Tuesday, February 21, 2012

My Quiet Winter

You'd think I'd forgotten about my blog, it's been so long since I've posted.  

It's been a quiet winter.  Oh, wait!  Did I say that?  No, it's been a magical winter!  Going into the Christmas holiday, I had 6 students.  Coming out of that same holiday, I had 18 students!  I still don't know what happened, but I am ever thankful, and extremely happy.  

I had the honor of accompanying at a few elementary school holiday concerts, both in December and in January.  Chorus, band, and strings, depending on the school.  I've got to commend our young, aspiring musicians.  They worked very hard for these concerts, coming to school early for rehearsal, giving up recess for rehearsals, and most importantly, practicing at home!  Yes, even the chorus members had homework -- all their songs were performed from memory.  I was so happy to have been at each performance,  to accompany these groups, and mostly to have experienced their pride in their success!  

My own students are preparing for a mini-recital, to be held this next Saturday for the Alzheimer's residents of the nearby assisted living complex.  There are times when it is quite obvious that someone hasn't practiced since his last lesson.  Not so recently however!  The improvements these kids have shown this past month is remarkable.  We are concentrating on Mozart this year: not your standard elementary level repertoire.  I am so proud of the progress they all have made, learning new notes, new rhythms, dynamic shadings.  They have worked hard, and I can hear it.  I think they can hear it too, and are anxious to perform.   If I remember to take pictures, I'll post a few here next week.