More on golf…The Practice Range

I am fascinated by what I’ve learned from being on the golf driving range on a more frequent basis recently, and how many similarities there are between the golf practice range and the practice rooms in the typical music conservatory.

What to practice on vacation

With the holidays approaching, I thought it might be useful to suggest some approaches to practicing while on vacation, either physically or during a break in lessons.

Dr. Chu’s Shoes

You might wonder about the source of inspiration for my commitment to high-heeled shoes (and skirts) when I teach. Well, I admit that at heart, I’m a girl’s girl, and I love shoes, clothes and jewelry.

Golf versus Violin

I’ve recently become a student again in golf, an endeavor which does not come at all naturally to me, and to which I’ve had to dedicate myself to practicing in order to experience enjoyment.

Here are some reasons why I believe learning to play golf is similar to violin:

1. Posture and position are fundamental.
2. Mindfulness is necessary for improvement.
3. Discipline leads to mastery and enjoyment.
4. The challenges never end.
5. It’s so much more than “how far did the ball go” or “how many songs do you play”.
6. Giving and receiving instruction is a hands-on process, requiring feeling as well as words to direct the mind-body connection.
7. Purposeful practice is much more beneficial than mindless repetition.
8. Attitude toward learning is rewarded in the long run.

December 9th concert

YES, we are playing at the annual holiday luncheon for FamiliesCAN, a local nonprofit organization benefiting families of cancer patients, on Saturday, December 9, 2006.

Our performance will be at 2:15PM. We will rehearse at 1:00PM at the Palo Alto Hills Country Club, the same venue as the performance.

Teaching Assistant Program — Coming Soon!

Beginning in January 2007, we will launch a new Teaching Assistant Program. Mr. Christopher Mah, an alumnus of the Betty Haag Academy and Dartmouth College, will be our first Teaching Assistant. “Mr. Mah” recently joined Google as AdWords Coordinator, and is a highly trained violinist, former soloist with the Magical Strings of Youth on concert tours to three different continents, and former member of Dartmouth’s Men’s Cross Country and Track and Field teams.

We’re honored and so lucky to have Chris involved with our program!

Just a few words on the purpose of the Teaching Assistant Program…

Come to our open dress rehearsal — December 2nd!

You might have missed our Bay Area public debut at the Stanford Shopping Center back in October, or you might just want to see us again! In any case, you’re cordially invited to join us…

Open Dress Rehearsal

Saturday, December 2, 2006, at 9:45AM

Cubberley Community Center, Room H-1, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto

Twenty students, ages 2 through 7, will be featured in this dress rehearsal, as they prepare for an upcoming concert. 

You will gain unique insight into how a performance comes together in the final stages of preparation. There will even be a selection of festive holiday carols performed on violin!

Immediately following the dress rehearsal, there will be a free informational seminar for parents interested in exploring enrollment in The Music Within Us program for their children in Fall 2007. 

Meet Dr. Lisa Chu and hear more about our approach to lifelong learning and music appreciation through violin training.

Using video cameras in the lesson

As most of you know, I’m a strong proponent of parents’ using video cameras to record every lesson. Many of you have taken this advice, and of those who have done this on a weekly basis, 100% have told me that it is a useful (if not essential) tool in their daily practice.

But as with all tools, it is how one uses the video tapes that determines their utility. Below are some of my tips on filming the lessons as well as using the tapes at home in your practice. I hope some of our “die-hard” parent videotapers will add their comments here as well.