17/12/2011

James Mak- he's doing good with theory, at least he's learning something. I cant remember his progress in practical. bad positioning on stickers. try observing his posture next time. need 1/2 size violin, schedule for fitting. needs to start reading notes on stave.

Nick Yoo- he seriously doesn't like violin classes. talks a lot to avoid the learning process. He managed to learned and play a little. I will not require him to do any good stuff any more. he will only play for fun. Well, I will not give up for that, he will have a good posture one day. bad bow hand, bad left hand also, bad posture. needs to familiarizing notes on stave. Focus on sight reading rather than posture.

Christopher- Still feeling stress out of his disabilities. A little bit of improvement in intonation, it's just the bow problem. If that is improve he'll be able to produce nice tone quality. Had ask him to practice 30 minutes everyday, expected to improve his patience, intonation, listening skills and posture too. Will be needing a 3/4 violin, schedule for fitting.

Amirul- finally comes back, and had pay for his lesson fees. Still maintains his good sight reading skills. Upgrade planning: register for grade 2... or grade 1 next year. Will need, scales book, exam pieces, and sight reading practice book. Should proceed in theory too.

Yong Chew Ming- The best attitude among all the junior students. Slow respond on playing a score. Will be changing to new book. Needs to start reading notes on stave, as soon as possible.

Chuah Xue Ying- Teaching her bowing techniques. Hopefully reaching grade 1 standard by next year. To revise theory intensively, (plan) taking Grade 2 theory next year.

Sao Chyi- progressing good with learning techniques. Register for grade 2 next year. arrange for fitting, violin 3/4 violin.

abcent:
Ruvisha, Yu Hang, Zhe Xin, Katelynn, Ziqi

lesson: building good posture is the first thing on the list to teach a new student!

11/11/11

Wow, it's been a long time since my last post. Now, the ABRSM exam's over, the concert's over and I am carrying on with drilling my students with techniques.

ABRSM exam for

Christopher: fail

Katelynn: Pass

Xue Ying: Prep

Ruvisha: Pass

Sao Chyi: Pass

well, this time I went to my own lesson, I realize how dependent I am as a violin teacher. Not like my own teacher, he plans for his students, what's going to be taught and to be achieved in every lesson by respective students is all in his head. This is something I have to learn if I'm going to take this serious.. Well, actually I am planning to do this for the rest of my life, to teach violin for a living.

I am getting tired and lazy from designing these days; at this point of life I think I've found what I love the most- music over design. It's really miserable when you are pushing your self to do something you do not like to do; whenever I am designing, I am lazy and it's hard to get me digging in. However I have to admit, I am learning a lot out of this course. I know I won't be learning this fast and massively in any other course. I am still hanging on to design, out of the attachment to my scholarship.

Anyway, here's what I should do now, revise the progress of each student, then, plan for next lesson. This job is not easy. I need to drill them with techniques, especially Katelynn.

Christopher:

bad intonation, bad bow technique. needs to improve listening skill

Katelynn: bad attitude; I need to be firm with her, not certain on keys to click. still not successful yet in practicing vibrato, check vibrato every week. needs drilling in basic intonation and listening skill

Ruvisha: not confident in using the bow and the violin. more sight readings, improve intonation

Xue Ying: not in tune. Needs practice in intonation, try out with grade 1 syllabus.

Sao Chyi: very good. may move on to Grade 2 level. search for techniques to play on new book. check on vibrato weekly.

James: bad attitude, bad intonation, low concentration in class. Identify James's problem. Focus on theory.

Nick: rebellious now. good skills. still bad intonation but at least he tries. improve intonation and basic bowing.

Zhe Xin: slow reaction, can't play a complete, non-pause song. use metronum and claps, then proceed to violin.

Yu Hang: ignoren. slow reaction, can't play a non-pause song. encourage playing with CD.

Ziqi: good technique, actually by far the best among all. Carry on with Grade 2 syllabus.

ps: from now on, spare 10 minutes for theory. Theory as in beginner, grade 1, and grade 2 only.

9/7/2011

James- absent

Ruvisha- haven't receive her recording from me. Her standard now, adequate. Pieces, checked. Scales, so so lo. Sight reading, not a clue... must pay attention on this section for the last few days

Nick- learns to read notes even with bow. progressing.

Tong Zhe Xin- not much of a progress. still on beginner mood. teaching straight bowing and bow hand's control, starting to understand.

Damia- taught her straight bowing today. also to differentiate, and control her bow hand's strength. Robot and a girl singing. promised her: 1 week theory, 1 week violin.

Amirul- progressing well. checking if he can be in grade 2 now.

amirul:

can read notes

know straight bowing (teaching)

good in sight reading

knows GDAE

knows slur

good sense of music, able to play in duo

coming up:

shifting him to Grade 1

scales of grade 1, grade 2

to play grade 1 exam pieces

complete grade 1 theory

Christopher: not confident at all. pieces: so so. sight reading: haven't touch at all. scales: C, F, A, G, Bflat, A, D, G minor, on the way. internal war now. so worried for his performance in the exam.

Xue Ying: luckily it's prep test. everything is so so. she can't remember all 3 the pieces.

Katelynn: doing good, looking good. sight reading, pieces, scales: all confident.

Chew Ming: did theory today. he did not understand what was taught before, causing him to not know what's going on today. I forced him to recognize and memorize symbols.

Ziqi: practicing straight bowing. not good at sight reading: in training now.

to do:

urgent: plan weeks to come to counter the exam

later: arrange concert piece

random things i've been thinking in a day

home works have been flooding in lately. I'm trying to find a way to balance them, to manage my time better. For the last project, I was late of the dateline, fail! Not literally, but for me, I failed myself. Bet it wouldn't get any high marks, wasn't even ok, but at least I've experiment a little this time.

To sum up everything: to dos

- set up music club (tomorow)

- proposal for drawing (journal of A Scary Experiment) (Wednesday)

- go through and pass up draft no.1 for SUHAKAM assignment (tomorow)

- Discrimination for Moral Studies- ask for instruction (tomorow)

- Design Identity for Project: name, type face, label, color (Friday)

: character design on research, color combo

-practice violin (if can)

will wish for Pamela's safety.

lesson:

-read more for ideas in design

-one at a time for thinking idea

7 may 11

just brief notes:

Christopher- had hour class this week. He's done with all 3 pieces, but cannot practice A2 as he doesn't have a copy of it since he loose the photocopy. He had also learned C, G, F major. Bar fingers slowing him down.

Xue Ying- practicing every pieces one by one. Now going through 3rd song.

Sao Chyi- running out of things to practice. she's still weak on sight reading. she's ready for piano accompany. next week, will check her pieces.

Chew Ming was too sick to attend class.

received salary and I'm happy^^

2/4/2011 (P)

it's over March now. In March, Christopher finishes his theory exam. He says it's easy. Cross fingers, hope he gets pass and beyond. I did not keep track of their project in March, realize that it does help me remember by blogging their progress. So, Wan Lee! Please blog every week.

Ruvisha- schedule change this week. Ruvisha's first. I was late, pay more attention to this next time, you are often late for first lesson. We went through scales today, G major. Not fluent, it's not going smooth for her. Did theory next 30 minutes (replacement).

Ziqi- overlap with Ruvisha. Ziqi was gloomy today, she won't tell me what's up. Her E-string broke, cost RM 2.50 for it. Asked her to write her own fingering, just went through surface of 4 songs. She cannot play fluently either.

Nick Yoo- Late. Talks a lot, he did not want to learn or play violin. Nick forgot what I taught him and wanted me to repeat the teaching, I refuse. I got strict and scolded him but he is not afraid, he was still smiling. Anyway, he finally did the whole song. I tell him to stay back and practice for 15 minutes since he doesn't practice at home. He will be playing the same song next week. He will carry on only if he play this song smoothly.

Chew Ming- His mother came in after the lesson. Tell her that Chew Ming complains that he can't see the book under the sun light, can't see the sticker on his violin, he also needs a handkerchief between his neck and the violin. Chew Ming told me that he's learning piano now. I hope he will show faster improvement. He is like standing still, not moving from where he started. I told him to practice straight bowing, slowly, at home. Forget the song!

Tong Zhe Xin- She came in herself today. We went through a short song (with only notes on 1 string). With every go, I ask her to add in something. She'll be doing the same thing next lesson.

1. lower bow hand to not touch D string

2. play more bow

3. legato

4. finger press into fingerboard, don't just touch

Christopher- He hasn't have his own book. I'll photocopy G2 exam pieces for him. Went through his first piece,A2, which is same as Katelynn's. We're half way on this song. Christopher is technically not in good shape, as he has not touch his violin since last 2 month. I'll have to give him extra lessons to make up for he's shortage in preparation time, for his coming practical exam.

Amirul- Just came back after 1 month of skipping from lesson. Not a problem. Should be finishing his book in 3 month or so.

James- excuses, excuses. got strict with him too today. He wanted to sit but he is in wrong position while holding the violin, so i told him to stand for the whole lesson. It's the same song, This Old Man, for a month already. He can play the song, it's just that he doesn't want to, he forgets every thing every time after the lesson. He is doing this song 1 more time on next lesson. I just want him to remember what he learn.

Xue Ying- I taught her Party Time song again. Again, a student who forgets what she learn. ps. Her violin is appearing small for her size. Should change into bigger violin after Prep Test.

Katelynn- We went through scales today. I've added 2 sticker on her violin, 3rd and 4th finger. She is not certain where to put her fingers, so she slide around on the finger board, which could be heard clearly when she practiced. I told her not to do so. I taught her to practice repeating each notes to give her time to think where is the next point to click. She's very impatient, she should be more patient, pay attention to slow practices. Katelynn's mother asked for a copy of the aural test CD and book, to practice at home. I ask myself, should I give her?

Sao Chyi- Had 1 hour with her to replace 9/4/11. We went through her exam pieces. First piece was better than 2nd and 3rd. I realize that Sao Chyi doesn't count when she plays. So, I've made advices to each song, for her to improve. Also taught a little bit of dynamics today. Forte! She can play now. Also brief her a little bit of aural test, practice sight reading. Still not solid with those 3 scales, especially G major.

Yu Hang's abcent for 3 weeks.

26/2/2011 (P)

I haven't blog here for quite a while. My lazy-ness took way. hehe

Ziqi- Plays around a lot in class. Not progressing much, part of it due to her book. Concluding that that book is not a good book for violin studies. I plan to get her to grade 1 exam next year.

Nick- Can't reach his violin end. My bad, his violin is too big for him. He tell me that it's painful at parts like his neck and arm. We are learning in banjo now. We just finish this song, but he cant do the final sliding note without his bow. Nick feel that violin is difficult, said he wanted to quit. I am facing trouble to work his violin in Nick's small body. Haiz...

Chew Ming- on a same pace as Nick now. Chew Ming feel the same way Nick's feel with violin. Not much improvement. His fingers are not flexible til now.

Zhe Xin- I told her mother to give her 3 months more, to decide whether she's suitable to continue learning violin. I myself feel that she enjoys playing violin during lesson. Zhe Xin plays in a very slow, and robotic way. Zhe Xin can only do better if she practices at home, but I bet she doesn't. Zhe Xin was distracted every time Christopher comes in. Maybe Zhe Xin like a friend is play, but I think Zhe Xin likes Christopher.^^

Christopher- intensively preparing for his theory exam. He's having 1 hour lesson next week. He has got only passing marks lately. I have to explain his mistakes in previous exams, before letting him do his practices next week. Christopher's exam is on 14 of March.

Amirul- improving very fast. everything seems very simple to him, no challenges at all. Still, he has to go through his book for stronger basics. Mmm, this guy doesn't seem interested in violin from what I see when he plays. Amirul doesn't talk or have much eye contact with me. Maybe it's just the gap between us, awkward.

Ruvisha- finishes 3 exam pieces. started D major and A major scales. I think she is not fit for exam standard. I have to push her a little, to practice maybe everyday.

Xue Ying- In prep test: 4 now. Clapping the time of a song. She got it but cannot differentiate 2 and 3 time. She misses the replacement, Christine scolded her mother for me.

Sao Chyi- Finishes all things, except aural test and sight reading. I can tell, she practices. Good progress in scales.

James Mak- We are bonding. James started doing theory today. No problem, just a little trouble understanding time signature.

Katelynn- Decided song for group C, C1. I was a bit unorganized with her today. Ended up learning nothing today. She learned B flat major scales, checking in progress next week because she did not get it that well.

Yu Hang- plays very slow. very messy until he finally decides to play what's written on the book. He's arms have no control from himself. they run freely, and have no strength.

Founded out that aural test for every musical instrument is the same.