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Bow finger flexibility

I was asked the other day “how and when do you start developing flexibility in the fingers on the bow?”

From lesson 1 – we need to be setting this up from the start. We also need to ensure that we aren’t separating the visual from the tactile. The way something looks should not take priority over how it feels. We should also be careful not to neglect the bow ARM. We get sooo hung up on the bow hold that we often completely forget that the shoulder, upper arm and forearm are the biggest influencers on the bow hold. So for flexibility in the fingers and wrist we need to be setting up SOFT shoulders and elbows from the first lesson. if we don’t do this I feel strongly that we disable the students ability for flexibility in the wrist and fingers and then we start asking them to compromise in the body in order to get something that pretends to be flexibility.

*disclaimer – just my opinion. Would love to hear your thoughts.

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A little help to develop vibrato

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Rachel Cooper on the return of the Benedetti Foundation’s Global Sessions

Ahead of the Benedetti Foundation’s second round of Global Violin Sessions, foundation tutor Rachel Cooper talks to Florence Lockheart about how the Sessions are promoting freedom and experimentation in music education.

Rachel Cooper at the Foundation’s Saffron Walden Sessions in September 2021 © Sara Platt

The Benedetti Foundation’s virtual sessions return this month with Global Violin Sessions: A Cultural Exchange Part 2. Running across three weeks (18 April – 8 May), the sessions combine instrumental teaching with cultural exchange, following the evolution of a tune as guest artists from across the world make it their own. Session participants will record themselves playing the compositions for a virtual final performance released on 22 May. 

After being played by founder and artistic director Nicola Benedetti, this year’s tune will be passed to guests Aly BainPhil Cunningham and Jenna Reid representing Scotland, the Ayoub Sisters representing Egypt, and Timothy Chooi and Laure Chan representing the concept of East Meets West.

Read the full article on Classical Music (free registration)

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Join Rachel this September

https://www.benedettifoundation.org/school-age-musicians As part of the Benedetti Foundation’s mini virtual sessions, Rachel will be running a ‘Bow Stroke Boot Camp’ for intermediate violin/viola players this September!! Come and join her.

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Parent talk

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Facebook live Friday 27th 3pm GMT

Please use this web link below to come and join me to play through Suzuki book 1

Rachel will be playing through book 1- join her

Posted by Rachel Gabrysia Cooper on Tuesday, 24 March 2020
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Increasing motivation for practice

I currently teach lots of little ladies who love jewellery. I decided to use an idea I’d seen and get them to build their own bracelets with different coloured beads depending on how much practice they’d done each week. Pink = 4days practice, silver = 5 days, gold = 6+. They also get an extra silver bead if they do any review pieces during the week. They are really enjoying it and find the little competitive element motivating! I also have some young boys too and we are using the same idea but with key rings! (Of course if they want to have a bracelet they can do that too)!

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Encouraging a positive and focused environment

I bought these colourful magnets a few years ago and they have become my number 1 tool for group classes. The students earn them in the lesson when they do great things. If they collect all the ‘magic beans’ they all get a sticker. It is another great tool to get the class working as a team.

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Correcting a collapsed left hand

This is a simple soft top slap band from eBay. It’s a fantastic way to get students to open up the left hand if they have a tendency to collapse the hand. It is very important to make sure the violin is supported with the weight of the head and a strong posture BEFORE trying this.

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Practice motivation

Rachel’s students are collecting petals each week for the practice they do. During group class they can also collect raindrops, sun beams or leaves for the flowers. This is to encourage team work And motivate them to practice more at home. We will also make a rainbow at the end of term if the flowers are completed!