I just wanted to say a few words about when students leave my studio.  I’ve lost a few students recently, but gained a few as well.  I do not require contracts from students, so basically people can quit whenever–I probably should start making people sign a contract that they have to give one month notice, but I really don’t want more paperwork…

There are two ways people leave the studio.  The best way is that they tell me, either in person, over the phone or email.  It’s really fine!  I understand that finances or other life events, or other activities get in the way of violin lessons.  When you sign up for violin lessons, you are not making a lifetime commitment (like I have ;)) so of course I expect people to leave at some point.  Ideally that would be high school graduation for my younger kids, but I don’t actually expect that.  Sometimes people leave and ask if it’s okay if they change their minds later and sign back up.  Of course!  I do not hold grudges against people who leave (or at least haven’t yet 😉 ).  I can’t hold time slots, of course, but if our schedules permit, then any former student is more than welcome to become a current student again, no worries at all.

The other way people leave the studio is to just stop coming to lessons.  I hate this way.  One week they won’t show up.  I’ll leave a message.  And never hear another word again.  I never know whether it was something I did, or if it was a financial decision, or if the family all died in a horrible accident, or they simply didn’t consider me or my time important enough to notify me that they wouldn’t be continuing.  That really bugs me.  I would be hesitant to take somebody who left under those circumstances back, though, I am a forgiving person by nature.

I do miss certain students who have left, and I also miss students that I have left (moved away, changed schools, etc.).  But people come and go, and all I can do is hope that I have made a positive impact on their life in some way!

I’m feeling very sleepy today.  I taught all morning at Child of God, came home for lunch, and will shortly be headed off to the St. Louis School for Ballet to teach four students (one new, one viola 🙂 ).

The students at Child of God are excited because we will have an opportunity to perform for the school at the beginning of December for “Grandparent’s Day.”  I love getting ready for performances–it gives the kids a goal and really encourages them to work hard.  I try to make performance as low stress as possibly by planning far in advance, doing lots of “practice” performances, and talking through every step of the performance, starting with walking onstage, to bowing and walking offstage.  Obviously some of the students will still freak out a bit, but if they know their music really well that helps so much! I cannot emphasize that enough–as adults we often perform pieces we do not know that well, but for students, they MUST know it forward and backward.  Otherwise you are just setting them up for disappointment, and performance at that age should be about success and fun.

I thought it would be fun to include a few pictures of the space where I teach.  I really like the room I get to use at Child of God.  It is for art and music.

As you can see, the room is fresh and new looking, and is a great place to teach.  In case you are wondering, the tennis balls under the chair legs are to keep the floor from scuffing.

Well, today wasn’t as bad as I thought!  Last night I was really feeling pretty down.  I’m better now.

What happened today?  Well, most important, and unfortunately, Chris didn’t advance in his audition.  That’s okay.  He worked hard, and there are always more auditions.  I’m also glad he doesn’t seem too upset!  The longer I am in this world, the angrier I get at auditions.  But that’s another story for another day 🙂

Teaching was better than expected!  My large class this morning begged for a game, so we ended up playing “Simon Says” for a bit and that went really well.  We also worked on a fair amount of songs and did pretty well with posture.

The next school was hit and miss.  Some of the students hadn’t practiced all well.  I did a pretty good lecture about that at the end of my class.  Some of the students were GREAT!  My three most advanced students there (all girls) were just fantastic today.  I assigned them various three part Christmas carols to start learning (rotating the melody/harmony parts) and asked them to go in a different room and get started while I worked with the less advanced students.  After about 20 minutes they came back and I asked them to play through a little of what they had done.  They didn’t think they were doing very well but I was pleased!  I reminded them they were just getting started and by December would be great.  One of the girls had been concerned she would just be bored in orchestra all year but by the end of that she was GLOWING.  I’ll have to keep challenging those three this year as I think they can really do well.  The other kids need a bit more guidance, and a couple of them were being very negative (i.e. “I’m bored!  I’m tired!”) today and I did end up giving a bit of a lecture on attitude and practice that I hope will make some impression.

Tomorrow is another day 🙂