Paper Violin

One of the things I appreciate about the school our little miss attends is that all kindergartners have three group violin lessons each week.  This has been such a neat experience for her.  Before we started this program, I had considered starting her in piano lessons, but I suppose that's just because that's what I'm more familiar with.  So far violin seems to be a good fit for her and I won't be surprised if she wants to continue learning the violin next year (privately--Right now the school program is just for kindergarten.).  

For the first few months of school the students practiced with a paper violin.  We actually made these one evening at the school.  This is a photo that was in our local paper to update the community on this exciting and new program.  The paper violins let the students practice holding a violin, proper posture and how to be on stage. 

 (photo by Micheal Penn)

 A few weeks ago, the kindergartners had a concert to show off their performance skills for parents and grandparents as well as several of the other classes at the school.  Our little miss did a great job.  She was just as into performing at the concert as she is into the whole idea of playing the violin.

 (photo by Bethany Vaughn)

This program is new to the school and actually is one of just a few in the entire nation.  Boston, Chicago, New York, and little old Juneau, Alaska!  The credit for this successful endeavor goes to the amazing music teacher at the little miss's school, who was just named Alaska's Teacher of the Year.  We are so glad and blessed to have a kind teacher who is so passionate at what she does, fostering a love for music in our little one.
Yay for great teachers!

(photo by Michael Penn)

I'm hoping to soon post a video of the little miss doing her concert routine for daddy the evening of the school concert.  Stay tuned...