I have started the process of recording a few supplemental video lessons for my students to help aid their weekly practice. I think these videos will be useful in reinforcing concepts I teach during each private lesson. It can be hard to remember everything we touch on, so these can be little reminders during your practice times. If you have requests for video lessons please contact me. Below is a sample of a few lessons I recently recorded to give you an idea of what they look like.
The Baroque style is one of my favorite time periods in music as well as architecture (1580-1730 AD). It bridges the gap between the Renaissance and Classical Eras in music. Europe was in the midst of the Protestant Reformation during this time period. Therefore religious, political, and artistic climates were all dramatically changing in Europe as power, beliefs, and borders were shifting. The word Baroque was initially a negative term for the music and time period. It came from the Portuguese word barroco meaning 'misshapen pearl'. Baroque artists focused more on curved lines, drama, and passion than before. The period was known for realism and dynamic ornamentation. Its aim was to be impressive and impact the senses. The ornamented style, complexity of rhythms, and further development of harmonies from previous styles makes me really appreciate the technical skill of musicians and composers of this era. Much of the music was improvised over an underlying chord structure or basso continuo and the use of tonalities for certain pieces was starting to take root. It is interesting to think that much of this music was highly critiqued during its inception as being too ornate. Personally, this is one of the reasons I like it. The violin itself was undergoing changes during this time period as well. During the Baroque Era, the Golden Age for the violin was commencing. The sizes, shapes, types of bows, and materials for strings looked somewhat different in early violins than what you may think of today. It was around 1550 when the violin appeared in its modern form. In Cremona, Italy two renowned violin makers started to set the standard for the violin's size, shape, and overall structure. Nicolo Amati (1596-1684) and Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737) were two of the most influential violin makers in Europe and by 1600 Cremona was the undisputed center for violin making. The below linked video of a Mandolinist and Harpist shows some of the intricate technical abilities and ornamentation used in some of this music. Nicola Benedetti's recording of a Vivaldi Concerto showcases much of the violin's range and highlights of the style during this era. Larissa
The origin and definition of words can change over time and have differing meanings. The word orchestra is an example of this. Orchestra as I typically use the word refers to a group of musicians playing together. Below is Merriam-Webster's definition of the word and a bit of its history. Orchestra: Noun Origin and Etymology: Latin, from Greek orchēstra, , from orcheisthai to dance; perhaps akin to Sanskrit ṛghāyati he trembles, he rages. First Known Use: 1606 Definition:
1a : the circular space used by the chorus in front of the proscenium in an ancient Greek theater b : a corresponding semicircular space in a Roman theater used for seating important persons 2a : the space in front of the stage in a modern theater that is used by an orchestra b : the forward section of seats on the main floor of a theaterc : the main floor of a theater 3 : a group of musicians including especially string players organized to perform ensemble music — compare band. History of Orchestra "In ancient Greek plays the chorus danced and sang in a space in front of the stage. The Greek name for this space was orchēstra, which came from the verb orcheisthai, “to dance.” The English word orchestra came from the Greek word for the space in front of a stage. At first the English word was used to refer to such a space but is now used to mean “the front part of the main floor.” In today's theaters a group of musicians often sits in the space in front of the stage. Such a group, too, came to be called an orchestra." Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orchestra "The power of art is that it can connect us to one another, and to larger truths about what it means to be alive and what it means to be human" -Daniel Levitin. Music is powerful. Mastering a subject so powerful, takes a lot of hard work and dedication. I am asked by students and parents, 'how much should I practice?'. The answer to that question will vary. How much you practice will depend on how important 'mastery' is to you. It will include trade-offs in your day to day life. Balance is important. Efficiency in your practice is also important. Scientifically speaking, it takes the human brain 10,000 hours of practice to master a subject, any subject. "10,000 hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert -- in anything... Ten thousand hours is equivalent to roughly three hours a day, or twenty hours a week, of practice over ten years....It seems that it takes the brain this long to assimilate all that it needs to know to achieve true mastery." -Daniel J. Levitin from Your Brain on Music So, if you want to master music by a certain age, that will determine your practice time. If you start when you are 10 years old and practice the violin for 20 hours a week for 10 years, according to this theory, you will be a master of the violin at age 20. Mastery seems like a lofty goal. Albert Einstein, who also played the violin had this to say about the subject: "Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person." - Albert Einstein Mastery of music will not be everyone's goal, and I do not think that it should be. But an understanding and an education in anything is powerful. As Francis Bacon said, "Knowledge is power". The more I live on this earth, the more intrigued I am about everything I learn. From music, to science, to the galaxy, to marketing strategies, and business plans...we live in a world where there is always more to learn about. Be curious, stay in tune with your world, put in your best efforts to understand why you are here. Be blown away by how magnificent this world is, because it truly is magnificent isn't it? Below are some of the ways music specifically affects us. I recommend looking into reading this book "This is Your Brain on Music" By Daniel J. Levitin. Although I do not agree with everything Daniel has to say, he brings up really thought-provoking elements of music and it's affect on our brain. -When you listen to a piece of music and you get chills, this is due to a release of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain. -Our heartbeats are affected by the tempo and sounds we hear. -Music has been found to reduce chronic pain. Stay Curious, Larissa P.S. Group Class THIS WEEK! :D Group class open to all ages and levels. Group Class will also include a piano accompanist. Meet her here.
Circle of 5ths In Western music, a chromatic scale is the pattern of 12 notes spanning one octave. Each note is separated by a half step, or semitone. The Circle of Fifths is a diagram that displays these 12 notes of a full chromatic scale. If the circle of 5ths is memorized and understood fully, it can be a powerful tool to help any musician know the key signatures of relative major and minor scales. In violin lessons, this is something I encourage my students to learn. Whether trained in classical, jazz, folk, or other styles of music, this knowledge would be helpful to any musician. Happy Theory Thursday! Have fun memorizing you Circle of 5ths.
Larissa
My lesson plan for the first group class of the semester includes focus on intonation, dynamics, major vs. minor chords, and working individually as well as a part of a group. I hope to see all of my students there. All ages and levels are welcome. To learn more about group class click here. Best, Larissa Winter is here, and so is Holiday Break! Thank you all for a great Fall Semester of teaching. It was such a great experience starting up a teaching schedule and studio in Holland, MI this September. I am looking forward to getting to work with you all again the week of January 9th, 2017.
For new students, please reserve your space soon as my slots are filling up quickly. The new year is going to bring about more exciting adventures, learning opportunities, and fun violin lessons! See you all in a few weeks. Blessings, Larissa Although we cancelled today's performance due to the heavy snow, Meridian String Duo had a fabulous Holiday and Christmas performance at Barnes & Noble last Sunday. Enjoy some pictures from the event. & Many thanks to our photographer Brittany Wortley!
Music is everywhere. Can you imagine a day without music? It's on the radio, in the movies, on your phone, at the bookstore, in the restaurant... It speaks when words fail. It connects all of the senses and employs so many different skills. It is physical, mental, and emotional. Every time I play I use the following skills: muscle memory, math, reading, listening, language, physical control.... Music can shape a society, it can help you learn the alphabet, and it can open up a bridge between your thoughts and how you express them to the world.
On top of all of this, private instruction opens up increased opportunities to learn. I am able to cater each and every lesson to the specific child I am teaching. My name is Larissa Fall. I am a violinist, teacher, and arts administrator. I love music so much that I have spent my life learning it and now I teach it too . Music is fun, but learning an instrument is expensive. This is why I am creating a 'Starting Student Scholarship Fund'. I would like to be able to give beginning students the opportunity to try a semester of private violin lessons for minimal to no cost. $25 provides one child with one violin lesson. $500 provides an entire semester of lessons and 5 group classes. That is a total of 15.5 hours of instruction. My goal is to raise $2,500 to provide 5 students an opportunity to try out the violin for one semester. All of the funds I receive will go towards the tuition of my students' private violin lessons. This includes instruction, rental fee for the studio space, piano accompanist fees, music materials/books, supplies, and a final recital event. My Spring/Winter semester spans from January 9 - May 23rd, 2017 and any funds not used during this time will spill over for scholarship funds for Fall and Spring of 2017/2018. Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on a written application process which includes a brief paragraph about why the scholarship funds are being requested. For every $25 received, I will be posting a golden star (with your name as donor if desired) in my violin studio as a visual representation of your support. My students and I would be so grateful for any support raised by this scholarship fund. Please feel free to share this with your friends and colleagues and follow my blog at www.LarissaFall.com **Please note that at this time, my violin studio is not a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Last evening my students performed in a fantastic recital! As we approach the close of 2016, it was a great way to wrap up the season. Everyone has learned SO much these past few months and it was a joy to watch them showcase all of their knowledge. Performing for the first time for a large audience is a nerve wracking thing to do, and for many of my students, this was their first or second recital. So, I am very proud of their courage and dedication! The more they perform, the more comfortable they will feel.
Thank you also to all of the families and parents who support these children and provide them an opportunity to learn a musical instrument. So thank you for your support, your time, and your dedication. It all brings me so much happiness each week to pour into these kids' lives. Matthew Heyboer (cello) and I had a great time collaborating on this joint violin/cello recital. We performed Passacaglia by Handel-Halvorssen to close out the recital. It was a lot of fun to pull together this difficult piece together from our repertoire. It has taken us years of practice to be able to perform that piece of music, and we hope it was a source of motivation and encouragement to our students to show them what they can accomplish with hard work. Again, I am so proud of you all! Thank you and I am excited to continue working with you as the New Year approaches. Larissa My friend Matthew Heyboer and I will be performing the next two Sundays from 2-3PM at Woodland Mall in Barnes and Noble.
It is going to be a fun and festive time. We hope you stop by during your Christmas and Holiday Shopping to grab a coffee and listen to some great music. Larissa 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. 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. Tonight I have the honor of performing with a number of fabulous musicians at Hope College's Concert Hall at the Jack H. Miller Center at 7:30PM. The program is fantastic!
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AuthorLarissa Brooks Follow my studio blog for tips, tricks, & performance updates.
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