Composing New Lyrics

I love spring break! When else would Madison and I have time to sit and compose new lyrics to a Suzuki violin song? We are really enjoying ourselves together this morning.

We are working on Gavotte today from Suzuki Violin Book 1. Here is what we came up with:

 

Gavotte

 

You can find a blossom in all colors here

In my flower jungle I grow lots of cheer

Velvet petals covered in the morning dew

Swaying in the wind saying, "Hi!" to you.

 

Repeat verse 1

 

When the sun goes down my jungle comes alive

Busy, busy, busy like a grand beehive

Getting dressed and cooking for the festival

Life at night is never very, awfully dull.

 

All my royal subjects bow to me.

Waiting, watching, all wanting to see

Three baby blossoms new to our home

Pipsy, Popsy, Tipsy all three.

 

Repeat verse 3

 

"Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!" they say.

Ready for a great big rest at day.

Moonlight is fading quickly away

Lighter, brighter. Welcome day!

 

Repeat verse 4

 

You can find a blossom in all colors here

All the flowers see the baby blossoms bloom

Watching them with pride, as they grow quickly up

Stretching to sunlight, they wait for rain.

 

Then the garden gates unlock and people come

Basking in the beauty of the garden sun

Flowers shine and glow and beautify the world

No one knows about the midnight festival.

Violin Lessons Via Skype

Madison had her first violin lesson via Skype today. It was awesome! The teacher is dynamic and fun. She had games to improve her form and sent me links for tips and lyrics for the Suzuki method to help her get the tunes stuck in her head.

There wasn't anything technically wrong with Ms. Helen in Singapore but I just had no idea what was going on because I was not allowed in the room with them during lessons and she wasn't responsive when I asked questions. I think this new plan is going to work out fantastically!

Here is how we I originally set up the iPad  wedged into the camera tripod to support it because Brian said the webcam wasn't working and I needed something I could point and aim down to let the teacher see her fingering and position.

It was awesome. But after seeing my sweet set up Brian decided to save the iPad from imminent death after a fall and figured out how to fix the webcam before the lesson began so we were legit with the teacher on the big screen. I think the only bummer is the timing puts her lesson at 5:30-6:30 pm on Thursday night which is our end of the week "Friday night" here in Saudi. So I guess we're giving up date night for violin.