SuperBows

For Parents

"A Parents Guide to Enhancing Your Child's Musical Experience"

Rehearsal Schedule

SuperBows Rehearsals follow the Youth Symphony schedule. Click here for the calendar.

Rehearsal Etiquette

Please arrive on time to rehearsal. That means at least 5 minutes before the start of the rehearsal so you can be seated and have your instrument ready to be tuned. If you arrive at 3:50 or later, you are late.
Bring your instrument, your folder, all of your SuperBows music, and your Essential Elements book.

How to use the "Practice Snake"

Students may use crayon, colored pencils, felt pens, or whatever they choose to color in the segments of the snake when they master the piece or complete the activity. Be creative! Activities should be completed in order from head to tail, but some activities may be performed over several days. Students should spend time with the violin and their lessons every day. Please review and sign the practice snake every week and make sure your students bring it back the to the next class.

Learning and Practice

William Tell Overture - Short Version Practice Tracks (MP3 Format)

Violin 1 Violin 2 Viola Cello All Parts

When musicians decide to shorten a piece of music it is called a "cut". We will be doing a "cut" in the William Tell Overture to make it shorter. Here is how it will work:

We will play the music as it is written, including repeats, up to measure 20. Instead of playing measure 20, we will take a "cut" to measure 55 and play from there to the end. Think of it as a shortcut, sort of like the game of "Shutes and Ladders". The MP3 files include the cut.

A couple of things to note about the Practice Tracks. First, all of the tracks contain a two (2) measure count off before the beginning of the piece. So listen to the two measures and count 1-2-3-4 | 1-2-3-4.

Next, all of the tracks except the Violin 1 include the Violin 1 introduction along with the metronome clicks. So for Violin 2, Viola, Cello, and Bass, after the 2 measure count off, there is a four (4) measure Violin 1 introduction. It is a good idea to count those 4 measures as well.

Medieval Kings - Practice Tracks

Violin 1 Violin 2 Viola Cello All

Note Drill and Practice

First, you can learn to identify the note by name. Set a goal of being able to score 25 out of 25.
Next, with a helper running the computer, name and then play each note on your instrument. Your helper can then click the answer for you. At this point, try to see how many notes you can identify and play accurately in 1 minute! This will help you to develop speed.
Finally, when you are confident with the notes on the G string, go on to the notes on the G scale. It will add the notes on the D string that you know already.

Use the following links to drill and practice note reading and recognition. If possible, play each note presented on your instrument!

Violin: Notes on the G String Notes on the G Scale
Cello: Notes on the G String Notes on the G Scale

Violin: Notes on the A String Notes on the E String Notes on the D Scale
Cello: Notes on the A String Notes on the D Scale

April 4	Practice Snake William Tell Overture MP3 Sample Violin: Notes on the G String Notes on the G Scale Cello: Notes on the G String Notes on the G Scale
March 28	Practice Snake
March 21	Practice Snake
March 14	Practice Snake
March 7	Practice Snake
February 7	Practice Snake To listen to "Ballad of the Silver Spur" click here. IMPORTANT: The next two rehearsals are on Wednesdays due to the Monday holidays.