Instapost: Rockin' Skullbilly

Proper Opera Night

Last week we took time out to attend the Opera. Such a great time of year for us and like we have said before, people from all walks of life come in their furs, fakes, jeans and blinging rings. Music is for ALL of us to enjoy and we are very committed to attending all types of musical events whenever we can.

(Do a quick search of "music appreciation" on this blog)

This time it was Don Giovanni by Mozart. (Very quick background story: this is a very risque story of a womanizing man who gets his comeuppance.) This adaptation, presented by the New Zealand Opera, was a modern one fit with cell phones, stripper poles and blended suits. We have seen this opera before but never displayed like this and we appreciated all that it was. Amazing voices and a fresh approach made this play exactly what Mozart intended it to be. I would like to think he would have loved the updated costumes and witnessing a common social theme carried out with relevance many centuries later.  We have seen Mozart in manyvenues: from tiny parks to world famous Opera houses but the resoundingly important factor was the quality of the music and singers. This show by the NZ Opera did not disappoint by any means giving us a proper opera night.

Music Starts at Home

My middle son and I share a special bond through our mutual love for the violin. After a bit of self doubt, I am now his tutor.  I have special time with all my boys each day but violin is our special time to sit down and have some good classical fun together. Its also time for me to help develop his love of music. Making this step wasn't easy as I scoured the internet for a proper tutor. Which method would be best and how much time and money should I devote to beginner training? That's when a very late night internet search pointed me to this amazing page: A Treble Maker. Such a great website for some quick tips & training ideas for those brave parents who are delving into the world of teaching their child piano or violin. I have bookmarked this particular page as my "go to" before each lesson just to refresh what I need to accomplish each day. Having a plan, as with anything, makes things more enjoyable but not perfect. I also don't follow each detail to theT but it is a great blueprint to creating an intro music lesson that flows like Debussy. There are always going to be those sporadic boy breakouts into silly songs & fidgety fingers but our goal is to learn a bit and have a bunch of fun.

I'm no musical professional myself but have had years of expert training which at this stage qualifies me to attempt at introducing and teaching a child his first violin lessons. If only for the time together, teaching your child a skill, craft, or art form is an invaluable memory you will both always share.
How many mothers have said to me, "I signed my child up for this class and they refuse to go"? They will tell me that their child really liked it at first but completely lost interest halfway through and they lost out on all paid fees, deposits, and etc... We've avoided this and saved a bit of cash with music lessons by tapping into our own past skills to train our children at the beginning stages of their musical education.
You thinking about teaching your child music at home? If you have atleast moderate musical experience, you can offer this as introductory lessons for your child. It doesn't have to be forever so give you and your child some goals and then monitor their progress. It takes time and commitment on both parts  but if you make the choice you absolutely can do it. Give it a go!

Ready to start? Here are simple tips for making the most out of home lessons:

1. Let your child show interest in the chosen instrument or at the very least, they should be receptive to your questioning them about taking it up as a hobby. The worst thing you can do is force a child.

2. There is no golden age or method. You start when they are ready & honestly interested in the instrument of choice. Choose a method that works for both the parent & child. Any route you choose will require practice in order to improve.

3. In the beginning, always use a plan, timer and a  reward chart just to keep track of progress & practice time. Children love visual rewards so use this along with stickers to show then what hard work they have put into musical training. It motivates them to keep trying!

4. Set a reasonable time limit for each lesson. Have a break in the middle & offer a snack with water as well. You won't get lasting results with a tired or cranky child who has been overextended.
My very edited typical lesson:
Intro/welcome
Musical coloring sheet together.
Violin care/Resin bow.
Parts of instrument
Llama bows (see above sure for llama details) & have llama hand pick up bow several times
Play me a string & name the note
Shoulder practice
Free play
Snack/water in middle
Silly wriggle time/finger exercises

Total time: 30 min. (including 5-10 for snack, break & bathroom)

5. Purchase used instruments & clean them well. You don't need a Stradivarius or a Steinway to create good music. Find second hand ones in the paper, at garage sales, online classified ads, or local music store. You will feel less guilty if your don't spend a furtune upfront and only upgrade when needed.

6. With little ones, stress correct form practices. At the piano- sit up straight. Rounded hands. Violin- Apply a light yet controlled grip on your bow. Put away instrument. Push in your chair/stool. These may seem trivial but proper form translates no matter who their teacher will be in the future.

Opera Going & Music Appreciation

Just wanted to do a quick share of The Valkyrie performance that we attended a few weeks ago. No kiddies this night.  My husband and I made a date night out of it and we have seen a lot of music performance between the two of us. I can truly say that our lives have been enriched by seeing The Valkyrie opera (Part of Wagner's Ring Cycle). This really was a once in a lifetime opportunity and when we saw the announcement we booked our seats immediately. Not many cities in the world host this huge operatic fete which runs over 4 hours long. The Valkyrie is not one of those events limited to just the opera going crowd. In fact, though we enjoy many musical events, we are not season ticket holders of the opera in our city. This piece is loved and admired for it's emotions (I cried), huge sound (including a thunder instrument), and perhaps most notably the piece The Ride of the Valkyries is performed at the beginning of Act III. (Think Apocalypse Now the movie). No pics were allowed inside but we did snap a few random ones including our yummy dinner.

Pre-ordered the lamb and chicken caesar so our dinner was waiting for us after the second intermission.

So what's this post about? You becoming an avid opera fan? No need to write a big donation check. I am simply saying just go to musical performances when they come to town. It's worth the time and money. People don't get dressed up anymore and I hate that. Get dressed up, people, go out and enjoy the musical things in life. You will undoubtedly feel better all around.

Art and Music are the first on the chopping block at schools as they are forced to cut budgets. How are we supposed to instill such important elements, that have proven mental and health benefits, into our children without exposing them to different types of music? If your school doesn't have a program the job is up to you. Here is some help...

A few tips for family musical enjoyment:

The Valkyrie venue

• Weekends are usually chock full of events in areas all over the world. 
• Musical performances from local theater groups and coffee shop ensembles to big budget presentations are available for adults and children alike to enjoy. 
• They are not usually outrageously priced and you can oftentimes even find free events. 
• Stay on budget by skimping on venue seats because it's hearing the music that's important. 
• Save that extra cash from your budget seats to spend on dinner or collectibles from the event. 

 REMEMBER: Your children will feel lucky just being there and they should be. Any experience that they have enriches them so again, just go and enjoy the music.