Mrs. Mattei's Private Lessons

972-838-2443 (home)      marilynmattei@att.net         214-457-0374 (cell)

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January News
I have more students than ever, and therefore, fewer opportunities for make-up lessons.  So.....PLEASE let me know ahead when possible if you child will miss a lesson.  If I can fill their usual spot, then I can make room for a make-up lesson. 

A word about repairs.....please take care of them promptly.  It's really hard for your child to do their best in band and in lessons if their instrument is not working properly. 

A word about replacing reeds....see above!
High School - Our main focus for the next few weeks will be preparation for the high school solo competition in March.  I have seen two different dates.  March 24 is the date on the band web site calendar, but an email I received from Mr. Harkey said March 10.  I'll have to get a clarification on that, and I'll make sure students have the correct date.  Each student must have an original copy of their solo to comply with copyright laws.  They may borrow a solo from another student, check it out from the music library (limited supply), or purchase their own copy.  For those who would like their own or cannot find one to borrow, I will be ordering solos on Jan. 13 to insure that they arrive in time.  I will include the cost of the solo on the February statement.
Middle School    Each student has received an individualized lesson packet of the material they will be working on.  That will be our main objective for the first half of the spring semester.  Our focus is on developing technical skills, faster articulation, and tone quality.  Students will also be working on music for an ensemble festival (Feb.) and UIL concert and Sight Reading contest (April).  I will always help them with any of that music that needs attention, but remember that our main focus in lessons is to improve overall musicianship.  The assignments I give them (in their packets) are designed to meet that goal and better prepare them to play their ensemble and band music.  Bottom line....they need to work on BOTH!  
6th Grade      Time to work "above the break" and going "across the break."  Your child should be able to show you what that means by the end of January.  We will also be learning several scales and scale exercises, so listen for those as your child practices.  6th grade students will also have the opportunity to participate in a solo contest later in the semester.  It's not until May, so we will not be starting solos until well after spring break.

Parents:  Do you hear your child practicing on a regular basis? (5-6 days a week)   Do you hear them practicing small sections of the music and repeating that section until it is better?  Do they use a metronome when they practice? If the answer to any of these questions is "no,"  then your child is not practicing effectively.  You can help by requiring regular practice.  It should be part of the regular homework routine.  Practicing over a period of several days is much better and will accomplish more than a long practice session one or two days a week.  Ask your child to play for you.  They've ALWAYS got something to be working on!  (If you really want them to think you know what you're doing, even if you don't, ask to hear the D flat concert scale!)

Here's what we call "Mrs. Mattei's Never Fails Method to Effective Practice."  Any of my students in grade 7 or above has heard this MANY times and 6th grade students will learn it soon!

*  Practice regularly, over several days.  Don't practice 3 hours, 1 day a week.  That's not EFFECTIVE.
*  Use a metronome.
*  Follows this process to effectively work out trouble spots.
     1.  Isolate the trouble spot.  It may even be less than 1 measure.
     2.  Practice slowly.
     3.  Repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat.  The goal is 4 times in a row correctly.
     4.  Gradually speed up the tempo.
     5.  Play a larger section of the music to see if you can "get in" to the troublesome measure. 
     6.  If you are still having trouble, practice the measure just before the trouble spot and follow steps 2-5.