All over Facebook people are lamenting today as the end of summer. It seems like yes, we are heading towards fall, but I consider that summer ended when I went back to work after vacation, or for kids it’s the first day of school, or for bloggers it’s when pumpkin hits the store shelves…today is simply September 1.

I’m still trying to work out my teaching schedule. I’d had it worked out but then a few people asked to switch…it’s tough because there just aren’t times to switch to. I want to accommodate people, but I’m not entirely sure this will all work out for everybody. I’m doing my best, and the thing is, I still have several hours of openings scattered throughout the week, they just aren’t the most popular hours…I’ve had to turn down some multiple child family student requests because I only have random 30 minute lessons scattered about though, which I hate doing. I hate turning down students, but time is finite and a weekly schedule can only fit in so many students.

Of course, my mornings are basically free. Sometimes when I get stressed over finances I start to think about trying to find paying work for the morning—maybe a part time job, maybe I should learn how to teach some of those group music classes for little kids?? Or should I be doing volunteer work, or trying to find something at a school? Though I like having my mornings free for rehearsals and practicing…it’s a tough call. I go back and forth. I usually teach for 20-22 hours a week, spend anywhere from 2 to 6 hours on phone/email/paperwork for that. I’ll have anywhere from 2 to 8 hours of rehearsal, usually 2 but that just depends and then maybe a wedding gig will take up 2 to 3 hours, or maybe it’ll be two that take up 8  hours in a day. Low end I’m at 24-26 hours of work, high end well over 40 hours. Then add in practicing…this totally ranges, but I shoot for 1 hour a day, and sometimes it’s much more. (And let’s not pretend I can do what I do without practicing at all, because I can’t.) Obviously I have extra time on some weeks (this week for instance) but other weeks I am totally swamped. Sometimes I think a more regular schedule must be nice—that’s when I daydream about only teaching and playing serious music at my leisure!  But the other thing about me is that I can get bored doing the same thing over and over. I love the variety of freelancing, though this year seems like I’m more of a private teacher than a freelancer…but I definitely have gigs on my calendar for the future.

And there you have it. My super interesting random thoughts for today. I’m off to get a haircut now and then teaching and hopefully squeeze in some practicing, since that hasn’t happened yet today. Priorities!