Adult Class has review Lesson and Learns One Octave C, G, D Scales to Practice

We learned about the C Scale which starts by playing 3rd finger on G string (4 for cello on G string to play upper octave), and proceeds playing a close 2 fingering on the D and A strings (same rule applies for cello but fingers aren't as close. I re-explained how all scales are Wholestep,Wholestep,1/2step,Wholestep,Wholestep,Wholestep,1/2step as we go up scale of notes. This explains where the fingers are placed close, depending on where you start. No one knows why this is true, our ears just like to apply this spacing of notes, depending on what note we start on, and then the song needs to return to this sound again to seem as if it is ending right. Practice just one octave of this scale, the first two measures for the violins. The cellos start on G4 and viola G3 to learn upper octave of this scale using low 2 fingering on D and A strings.

After the C Scale we did the G Scale which has just one place where we have to raise the tone a 1/2 step from F to F#. Start on the open G string for everyone on this scale. D major scale with F# and C# you already know and can continue doing half notes, quarter note with two eighths, slurred notes two to a bow, and sixteenth notes at tip or at frog.

We passed several songs 70, and 71, but need to continue practicing reading 76-For Pete's Sake. Continue with memorizing Ode to Joy both slowly and more quickly, but play to get the best of your tone all on one string using 4th finger. When you memorize a piece of music you can work on applying the right amount of pull on the string to get the most sound and pleasing tone. Pretend that your bow has to capture that string with your index finger and then is stuck to the string like pulling taffy and pulls the tone along. You may think of other examples but always listen to your tone. Playing an open D before you start the song, down bow and up bow, might help the flow of your wrist. And check your bow hold to make sure your thumb is flexed outward like you are holding a ball--this creates the most flexibility on the bow.

You all passed Lightly Row with harmony! Wonderful! Continue with Bile Em Cabbage Down-song 89. We may play this as a warm up at Post Falls Days with the harmony we learned. I will probably bring in some different harmonies for this song also.

Continue learning the G string notes on page 26 or
refer to your scale sheet. Pizz or bow songs 101 and 102 and we will go over them briefly on the next lesson. Remember if you need to write in fingerings, try to write in only 1's and 2's for violins and violas, leaving out opens and 3's. For cellos leave out open fingering and 4th fingering, writing in only 1's and 3's.

Continue practicing The First Nowell all the way through, the melody line on the top line. I would like Brad, Andrea, Peggy, Jeff and Dona to also learn the harmony line, as I mentioned in class. Don't forget the C# on the G string for the violins and viola only, that is a stretch right next to the 4th finger. You will be responsible for that part. Then we will have harmony on the outside parts of the orchestra and melody on the inside part. A few of you took Joy to the World as an extra challenge. You can play it for the class next time!

Next week we will try and really perfect The First Nowell with harmony parts. We will also start learning the last song in the book Simple Gifts. We could perform that at Post Falls Days. It is very beautiful. We will all learn both parts A and B.