Angelic Violin Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:14:00 +0000

Here are just a few of some of the key benefits of music training: (Take note parents! This training has lifelong benefits)

COGNITIVE & BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS 🧠

•Learning music is a "full-brain workout" that promotes the formation of new neural pathways and strengthens existing connections.

•Improves memory: The act of memorizing notes, rhythms, and melodies strengthens verbal working memory and recall.

•Boosts executive function: It improves the higher-level cognitive processes responsible for tasks such as planning, problem-solving, and managing attention.

•Raises academic performance: Studies consistently show a correlation between music education and higher test scores in subjects like math, reading, and language arts.

•Develops creativity: Music training encourages creative expression and helps students learn how to improvise and interpret musical pieces.

•Increases focus and discipline: Regular practice helps develop concentration, perseverance, and goal-setting skills that translate to other areas of life.

•Provides a shield against cognitive decline: Engaging in music from childhood may help build cognitive reserves that protect against age-related mental challenges, such as dementia.

•Emotional and mental health benefits Reduces stress and anxiety: Playing or listening to music can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, help regulate mood, and encourage relaxation.

•Boosts mood and self-esteem: Mastering a new instrument or song releases dopamine and provides a sense of accomplishment, which can elevate mood and increase self-confidence.

•Promotes emotional expression: Music is a safe and healthy outlet for channeling complex emotions that may be difficult to express verbally.

•Provides a therapeutic outlet: In clinical settings, music therapy has been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Social and cultural benefits: •Fosters teamwork and collaboration: Performing in a band, orchestra, or choir requires listening to others, communicating through non-verbal cues, and working together toward a common goal.

HOW IT BUILDS SOCIAL CONNECTIONS:

•Participating in group lessons or ensembles provides opportunities to form meaningful friendships and a sense of community with like-minded peers.

•Cultivates cultural awareness: Exposure to diverse musical genres and traditions helps build a broader worldview and respect for different cultures. Physical benefits:

•Refines motor skills: Playing an instrument requires fine motor skills, precision, and hand-eye coordination.

•Strengthens motor coordination: For instruments requiring both hands, music training enhances the synchronization between the two sides of the body. •Aids in rehabilitation: Music-based therapy has been used to help individuals recover motor function after a stroke or other brain injuries.

•Builds physical fitness: Playing certain instruments, such as wind instruments, builds lung capacity and respiratory strength.

TAKE TIME TO LEARN HOW TO SING OR PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. YOU’LL BE SO GLAD YOU DID! 😀

Spring Recital 2025!

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Tue, 27 May 2025 19:09:00 +0000

Whats the best way to get motovated to practice an instrument? An upcoming performance venue of course! Here are some fun memories of our latest sharing time. It was followed with a delicious and delightful fellowship meal together.

Inspiring Podcast on Creating a Musical Environment from the Womb

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 15:25:00 +0000

Building Noble Hearts has a lot of resources for parents wanting to understand how to nurture their child through musical education and environment. Listen and be inspired as you see how doing something as small as playing quality music to your baby before it is even born can foster an appreciation for good music and develop and train the musical ear. I will be adding more to this post as I discover more great podcasts for parent training. Start with this one.

Building Noble Hearts Podcast

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 16:06:00 +0000

I really found it exciting to be able to attend/participate in the annual Los Angeles Suzuki Institute training this summer in Claremont this past June sponsored in part by the Association of the the Americas Suzuki Music Association of California. For an entire week, teachers conducted training workshops for teachers, students, and parents, and every day there were recitals and group play-ins as well. The highlight was hearing a virtuoso violist, Matthew Lipman perform in concert. One of the take aways from this busy week was the motto, "Don't practice until you get it right. Practice it until you cannot get it wrong!" The gentle methods of correction and psychological ploys to help young people find music exciting was something I really resonated with. A momentum built up inside of me, and I decided to register in Santa Rosa just a month later for the "Every Child Can" introductory course for Suzuki teacher training. Suzuki had a dream that every child could benefit from a nurturing and loving musical environment that brought together the teacher/parent/student triangle which enabled a child to be the winner. Dr. Suzuki has a wonderful philosophy of child education that mirrors a Christian viewpoint. He respected the students and learned how to reach their hearts through a sensitive understanding of the a child needs for love, a kinesthetic learning, breaking skill sets down into small bite sized "dessert" chunks, and encouraging them with noble endeavors to master any skill. He excited them with group discovery classes and inspired in them a noble sense that all were valuable and capable of achieving anything they set out to do. Suzuki philosophy is one that encourages students to develop an ear by having them listen repetitively to music that they are learning just like they pick up how to speak their mother tongue by listening intently and repetitiously. Rooted in the Suzuki philosophy is the belief that learning to play music with the proper tone must necessarily precede learning to read musical notation. In other words, a beautiful tone is central to Suzuki training. So tone development begins with the earliest lessons. All technique is in service to beautiful sound.

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 15:29:00 +0000

Take the Godly Music Test

Ever wonder if what you are allowing to be poured into your ears is helping you to be closer to God or causing you to feel farther away from Him? Is it waking up your spiritual faculties or shutting them down? Christian Berdahl, of Shepherd's Call Ministries has created a special way to put all music through the checkpoint, or filter, of your conscience. Are you aware that certain types of music act as an alcoholic beverage or trance would in essence, by putting the mind to sleep? Certain music leads the brain to go into "alpha rhythm" within 30 seconds of being doused by ear. The place where it especially affects the person is called the prefrontal cortex (the location in your brain where you judge right from wrong), and some believe that this area of the brain is the very special place where God can speak to our minds. Marketers understanding the powerful use of the medium of music suggest that their clients are able, simply with their choice of music, to successfully manipulate patrons into buying more of their products. Bars and nightclubs are very well acquainted with the effects of the type of music that will best encourage immoral behavior. (One can guess how few would go to these places if they were playing classical music or sacred hymns!) Shepherd's Call is a very educational site which I highly recommend that you visit. No doubt can remain after hearing the impressive array of research that music is not amoral; music in fact has a very powerful influence on our souls, either positive or negative, with temporary and long range effects on the nervous system, hormones, moods, and thinking process. Find out more about the powerful speaking agency of the "music bed," and how it's body language is affecting your thoughts, behavior, and personality!

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 15:43:00 +0000

Check out these great exercises for improving bow control and tone production with relaxation. http://www.violinist.com/discussion/response.cfm?ID=20199

5 Ways to Keep Practice Interesting

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Thu, 28 May 2015 03:05:00 +0000

There are many rewards that come with practicing at home with your child. You have the opportunity to find out how your child learns new concepts, you have daily one on one time with your child, and you both get to experience music together which can be a great bonding experience. There can also be challenges with daily practice sessions and sometimes getting the instrument out and getting started is the hardest part of all.

Young children (I’m mostly talking about preschool and younger elementary school students) like to play. Often the problem with starting to practice is that we are asking students to stop (or postpone) something fun they want to do. It is a good idea to add in some fun and interesting activities to practice, a few times a week, to help keep it interesting and fun.

Here are a few ideas to get you started. . .

1. Pull out a game spinner or pair of dice: Rather than telling your child to play a difficult measure over and over, have them spin a game spinner or roll 2 dice to see how many times they should play it. It is amazing the attitude shift that happens when the dice tell them to play it 1o times vs. me as the mother. There are no power struggles involved which is great and the practice ends up feeling like a game. My rule is that the number has to be bigger than 2 or we spin again!

2. Line up favorite stuffed animals or dolls: If your house is anything like mine, there are bins full of stuffed animals and action figures – let your child bring some of them into the practice room. Have your child line them up and play to each one. A fun idea is to have them play one review song to each different stuffed animal.

3. Play somewhere fun and unusual: If the weather is nice (and you have a portable instrument) have your child take their instrument outside and play on the back porch or under a tree. Many students also love the sound when playing in a kitchen or bathroom. Sometimes the change in scenery is just what a student needs to enjoy playing that day.

4. Play Fishbowl: Write down each practice assignment (scale, review pieces, new piece etc.) on slips of paper and fold them up. Place them inside a bowl or shoe box and have the student pick them out one by one. Everything on the practice list will get accomplished but it will feel like a game.

5. Hold a Family Concert: Gather the family together and put on an informal concert for them in the living room. Students can play one piece or a number of them. Encourage them with enthusiastic applause :)

Straight Bows

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Fri, 08 May 2015 15:06:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Fri, 08 May 2015 15:04:00 +0000

Check out this cello tutorial on how to get a great straight bow stroke. Abigail McHugh.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nghyBDcPHkw

WEDDING MUSICIANS FOR HIRE

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 17:49:00 +0000

Looking for that special musical atmosphere for your wedding or special event that captures the beauty of the moment? Angelic Strings combines talented strings musicians and pianists to help you with your varied needs and will work passionately for you to create lasting memories. We offer classical and sacred violin solos, duets, and quartets engaging qualified professional musicians from the Shasta/Tehama counties; performed pieces that we think you will find especially suited and perfect for most any wedding engagement and/or church event. (With an advance notice of 1-2 months depending on timing and difficulty, we can play many other classical/sacred pieces as well.) Sorry, we are not for hire from Friday dusk to Saturday dusk. Available to travel up to 100 miles with extra fee. Please give us 3 days to confirm availability for multiple musicians. Use the contact tab to email us, and we will contact you within 24 hours. Thank you for your interest!

VIVALDI's Spring
VIVALDI's Winter
HANDEL's La Rejouissance
HANDEL's Air in D
HANDEL's Air in F
HANDEL's Coro
HANDEL's Menuet in D
BACH's Air from Suite in D (Air on G string)
BACH's Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring
BACH's Arioso
BACH's Sheep May Safely Graze
WAGNER'S Wedding March ("Here Comes the Bride")
MENDELSSOHN's Wedding March (Processional)
MOURET's Rondeau
BEETHOVEN's Ode to Joy
HANDEL's Hornpipe in D
XERXES's Largo
Gabriel's Oboe

Suzuki's Tonalizations: How to reach a perfect intonation on the violin

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 19:10:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 17:03:00 +0000

Get the best music stand light on the planet. Aria's 10 x brighter-than-incandescent options keep your sheet music lit with no bulbs to replace, fitting most sold-desk style music stands such as Manhasset. (My personal favorite.) Check it out!

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 23:16:00 +0000

Here is a helpful compiled list of glossary terms used when talking about the violin, to help everyone understand our common vocabulary. Short definitions are given so readers may get a quick answer, and there are links to more information. Here and there you'll find a few definitions that simply illustrate the quirks and history of the violin community.http://www.violinist.com/blog/laurie/201212/14226/

Hillary Hahn on Shoulder & Chin Rests

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 14:43:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2cYfL29SBU&sns=em

Rosin Talk. What's all the fuss about?

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:58:00 +0000

http://www.violinist.com/discussion/response.cfm?ID=20478

Mentone Sunshine Strings Band performs for local Senior Center

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 16:06:00 +0000

Mentone Sunshine Strings Band, a new collaboration of the Mentone Seventh Day Adventist Church, and led by Angelic Violin Studios director, Merrilee McCain, has put on its 1st gospel concert for Braswell Senior Center this past Sabbath, July 26, 2014. A special thanks to Julie Bowes for providing the springboard for this group in organizing several string bands to go out for the climax of her and Daniel Cerna's TAVAMP Summer Music Camp this past June. Several families from our church, including some of my private violin students as well as a visiting missionary family from Brasil, came with their musically gifted children to participate in our outreach to the elderly people in our neighborhood. With anticipation, having just finished a short run through of our program, some 20 of us drove caravan style to the Braswell Senior Center from the church parking lot. As we pulled aside the curtains in the dining hall, and circled the residents seated there, it was just a fitting prelude to seeing the sunshine of God's love circling them and filling their hearts with His joy as they heard messages of

hope in music. We were rewarded with happy smiles from appreciative listeners. This has officially become a regular monthly church outreach. The next event will be August 23, 2014 in which we will perform a similar program for another local nursing home. We praise God for the ability we have, both young and old, to be witnesses for Him to His glory in music ministry!

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 04:51:00 +0000

Working with young people at the TAVAMP Mentone Summer Music Camp this past week provided many opportunities to see God at work. TAVAMP stands for Teaching Adventist Values and Moral Principles. 30 some campers came to enjoy learning new instruments, including chimes, guitar, cello, violin, voice, piano, horn, recorder, etc. Things covered this year: basic and advanced music theory, sacred music principles, orchestra, a musical petting zoo put on by Nick Rail Music Store, master classes, introductory classes, performing for a nursing home as a group ensemble, putting on a secular and sacred music concert at the end of the week. Here is the final sacred music concert. TAVAMP Summer Music Camp Concert .

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 21:34:00 +0000

Watch the making of a violin....from start to finish, and be fascinated.Giglia Violins

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 20:36:00 +0000

Check out the calendar for this season and don't miss out on some of the best music around. Redlands Symphony.
http://www.redlandssymphony.com/concerts/virtuosity-at-the-redlands-bowl

The Do's and the Don'ts of Violin (or any stringed instrument.)

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 23:59:00 +0000

Violin Don’ts

By Geo. Brayley

Don’t let the rosin accumulate on your violin, as there is no tone in rosin; it stops up the pores of the wood, and, moreover, looks slovenly.

Don’t put the bow away in the case without unloosening the hair. If it is kept tightened, it will soon be useless.

Don’t hang your violin on your music-stand when you have finished playing a piece, as it is liable to fall and be broken.

Don’t break the hair off of your bow when one breaks; cut it at each end. You are liable to pull the hair out of the bow if you pull it to break it.

Don’t try to play in public what you cannot do well at home.

Don’t let the D string remain on your violin too long; remove it at least every two months, as it gets dry and hard, making the tone rough.

Don’t keep turning the pegs in tuning till the bridge falls down. Stop and look across the violin to see if it is straight. When the bridge falls it is liable to break.

Don’t let the neck of your violin hang down when you are playing and lay your head on it. It looks as if you were going to sleep. Hold the violin up.

Don’t let jealousy arise in the orchestra, and talk about one another behind their backs. It will soon demoralise the whole organisation.

Don’t write to the editor of a musical paper, or any one, asking the value of a violin that has a label on the inside with an old name and date printed on it, as he can tell nothing about it. A violin is valued for its tone and workmanship, and those labels are printed the same as circulars and pasted in the violin, to suggest that the instrument was made after the model of that maker. The genuine instruments are a rarity and their existence and whereabouts are generally known to connoisseurs.

Don’t put your violin away without wiping it dry all over with a cloth or chamois skin, as it preserves the instrument and saves strings. Don’t lay your violin down on its side by your chair during intermission of playing. Someone, not seeing it, may, in walking about, kick it to pieces. Better hold it, or put it in its case, which you can have near you.

Don’t let your music get all scattered and torn, when you can get at a store brown wrapping-paper to cover it. Music costs money.

Don’t get impatient with a pupil in giving a lesson. Remember you were not able to do much better yourself once.

Don’t have your strings of unequal size – the D string very large and the E string small. Get them of average size throughout by a string gauge, and when you have them right, keep them so. If you have no string gauge, save a piece of old string for your guide.

Don’t think you know all there is about the violin, for that height has never been reached yet.

Don’t stamp on the floor with your foot to keep the time; it is a disagreeable noise. Moving the right foot in your boot will answer all the purpose.

Don’t spit on the pegs of your violin to make them stick. Rub some chalk on them. If they are fitted and still slip badly, put a little rosin on them.

Don’t let any of the strings down when you are done playing, as it puts the violin out of order, and you break strings quicker.

Don’t think any kind of playing will do for some people, for your carelessness will soon be found out, engagements will be lost, and you will wonder why. Do your best at all times.

Don’t wind your strings around the neck of your violin; cut them the right length, and put the portions not wanted in a box in your case. They dry up quickly when exposed.

Don’t come to rehearsal at quarter-past eight, when eight o’clock is the hour given, unless a very satisfactory reason is shown. Be prompt, and people will learn to depend on you.

Don’t put a good violin in a damp place, as it will hurt it very much, and is apt to come unglued.

Don’t keep constantly shifting the bridge and sound post, when they have been put in their place properly. The slightest change makes a difference in the tone of the violin.

Don’t let your violin lie around on tables and other places, as it shows carelessness. Put it away in its case when you are done with it.

Don’t think you can neglect exercises and play the violin well; their study enables you to master your instrument.

Read 30 rules for students from our November 1890 issue of Strad.http://www.thestrad.com/latest/editorschoice/rules-for-violinists

Nick Rail Music in Redlands offers Instrument Rentals

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 02:55:00 +0000

Please check out the rent to win page of this local music center. They offer very nice rentals at reasonable rates as well they have insurance, and they will work with you as you trade up in size for the purchase of a brand new instrument. Great service!http://www.nickrailmusic.com/t-rent_to_win_main.aspx

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:44:00 +0000

http://www.bellflowermusic.com/rentals.html If you want to rent cellos for only $23.00/month.

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 00:07:00 +0000

Would you like to learn to play the cello? It's so easy with Eden Vaning Rosen's method. Learn about it HERE.

What Shoulder Rest Best for Me? Why is a Shoulder Rest so Important?

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 14:21:00 +0000

Using a shoulder rest is extremely important to maintain correct posture. It lends support and security, allowing the left arm to move more freely. Using a shoulder rest may also reduce shoulder tension and muscle strain.

There is another school of thought that a shoulder rest is unnecessary and players should learn to play without one, however personally, I am not a proponent of.

The general shoulder rest

The Kun Violin Shoulder Rest has long been regarded as the most popular and widely used shoulder rest. (However, the more economical, sturdy, and more cushiony Everest Shoulder Rest is catching up!*See Below) The Kun offers a wide range of adjustment to fit your violin size and the height of your neck. Many companies have tried to make cheap imitations of the Kun, do not be fooled. (The Everest Shoulder Rest below is NOT one of them.) Kun also sells junior sizes and collapsible shoulder rests for a better fit in violin cases. Two of the higher-end Kun shoulder rests are the Kun Bravo, made out of hardwood and brass fittings, and the Kun Voce, created from authentic aerospace-grade carbon fiber. Both the Voce and the Bravo boast increased acoustic properties. The Classic, Super, and Collapsible models are made from composite materials with brass fittings and latex-rubber feet.

The Kun is priced between $20 and $100 depending on size and style selected.

Shoulder rest for long-necked violinists

The Bon Musica shoulder rest is perfect for long-necked violinists, however it can also be used as a general shoulder rest. It has a longer metal platform that wraps over the shoulder lending greater height and stability than a normal shoulder rest. The platform can also be bent to a small degree to customize the shape.

The Bon Musica is priced at about $60.

The Wolf shoulder rest can adjust in height up to three inches. The platform can be bent for customized fit as well. The Wolf Forte Primo and Secundo are best-selling versions within the brand.

Wolf shoulder rests are priced up to $50.

The Everest Shoulder Rest ***** 5 stars. This personal favorite rest of mine is only for players who do not care to pay more than necessary for an accessory item but insist on the best quality. Very economical ($13.99 -18.99 on Amazon), this product does not, as I said, compromise on quality, is comparable to KUN, and is in fact now being preferred over KUN by many players who have discovered it. You can find scores of favorable reviews on the Everest Shoulder Rest here as well as here. It "grows" with your player to fit another size up (so select your size with this in mind), is fully adjustable, very cushiony & comfortable, and does not slip off the violin as many other kinds do, which can be very distracting and annoying, especially for young learners. You can just about hold the violin up by this rest itself. (But don't try it!) The rubber "feet" are very very nice so this model grips like no other I have found on the market. Please DO look into this model before buying anything else!!

Shoulder rests for short-necked and child violinists

The Play on Air shoulder rest is great for short-necked individuals, children or violinists who dislike the bulky hard shoulder rests. The shoulder rest is blown up manually with air and provides cushion and comfort as an end result. Play on Air shoulder rests are priced at $20 or less.

How Soon is Too Soon to Join a Local String Ensemble?

noreply@blogger.com (Merrilee McCain) — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 13:36:00 +0000

Wondering if you or your child can join a string ensemble and not feel overwhelmed? Don't let the thought discourage you from looking into this very worthy endeavor. Generally speaking, the guidelines for orchestra are that you have been playing for at least one year and can read music. For most people at the basic skill level, it is easy to lose your place in the music. But it does get easier over time, and there is no better way to learn sight-reading than to force yourself to do it in a group! A small group your violin teacher can pull together with other students is often the best way to break into playing with others. You can also look into joining a local church orchestra. Hymns are pretty easy to learn. Either way, this kind of involvement will go far to advance your reading skills fast. You may just surprise yourself at how quickly you can catch on & learn, and it's really a lot of fun!

Approach the director and make the request that you would like to try just playing the first note of every measure, or the last note in every measure. Just keep counting! Whatever you do will help your playing and in time you will become a strong asset to the group. I have seen very young musicians take off! The fun of the involvement with others and the exposure in this rich musical environment will definitely heighten your sensitivity to music and give you rewards to match your efforts, especially if you are patient enough to get through the first few months.

Be sure to ask me about the very good Family Gospel simple hymn series from The Violin Book for playing different parts and instruments in groups. Any age and ability can easily learn to play a hymn such as Amazing Grace, Nearer My God to Thee, Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee with the accompaniment CD, piano, or guitar. Perfect for church performances, family worships, and other special occasions. Your whole family will enjoy playing along together!