Category Archives: Teaching

Teaching

Day one complete!

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I drove to Ottawa, Kansas this morning. The drive took about five hours and was very easy. I found Ottawa University with no problem, and waited a bit to check in for my teacher training. My teacher trainer, Susan Kempter, seems terrific so far–she has a lot of new and different ideas from previous teachers I’ve had, but I think that’s good! One of the reasons I’ve become such a teacher training addict lately is that I have become obsessed with having more ideas for teaching. So far she is very interested in setting the left hand up to the detriment of the right hand if necessary, and more emphasis on scales and then arpeggios rather than tonalization. We did an overview of Books 1-3 today, and tomorrow will dive into the first Seitz Concerto.

We had three hours of class and then had to wait in line to get our keys/cards for the dorm and the cafeteria. The dorm is very nice. Two rooms share a bathroom, and I’m sharing with another woman from my class, Amy. All of the other women in the class (yes, all women, it’s almost always women!) seem very nice and friendly. The dorm is next to the track, which I spent awhile on this evening after dinner. The cafeteria is about what I expected, which is just fine, to be expected for mass feeding.

Tomorrow is an early start and a busy day! 8 am Teacher trainer class followed by various lectures and observations. I better get some rest 🙂

Teaching

Week off (ish!)

I finished my last wedding of the weekend, and tomorrow drive to Kansas for Suzuki Institute…a whole week of no teaching, only watching others teach…so it’s sort of a week off. Also a week off from cooking, cleaning, being yelled at by my cat…you get the picture…

I have acquired a few new students over the summer–some are completely new to violin, some just new to me. Transfer students can be tough at first (mine actually aren’t, but I have experienced this in the past.) The main problems can be either that the student has poor technique and needs help, or that you are just too different from their old teacher and they have trouble adjusting. It’s easier, in a way, to start a student fresh, without any bad habits or preconceived notions. Of course, I enjoy teaching all students, beginners and up, and often to get that “and up” I need students who have started elsewhere. (Or I need many years in one place!).

I’ll try to update with what I learn in Ottawa. I am not sure how hectic the schedule will be compared to Columbus last summer, but I’m sure it will be similarly busy. I can’t wait!

Performing, Teaching

Jury Duty

The past few days have been very busy!  Sunday was our recital at the Ballet School.  I had two students perform (for whom I played piano accompaniment) and they did terrific.  One was my viola student, and the other a wonderful violin student, who is also a talented artist.  I am very proud of both of them…recitals are so much fun for teachers, aside from the stress leading up to them.

Monday I had to report for jury duty (my first time).  I spent most of the day waiting around, and then got called.  I then spent over a day being asked questions, only to finally not get picked for the jury.  It’s amazing how long things seem to take.  I was also surprised–I thought everyone had had their car either stolen or broken into at some point in their life?  Is that just those of us who have lived in Cleveland?

I’ve also been preparing for my week in Kansas, at the Ottawa Mid-Southwest Suzuki Institute.  I’m taking Suzuki Volume Four teacher training with Susan Kempter.  I’ve read both of the books I found that she wrote, and have heard wonderful things about her from one of the women in my Pedagogy Class in the spring, so I’m really excited!  I’ve also been practicing my book four repertoire, particularly the Perpetual Motion by Bohm (the new piece in the revised edition).

It’s funny–I haven’t managed to do any of  the things I listed on my blog earlier in the month, but instead I have been to the City Museum with some friends, and had a blast climbing around.  I didn’t know how awesome it was there!  I do have a pretty severe fear of heights, so I wasn’t able to do everything, but I pushed myself as much as I was able, and was pretty proud of some of the climbing I did.  I have also spent two full days in Jury duty, and been to a ridiculous amount of social gatherings–a 30th birthday party, a going away party (for the summer primarily), two out of town friends driving through town…I suppose lists are great, but sometimes you just have to do what you can do, and I certainly feel (other than the jury duty) as if I’ve been productive this month. (Yes, I consider my social engagements to be productive events, why do you ask?)

Tomorrow I am going to see Opera St. Louis’s production of “A Little Night Music” by Sondheim.  I played the musical years ago when I was at Brevard and really loved it then.  Isaac Mizrahi (of Target fame) is the director and designer.  I have only seen one other opera in my life (Salome with Opera Cleveland), believe it or not!  Then again, isn’t “A Little Night Music” really a musical?  I suppose I haven’t seen too many of those either, and the only ones coming to mind were amateur productions.

Teaching

Recital Success!

Some images from the recital!  It was a great success–five students played, and did a wonderful job.  Several of the families brought goodies to share and we were able to go out in the back yard for the reception (wasn’t too terribly hot).  I hope to make this an annual event.

Teaching

June already?

Where has the time gone?  I can’t believe May is done already and June is here.  Suddenly several of my students tell me they are done taking lessons, at least until fall.  I don’t know why people don’t tell me this earlier, and in the past, I’ve tried to find out earlier, and I have been unable to.  The issue is that some people want to take only in the summer, so I fit them into my existing schedule, and then at the last minute, my schedule has new holes in it!  I suppose that’s pretty normal for a teacher though.  In any case, I am still accepting new students, and I certainly hope to have at least two full days of teaching at home by September.  I imagine as soon as I “fill” those days, something will change and I will always have an opening.  Such is life!

I’m astonished at how I can fill a whole paragraph talking about almost nothing.  Then again, that is the point of the blog, right?  To talk about very little?  😉

I have a few students starting up tomorrow privately who were taking group classes with me at St. Margaret’s.  I’m looking forward to seeing them again, as it has been practically a month since the class ended (with a successful performance, I might add!).  It will be nice to be able to give them each the one on one attention they need rather than having to focus on what’s best for the class.

Teaching, Weddings

Hot hot hot!

Today I had two outdoor weddings.  I was dreading them, as it was supposed to be very hot, and indeed it was very hot!  However, both weddings went very well!  Both groups of people were very nice and appreciative of our talents, and were very accommodating in regards to keeping us out of the sun and helping us with the cues we needed.  We got to play a few new pieces (we are always on the search for new pieces and arrangements) and played some old favorites as well (Queen of Sheba and Ode to Joy!).  Though I was exhausted and sweaty by the end, it was a good day overall.  We also took a few pictures for my friend’s website, and got to participate in a quasi-hay ride (from the ceremony site to the reception site of the first wedding).

What shall Monday bring?  More pottery…I have a variety of pieces that (hopefully) will be ready to glaze.  I think I am going to finish out this session (three more weeks) and then take a break.  It seems that pottery has been more of an added stress rather than a relaxing activity for me, and I need a break!  I have been enjoying it for the most part, but then I feel guilty for not going back between classes to practice, and of course then I get upset that I am not as skilled at it as I would like to be.  I will take the next three weeks as they go, and make an executive decision at the end of it.  The other option would be to take a “hand building” class rather than “wheel throwing”, but either way, I could always pick it up later.  It’s not cheap either, which is another good reason to take a break if I am not feeling inclined.

Tomorrow also will bring a good workout (either more attempts at running or perhaps weights with Chris) and a BBQ at a friend’s house.  Basically a very busy day off!  The rest of the week will be preparing for Sunday’s recital in many ways–teaching, cleaning the house, and other details such as the program, certificates, and snacks.  Should be a good week!