10/1/26
Hi Violinists!
Each week I "shout out" one or more students in each class! This week I would like to shout out: Tilly - your heavy head and playing position is so strong. You are putting it high on your shoulder every time and I can tell it is becoming a habit!
Purchase a Suzuki Book 1. THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL. You need this for class and for practice at home. Last year I used a different book for open D string ensemble playing. This year we are working out of a more challenging book that will take your violinists through many more years of violin. Thank you to Gabe and Reina for bringing it to class - I was so helpful for violinists to look on to your books.
I made a WATERS INTERMEDIATE VIOLIN Drive. This is where I will upload anything that is not in your book that I hand out. I uploaded Lightly Row (which is in the Suzuki Book). This is the only time I will do this for a song in your book.
Please make sure you have a working Music Stand at home. You do not have to bring this to class yet.
Violinists and families - this week it is so important that you begin the habit of practice. Please take out your violin 4 times for practice between 10/1-10/8 for just 5-10 minutes every time. I want you practicing practice! This will make practicing much easier later in the year and is a great life skill!
This week in violin we:
Reviewed HCB
Practiced in groups and performed for each other (HCB and CCB group)
CCB learned a new note (C Natural is low 2 on your A string)
Learned measures 3 and 4 of a new song Lightly Row (pg. 27 of Suzuki book)
worked on our bow holds
10/1-10/8 Practice:
5-10 minutes a day
4x a week
STANDING with violin high on shoulder
straight violin wrist
1. Review HCB
2. Review Bow Hold
3. Review A scale
A string: A 1 2 3 (then) E string: E 1 2 3
Do all of this with the violin HIGH on the shoulder
Practice should happen standing up - I am going to be stricter about this!
4. Measures 3 and 4 of Lightly Row
Can you play it where each note gets a “Silly Little Monkey” rhythm?
5. If you were in there CCB (Cold Cross Buns) group, Review CCB
Show someone in your house your new note and how to play it
BONUS: Can you turn Twinkle into SAD twinkle with C natural (low 2?)
Happy Practicing!
Violin Safety Tips:
1. Always open the violin case with backpack straps on the ground
2. Put your violin away in the case when not in use
3. Walking feet with the violin in your hands
4. Violin face (the front with the bridge) is NEVER down. Back of the violin only on surfaces
5. Keep the violin away from extreme temperatures (think heating vents and furnaces, cold winter cars, hot summer cars)
9/24/26 Practice
Hi Violinists!
Each week I "shout out" one or more students in each class! This week I would like to shout out: Dorothy and Clara! I am SO PROUD of your practice routine this week. Clara and Dorothy practiced for 10 minutes after school everyday. Way to go!
Please purchase a Suzuki Book 1. Please bring this to class next week (or the week after if you get it too late).
Please make sure you have a working Music Stand at home. You do not have to bring this to class yet.
Violinists and families - this week it is so important that you begin the habit of practice. Please take out your violin 4 times for practice between 9/24-10/1 for just 5-10 minutes every time. I want you practicing practice! This will make practicing much easier later in the year and is a great life skill!
This week in violin we:
Reviewed our Violin Stance and posture
Reviewed our bow hold and played a bow game
Focused on our “mouse house” when playing HCB
Played detective
9/24- 10/1 Practice:
5-10 minutes a day
4x a week
STANDING with violin high on shoulder
1. Review HCB
2. Review Bow Hold
3. Review A scale
A string: A 1 2 3 (then) E string: E 1 2 3
Do all of this with the violin HIGH on the shoulder
Practice should happen standing up - I am going to be stricter about this!
Happy Practicing!
Violin Safety Tips:
1. Always open the violin case with backpack straps on the ground
2. Put your violin away in the case when not in use
3. Walking feet with the violin in your hands
4. Violin face (the front with the bridge) is NEVER down. Back of the violin only on surfaces
5. Keep the violin away from extreme temperatures (think heating vents and furnaces, cold winter cars, hot summer cars)
9/17/26 Waters Violin Practice
Wow! Welcome! This is my first practice blog post EVER.
Hi Violinists!
Each week I "shout out" one or more students in each class! This week I would like to shout out: Hazel! Thank you for leading our review of Twinkle. I love how you counted off and started all of us playing together.
Please purchase a Suzuki Book 1. You do not have to bring this to class yet
Please make sure you have a working Music Stand at home. You do not have to bring this to class yet.
Violinists and families - this week it is so important that you begin the habit of practice. Please take out your violin 4 times for practice between 9/17-9/24 for just 5-10 minutes every time. I want you practicing practice! This will make practicing much easier later in the year and is a great life skill!
This week in violin we:
1. Review, review, review! We reviewed some old songs (A scale, HCB, Pepperoni Pizza, Twinkle)
2. Checked in on our Violin Stance (feet together, zip them out, step into playing position (left foot is SLIGHTLY forward)
3. Checked in on our posture
Learned how to play the A scale in a Round (ask your student what a round is)
9/17- 9/24 Practice:
5-10 minutes a day
4x a week
1. Review HCB
2. Review Bow Hold
3. Review A scale
A string: A 1 2 3 (then) E string: E 1 2 3
Do all of this with the violin HIGH on the shoulder
Practice should happen standing up - I am going to be stricter about this!
Violin Safety Tips:
1. Always open the violin case with backpack straps on the ground
2. Put your violin away in the case when not in use
3. Walking feet with the violin in your hands
4. Violin face (the front with the bridge) is NEVER down. Back of the violin only on surfaces
5. Keep the violin away from extreme temperatures (think heating vents and furnaces, cold winter cars, hot summer cars)
Waters Violin Welcome Info
Teacher: Hannah Bureau (she/her)
Email: info@ballad.company
Phone: 603.261.9084
Age: Kindergarten - 8th Grade
Days: BEGINNER (NEW) Violinists Fridays 3:15-4:15
RETURNING Violinists Thursdays 3:15 - 4:15
Dates: September- May TBA
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Starting September 17th for RETURNING violinists and September 18th for NEW violinists, Violin Class will be back for it’s 3rd year at Waters Elementary!
Beginner FREE Trial Class on Friday, September 18th. Come see if Waters Violin is for you! Grownups are invited to observe, but it is not required.
Student Tuition: $650 (one time program fee, no makeups or prorated tuition for absences. Averages to about $20 per 60 minute class, September - May) Unfortunately, we cannot refund payment if you decide that Violin is not right for you part way through the program
Financial assistance available! Please email info@ballad.company for more information. We want violin to be accessible to everyone so we do have no cost/low cost spots available and some no-rental instruments available.
Waters Violin follows the CPS calendar with some additional days off that are accounted for in the tuition price. Please see the Calendar in the Resources page for details.
Violin is a year long ensemble, to make the most out of your Violin experience, please plan to commit to the full year!
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Violin Rental/ Materials
Shop: A440 Violins 2222 W Roscoe St Chicago, IL 60618
Email: michael@a440violinshop.com Phone: (773) 348-4949
Rental fee: $75 for three months (renews automatically until violin is returned, covers reasonable wear and tear, such as broken strings)
Shop Hours: Tuesdays 10-7 pm and Wed-Sat 10-5 pm
Stop by the shop to pick up a violin and set up their rental account. A440 will size you to the right instrument!
Additional Required Materials for BEGINNERS
Binder (1 inch binder)
Additional Required Materials for INTERMEDIATE
Binder (1 inch binder)