My Blog

Group strings class Sat Feb 25th at 10am and 10:30am

02/23/2012 13:19:00

Hello students,

Some information on the group class this coming Saturday at 10am and 10:30am.

The 10am is for beginning students. We will be doing some easy sight reading on the open strings and rhythms and some songs in the VIP book 1. The book 1 songs also have advanced parts for students who want to come earlier at the 10 o'clock time and get extra practise in ensemble playing with the little ones.

The intermediate class meeting at 10:30, will be going over Fiddle Fiesta, Rock it to Me, Canon in D and pieces from the quartet book. We will also go over some easy sight reading pieces.

Hope to see you then,

Sue Lewis

Latest research into the Brain and benefits of music training

02/23/2012 13:06:00

Sue Hunt • Janet, have you read "The Talent Code" by Daniel Coyle? In it, he describes how practice develops the nervous system. Essentially, the fatty myelin sheath round a nerve becomes thicker with every firing, making it a faster and more efficient connection.

Suzuki is known to have said, “Knowledge is not skill. Knowledge plus ten thousand times is skill.” That's a lot of practising.

Playing a musical instrument is an extraordinarily complicated activity. The brain is coping with many precise tasks at the same time. A child who learns an instrument early in life, when myelin production is at it's height, will develop a superbly enriched neural network.

It's all about practice. www.musicinpractice.com

Updates

02/06/2012 07:50:00

Hello students,

Next recital date: Sunday, May 20th at 3pm.

Next group class: Saturday, February 25th at 10am.

Pictures from Nov 27, 2011 Recital

11/29/2011 18:16:00

A big thank you to all my students, and to their family and friends, for your hard work and courage in participating in the Fall Recital of 2011. I was thrilled to see how each and every one of you has progressed over the last few months.

Here are some pictures.

Recital information and Program, Dress Rehearsal

11/20/2011 13:40:00

Hello students and family,

The recital, Sunday November 27th, is just around the corner so I have arranged an additional rehearsal which will take place Saturday, November 26th at 10am.

Below is the recital program, order of who plays when:

3pm:

Jolly Old St Nick - ensemble

Good King Wensalas - ensemble

Mary Had A Little Lamb - Paul's Solo

Ashokan Farwell - Ashleigh and Diane (violin) Orice on piano

Irish Washer Woman - Ashleigh, Diane, Orice

Lovers Waltz - Ashleigh, Diane, Orice

Bunny Hop Hop Hop - Jillian's Solo

Away in a Manger, Jennifer's Solo

Ode to Joy, Natalie's Solo

Findlandia, Oliva's Solo

Intermission - Refeshments

Friendly Ghost - Waled, cello and violin duet

Simida - Piano Solo

Autumn - Piano Solo TBA

Conquistadors, Michelle's Solo

Largo - Selea's Solo or quartet?

Reflections - Becky, violin duet

Christmas selections - ensemble, Adeste Fidelas, Infant King, God Rest Ye Merry Gentelmen and Joy to the World

Silent Night - Limidia, Diane, Ashiegh, Becky on violin, Sue on Cello.

Rock It to Me - ensemble: Selea, Michelle, Becky, Ashleigh, Limidia, Diane on violin, Haley on Viola, Sue on Cello.

Saturday November 5th Group lesson @ 10am

10/28/2011 11:00:00

Greetings all students,

We will meet the following Saturday November 5 at 10am preparing for the upcoming recital on Sunday, November 27th. I am in the process of arranging some performance opportunities to play the Xmas songs in the first 2 weeks of December for retirement homes and another venue in Vancouver.

Saturday we will rehearse the following:

Xmas songs:

jolly old st Nick

Good King Wensleslas

Adeste Fideles

Rock It to Me

Fiddle Fiesta

See you then!

PS: We will have a dress rehearsal where everyone can play their Recital solos. Date and time TBA

What I learned at Britenbush Brema Workshop and how it appliew to music learnig

09/18/2011 12:00:00

Hello,

2 weeks ago I attended a wonderful 4 day Brema workshop at Britenbush hot springs. Brema is a body, mind, feeling practice that relaxes the body and focuses the mind into a relaxed yet alert condition. Most of the people were professional massage therapists getting continuing education for licensing. It happens in next spring and you don't have to be a professional. Couples go so they can do body work on each other. It was great to have massage theripists working on me for 4 days and soaking in the hot springs!!!

I figured, correctly, that could help me as a teacher and musician and did it ever!

These are the main points. I have been sharing these principles with my students and applying it to my own playing.

1. Elimination of "Extra"

Motion

Pressure

Thoughts

Judgements

2. Body Comfortable

Breathing

Stretching

There are 9 principles all together. I will blog about that further in the future and how it applys directly to music playing.

Sue Lewis

Must see videos and movies

09/18/2011 11:43:00

Hello hard working Students,

Check these videos out:

Drum Line on DVD: see what it's like to attend music school at the university level. A great movie and very realistic as to what it takes to be a musician. Iit's more than raw talent; it takes work, sacrifice, dedication and focus.

Also check out the "2 Cellos" on www.youtube.com playing rock in a percussive classical style. Virtuosic playing! This inspired me to bring out "Rock it to Me" for to play as an ensemble piece.

Enjoy! Sue Lewis

Updates: Group practice, PYP Concert dates and more

09/17/2011 17:36:00

Hi Friends, Parents and Students,

I want to update you on what's happening at my teaching studio as follows:

Our once a month group practice will be on Saturday October 1st at 10am. We will go over the following songs:

Warm up and tuning with Song of the Rainbow, 2 octave G major scale.

1. Xmas songs: Jolly Old St Nick, Old King Wensales, Adeste Fideles, The Infant King and Up on a House Top. Please prepare A, B & C lines.

2. Rock it to Me

3. Fiddle Fiesta

Below: Info from Portland Youth Phil.org upcoming Fall concert. Practice hard and you could be part of this, one of the top youth orchestras in the country! These kids are amazing!!! I can get discounted tickets through my music studio.

FALL CONCERTNovember 12, 2011 | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.

MALCOLM ARNOLD: Four Scottish Dances • BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor", Fred Lu, Piano • BUTTERWORTH: The Banks of Green Willow • ELGAR: Enigma Variations

We welcome PYP Competition Winner Fred Lu for our opening night to play the first PYP performance of Beethoven's epic final Piano Concerto. The rest of the program is dedicated to the UK. Malcolm Arnold's work showcases his brilliant orchestration and devilish humor. George Butterworth's short life produced several masterworks. This idyll helped define British impressionism. We close with Elgar's tribute to his closest friends, each represented by his or her own variation.

PRELUDE CONCERTNovember 13, 2011 | Location TBA, 4:00 p.m.

Features the Conservatory Orchestra and Wind Ensemble conducted by Larry Johnson and Young String Ensemble conducted by Carol Sindell • Highlights include: MAHLER: Symphony No. 2 - 1st movement • MACDOWELL: Piano Concerto No. 2 - 1st movement, JJ Guo, Piano

Also I have a new website featuring my band which will performing October 22nd at Vie de Boheme. Go to www.mangonights.com and check out our music and the fabulous musicians I am playing with!

The recital will be on Sunday November 27th at 2pm to 4pm. I am looking forward to showing off the wonderful new skills of my hard working students!

Can you help me out by writing a review for me on "Sue Lewis Music Lessons" on google Maps? I emailed easy instructions on how to do this and can send it to you again, just let me know. If you do write a review be sure to save it in case it needs to be re-posted. The ones previously posted mysteriously disappeared which is why I am asking. I thank you very much in advance.

Free lessons! Schalorships!

07/23/2011 19:13:00

Last month David Kerr, owner of David Kerr Violin Shop, donated 10 violins to be used by 3rd and 4th graders (as they are 1/2 sized) for my Music 4 Kids program.

If any one knows of kids going into 3rd or 4th grade who wants to learn violin but can't afford it, please let me know. There will be only 10 openings and will be first come first serve. Call or email me, Sue Lewis, at 503-268-2404 or suelewis70@yahoo.com.

A big thanks to David Kerr for helping out!!!