Teaching

Target’s Onespot

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I made the error of going to Target today when I didn’t really need anything.  I did need to make a quick return and pick up shampoo, so naturally I spent quite awhile at the onespot (where everything is $1).  Even though I am in the process of reading a book about how giving rewards to children doesn’t work…I purchased quite a few stickers and pencils.  There were BATMAN stickers!  And pencils!

I had a student today who came in with his mom and both were upset as they had been having a lot of trouble practicing.  Practicing is always the challenge–playing the violin is great and fun.  Practicing the violin can be super dull, like pulling teeth.  I didn’t have as much advice as I wished I did.  (This is a fairly new student for me, had three or four lessons).  I gave him one of my practice charts where you do the list, check it off, and then (though you can practice more) technically you are done.  I tried to be very specific with what he should do, in the hopes that, even if he didn’t enjoy the practice, the finality of the short list would make the practice session go by easier.  It seems that this student has never been “into” practicing, so this will be an ongoing project.  The student is (I hesitate to say it, but) very talented, and a quick learner. The problem is (naturally) he gets bored quickly, learns easily, and doesn’t want to spend extra time perfecting things.  I can see my challenge will be to keep him feeling like he is doing new things while continuing to work on old things.  My other challenge is to keep the family happy enough that they stay with me, as I am really enjoying this student.  (Of course I like all my students, but it’s nice to have a child who is not one of my beginners!)

The one thing I didn’t suggest was any form of bribery/rewards.

Any practice suggestions from my readers?

Weddings

Solo violin at weddings

Lately I have been booking more solo violin weddings than ever. Though I still think the ensemble is a little bit nicer, there is something easy about solo violin…I can play whatever I want, improvise/repeat/cut VERY easily, I can blend from one tune to the next, I don’t have to coordinate my entrance with anyone. Plus from an organizational standpoint, I only have to play myself (or hire another violinist to fill in) and don’t have to worry about getting two or three other people to play.

So, YES, I would love to play solo violin at your event! I can play a wide variety of tunes, and I’m sure you will love it 🙂

Weddings

July lull

July is becoming very slow. This week several of my students are out of town or taking off for various reasons. Additionally, I have a Saturday completely FREE. NO weddings!

I do have one on Friday though 😉

I had four weddings last weekend. The last was my trainer’s wedding, and we stayed after to hang out. It was a casual backyard wedding and a lot of fun. They set off fireworks from the roof afterwards! I would post a picture but all of the photos I took are just plain awful.

I created a facebook page for the “Frantillo Strings.” Just to be clear, that’s Frantill-o. Not Frantiy-o. It’s not very exciting yet–I need more pictures of us during events. That will help! Any past clients reading this and want to help out?

I’ve started a book titled “Punished by Rewards” by Alfie Kohn. The premise is that if we only do things to get the reward we don’t do those things as well. I have only read a few chapters so far however. The book was recommended by Susan Kempter at Suzuki Institute the other week–she does not give rewards to her students. Learning is (I guess) intrinsically its own reward. In any case, I’m trying to stack up new ideas for the fall, for my new classes.

I also got a sweet little Mr. Mozart finger puppet/bow topper. I can’t wait to try him out on a little student.

Books, Teaching

Did you say something, Susan?

I’m currently reading a book by that title. The author is Paulette Dale. I’m not generally one for “self-help” books, but this book is written to help women gain confidence with assertive communication. I am fairly assertive, but sometimes I find myself agreeing to things or letting people get away with rude behavior and then later kicking myself. The author gives advice on how to deal with various situations and people, and how to assert yourself without being rude or pushy. I like to be agreeable and generally consider myself to be a nice person, but of course that leaves me open to getting walked on. I also sometimes have trouble asking for what I want or need, or at least without using a lot of unnecessary apologies. I find in my life that men generally just ask for what they want and get it, and women beat around the bush, hemming and hawing, and then complain when we don’t get what we want.

I’ve gotten better at asking for money and telling people what I charge for things (lessons, weddings, etc), though I still feel apologetic about it. I shouldn’t, I know, and I also know that my rates are really too low for what my expertise is, but I am working on stating the rate without using a question or being apologetic.

Unrelated:
I love coming back from Suzuki camp and then teaching…it’s so inspiring! I have been having the BEST time with my students as of late and really trying to incorporate some new ideas into the lessons. The time really flies by–*starts saving to go again next year*

Cruise

Cruise planning

July is looking to be a super lazy month for me.  Today I spent two hours at the gym, and then the rest of the day at home.  I did SOME housekeeping, but primarily I have spent the past few hours researching for my upcoming (August) cruise to the “exotic western caribbean.”  I was just refreshing my memory on all the activities I originally wanted to do this summer, and so far have fallen painfully short.  Nonetheless it has been a nice summer so far, even though I will end up doing only two more trips.  One is the cruise and the other a family vacation in South Carolina (my home state).

I am making plans with another couple for a Cardinals game and still want to hit the science center and zoo, but the other things on my list might not be happening.  Several of them were June only events and I just ended up being too busy!  July is quickly becoming my lazy month, plus there are a couple of interesting movies (Eclipse and Inception) that I really want to see in the theater.  I have a lot of running and workouts ahead of me, and also want to try some yoga.  I have a coupon for a week of bikram yoga that I should use this month and another coupon (one is a Groupon, one is from Living Social) for five sessions of yoga from another place.  Yoga and violin seem to go really well together, from what people say and what I’ve read.  Perhaps I should consider practicing the violin as well.

My pottery “journey” is finished for now.  I ended up with a couple of nice, almost round bowls!  I don’t know what to do with all my stuff–I have 20 or so containers of various sizes.  I don’t really feel most of them are nice enough to give away, and the ones that are nice enough I want to keep for myself!

It looks like I will be teaching violin classes at two new schools in the fall.  I’m taking over from a colleague who seems to have done an excellent job and is super organized!  They are both private Lutheran schools, one in St. Peters and one in Collinsville.  I look forward to a new challenge, and I know that I will need to do a bit of preparation to be ready.  I am not as experienced in class settings as I am in private lessons, but I am always improving.  I also have been reading quite a bit about classroom management and various learning styles and all that good child education stuff that I didn’t get as a performance major.  It seems that each year of my adult life I take on a new challenge in my career, and this year is no exception.

I’d love to hear from any readers with advice on Violin class teaching or any advice on cruising!  This is my third cruise so I have the basics down, but any port advice or thoughts would be more than welcome.

Weddings

Fourth of July weekend

Happy Fourth of July to everyone (one day early, yes, I know). I am having a wonderful weekend–last night two of my friends got married at St. Margaret of Scotland Church and then had a lovely dinner/reception at the Piper Palm House. I had played outside of the PPH, but had never seen the inside. It’s very nice! Congratulations to Sebastian and Yuna!

The happy couple!

Today I am off to the World’s Fair Pavilion to play for my hairdresser’s wedding. It is hot, but it could be much hotter. The World’s Fair Pavilion is in Forest Park and sort of looks down on the park. It’s a beautiful place.

I have a wedding tomorrow as well-downtown in the late afternoon/early evening. I guess that’s an easy date to remember!

Chris, me, and a friend (Laura)
outside the Piper Palm House


thoughts about violin, teaching, running, life.