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!

Cat, Teaching, Weddings

Stuff on my cat

This is my cat.  We call her “Fatty”.  Okay, so it’s not a terribly nice name, but it is an incredibly endearing nickname.  Her given name was “Oistrakh” and she was one of a pair (the other cat, since deceased, was “Heifetz”).  But the name “Oistrakh” proved to be too big for such a sweet kitty, so it never really stuck.

Here is my best attempt at putting “Stuff on my cat“.  As I’m a violinist, you can see my tuner and metronome are there!  My students tend to like my cat–she is usually very friendly and sweet to them, very affectionate, and she is SO soft and furry.  Occasionally she causes a distraction in the lessons, but I think I keep it under control enough…after all, young children need an occasional distraction, right?  The funniest thing about her is that she absolutely hates when I practice.  She doesn’t seem to mind most of my students’ playing, but she hates mine.  I assume it is because either a) she detests violin playing at a professional level or b)on average, when I play, it is much higher and louder than any of my students, and thus hurts her ears more.  In any case, I just wanted to share those pictures–the carpet in the one picture is on the floor in the room where I teach.

I stopped by Target today for a variety of things, and visited “the One Spot”.  For those who aren’t familiar with Target, the One Spot is an area near the front where everything is $1 and is usually just a bunch of cheap junk.  However, for a violin teacher (or perhaps any teacher?) there are often great finds–today I got a bunch of pencils (Toy Story, Hello Kitty, and just random colors) and some stickers.   I loved pencils and stickers as a child, and today’s children do too.

Tomorrow I have two weddings/receptions.  I am playing both with my good friend Ranya, and one with Chris as well, so I’m looking forward to them…as long as the weather holds up!  It looks potentially stormy, and definitely hot.  However, I have learned that an “LBD” is a wonderful item for summer outdoor weddings.  (That’s a “little black dress,” for those of you less inclined to abbreviate things.)  As long as I am out of direct sunlight, I should be fine.

Teaching

Memorial Day weekend

It’s a busy time of year!  Lots of weddings (three this weekend) and recitals to prepare for (the kids, not me).  I’m setting up my summer teaching schedule, and looking forward to a few new students (still more openings if you are interested!).  My home recital (next weekend) is neat in that I have several adult students performing as well as the children.  One told me this would be his first violin recital ever (and he has been playing off and on for many years).  In fact, I think only one or two of my students have performed before (I have several beginners) so this will be a wonderful experience.  I am going to try to serve punch afterwards–I remember loving punch at recitals and church events as a child.  I am not sure how to go about procuring a punch bowl, other than, I guess, buying one, but I’m thinking.   I also am considering making chocolate peanut butter brownies (any excuse to bake!).  I am starting to get nervous about the recital–like I’ve mentioned before, this is the first one I have hosted, and I just hope it goes well.

I think I’m starting to get over my disappointment from the other week.  I’ve been practicing again (now with more drone!) and working up a little piece to play for my students.  I had a wonderful time yesterday playing quartets with friends (granted, it was a wedding prelude, but nonetheless FUN, and, if I do say so myself, we sounded pretty good) and I am definitely pursuing more teaching work for the fall.  Things have been slow going here, but I think it’s going to be fine.   Perhaps I’ll take a page from “Lost” and just let it go 😉

thoughts about violin, teaching, running, life.