This Fall I began offering my first violin group classes & what a fun experience they have turned out to be. I am excited to see how they will grow this coming semester as we step into 2017. Group classes are a great way for kids, parents/guardians, and students of all ages to get together in an encouraging environment and use what they have been learning in their private studies in a team setting. Parents can bounce ideas off of other parents, and students can look to others in the class for advice or as a source of motivation.

With so many different ages and skill levels in the room, everyone learns something new at each class, even me! This coming Winter/Spring I am hoping to see more and more of my students participating in these enriching activities.

If not in an orchestra or other music group, these classes allow students to learn the skills of teamwork, listening, and following that are vital parts of being a musician.

Hope to see you at group classes. & Remember the upcoming recital in December!

Larissa

The power of sound on the body has been a topic of debate and discussion for centuries. In a recent study by Dr. David Lewis-Hodgson, participants who listened  to a song -- "Weightless" -- experienced "a striking 65 percent reduction in ... overall anxiety, and a 35 percent reduction in their usual physiological resting rates."

The below song "Weightless", by Marconi Union, was created in collaboration with sound therapists. "Its carefully arranged harmonies, rhythms, and bass lines help slow a listener's heart rate, reduce blood pressure and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol."

 Remember, sound literally moves the human body when the disturbances and waves hit your eardrum. I wonder what specific patterns and frequencies would affect people with not only stress, but illness? Learning the intricacies of these topics could lead to further medical proof for the importance of music and its power to heal. I wonder how many composers specifically create music with this in mind? What if a doctor prescribed a song instead of a pill? What if concerts were crafted for you based on your health that week?

Larissa

Rhythm is a hard thing to teach because there are different ways to approach it and visualize it. The below video is an interesting compilation of some different rhythmic configurations. Lots to think about! Enjoy.