Kenter

Tuesdays (2:10PM - 4:30PM)

Practice the following music November 14th

Mr. Alex's Classes

Strings 3:00

  • In class, we worked on the same songs as last time, but got more into honing in on our tuning and general form. 
  • French Fries and Karate Chop are sounding good; please practice these more. 
  • We also played Soccer Champ, which is a slightly tougher one.
  • Please do both these pages for practice over the break. Have a great and safe Thanksgiving break!
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  • Homework: pages 11 – 13; try page 14 for a challenge!

Piano 3:30

  • In class, we did Are You Sleeping Melody as a challenge song, which uses only right hand. We were even able to have some students play the obstinate part while others did the melody part at the same time!
  • We went on to our biggest challenge so far: playing songs using both hands at the same time.
  • We learned about playing G and low C with the left hand thumb & pinky, and we tried holding that down for four counts while the right hand plays the top line for each measure. 
  • If you need extra help with this, watch this tutorial video! https://youtu.be/ZE3iRYZpN-U?si=oE0KPGl8e4dgDPGW&t=208 
  • Have a great and safe Thanksgiving break!
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  • Homework: pages 21, 22 and 23; try page 24 for a challenge

Piano 4:00

  • continue work on pages 52, 66, and 77 as we did last week.
    Have a great and safe Thanksgiving break!
     
    Homework: pages 44 and 50

Strings 4:30

  • play through Sakura (yellow book), and tried learning the first version of Snake Charmer on page 38! These songs require us to use low second finger on the D string for F natural; and for Sakura we need to use low 2nd finger on the A string as well for C natural.
  • Have a great and safe Thanksgiving break!
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  • Homework: Sakura, Snake Charmer; pages 15, 3, and 30 of Green Book.

Ms. Shannon's Classes

Piano 3:00

  • We learned about eighth notes today as well as played The Cabbage Song. Excellent work from everyone today!
  • HW- make The Cabbage Song perfect!

Woodwinds 3:30

  • We continued to work on Dreidel Dreidel today, helping some students with the newer notes they learned last week to play the song.
  • HW- make Dreidel Dreidel perfect! Flutes- return to some head joint work to remind ourselves how to get a solid sound.

Brass 4:00

  • Beginning Brass-
  • Today we took a deep dive into learning about eighth notes (intermediate learned about 16th notes!). We also began working on Snake Charmer.
  • HW- continue to work on Snake Charmer- holiday music to come after the break! (Nora HW- The Nutcracker March!!)

Helpful Videos:

What we practiced this week- November 8th

Mr. Alex’s Classes

 

Strings 3:00

  • In class, we did some review since we have two new students. My students who were enrolled from the beginning did a great job at demonstrating how to play the violin!
  • We worked on our notes and tuning, how to move the bow, where to put our fingers, and then played Mary Had A Little Lamb and French Fries!
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  • Homework: pages 11 – 13; play page 14 and 15 for a challenge!
 

Piano 3:30

  • In class, we easily played Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and then went on to playing the tough song This Old Man.
  • Finally, we introduced playing with the LEFT hand on page 21.
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  • Homework: pages 16, 18, 19, and 21; page 22 for a challenge
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Piano 4:00

  • In advancing keyboards, we worked on More Are You Sleeping, More Snake Charmer on page 52 (needs practice definitely), Ode To Joy, and introducing a triad chord on the left hand on page 62. Then we did Jingle Bells on page 66!
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  • Homework: pages 50, 52, 55, 62, 66-67
 

Strings 4:30

  • In class, we worked on Sakura, and then learned about fourth finger B on the E string! This is in the yellow intermediate book. Please try the exercises on these pages, including Lightly Row on page 29.
  • Also please print pages 3, 15, and 30, and write in your notes for Canon in D, Arirang, and Row Row Your Boat (if you need the notes). Practice them at home and focus on tuning and the bowing!
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  • Homework: major scales, Sakura, page 28 and 29 of the yellow intermediate book; pages 15, 3, and 30 of Green Book.
 

Ms. Shannon’s Classes

 

Piano 3:00

  • Today we reviewed #19 and 22 in our books and discussed ideas for holiday songs we would like to play!
  • HW: take a look at Cabbage Song and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
 

Woodwinds 3:30

  • Today we started learning Dreidel Dreidel, along with some new notes we need for the piece!
  • HW- perfect Driedel Dreidel, reviewing their new notes in the fingering charts in the front/back of their books
 

Brass 4:00

  • Today we played through all of our Harry Potter Music, including Harry’s Wondrous World! We will be moving on to holiday music next week.
  • HW- Snake Charmer and Jingle Bells
 

What we practiced this week- November 1st

Mr. Alex’s Classes

 

Strings 3:00

  • In class, we worked on the same songs as last time, but got more into honing in on our tuning and general form. 
  • We worked on doing long, gracious bowing for Mary Had A Little Lamb and French Fries. It’s sounding better and better!
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  • Homework: pages 11 – 13
 

Piano 3:30

  • In class, we worked on playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star all together as a group. It’s sounding better; keep practicing it.
  • For a challenge, try This Old Man on page 18!
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  • Homework: pages 14, 16, 17 and 18
 

Piano 4:00

  • In advancing keyboards, we got back to Oh Susana, and then learned the song More Are You Sleeping. Both of them are challenging; try one hand at a time before putting them together.
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  • Homework: pages 44 and 50
 

Strings 4:30

  • In class, we got into some songs and exercises from the green book.
    Please print pages 3, 15, and 30, and write in your notes for Canon in D, Arirang, and Row Row Your Boat (if you need the notes). Practice them at home and focus on tuning and the bowing!
     
    Homework: C major scale / other major scales, Sakura; pages 15, 3, and 30 of Green Book.
  • violin green book pg 2 – 3
  • violin green book pg 15
  • violin green book pg 2 – 3
 

Ms. Shannon’s Classes

 

Piano 3:00

  • We learned the notes Db and Bb to play all the way through “This is Halloween.” Excellent job today everyone! 
  • HW- Look at #19-22 to work on our eighth notes!
 

Woodwinds 3:30

  • We began working on “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter! We also learned how to properly read fingering charts in order to find new notes we need for our music!
  • HW-find all the notes you need to play “Hedwig’s Theme” and try to play all the way through the piece
 

Brass 4:00

  • We played all the way through  “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter, and we started learning the notes needed for “Harry’s Wondrous World” based on our fingering charts.
  • HW: Try to play through all of “Harry’s Wondrous World”
 

What we practiced this week- October 25th

  • Mr. Alex’s Classes

     

    Strings 3:00

    • In class, we got to playing Mary Had A Little Lamb, Karate Chop and Soccer Champ!
    • Homework: pages 11 – 13
     

    Piano 3:30

    • In class, we were able to get through pages 13 to 16. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is sounding excellent.
    • Homework: pages 14, 16, 17 and 18
     

    Piano 4:00

    • In advancing keyboards, we did some much harder songs from the book — Lost My Pencils and Oh Susanna. Practice those ones at home!
    • Homework: pages 42, 44
     

    Strings 4:30

    • Absent: Rhodes Sobowale
       
      In class, we worked on our C major scale, In The Hall of the Mountain King, and the song Sakura (see music available for download).
       
      Homework: C major scales / other major scales, Sakura, and In the Hall of the Mountain King
      **below homework for Sakura**
     

    Ms. Shannon’s Classes

     

    Piano 3:00

    • Today we looked at #19 in our books to learn about the eighth note pattern we needed for “This is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas!
    • HW- continue working on the first two measures of “This is Halloween”
     

    Woodwinds 3:30

    • This week we continued to perfect “Hot Cross Buns.” We also talked about when to breathe in the middle of a song to make it through. We hope to start on music from Harry Potter next week!
    • HW- perfect Hot Cross Buns and move on to Mary Had a Little Lamb
     

    Brass 4:00

    • Today we started playing “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter! We learned a few new notes and talk about the importance of aperture to reach higher notes.
    • HW- work on measures 1-2. Trumpets: try to hit the notes A and B in the middle of the staff! Trombone: work hitting notes F and A
     

What we practiced this week- October 18th

Violin 3:00

  • I’m seeing some great improvement from my violins and cello in this class! We worked on playing half notes, and being able to put our first finger down for E (on the D string), and second finger — third finger for cello — for our F sharp! 
  • Homework: pages 9, 10 and 11
 

Piano 3:30

  • Great playing keyboards! We worked on playing as a group for songs like Hot Cross Buns and Mary Had A Little Lamb. We also learned about eighth notes!
  • Homework: pages 9 – 13
 

Piano 4:00

  • In class, we worked a bit on Fur Elise right hand, then moved to working on playing songs with both hands from the book. Our biggest challenge so far is page 28 — Almost Home.
  • Homework: pages 28, 32, and 33.
 

Strings 4:30

  • Great playing, violins! We played our scales and worked on remembering to use LOW 2 (lower second finger) for certain scales. We also worked more on In The Hall of the Mountain King.
  • Homework: Major scales sheet; In The Hall of the Mountain King handout (either hard part or easy part — try both!)
  • ** PLEASE ATTACH THIS PIECE (easy “In The Hall of the Mountain King”) FOR THEIR HOMEWORK **
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Piano 3:00

  • We did our best to perfect Mary Had a Little Lamb, and we received music for “This is Halloween” from the Nightmare Before Christmas!
  • HW: review the note Eb on the black keys with the help of a parent to help you play our new song for next week
 

Woodwinds 3:30

  • We worked on “Apple for the Teacher” and moved on to “Hot Cross Buns.” We also talked in-depth about using more air and keeping our embouchures firm while playing
  • HW: Work on keeping our corners firm while playing “Hot Cross Buns” (no puffed cheeks!)
  • Intermediate Flutes- work on our air support and your fingering transition from the notes C to D!
 

Brass 4:00

  • We completed “Apple for the Teacher” and “Hot Cross Buns,” and we earned the opportunity to play “Hedwig’s Theme and “Harry’s Wondrous World” from Harry Potter!
  • HW: using a fingering chart, learn the new notes required to play our new music for Harry Potter next week! Trumpets- F# and B, Trombones- upper staff A

What we practiced this week- October 11th

Violin 3:00

  • Homework: pages 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10!
 

Piano 3:30

  • Homework: pages 7 – 11!
 

Piano 4:00

  • Fur Elise right hand (handout), page 32 (Mary’s Big Cha Cha), page 28.
     
 

Strings 4:30

Piano 3:00

  • We learned many new notes this week!
  • HW- work on Mary Had a Little lamb with correct fingers!
 

Woodwinds 3:30

  • Great work on your progress today, good work!
  • HW- work up to #13, proceed up to #17 when ready! 
  • Intermediate Flutes HW:  perfect “Au Claire de la Lune,” work in the transition from C’s to D’s
 

Brass 4:00

  • EXCELLENT job, we went through a lot of the book today!
  • HW- work up to #17
  • Nora HW: keep working on assigned piece, focusing on precise rhythm!
 

What we practiced this week- October 4th

Beginning strings 3:00
Absent: Rhodes Sobowale
Needs smaller violin: Jacob Rapoport. He needs like a 1/4 size, I think… (Is that the smallest size?) If he currently has a 1/4 size one, then he needs whatever is smaller than that.
 
Homework: pages 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10!
 
 
 
Beginning keyboard 3:30
Absent: none
 
Homework: pages 7 – 11!
 
 
 
Keyboard 4:00
Absent: Eveline Polk (AGAIN — is she still enrolled??)
 
Homework: Fur Elise right hand (handout), page 32 (Mary’s Big Cha Cha), page 28.
 
 
 
Advancing violins 4:30
Absent: none
 
Homework: This Old Man, Shepherd’s Hey, In the Hall of the Mountain King (handout) 
Listen to this performance of “In the Hall of the Mountain King”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nMUr8Rt2AI 

Beginning Piano-

We learned many new notes this week!
HW- work on Mary Had a Little lamb with correct fingers!
 
Beginning Winds-
Great work on your progress today, good work!
HW- work up to #13, proceed up to #17 when ready! 
Intermediate Flutes HW:  perfect “Au Claire de la Lune,” work in the transition from C’s to D’s
 
Beginning Brass
EXCELLENT job, we went through a lot of the book today!
HW- work up to #17
Nora HW: keep working on assigned piece, focusing on precise rhythm!

What we practiced this week- September 27th

What we practiced this week- September 20th