Now you have a child learning to play a string instrument! We've compiled this little primer for you so you can get an idea of what your son or daughter is doing and what it is they're talking about. It should also help you in determining how yon can best support and encourage your child. Following is a Liszt of terms. (hee,hee...get it?... LIST ....Franz Liszt......The composer....) Well, there it is. Your first example, muscian humor. At any rate, what follows is a list of some basic items and a brief explanation.

Violin/ Viola- These two instruments will appear nearly identical. They are played the same way and held the same way. The only difference is that the viola's range is lower.

Cello/Bass -These are the lowest sounding of the string instruments. They do not look similar, but the technique (bowing/fingering ) is much the same for both.

Bow -The bow is essentially the same for all instruments, with the only differences being length and weight. (The violin and viola bows are longer, cello and bass, heavier)

Rosin -Rosin is a substance applied to the bow to help it "work the string" better. Violins, Violas & Cellos can use the same kind. Basses require a "stickier" type.

Case -The case of the instrument is fairly evident,although there are some important aspects to each. Violins & Violas have "hard" cases which protect the instrument quite well. Cellos &Basses have soft canvas cases which do little more than keep some of the rain off and aid in carrying. It is very important then, to "Handel" them (more music humor) very carefully. Also, most hard cases are made only for the instrument and so, parents! - do not let your child pnt their book, lunch, toys, bicycle pump, etc. in the case, otherwise damage might occur.

Music Stand -Many believe the music stand to be an absolute necessity! While it may add a bit to the expense of learning to play, it helps the child develop correct posture, reduces fatigue and promotes practice ('cause it's easier). And you thought all it did was hold the music up! See how important this primer is!

Now that we've gone over some of the initial "basics", let's talk in more detail about some of the specifics. Please read these carefully as they contain especially important information.

Posture and Hand Postion:

How a student stands or sits and how they position their hands on the instrument and bow makes a considerable difference in their ability to play correctly and whether or not learning will be easy or difficult. At the beginning of your child's string method book are pictures showing the appropriate positions for each hand as they pertain to your child's instrument. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with these positions so that you can help your own child to achieve similar left and right hand positions. (it is not as easy as it may appear). When they do achieve correct hand positions, and it is consistent, their rate of success should increase dramatically.

Violin and Viola Stuff:

Most violinists and violists require a shoulder pad to properly hold and play their instrument. This shoulder pad allows them to hold the instrument with their shoulder and jaw (chin) so that the left hand is totally free to play notes. Every beginner needs one (a shoulderr pad, not a left hand) If one is not included with the rental instrument, check with your string teacher.

Cello and Bass Stuff:

Cellos and basses rest on an end pin which is supposed to "stick" to the floor. The end pin is adjustable so that the instrument may be raised to the appropriate height for playing and pushed into the instrument for ease and safety in transport. Not all floors allow the instrument to stick or stay in place easily.(carpet works great) and so cellists and bassists may need a board or rock stop to keep the instrument in place while playing.

Normal Operation of Your New Muscian and How to Keep Him/Her Running Smoothly

It is likely that you will notice that this particular model starts rather quickly and easily. Once started, it will chug along quite smoothly, very often actually operating all by itself! Yes, it maybe hard to believe, but it's a very normal phenomenon to see a new musician come home after its first lesson or two, get its own instrument out, practice and, in some cases, actually seek out its parent and offer a concert, free of charge, and entirely under its own power!

Now don't be alarmed if this should happen to you. We get reports of this happening all the time and, actually, we feel this type of behavior should be encouraged. The fact of the matter is, the new musican thrives on encouragement. For that matter, I guess, so do old ones. A musician requires hardly any more maintenance than a non-musician of the same age. Just a little regular encouragernent and praise, and your new musician should give you years of trouble free operation and enjoyment

Maintenance:

Now, perhaps we abould talk a bit shout how to keep your musician operating at peak efficiency. Second only to encouragement and praise is PRACTICE. Practice is the "life's blood" of the musician. Sooner or later, the "new" is going to wear off and one of the results of that happening is a reduction in time spent practicing. Unfortunately, the result of this reduction is that progress slows or stops. Your muscian will begin to fall behind and discouragement will develop because it is no fun to not be able to keep up with the class or to play the newest piece.

Without proper maintenance (or practice) playing and participating in class will become difficult. He will stop feeling successful and eventually, if this process continues, will lose interest and drop out. That's a sobering thought to consider here at a time when the "new" is just beginning. You may ask "Why would you bring up this business of my kid dropping out now? Just when he's getting started?"

Why do we bring all this up now? Because if we don't address how to avoid discouragement and disillusionment it may be too late by the time we realize it's happening. If you like, think of this section as an insurance policy.

The Facts:

Learning to play a string instrument is a demanding task. It requires development of physical coordination, manual dexterity, ear training, and a host of other things both physical and mental. Don't be scared, your child is definitely up to the task. They are just going to need your help through the tough times.

How can I start if I don't know anything about string instruments? You don't have to know anything about violin, a cello, or even music for that matter. You know about time and structure. Regardless of how smart your child is, she is young. A child is not developmentally ready to take on the task of structuring their own time and doing an efficient job of it, even if she is gifted. You can help her by establishing a time to practice on a daily basis and enforce it until it becomes a habit (about 21 days). The argument that if the child likes it she'll do it on her own just doesn't cut it. She may like a lot of things, but she needs the structure to get organized. You will find that this process works well on other homework too.

The importance of consistency cannot be overstated. Learning develops in plateaus. There will be a surge in knowledge and then a plateau. Or maybe on the plateau, progress seems to be dormant. It is not necessarily dormant, but organizing. The new concept is being organized so the information can be used over and over productively. Another surge, another plateau, another surge, etc.. Its kind of like eating and digesting. The process is difficult sometimes because it can seem as if nothing is happening and then it is hungry for some informative feedback. This is a time when disillusionment can devlop. The consistent and regular practice keeps them moving until he discovers that he is in the midst of another plateau and the exhilerating music feeds him again.

How Much Sould My Child Practice?

Here's where you may need to be a "clinical observer". In the initial stages, the amount a child can accomplish is going to be a much smaller "bite" than after they have played for 6 months or a year. As ability is developed, practicing and concentration become longer. 15-20 minutes a day would be a good average. The real key is the regularity of the practice, much more than the total time. 20 minutes of daily practice on a regular basis is better than 4 hours one day a week. Shinichi Suzuki tells students " Practice every day that you eat."

How About Some Encouragement?

Some of the sounds you're going to hear for a while may not sound like they quite belong at Carnegie Hall but it will be possible to hear improvement and accomplishment. Little words of encouragement and praise help a lot. Things like "The piece sounded a lot better that time" and "You're playing better in tune now" can have a big impact. Remember they are also aware of how they sound. You may have to help them hear the improvement for a while.

A Few Encouraging Ideas:

Think of positive and helpful comments that convey information and also support. "Your instrument position looks just like the picture in your book." "Your curved bow fingers look relaxed." "You kept a steady pace through the whole song." "The way your playing got louder and then softer shows that you are understanding the piece." "The way you use your whole bow brings the music out of the instrument and all the way to my ears."

These are some of the types of encouragement that are obvious. You also encourage when you attend a concert. Please do, (and you're always welcome in class). Even though your child may not express it, they want you to come hear them. You also encourage when you expect them to practice and give effort to their work. It may not be readily apparent, but you validate their worth and the worth of what they are doing when you expect them to take it seriously.

You might also have them teach you (on their instrument) how to play what they are trying to learn. It might give you both insight. Well, there's a little encouragement for now (pun intended).

Odds and Ends:

Lots of things can happen in the course of learning to play an instrument. Strings break, chin rests come off, bridges come off, Murphy's Law reigns supreme.. Your first course of action when some malady occurs, (and it will occur) should be to check with the string teacher. We are trained to fix almost anything that can come off, we can put on a new string or whatever and can usually save you some time and the loss of lesson.

Do not leave the instrument in the trunk of the car on a hot summer day or in the cold of the winter. String instruments are made of wood and wood is susceptible to stress in extreme temperatures.

Do not try to fix it. Dad may be handy with tools, but the instrument is put together with special glues and processes unique to stringed instruments. Let a specialist do it. One time a dad put bees wax on a bow thinking it would make it work properly. It cost $30 to replace the hair

Please don't expect your child to try to practice with little sister around. It takes a lot of concentration to practice and be productive. All little sisters are a distraction, cute, but a distraction just the same. (So are little brothers, big brothers, big sisters, cousins, dogs. cats, the TV, rats, snakes, gerbils, jet planes, earthquakes.. you get the idea) Find them some place secure from the hubbub and noise.

Enjoy music for its own sake. The developing young musician, the daily practicing, and the performances along the way!

Well... as you receive this, we will probably have thought of ten more things you should know about, but that is another time. You're not on your own, you know . We welcome your call or visit any time you feel the need or just want to drop in. If parents and teachers work together, we can help your child develop into a very fine musician. Who knows, maybe Carnegie Hall isn't all that far away.

Fine

(pronounced fee nay, that's musician for The End)

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