Plucking good fun
:)
Violins are going down well. Although I do wonder at my own ability to teach them both, visions of eventually getting them lessons (if they decide they want to) and the teacher saying I’ve been rubbish! Ah well. They arrived last week and until I got some form of book to learn it I’ve been googling bow holds, watching you tube videos and basically just letting them have a go at playing the strings. Our book arrived this weekend so yesterday we had our first ‘proper’ lesson which was rhythms being clapped then plucked then bowed. M took one look at the book and proclaimed he wouldn’t be able to do it as it had ‘notes on the page and I don’t know what they mean!’ A was enthusiastic. Both did well with it all, but A struggles to get a good sound sometimes from the bow and was beating herself up about it saying she was no good 
They’re not normally that competitive but she definitely doesn’t like struggling with this, which is a shame as I think she has really good musical ability. Anyway, today we practised the same thing again, but she decided she’d just stick with plucking and she was so much happier with it all so saved for today.
Had a bit of a maths day today too due to having done none all week (Mon was a wash out as wasn’t feeling well, yesterday we just didn’t get round to any). Looked at rounding numbers, not sure if that wooshing sound was the wind or it going straight over their heads lol! I feel much better with maths at the moment, but sometimes I think I just either give them far too easy stuff or way too difficult things. Just don’t seem to be able to aim and hit the right level for them. Or at least it feels like it. We played a game from the Games for Math book and also kids requested Junior Monopoly. I put new batteries in their watches so we can learn about time. Oh and they both did a sudoku puzzle (at M’s request!!! - thud)
Need to make it to the library tomorrow so ought to find out their books.
Alex is developing her pizzicato technique.
Just about the only thing I know about music
Comment by michelle — November 29, 2007 @ 12:14 am
some bows need loads and LOADS of roisin when you start out for them to sound good.
Comment by HelenHaricot — November 29, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
rofl - or even rosin!! though irish girls with bows might appeal to some!
Comment by HelenHaricot — November 29, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
Boo had 4 hours of lessons before she was given her bow!
Comment by Roslyn — December 14, 2007 @ 9:52 pm
lovely to see the pictures of them on Helen’s photostream. I think violin is one of those instruments that can take ages to sound decent; all of my kids have struggled at various points with wanting their music to sound better than they can make it be, iyswim?
Anyway I think the enthusiasm for it is almost as important as good technique, as one without the other is just empty.
Comment by Sarah — December 15, 2007 @ 7:53 pm
I worry about maths too, that i am giving work thats too easy, and harder concepts are not getting absorbed.
Have a great Christmas and new year
Comment by Mummynat — December 22, 2007 @ 1:01 pm