| STRINGS
The Orchestral String family consists of the Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass. These instruments are sized to fit the individual player, from ages 3-83. Its never too late to start enjoying what these marvelous instruments have to offer. The string family in large or small groups allows for great "social interaction" with other musicians. Playing in orchestras or in smaller chamber ensembles can become a very rewarding and enjoyable life long experience. Learning to play these instruments as a solo player, although less "social," is equally full of enjoyment and self gratification. Although traditional teaching methods are used in the school systems and among many orchestral players in the area, Bravura Music Academy prides itself on its Suzuki program.
We offer group and masterclass lessons in Suzuki Violin, Viola and Cello.
This program depends upon the parents being heavily involved in the child's lesson and daily practice. Children in this program attend a weekly group lesson and a masterclass private lesson. We offer plenty of group and solo oppurtunities for performance. It is a terrific way to make solo violin playing a "social" event. While mastering the techniques of tone and technique on these instruments, children can supplement their education with theory classes in music reading. As the children develop fundamental skills, supplemental music is introduced for fun and seasonal performances. Children begin learning to read music once they have mastered basic technical skill and quality in tone production. This facet of learning however, is not a central focus to their instruction as it is in more traditional approaches. The parents are taught the task of note reading, rhythmic notation, fingering, bowing and phrasing to be of help during daily practice but the young student can focus on their playing skill and tone.
Just as a child learns to speak its native tongue before learning to read and write and understand grammatical structure, we learn to master the instrument before reading the music. One learns to read music, just as one learns to read books, with small steps. Note and rhythm recognition = Alphabet recognition, Staff location to finger application = phonetics and small words, Musical phrases= Sentences, Small pieces = Paragraphs, Larger pieces and ensembles= Chapters to Novels! We strongly suggest that children in this course partake in our Young Musicians and Music Adventures classes to expediate thier transition to reading when the time is right.
Our Tuesday evening repertoire classes are free to observe. You and your children are welcome to visit.
For those families not interested in this approach, we do offer traditional method string classes as well. It is not mandatory but helpful for the parent to be involved. As in anything that your child learns to do well and enjoy, their success will most often be in direct proportion to the involvement of the parent.
STRING TEACHERS:
Chelle Hawkey, has been playing the violin since the age of 8 when she found it under the tree on Christmas morning. She and her sisters then embarked on a journey into the world of the Suzuki Method that would transform their lives forever. Their world renown teacher, Linda Wear Fiore began teaching them one at a time as her full schedule would allow. Eventually, the three sisters were all studying and attending workshops and summer institutes with other world renown teachers, that continued to have an influence on their lives through college. Great Suzuki clinicians such as Linda Wear Fiore, Louise Wear, Terri and David Einfeldt, Rhonda Cole, Tom Wermuth, Linda Case, Mark Bjork and Shinichi Suzuki himself, worked with the girls and created a love for the method, the violin and music that became so deeply routed, that all three have made their living as professional musicians and teachers of this timeless method.
Chelle finished her personal study of the ten volumes and then started over with book 1 in pedagogy lessons with Linda Wear Fiore. And is currently certified in Suzuki Violin Instruction from ECC through Books 1-10. As she continued her personal violin studies, she also completed her teacher training with Linda and became her assistant while taking over the Community Music outreach program Suzuki Program at West Chester University. While attending University full time as a Vocal Performance Major, she continued to help Linda, direct the Suzuki program and teach for her parents music academy. She had a studio of 75 strong and was asked to be a clinician in workshops in the Greater Philadelphia area, Delaware and New Jersey. Upon completing her Bachelors degree, she moved to Tennessee to continue her music education and dream of performing in voice, she continued to teach the stringed instruments and founded the Bravura Music Academy.
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