Cathy's Blog: Week 6 First Fnger Down / New Note E

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Today was we had an important new step . We put first finger down on D string to make new note E and practiced first finger riff.  We added an  drum ostinato to Ireland's Call. We welcomed Ms Barry who will be working with Mr Corry's class.  Several students had the chance to play double bass and finally we hear a track from Vladimir Jablokov www.vladimirmusic.com
Check out his video of Rondo a la Turca and James Bond theme on the video section.  Here is today's programme. Vladimir appears in Glór this evening.

Programme

Vivaldi in G
Foxtrot
Toreadors March 
Ireland's Call featuring tremelo flag waving and ostinato
First finger riff

Listening and responding Rondo a la Turca

Double bass players




Eoin ,Ali, Elise, Thady, Joe plus one other
Leaders Jade, Eoin, Daniel Albert  

Elephant Alligator Donkey Goat Week 5

'Giraldo' the Double Bass arrives

Today all the 4th class met the double bass the lowest and largest member of the string family. We learned all four strings . What were the four animals we used to help us remember. They are in the title of this post. You can still use Great Day At Ennis but start at the top string. Well done to Elise, Eoin , Shauna , Jack, Ali and Saoirse who played some of our pizzicato repertoire on bass.

We learned how to do a tremelo. We played a freeze game to check those bow hands

We did some more work on Ireland's Call adding some bow movements and tremelo. This was everybody's favourite number today.

Vivaldi in G
Wintertime in Russia
Toreador's March
Ireland's Call

We said goodbye to Tamara Steiger who was visiting from Switzerland. It was great to have Tamara's help over the last two weeks .

Mr Corry's class listened to a piece by Italian composer Vivaldi . Part of Summer where the violins play tremelo to maker the sound of thunder of summer storms

I will post some photos when some technical issues with blogger are resolved

Sporting Anthems

Finger Twister exercises
Toreadors' March from Carmen
Wintertime in Russia
Ireland's Call Retake Bows

There was a sporting theme to the classes today. First we warmed up with some finger marching exercises before moving on to learn the Toreadors' March from the opera Carmen . Can you find out more about this opera and who wrote it.

All classes added the bowing for Win- ter time in to Rus-sia

Here are the notes for Toreadors' March

D D D_ D D A_ x3
A A A A A A A D

Afternoon classes were visited by Tamara visiting from Switzerland who demonstrated the clarinet. What musical instrument family does the clarinet belong to ? It is also known as a R_ _ _ instrument. (Fill in the blanks)

Mr Blake's class moved onto to retake bows . We played along on D to Ireland's Call . Go Ireland

Here is a famous painting . Can you remember who the artist was . What is the painting of?

Leaders Fiachra Eoin Oisin, Elise Thank you to Keith and Kayla who helped set up and the packing up team lead by Chantelle

Look One Hand and side stepping out

Ms Mcmahons' class get to grips with the bow

Today we learned how to put our violins in playing position using just  one hand .
We  worked on our bow hands first with pencil . Then we moved on  tummy grip bow hand  and shadow bowing finally before putting our bows on the A string to bow Rus-sia  and Rock You

Remember
1 Bend your thumb and
2 Fingers well over
3 Little finger in the circle

Afternoon classes learned how to do a scary tremelo . (Make your bow shiver on the the string.)

Programme
Wintertime in Russia   
Rock You  on open A
Foxtrot  with side step

Adam in MsMcahon's class made a great leader . Well done.

Coordinates  All places had a letter and number . Can you remember what your coordinate was eg A6 

Next week guest instrument VIOLA

Mr David  McInerney a visiting teacher came to see the project today

Blue Danube Day

Here was our programme for today

Finger drills

Foxtrot
Bow Hold with pencil
Wintertime in Russia   bowing with pencil  Russ-ia 

I played a waltz by Johann Strauss  named after a very famous river in Austria . Can you find out what the name is?

Well done to my leaders Daniel , Jack and Anna Oisin today. 

Here are the notes for Foxtrot

DDD_  AAA_  DDD_ AAA_
DDD_  DDD_  AAA_ AADsh 

Pizzicato Polka Day

Pizz Perfect

Today we got off to a flying start at Ennis NS. We moved to room 12 . All three classes remembered rest and playing positions very well. We played pizzicato on three strings G , D and A . Remember

1. Butterfly feet
2. Violin up on your left shoulder under your chin . No shoulder seams

We had a closer look at the trumpet . We played a march from  the Ennis Brass Band  cd

1 Can you name another brass instrument.
2 How does the brass player 'make' the notes . He uses l__ _  p_ _ _ _ _ _ _  and v_ _ _ _ s
3 What is the highest pitched brass instrument .

Remember the Ennis Brass Band are recruiting this week at Ennis Community College from 7pm Thursday .
This is a great way to play join in an ensemble . Thanks to Ms Tiernan for bringing in her uniform to show us.

Mr Foley cellist

Fina

Rest position

lly  thanks to my great assistant today Mr Jack Foley. The name of the piece we played was the Pizzicato Polka . It was by Johann Strauss. Can you find out some more about him . Where was he from. When was he composing. Name another famous piece by this composer.  Try this website http://www 

.classicsforkids.com/

Welcome to the Swinging Strings

Welcome to Week 1 of the Swinging Strings to

Mr Blake's class
Mr Corry's class
Mr McMahon's class


checkout  www.swingingingstrings.blogspot.com  for photos and news.

Roadie brings in the violins

Waiting for the players

Mr Foley the cello player