Music Lessons

Viola

Violin

Hardanger Fiddle

Piano

Lesson Information:

Weekly lessons are the starting point for everyone looking to make improvements in playing. Beginning students frequently start with 30-minute lessons (Books 1-2) and graduate to 45-minute lessons (books 3-5) and 60-minute lessons (book 6+) as pieces get longer and more complicated.

Lessons happen in two terms: the Academic Year Term and the Summer Term. Students participate in an annual studio recital near the end of the Academic Year. When students complete books, they frequently perform book graduation recitals at various venues around the city to share their music with the larger community.

Each summer, violin and viola students entering grades 9-12 participate in the 'Boot Camp' group class, preparing students for All-State auditions and to grow their technical capabilities on the instrument.

The viola is the alto voice of the string family. Its warm and melodious sound has been a favorite of musicians and composers for centuries. As there are fewer players of viola, there is always a strong demand for them in ensembles, often leading to a lot of college scholarship opportunities.

Foundation Level
(Books 1-4)

This is where we lay the ground work for successful playing. Students at this level start to learn to play by ear as posture and technique foundations are solidified. Note reading begins usually around the middle of book 1. Shifting, vibrato, and foundation bow strokes are all started at this level.

Intermediate Level
(Books 5-6)

Once mastering the foundation level, students start learning bow strokes needed to support their playing in orchestras and other performance opportunities. Learning to shift into the upper positions, and continuing to refine tone and vibrato are all part of this level, along with expanding the styles of music students can play.

Advanced Level

(Books 7-9 and beyond)

At this level students are working on professional level repertoire, learning to prepare for competitions, performances, and college auditions.

The violin is the treble voice of the string family. Its brilliance and high pitch make it an ideal melodic instrument, and it plays a featured role in orchestras, string quartets, and fiddle traditions around the globe.

Foundation Level

(Books 1-4)

Intermediate Level

(Books 5-6)

Advanced Level

(Books 7-10+)

At this level students are working on professional level repertoire, learning to prepare for competitions, performances, and college auditions.

Hardanger Fiddle:

The Hardanger Fiddle (hardingfele) is the national folk instrument of Norway. In addition to the 4 bowed strings, the instrument also has 4-5 sympathetic strings that resonate to create extra ringing and sound while played. Most students begin to play this amazing instrument after reaching book 3 on either viola or violin first. Many students start on loaner instruments from the Hardanger Fiddle Association of the Americas before purchasing their own. Students must be able to comfortably play either a 13" viola or 3/4 violin first.

Foundation Level

This is an instrument that is almost entirely taught by ear, so the foundation level consists of simpler tunes to build learning by ear. Tunes are mostly taken from the "gammeldans" tradition: reinlender, vals, masurka, ril, and polka. Tunes will be taught melody first, adding ornaments and double-stops once the tune is secure. Once a few tunes are learned, students are welcome to join the Lower Iowa Nordic Ensemble!

Intermediate Level

Once students have successfully learned multiple tunes from the gammeldans tradition, we beging with simplier tunes from the bygdedans tradition: halling, marsj, & gangar. As the tunes get more complex, students will explore learning tunes with ornaments and/or double-stops as part of the initial learning process.

Advanced Level

Once students are comfortable with learning by ear, playing longer and more complex tunes, then we move into parts of the tradition with asymmetrical meters and complex forms. Springars from various parts of the country with different beat patterns and rudls from western Norway with their highly complex forms will keep students fascinated as they progress in their studies.

Piano:

Piano has been a popular musical instrument for hundreds of years. It's used across genres and skills playing on the instrument are extremely useful.

Foundation Level

(books 1-3)

Students begin by ear, to focus on posture, technical skills, chord theory, harmonic rhythm, and hand coordination. As soon as those foundations are set (around mid book 1) students add music reading into their daily mix of activities. By the completion of this level, students are able to successfully perform sonatinas by Clementi and Kuhlau.

Intermediate Level

(books 4-5)

Once students have a solid foundation, its all about expanding their abilities and learning new musical styles. As students grow, we add pedal and larger chords/octaves which expands the repertoire of music availalbe to students. By completion of this level students will be able to play sonatas by Beethoven and Haydn, as well as pieces by Chopin, Bartok, Bach and more!

Advanced Level

(books 6-7 and beyond)

Studies at this level involve mastering advanced piano technique, preparing for piano concertos, musical competitions, as well as college entrance auditions.

Music Lessons

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