tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post1157969487419377166..comments2024-03-24T03:26:42.819-04:00Comments on It's a Beautiful Life!: Life As A Musician||Learning, Practicing, & Mastering an InstrumentChelsyReneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03847869006579825787noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-6324312502173650212015-04-12T10:57:34.081-04:002015-04-12T10:57:34.081-04:00This is a great post! We are into music and my Dad...This is a great post! We are into music and my Dad read some of this to us all. Thank you for sharing!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00173691692501016280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-17266898241915971442014-12-04T09:25:32.296-05:002014-12-04T09:25:32.296-05:00Great stuff written by you i can say...I am also a...Great stuff written by you i can say...I am also a musician..I enjoy the folk music a lot...For the playing of the instruments we need a practicing of playing of the musical instruments....It is really appreciable that you had shared such a nice post....!!!!!!Binny Sharma Singerhttp://binnysharma.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-53021092869028786452014-11-10T13:58:56.982-05:002014-11-10T13:58:56.982-05:00I really appreciate you taking the time to type al...I really appreciate you taking the time to type all this out, Chelsy!Elizabeth.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15593938706150820634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-47351665437101992862014-10-27T20:40:30.192-04:002014-10-27T20:40:30.192-04:00I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to shar...I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to share about my book in your comments! I realize that many people already have a method that is great for them, and I definitely am not claiming to be an authority on the violin! :) I had absolutely no problem using Suzuki books in my childhood lessons, but as a teacher have found that many parents do not consider violin lessons important among their child’s busy after-school schedule, and therefore are not willing to continue lessons for any length of time if their child isn’t highly interested – and sadly, sometimes not even then. <br /><br />But my main reasoning behind the creation of my own violin method was actually simply to provide a written method book to teach violin basics at a level suitable for young children. As I am not formally trained in the Suzuki method, I don’t have the background to actually “teach” their method from the first lesson on, but simply have access to their method books beginning with “Twinkle.” Therefore, I didn’t have any materials to teach such basics as string names, bow hold, note values or left-hand notes, which actually is what motivated me many years ago… <br /><br />Hopefully my method can provide written materials to non-Suzuki trained teachers, like me, that want to give their students a basic foundation that will eventually into the Suzuki method books or the materials of their choice. <br /><br />Thank you again for your response! <br /><br />Susan Cook <br /><br /> <br />Susannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-24588212040772409812014-10-27T18:56:14.066-04:002014-10-27T18:56:14.066-04:00True! Thanks, girl! =)True! Thanks, girl! =)Chelsy Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12904782642821446762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-2446821897380420762014-10-27T18:55:45.600-04:002014-10-27T18:55:45.600-04:00Thanks for commenting and letting me know about yo...Thanks for commenting and letting me know about your curriculum! That's great that you are branching out and writing your own!<br /><br />I know Suzuki is tough...and I can see how the typical children of our day and age would think it is dry and unappealing, because most children these days think anything other than video games and TV is dry and unappealing. But in the end, the most dedicated students are willing to work through the rough music that isn't as "fun", and they are better students because of it! <br />Suzuki worked awesome for us-my sister uses it as a base but gives variety by incorporating a large amount of fiddle, sacred, and other types of music along with the Suzuki.<br /><br />Thanks for commenting and sharing your thoughts!Chelsy Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12904782642821446762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-51672021431354822402014-10-27T18:50:49.373-04:002014-10-27T18:50:49.373-04:00No, we haven't had vocal training really. We u...No, we haven't had vocal training really. We used a dvd once for a bit..and we have picked up bits and pieces of ideas on vocal exercising and such here and there. (but we aren't consistent with that and don't do it hardly at all!) We took one family voice lesson once. <br />But as far as formal, consistent training, no, we haven't for voice.Chelsy Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12904782642821446762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-58246192976955349202014-10-27T18:48:58.556-04:002014-10-27T18:48:58.556-04:00Thanks so much for the idea Ruth...that sounds lik...Thanks so much for the idea Ruth...that sounds like an awesome resource!! I will have to check into it!<br />And randomly...thanks again for all your work in hosting that SUPERB party...such fun and such great memories. =)Chelsy Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12904782642821446762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-38921098281464125642014-10-27T18:47:07.966-04:002014-10-27T18:47:07.966-04:00Thanks for suggesting those guitar books by Hal Le...Thanks for suggesting those guitar books by Hal Leonard; I will have to check them out sometime!Chelsy Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12904782642821446762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-19241489432452275302014-10-25T22:51:21.145-04:002014-10-25T22:51:21.145-04:00That's neat, Ruth. Are you able to select your...That's neat, Ruth. Are you able to select your teacher, or are you assigned one? Are the rates different for each teacher?<br /> KarenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-42928204070813993882014-10-25T13:41:48.288-04:002014-10-25T13:41:48.288-04:00Another thing I have noticed about myself is that ...Another thing I have noticed about myself is that learning with out a teacher would sometimes make me excuse my poor playing by saying that "if I had a teacher it would be so different and I would be so much more motivated etc.." but wait people! a teacher won't give you good work ethic! That part is up to you. And it doesn't work to blame others for something that is your own problem. I think back now and I'm like; "wow! how lame was I !?"<br /> I like this post Chels! :)Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08143901953241158382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-38990014441279881352014-10-25T12:45:53.216-04:002014-10-25T12:45:53.216-04:00After years of interest, I was finally able to beg...After years of interest, I was finally able to begin violin lessons at age 11… I did not have a “Suzuki” teacher, but did progress through a number of the Suzuki method books after studying the basics. I didn’t have a problem with the series at the time, but now as a violin instructor feel that Suzuki is somewhat dry and unappealing in our modern society, where children are accustomed to constant entertainment.<br /> <br />After graduating from home school high school, I went on to receive degrees in violin performance and music history, and after teaching music at the college level for several years, am now creating my own method book series, Cedric Celery’s Violin Adventures, to introduce young children to violin basics. Each book in the eventual four-book series features colorful all-in-one volumes, incorporating theory, technique and repertoire within a fictional storyline based on the character of Cedric Celery. Book One is now available on Amazon.com, with additional information, sample pages and free resources available on my website www.cedriccelerysviolinadventures.com. <br /><br />As the method is new and still in progress, it hasn’t yet had an opportunity for wide-spread use, but has been very successful with my personal students.<br />Susannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-41979169640225809472014-10-24T17:52:56.184-04:002014-10-24T17:52:56.184-04:00Thank you SO MUCH Chelsy for this super encouragin...Thank you SO MUCH Chelsy for this super encouraging post!!!!!!!!!!!! Out of everyone in my immediate family, I am the only one who so far does any thing with music. I do sing, and have been blessed with voice lessons. I play guitar and have been picking up the piano and mandolin.:) I play by ear (picking my own things out) and by reading music, but mostly be ear. That was neat to hear that you all play by ear; and I've heard of the Suzuki method! I'd eventually like to play the violin, and that would be what we'd probably use! <br />Thank you again- that post was SO encouraging! <br />Also, did you all have any vocal training? You all are amazingly gifted!!!<br />God bless,<br />Morgan Psalm 100:1-2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-77466070162410348512014-10-24T11:03:46.742-04:002014-10-24T11:03:46.742-04:00I haven't been able to find a good mandolin te...I haven't been able to find a good mandolin teacher around my area, but Artistworks.com is awesome. They use 'groundbreaking new technology' - Video exchange. It's great. There is a pre-recorded curriculum, but you are not forced to use it. When you feel ready, you video tape yourself, and send it in, and then you will get your response, usually in about 10 days. Pretty much all of the teachers are world-class mucisians, and several of them live in different countries even. It isn't free, and it can seem a little spendy, but it's worth it, I think. and when you compare it with one on one lessons, it is really VERY reasonable. some people even argue that it is better than one on one lessons, because when you video yourself, and then watch it before you send it in and think, man, I'm sure I can do better than that! So it really pushes you in that way! and they have pretty much a full range of instruments - classical strings, horns, bluegrass, many different styles of guitar, etc. I'm lovin' it!<br />Ruth Watson<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-32832183970986506492014-10-24T10:28:59.750-04:002014-10-24T10:28:59.750-04:00Well written and full of good information, backed ...Well written and full of good information, backed by experience. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-81863921656662072382014-10-24T03:23:38.074-04:002014-10-24T03:23:38.074-04:00I learned to play by ear, my mom and her siblings ...I learned to play by ear, my mom and her siblings had a gospel group when I was growing up. She started me on piano but I never really got into it. Guitar was what caught my ear. I've always played by ear but have used a tab from time to time, played in 4 rock and blues bands before hanging it up. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-81634762224400172902014-10-24T00:12:43.415-04:002014-10-24T00:12:43.415-04:00Hi! I was just curious to know- where do you get y...Hi! I was just curious to know- where do you get your fiddles and how much does one for an adult cost?Hannah P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17587768164841615968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-90063399179855956802014-10-23T22:49:20.898-04:002014-10-23T22:49:20.898-04:00This is a great post, and I love the part about pr...This is a great post, and I love the part about practicing! People tell me that they could never play like I can but I know they could if they practiced as much as I have! :) <br />This is good stuff! Loewens In Lovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06895997243193553853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-18201229125924835562014-10-23T22:48:46.954-04:002014-10-23T22:48:46.954-04:00Enjoyed your post and I agree with the phrase on v...Enjoyed your post and I agree with the phrase on vocals, "Sing, sing, and sing some more!" I took some voice lessons while in school and that was one thing they stressed, practice, practice! But I loved it! My husband plays guitar and is one of those you would call a natural, but even he has had to work hard! Didn't know if this would interest you, but he enjoys the finger picking guitar books by Hal Leonard. Its beautiful music and they have almost every stripe of selection, including a good selection of Christmas ones. I'm working on mandolin but as a mother of 3, 5 yrs. and under, well it gets kind of pushed back. Your posts are interesting!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-20353494753383739092014-10-23T22:20:14.423-04:002014-10-23T22:20:14.423-04:00Wow; as a piano teacher myself, I too am finding P...Wow; as a piano teacher myself, I too am finding Piano Adventures to be an awesome fit! I grew up on Bastien, and thought I could work with anything; it's the same stuff, right? I too am learning more all the time. And the video DVDs REALLY help! <br /> Thanks for sharing. I now work in a music store and get questions about guitar stuff too, so this info might help me with that toogodly-young-widownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-25058462612358718592014-10-23T22:15:45.625-04:002014-10-23T22:15:45.625-04:00Hi Chelsy!
Thanks for this post! Your mom soun...Hi Chelsy! <br /><br />Thanks for this post! Your mom sounds a lot like mine in regards to practicing. :) I have taken piano lessons for 12 years, beginning when I was 4. My oldest brother and I began violin lessons when he was 5 and I was 7. We don't have a classical violin teacher anymore, but we have 2 amazing fiddle teachers! <br /><br />Now that we've branched into bluegrass music, we have picked up many other instruments, but the one we've had the most trouble with is banjo. I've actually been meaning to ask you what books/videos your brothers used to learn banjo. :)<br /><br />Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to post. I so enjoy your blog!<br /><br />In Christ,<br />Hailey D. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640205432697388472.post-51273799864138465692014-10-23T21:53:35.562-04:002014-10-23T21:53:35.562-04:00Great post! I really enjoyed it. I love music. I&#...Great post! I really enjoyed it. I love music. I'm a big fan of classical music.:) I took piano lessons for four years till my teacher moved this Spring. I really enjoyed learning but wished that I could have learned more. I thought it was so funny that your mom said "we pay a lot of money for your lessons, and so as long as you take lessons, you are going to practice!". My parents would tell my brother the same thing! <br />I've tried teaching myself the Guitar and Violin but have really struggled with it and at this point in my life I don't really have the time to practice much. Maybe someday though.Salinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12547369055837757147noreply@blogger.com