http://helengliu.info violinist & educator Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:29:59 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Teaching group violin classes have always left me unsatisfied and wondering what could I have done better or more of.  Since this is my first experience teaching young kids at the Atrium School, I am overwhelmed at how fast time flies and how much more "stuff" we have to learn ... http://helengliu.info/2010/03/10/teaching-groups-left-hands/ The Waitiki 7's Adventures in Paradise is featured in "Prelude" section of the print edition of JAZZIZ Winter 2010! The Waitiki 7, a born-in-Honolulu ensemble loaded with virtuoso talent, updates the classic exotica mood on Adventures in Paradise (Pass Out)—a 13-track excursion that pays respect to the venerable music's roots ... http://helengliu.info/2010/01/19/review-of-the-waitiki-7-jazziz-magazine-jan-2010/ This holiday vacation has blessed me in more ways than one, but more importantly, I would like to focus on the musical aspect of this trip.  I had the rare opportunity to perform with the Honolulu Symphony in their final benefit concert.  Read this NY Times article for the disheartening ... http://helengliu.info/2010/01/19/farewell-honolulu-symphony/ This was a good day.  Everything went as smoothly as planned (thanks to Beatrice who was a great model in the dress rehearsal) and there were many great moments which I will share and reflect on. I don't know if it's because of the holiday spirit or the emotions that come ... http://helengliu.info/2009/12/21/atrium-solstice-assembly/ I had the privilege of observing and support teaching the beginnings of "dress rehearsal" for next Friday's Solstice Assembly.  This session would be similar to orchestra sectionals where we work with smaller groups of students (4-5 max) for short periods of time (20 min.)  The result was more focused and ... http://helengliu.info/2009/12/14/atrium-4-5/ Beatrice was back and we reviewed everything we knew from violin posture to lion hold to singing the matrix up and down.  We also learned that the unit theme for math class was symmetry and asymmetry, and tried to integrate that idea into our violin lesson.  First we discussed all ... http://helengliu.info/2009/12/11/atrium-lesson-4/ This week, since Beatrice was out of town, Randy and I had the pleasure of engaging the kids in some eurythmic activity that we think will help in their ensemble playing. We reviewed them on bunny ear bow holds, violin posture, and added a reflective discussion on their practicing ... http://helengliu.info/2009/12/11/atrium-lesson-3/ This will be a quick recap on the first day of violin classes.  When 12:30 rolled around, we began bringing in the compact little cases into the Explorers room while the kids were having lunch.  The first group (3rd graders) had 6 kids, so we formed a semi-circle with their ... http://helengliu.info/2009/11/10/atrium-lesson-1/ I just stumbled upon a new website by David Finckel (cellist of Emerson Quartet) and his wife, Wu Han (pianist). He has a large collection of mini-cello lesson videos that tackle the general issues of playing and of life as a musician. Even though he's a cellist, I ... http://helengliu.info/2009/11/01/thoughts-by-david-finkel/ This morning was a good one at the Atrium School where the Explorers (persona of the 2nd and 3rd graders) were each fitted with an appropriate sized violin and shoulder sponge, and his or her own foot chart. It was my first contact with them so it was nice to ... http://helengliu.info/2009/10/28/atrium-violin-fittings/