Teaching Update
I’m still alive out here, just a very bad blogger. Actually my excuse is a good one, I’ve been busy with teaching!
If you are a regular reader, you may know that I’ve decided to take a break from grad school and do some more violin teaching. I spent a few weeks in December panicking about how I would manage, but then the calls started rolling in. Of course, all the calls don’t end up being students with lessons, but I’ve had enough inquiries to keep me busy. I now have 15 students, two classes at The Shedd, and two classes at the Village School. The Village school also includes organizing their violin music program.
I have had plenty of time for knitting and spinning, and have kept the projects flying on the needles. I got an amazing box from Tammy, my KMKS partner. I’ll post pictures soon. I liked the yarn and pattern so much that I immediately cast on and now I’m close to finishing.
Strings and Yarn 
Congratulations on your successful transformation from student to teacher. Your students are lucky to have such a great teacher. I hope you enjoy this time to the fullest!
Thanks Gray! I am really enjoying this time. One of my friends here was just commenting on how happy I looked, and I can really feel a difference. It feels much healthier.
Just in case you didn’t think that you affected any of your readers, your comments about teaching inspired me to finally accept an offer to become the alternate conductor for one of the orchestras and the concert band at my daughter’s school. Basically I’m the permanent substitute and will also do ad hoc rehearsals. They seemed to be deaf to my constant reminders that I am grotesquely under-trained. But what a thrill!
This is simultaneously one of the most unnerving and enjoyable things I have ever done. My debut rehearsal with the orchestra was this morning, and it was fine.
Anyway, thanks for emboldening me by example to walk down a less obvious musical road where success is not assured.
-Gray
Thanks Gray! I’m so excited for you. Please keep me updated with how it’s going.
So far things are going pretty well here. Teaching the large groups is proving a challenge, but it’s been good for me.
Thanks, Jodie. I cannot help thinking that it benefits me more than the school, but so far I have not had any truly embarrassing episodes. So far they have used me to rehearse Brahms’ 4th symphony and the Saint-Saens cello concerto, both of which they knew I know well. I have also been tutoring the weaker concert band members in The Pines of Rome, which is a much bigger challenge.
Good luck to you.