Holy Family Strings

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

2012-03-01T14:26:00.002-08:00

Today was a very exciting day as all three classes moved on to our new tune , Twinkle Twinkle.
We had lots of fun with the tremelo game
Line 1
D D A A B B A_
0 0 0 0 1 1 0
G G F# F# E E D _
3 3 2 2 1 1 0

Line 2

A A G G F# F# E_
0 0 3 3 2 2 1
A A G G F# F# E_
0 0 3 3 2 2 1_

DD A A B B A _
G G F# F# E E D _

Leaders Ian, Efosa, Brendan , Bass Niall. 6th class visitor

Our medley today was from The Sound of Music, the latest production form Ennis Musical Society which runs Tues to Friday at Glor with loads of great tunes. Don't forget to give me a wave in the pit as I will be in the band . Here are the tunes I played today, My Favourite Things, Do A Deer, Lonely Goatherd, The Hills Are Alive

Triplets and Tremelos

2012-02-23T15:46:00.019-08:00

Demonstrating the Cello C String

Blues pizzicato Track 15
Triplets Chopsticks Track 7 *** NEW TODAY
Tremelo Statues Game
Athabasca Monkey Track 29
Rock You Track 21

Rasp ber-ry Straw- ber-ry
Jigs / Tangos

All classes began with the Blues which will feature on our next programme.
Next we tried out a new rhythm, Rasp - ber -ry, Straw- ber-ry which includes not one but two sets of triplets. Mr Connolly played a lively jig for this rhythm . Jelena in Ms Gill's class was brilliant at this rhythm and we didn't need backing tracks in Ms Bridge's class as she and Roisin played a cool version of Chopstix for her class to play along with.

We had lots of fun with the tremelo game and all three classes were really good at following the leader. It was really hard to catch anyone out but Ciaran was the ultimate champ.

Finally Mr Connolly's class worked on a tango from Argentina . La Cumparsita . Check out the video of this piece on the right.

Leaders today: Ben , Brandon, Tadhg Tracey, Efosa,
Bass Niall, Emmanuel, Miladin,
Tremelo Champ: Ciaran,
Triplet Champ: Jelena

Foxtrot and Tango

2012-02-09T14:54:00.000-08:00

Pack Up Team

Foxtrot Track 2

Dancing in Avignon Track 10

Cross Lake Blues Track 5

3 Up and Down on D Track 29

3 Up and Down on A Track 28

3 Up and Down on two strings 27

A busy day on the string programme today. Each class began with a new tango rhythm . We played one of our favourites from last term, Foxtrot with bows. We played some blues and all fingers down on lowest string, G for Rock You. More pieces for Spring in our Listening slot. Finally it was 3 up and down on two strings today. We were joined by Ms White and Mr. Cooney today

We had excellent leaders today, Gabriel, Ben, Roisin, Bruno, Naomi, Efosa . Thanks to John Emilia and Rachel for helping with set up.

Set Up Team

Demonstration

Spring

2012-02-02T14:38:00.000-08:00

http://www.libraryireland.com/LegendaryFictionsIris

hCelts/V-13-1.php
check out this link for a story about Brigid and music from National Library of Ireland It was a cold and frosty morning on the second day of February . Click on the link above to read this great musical story about one of our best known saints whose feast day was yesterday.

Blues

We heard the first section of Spring a piece for strings by Vivaldi, an Italian composer who we met at the start of the programme. Here are some of the terms we learned .

piano soft
forte loud
Tremelo move your bow very fast forward and back
trill swapping between two notes very quickly to make a birdlike sound

solo one instrument

Performing
Blues (Notes on last week's post)
Up and down the D ladder
New Rhythm Bow River
Cross Lake Blues

First Finger Riff

Ms Gill's class did a great job in packing everything away. Thanks all .

We had some great leaders today. Andrea and Brandon aquitted themselves very well. Thanks to Rosin and Claudia who acted as assistants today

Rainy Day Blues

2012-01-27T02:27:00.000-08:00

Mr Connolly's class play The Blues pizzicato

G Two Ledger Lines
The rain cleared today

Today all three classses climbed down the ladder. Ms Bridge's class climbed up as well.

*We learned how to read low G ( how many ledger lines do we need?)
* We made a start on the One Finger Blues
* Bow Hand Sleeping Beauty , Jack and Jill , Humpty Dumpty, Little Jack Horner . can you find all these nursery rhyme characters in your bow hand?

'Check Out the video tutorial on the right .

Green Violin

Notes on D

Notes on G

Notes on A

D E D E G G G_ x4

0 1 0 1 0 0 0

A B A B D E D E

0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1

G G G G G z D z

Programme restarts

2012-01-20T01:18:00.000-08:00

We had a busy day on the programme today. I was joined by trainee teacher and violinist , Aileen Sexton.
We learned a new bow grip , the inside bow grip.
We put all or fingers down, to make the three down ladder.
We played two duets from the southern states of the USA Lil Liza Jane and Oh Suzannah. We learned the choruses . If you have forgotton here they are .
We learned a new rhythm Bow Ri-ver

Oh Eliza, lil Liza Jane
Oh Eliza, lil Liza Jane
I know a girl that you don't know, lil Liza Jane
She lives bdown in Baltimore, lil Liza Jane

Oh Suzannah, don't you cry for me
I come from Louisiana with a banjo on my knee.

3 DOWN LADDER
DESCENDING 3 fingers down 3333 3 3   lift up 3    2222 2 2   lift up 2 1111 1 1  lift up 10000 0 0 open D

Q. In what way is your bow hand like a train? Hint . Think of the jobs people on trains do .

We welcomed two new students today, Bruno and Ennie

Music Marathon

2011-11-24T15:15:00.000-08:00

Music Classroom

We finished the first half of our violin programme at Holy Family Senior School today with a music marathon. -Well a half marathon with 13 items featuring all the things we have learned this term. We tried some games . It was amazing how good everyone was at the freeze game and there were some very scary rock star faces for 'Rock You' too scary to be recorded here

Here is our programme

Vivaldi on G
Foxtrot
Wintertime Fast One Leg hop
Atacama Crossing

First Marathon Runner

Quiz Time

Roadies play time

Toreadors March |Name the tune
Kilfenora Ceil Dancer Clap and name the rhythm
Winter time in Rus sia
Old Mac Donld Quavers on D (3)
First Finger riff Drunken Sailor
Rock You
Down Up Bells
Two String Reggae
Ireland's Call
Quiz

Quiz Time

Visiting Ms Foran and class

Efosa and Asrafal demonstrate third finger placement

Perfect position in Lesson 1

Rainy Reggae Day

2011-11-17T07:33:00.000-08:00

Reggae fan, Mr Vaughan points to the Carribbean

Isobel and Ava hav a go at playing trumpet before helping to pack up

Today we worked on our string crossing and placing third finger on D strin g to make new note G . We had a musical quiz. We were delighted to welcome Mr Vaughan to Mr Connolly's class . Mr Vaughan specially liked the reggae number today

We are drawing close to the end of the first half of our string programme. We have covered many of the basics of violin playing and learned about  different instruments and styles. Next week , we will have a marathon play through of all our reperotire to date .

Two String Reggae     Gand D open strings
New note E Jazz Track
Old MacDonald quavers on G'
Cross Lake Blues        String crossing D to A
Atacama Crossing      String crosing D to A win ter-time- in Rus-sia   **New this week

Quiz Ms Gill's class finished the quiz in 5 minutes

Cross Lake Blues and Kilfenora Ceili Dancers

2011-11-10T13:24:00.000-08:00

Performance by Ms Bridge's Class

Term resumed today and violin class was very busy as we learned to do some new steps. We took two new steps today. changing from D to A string and putting first second and third finger down on D string to make G' (high G). Remember 2 and 3 like to stick together.

Programme
1.New clapping rhythm KIl-fen-or-a Cei-li Danc-ers quaver rhythm.
2 First finger riff Revision
3 3rd finger down on D string new note G Old MacDonald **NEW
4 Cross Lake Blues **NEW
5 Now You Has Jazz Listening and responding. Cole Porter

Thanks to my wonderful helpers Isobel, Ava and Erin. Nothing is too much trouble for these girls .
Leaders James, Eyosa, Bass Martin.

If you would like to have another listen to our listening track today , you can see the musicians in the video clip on the right. Louis Armstrong was a very famous jazz trumpeter and the singe is Bing Crosby who had a big hit with White Christmas

Bravo to Claudia who played Twinkle Twinkle for me today on her new violin. Wonderful Brava!

Debut Performance at Holy Family School Cafe

2011-10-25T06:20:00.000-07:00

Ms Gill's Class

Trio Conga Bass Violin

Announcing a piece

All together Mr Connolly's class

Mr Connolly's Ensemble

Ms Bridge, Mr Connolly and Ms Gill's classes gave a stunning debut performance in the Holy Family School Cafe today. There was only time for a very brief sound check before each class performed in turn for an invited audience . Here is the programme

Pizzicato
Toreador's March
Vivaldi in G
What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor
Foxtrot

****
Arco ( With Bow)

Rock You
Wintertime in Russia
guest slot Cielito Lindo / Pizzicato Polka
Ireland's Call

It was a very exciting morning . Finally the moment we have worked very hard for over the last eleven weeks arrived , our first performance for a live audience. Ms Bridge's class were first to perform. A special thank you to Niall's dad who came in specially with Niall's banjo. Niall did a solo turn for the sea shanty What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor. Well done to the students who intoduced the items . We had several excellent double bass players , Lee, Seosamh, Joseph. Our leaders Hayley, James , Ada , Ben, Claudia and Eyosa did a great job in keeping everyone on track . Emmanuel in Mr Connolly's class and Dylan in second class added some percussion on conga and ocean drum .

Ms Darmody was in the audience as our special guest today .

Be sure you get a copy of the end of term mega quiz from your teacher.

I am looking forward to seeing you all after half term when we will be learning lots of new things to do on the violin and bass. Can't wait!

Week 7 Dress rehearsal

2011-10-20T17:35:00.000-07:00

All classes had a dress rehearsal today for their debut next week . Here is the programme for Tuesday.

Pizzicato Corner

Toreador's March
Vivaldi on G
Drunken Sailor
Foxtrot

With Bow
Rock You
Wintertime in Russia
Ireland's Call

Putting it all together. week 6

2011-10-13T17:18:00.000-07:00

Leading the ensemble

As we come to the end of half term, we rehearsed our repertoire ( a posh word for everything that we can play easily) .All three classes did the programme below

Foxtrot x3 (with dipping and sidestep )
Toreador's March x2 dipping
First finger riff /Drunken Sailor
Irelands Call Bow Side to Side/ Retakes/Tremelo
Wintertime in Russia
Rock You Ti Ti quavers on A (Mr Connolly's class)

Super bow hands

Several students tried out our double bass Geraldo (Roisin, Seosamh , Lee Eyosa ) Remember the open strings are the same as the violin . Elephant, Alligator Donkey Goat but in reverse order.

The big bass

We included our windscreen wiper manoevre in our Irelands Call and a tremelo to finish

Ben leads the ensemble

Add caption

Sporting Windmills

2011-10-06T06:26:00.000-07:00

First finger riff
New note E Backing Track 10
Wintertime in Russia Track 1
Ireland's Call

Guest instrument: Clarinet

EEEEEEEE OOOOOOOO EEEEEEEE OOOO E_ E_

We had a busy day today. We began by pressing hard with our first finger on D string to make new note E . We played our first finger riff and next week we will put some tunes with this. We played New Note E to a jazzy backing track.
Next we moved on to learning how to do windmill bows and played along to Ireland's Call . Remember you only sound on the first beat.
All classes worked on Wintertime in Russia bowing all of the rhythm .

***Don't forget , Right Hand on Bow , Fingers well over and thumb bent. Little finger in the circle.

Star Bow Hands Frankie and Sabrina
Leaders Hayley and James, Zusanne,

Elephant Alligator Donkey Goat

2011-09-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

Today was a busy day with SAT tests and violin class to fit in .

All classes had a closer look at the largest member of the string family , the double bass . Remember you can still use Great Day At Ennis but the other way round from violin. Try these animal names as a way of remembering the strings. The biggest one begins with E . Nathan , Joseph and Gabriel had a go at playing it .

Joseph gets to grips with the bass

All classes today put in side step into the Foxtrot . Two steps over and two steps back . X Factor here we come.

We did lots of work on bow hold today . Remember thumb bent underneath the frog. Wrap your fingers over , those rabbit teeth have to come over the pencil not sit on top.

Ms Bridge and Ms Gill's class practiced making a siren sound lifting and replacing their first finger on D to make new note E E D E D E D nee naw nee naw nee naw.

We looked at some of the photos in the papers about musical events .

Leaders today Sonja (Ms G,) David ,(Ms B) and James and Tadhg , (Mr C) Bravo all of you?

Next week, (Windmill bows, Wintertime , Guest instrument - the viola )

Look at the music noticeboard and have read the pieces on the string instruments near the stairs

Gabriel and Geraldo

David leads the ensemble

Look Two Hands! New note E

2011-09-22T15:56:00.000-07:00

Today's programme .

Foxtrot
Toreador's March
Rock You D

Wintertime in Russia
First Finger Riff
Scary Tremelo

We began today by using one hand to place our violins in position because our right hands are busy holding the bow. We revised our two note pizzicato tunes Foxtrot and Toreadors March .

Here are the notes for Toreadors' March

DDD_ D D A_   x3

AAAA AAA D

Check out the You Tube clip of Queen playing our groovy backing track We Will Rock You .

We did some work on bow hold . Here are three things to remember .

Bow Hold
Thumb bent
Fingers well over
Little finger in the circle
D
All classes began working on first finger riff. We put first finger down on D string to make new note E

Here is the riff

E E E E E E E E D D D D D D D D E E E E E E E E D D D D E_ E_

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0     11 1 1 1 1 1 1        0 0 0 0 1-1-

Finally we had a duet of a lovely Mexican tune Cielito Lindo (Beautiful Sky)

Checking out the blog reports

Where can you see these in HFSS?

Mr Connolly's class learned how to conduct three beats in a bar .

Brass Band Day

2011-09-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

Today all classes moved on to the bow hold. We began by making a snail shape with our thumb and middle finger of our right hand and practicing on a pencil We made the shape of a rabbit face . Here are the things to remember .

Thumb bent
Fingers well over to bite down on the 'carrot'

Little finger round and sitting in the circle .

We practiced the rhythm Win-ter time in Rus-sia to our backing track .

Foxtrot
Wintertime in Russia

We took a closer look at some brass instruments. We talked about the Ennis Brass Band
Can you answer these questions.

1 What is the highest pitched brasss instrument?. I showed it in class today
2 Name two ways the brass player can change the note , L_ _ P _ _ _ __ __ __ __ and V _ _ _ _ _ _?
3 Saxophone is a member of the W__________________ family

3. In what way does a trombone differ from a trumpet.

We learned how to conduct two beats in a bar for a march tempo.

Finally Mr Connolly and I played the Pizzicato Polka by Johann Strauss on violin and cello.

Blue Danube Day

2011-09-09T09:51:00.000-07:00

Getting to grips with a cello

Getting ready to play a duet

Great concentration

An Excellent Assistant

The classes got off to a great start today. We started with some finger drills. We held our violins in rest and play position. We played pizzicato on G to some Vivaldi. We played pizz. on D string to a waltz and we played our groovy Foxtrot on D and A strings.

Foxtrot
DDD _ AAA_ DDD_ AAA_

DDD_ DDD_ AAA_ AADsh

Bravo to Ms Bridge and Mr Connnolly who joined me for a duet !

Next week -bow hold -Wintertime in Russia -2 string reggae - Bold Brass

Quiz
1 What was the name of the waltz we played today ?
2 How many beats were in each group in the waltz. Was it 2,3 or 4 ?
3The composer was Johann Strauss . What countryt was he from
4 He had a nickname . Can you find out what it was

Follow on assignment. Can you find out more about the composer Johann Strauss Junior
Try this website
http://www.classicsforkids.com/

Teachers' Briefing Tuesday 2 days to go

2011-09-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

Project Coordinator and Ms Clohessy getting some practice in

I am looking forward to working with Ms Bridge, Ms Clohessy , Mr Connelly and Ms Glynn and their 4th class. Thanks to Ms Brody, Ms Vaughan and Mr Bell and Mr Darmody for their participation during the pilot . I met with the team today and we are all set to start on Thursday . Watch this space for updates .

2011 Official Launch September 2011

2011-08-19T04:05:00.000-07:00

We are delighted with the progress of the students during the pilot sessions in last term in May and June. Principal Sarah Barnes and the Board of Management of Holy Family Senior School have approved the project and Holy Family Strings will officially launch in September 2011 with Violin Teacher Cathy Desmond and Project Director Jillian Bridge. Watch this space for updates ! I am looking forward to seeing every 4th class student for their music lessons soon.

Attention 4th class students . Have a look back at the posts . Can you remember all the things we learned before the holidays. See you soon!

STRINGSCHOOL Note for parents

2011-06-12T09:19:00.000-07:00

STRINGSCHOOL Note for parents

The Holy Family String Project began with a number of introductory sessions covering violin hold , pizzicato on open strings and a basic beginners bow hold. In the course of the lessons we have been introduced to some aspects of music literacy including staff notation, terminology and some well known pieces from the repertoire . Given the pressure on the timetable of outdoor events and end of term activity, the last session in the introductory module will take place in September when it is intended the project will continue until May 2012. The classes have made a good start and have been a pleasure to teach. You can review the activity on www.holyfamilystrings.blogspot.com where I have posted reports, photos and useful videos.

The Holy Family String Project is an inclusive programme in line with the classroom music curriculum where all members of the class take part in an introduction to playing an instrument and is believed to be one of a few such projects around the country.

You can contact me with any queries on cdstringschool@gmail.com .

Project Dedicated Website www.holyfamilystrings.blogspot.com

Here are some other useful websites

www.classicsforkids.com

www.violinist.com
www.coisnahabhna.ie

I look forward to seeing all my students again in September

Scary tremelo and playing with Vivaldi 10th June

2011-06-12T09:13:00.000-07:00

Scary tremelo and playing with Vivaldi

There was a lot to pack in in our session today. Everyone remembered the names of the strings and our two string Foxtrot tune. Next we moved on to the bow hold with the pencil before finally holding the bow . We did some shadow bowing to Wintertime in Russia and finally we learned how to do a shivery tremelo with our violins on the strings and played along with some Vivaldi . There was a season in the name of the piece we played along to . Can you remember which one ?

Bow hold

Right Hand /Thumb bent .

Fingers between knuckles

Music Words

Piano –soft

Forte- Loud

Tremelo – moving your bow very quickly over a string

Listening piece Presto from Summer Vivaldi

Mr Darmody leads the way

Accordion group

Accordion practice

Beginner Bow Hold

Foxtrot and Beginning Bow Hold

2011-05-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

Alan gets ready to lead

Lots of good work this week . We moved on to our first two note tune . Foxtrot uses D and A, the two middle strings. Here are the notes

Foxtrot

DDD _ AAA_ DDD_ AAA_

DDD_ DDD_ AAA_ AADsh

Here is our programme today

Vivaldi in G pizzicato on open G
Twinkle    pizz. on open D
Toreadors March        pizzicato on open A

Foxtrot    using D and A

New Words today piano soft
forte -loud

Bow Hold with a pencil
Make a ring with thumb and middle finger Right Hand .
Slide the pencil in making the rabbits' ears,
Bend your thumb

New Notes D and A

2011-05-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

Today there was Spanish flavour to the classes . We learned :

1 How many notes there are in the musical alphabet. Can you remember the number ?Answer at the end of the post.

2 We learned how to play pizzicato on the next two strings D and A

3 We had a roll call clapping our names . Most names had how many sounds?

4 Everybody is really good at rest and playing position. There was a shoulder policeman in each class . What was his job?

We played pizzicato on G to Vivaldi in G , pizz. on D to Twinkle Twinkle and finally to the Toreadors March. Where would you find a Toreador?

New Words: TEMPO    or speed
                     Fingerboard    Long black piece of wood under the strings.

Ms Vaughan's class heard me play a duet Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps with Aileen Sexton .   Hopefully we will have a visit from her again soon.

Some people made really good leaders. Lets see if I remember . Naomi, Seosamh and Ada were leaders today.

Getting the hang of it

What word would you use to descibe the Tempo of the Toreadors March?

Ans 7 letters A B C D E F G

Beginnings - Week 1

2011-05-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

The first violin classes took place this morning Thursday 12th May. The room was cleared of desks and relaced with 25 mats , one for everybody including the teachers with a violin on each .

Pizz perfect!

Martin with blue violin

We learned how to hold our violins comfortably in playing and rest position, how to stand while playing and very important how to bow to our audience.

The 'Roadies'

All together Pizzicato

We warmed up with some finger exercises. Next we learned the name of the lowest string (G) and how to play pizzicato to a steady beat of our favourite song from Mary Poppins.

Finally we were introduced to other members of the bowed string family , Cello and Double Bass .

NEW WORDS PIZZICATO PITCH

'This Way'