Jordan Junior Strings

^{From Elaine.................}

The latest news is that Stuart is offering 2 hours teaching time on Saturdays, 1 - 3 pm, for piano, exam support (aural, accompaniment etc) or theory.

^{Congratulations to the following for their examination Results:}

^{April 2007}

^{Lucy M Grade 5 violin (Distinction)
Lucy A Grade 5 viola (Distinction)}

^{Simon Grade 5 violin Distinction}

^{Fiona Grade 5 violin (Distinction)}

^{June 2007}

^{William T Grade 5 violin (Distinction)}

^{July 2007}

^{Victoria Grade 3 violin Distinction}

^{Stephen Grade 3 violin (Merit)}

^{Florence Grade 5 violin (Merit)}

^{Simon Grade 5 viola (Distinction)}

<sup>Individual Lesson Fees 
go up this term (after a very long time of staying static). They will be £25 for a half hour lesson (ie £250 per term) and £17.50 for 20
minutes (£175 per term).

JJS Uniform
is to change, for girls, to a white blouse with short or elbow length sleeves and a blue poplin skirt, of mid calf length. The skirt should
have a waist band and the blouse should be tucked in to it. Small girls are welcome to continue to wear the dresses. The new uniform
will be essential for Campoli Group from Easter 2008 and is optional for everyone until then.


Change of Name 
I'm thinking of changing our name to "Chiltern Violin School". Have you any thoughts on that?

Building Work
I'm daring to hope that by September, I will be teaching in my new studio! If so, please enter by the side door, leave coats in the lobby
and proceed through the family into the studio which is the first door on the left. Please don't wait in the family room - come straight into the studio where there should be a couch to sit on for you to quietly observe the preceding lesson.
Thank you for all your co-operation during the building activity.</sup>

<sup>Group Concerts
Please make it your priority to attend these as each group is a team, which is weakened by the absence of even one member. Thank you.

Recital Concerts</sup> 

^{are not so crucial but are an important opportunity for every child to perform. I particularly like the older children
to attend these - as well as giving them valuable performance practice, they help to inspire the younger children.}

<sup>Next Term's Examination Candidates 
Please note that Grade 3 candidates are selected according to music reading ability. If you are not on the list for this term, it is because
this aspect is needing extra work, and not because of what piece you are studying in the Suzuki repertoire.

Grade 2 Violin Annalisa
Grade 3 violin: Calum, Sophie, Mark, Betsy
Grade 5 violin: Elizabeth

Child Supervision
We had an unfortunate incident recently which necessitated calling out the chairman of the hall management committee. The boiler tank
was leaking and children were running around, unsupervised, outside the hall and came in with highly inflammable and toxic oil on their
hands. This led me to think about the issue of insurance and adequate supervision. Please understand that I am acting only as a teacher
during group lessons and orchestra, and not in a caring role "in loco parentis". There are laws which govern how many children can be left
with one person, and my sessions do not aim to cover those requirements. Moreover, I cannot possibly know what non participating children are
doing outside while my back is to the door and I'm teaching the children in front of me. I know that Mark is present but he is, after all,
my responsibilty. I therefore would ask you to stay with your child or children throughout, or otherwise arrange in advance for another parent to take responsibility for your children. I'm sure a rota could be set up if necessary. I'm
sorry if this causes inconvenience, and would make a plea to all parents present to accommodate such requests where at all possible. Most of
the children, especially the older ones, are very well behaved and need very little supervision. Please make sure your children stay inside the hall in future (and not on or behind the stage) - thanks.

Finally, we say goodbye to Lucy Anderson this term, whose mother Anne has been doggedly supporting Lucy's music with us over here in addition
to having a number of commitments where the family live, in Marlow. Lucy has been with us for a number of years and has recently been
a highlight of our concerts. I wish her well in her future studies. However, please do not feel you have to leave at this sort of level.
A number of students have taken Grade 6 and 7 with me in the past, with good distinctions. I feel sad that the last generation have been
dogged by a rumour started by someone, that I only teach to grade 5. If a large number leave at that point, it reduces the chance of
a group that might be good enough to take on tour in a year or so's time. The last tour to Spain was a resounding success - we played the first movement of Bach's Third Brandenburg Concerto in parts, from memory at the Alhambra Palace in Granada, which was a fantastic
experience for those who participated. We also were finalists in the National Music for Youth competition, and played at the Royal Albert
Hall in the Schools Prom. I'm hoping we might repeat these experiences at some point!</sup>

^{A word about praise........
Please remember that small children can't usually see the long view - we are teaching them to love and enjoy music to enrich their lives,
until they are eighty! They don't understand about extra points on their UCCA forms (university applications), or that they might be
able to play the Bach Double when they are twelve, or even that their social lives will be fantastic when they are seventeen and can go
on tour with the County Youth Orchestra! All these were the reasons I taught my children, and they are now all enjoying their music as
an extra dimension in their lives. The main reason your child tries hard at his music, is to please you. At this stage most other things are not important - the big reward is Mummy's delight. Praise eases everything; laughter is even better. All your practices should be oiled with praise and laughter. Enjoy the work, have fun together; keep it light. Summer holidays are long if you don't find other children to practise with. Add bribes and treats; play music outside! Keep your child smiling about his music, and tell him he's brilliant!}

^{Viola
After the grade 3 violin exam, your child may wish to study viola alongside violin. All it requires is hiring another instrument and using up 5 minutes of lesson time and a couple of extra music books. Ideally we extend your lesson to 40 minutes (at the corresponding fee) ,but this is certainly not essential, and in the end, two instruments is more points on the UCCA form! The iola is a lovely instrument and viola players are always in demand.}

^{Some hints about the summer holidays.....}

<sup>The holidays are long and sometimes it's hard to keep your child motivated.

Here are some suggestions:</sup>

<sup>1. Always practise first thing in the morning, at the same time every
day.
2. Practice Diaries
Write out your own weekly schedule, with a series of tasks for each day, and a box to tick for each one. For younger children, include
a circle to fill in a happy or sad face as appropriate. This takes a few minutes every week but is really worthwhile because your child then will know exactly how much he or she is expected to do.  Write your own positive and encouraging comments, too, and bring the
practice diary to show me at the end of the holidays, if you'd like to!
Make sure you keep to it and don't add anything after your child has inspected it!
3. Arrange a holiday recital at home with a picnic in the garden afterwards. Make it quite formal, with invitations etc. Ask the guests to bring
their own picnic and to let you know their piece in advance, so that your child can design a concert programme. If you need a pianist and
we're around, Stuart will certainly oblige and I'll come along to tune up. Otherwise, use the tape as accompaniment if necessary. Those
you invite do not just have to be the children in the same group as
your child - a variety of ability levels is more fun!
4. Don't practise on a violin that's out of tune. If no-one at home can tune it, either ring me or ask someone else in the group for help.
5.Take your violin on holiday! (but make sure it is insured "in transit", which needs to be specified with the insurance company). If you don't
practise for a week or more, your child will literally retreat backwards in ability! It's also very difficult to get the practise momentum
back. If you are travelling by air, take the violin as hand luggage (perhaps
it could count as your child's bag). Please don't put it in the hold!
6. Don't leave your violin in a hot car. The glue will melt and it will literally fall apart.

* * * * *</sup>

^{Full Size Violins
When your child needs a full size violin and you'd like to buy one, please bear in mind that I have several excellent antique violins
for sale, which I have purchased with care. I buy them at auction and sell them on at a modest profit after setting them up etc. They are
still very much cheaper than usual retail prices.}

^{Care of Your Violin}

^{Everybody has a violin of good quality, and some are very valuable indeed.
Please insure it with Cornhill Musical Instrument Insurance (ask me for a leaflet) and make sure it is insured "in transit", which needs
to be specified.}

<sup>Please observe the following points:

1. Don't over tighten the bow, and always loosen it after use. When tightened, at the middle point, the distance btween the hairs and
the stick should be about the size of your little finger's width.
2. Wipe the resin from the violin before you put it away. take the duster up under the fingerboard and down to the bridge.
3. Lay a duster or soft cloth over the violin in the case, so that the bow and/or the clips holding the bow in place, do not catch on
the violin.
4. Always use good resin - not the squeaky student stuff in the little box, that you can buy cheaply in music shops. Pirastro is the best
I think.
5. I do try to ensure that your violin has sound strings of good quality when I give it to you, and they are nearly always dominant strings
or the American equivalent. Occasionally very small violins can't accommodate Dominant strings - either the holes in the pegs or tailpiece
are too small or they vibrate too much and are too thick. In this case, ask me about replacements.
However, in general terms, as strings are consumable, please replace them when they are worn, with Dominant strings of a suitable length.
6. Very small violins have very delicate peg boxes. You should not need to use the pegs. If a string slips, ask me rather than force
the pegs into the holes.
7. If a violin is damaged, loosen the pegs immediately and ring me.
8. If your child wishes to play his violin at school (which is good!) please tell the teacher of its value and make sure it is stored in a safe place away from other children.</sup>

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