget the tic tacs!

BOW EXERCISES

Here are a few bow exercises to work on this month. Choose one each day. They only take a few seconds to do.
20 Tic Tocs
20 Tip Circles
Stir a cake
Rocking chair on the bridge
Silent arpeggio on the Kreisler Highway
20 Thumb Bites
Finger sets: Lift pointer and pinkie off the bow alternately
4 Bow Circles on each string
Submarine Bow (under the violin)
Windsheild Wipers (use the fingers, not the hand)
Put a coin on your bow hand and flip it into your case behind you when you go up bow
Do "Up Like a Rocket" with a lifesaver on the tip of your bow
Elevator Bow (raise the bow up from the floor, keeping the tip and frog straight)

Happy Bowing! Keep Balanced!

Happy New Year!

As we start a new year I am excited to get moving again in our Suzuki Books. Many of you are about ready to finish Book 2. Let's set that for our New Year's Goal for January.
Thanks you all for your excellent performing in December. I hope many of you were able to perform for family and church events. It makes people happy when they hear you share your talents.
We are again (still) working on our one-minute flash cards. So many of you are so very close! Keep working until they are automatic. If you have to stop and count lines and spaces, you don't know them well enough.
Group Lesson for Januray will be on Wednesday, January 27th at 4 p.m. We will be welcoming a new student, Jordan and look forward to him playing music with us!