Suder Pre-Twinkle singing rest position song and performing violinstatue and Mississippi down up!

See Suder Montessori's pre-twinkle violinists sing rest position song and perform a beautiful violin statue before playing mississippi down up, all while working together as a violin team!

Here are the lyrics to rest position song (sung to twinkle twinkle little star)
Rest position feet in line, scroll out front that's mighty fine. Check your bridge 'cus it should be, peeking out at you and me. Now it's time to take a bow, hi toes hi toes hi toes now.

Have your child practice along with the video!

Getting Ready for Real Violins!

If you are a parent of a student getting ready to graduate from a box violin to a real violin, here are some helpful tips!

A couple of reasons we start pre-schoolers on box violins: 
1. Pre-schoolers are developing muscle mass and starting on a light weight, box violin, is a great way to develop the necessary muscles to be able to stand in playing and rest position long enough to actually play a violin.
2. Pre-schoolers are learning how to respect classroom rules and the box violin prepares young violinists to have a noisemaker (the violin) in their hand without disrupting the class.
3. Pre-schoolers are learning to respect their belongings. The violin is a very fragile instrument. If they drop it, it will break! The hair on the bow (horsehair) and the bow is also very fragile. Students learn to respect their instruments and not to touch the hair!
4. Box violins are a motivational tool to work towards the real deal!

How Parents can help prepare their pre-twinklers* for real violins:
1. Ask questions such as (hint...the answer is always yes or no!)

• do you always put the violin away after playing it? 
• do you leave the violin on the floor? on the couch for someone to sit on?
• do you touch the hair?
• do you hold the violin like a baby so it won't drop?
• do you throw the violin?
• do you respect your instrument?
• are you going to take really good care of it and not let anyone touch it?
• does your baby brother get to play with it?

2. Play the Suzuki Book 1 CD at home! 

3. Sing along to the Suzuki Book 1 CD (see the lyrics to sing along here) 

4. Read this blog to see practicing tips and ideas! 

*Wondering what a pre-twinkler is? Pre-Twinkle means before a student learns to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, which is the first song in Suzuki Book 1. Pre-Twinklers are preparing to learn this 1st song.