This is the Title of an Uncreative Violinist.:)

This will be a quick post, because I'm scrambling to get some practicing in for the Poulenc Flute Sonata that I'm accompanying later this weekend, and my first students will be shortly trickling in before I know it. I have to say, the Poulenc is really fun and unfortunately, I don't know too much about the composer or his works, so after this is over, I'm going to see what else I can get my hands on;  did he write a violin sonata?  I feel like he must have, but I've certainly never heard it or seen it. Last week, one of my strings started unraveling and I knew it was time to order new strings.  No wonder they've been going out of tune for awhile now.  It doesn't feel like I changed them that long ago, but I'm a little relieved that it's not completely me.  It's my bad strings:P Tomorrow is the beginning of February??  How did that happen so quickly! Oh, and congrats to my Dad who recently announced he's retiring after 35+ years of wor...

This morning, when I went through most recent posts on my blogroll, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was one of the winners on one blogger's giveaway for a Rocco DiSpirito cookbook.  Lol, I'm one of those people that NEVER win a single thing, so that was a nice little nugget of fun for today. Taught some students today, and I have some makeups to do tomorrow morning, but I'm not complaining. My last two students are combining lessons to work on their Bach Double, and it'll be more of  a coaching than a lesson, and I love those. A student unknowingly implied today that I looked like Catherine Zeta Jones; it was cute, but I don't think he he was trying to compliment me...he was just chatty and kind of blurted out every thought that was going through his head all at once:  "Have you seen No Reservations?  My mom is making tiramisu today...have you had tiramisu before?  I wish I could have it, I'm not allowed to try it...." After he was d...

To offset the negative post I wrote last night, I thought I'd focus on all the GOOD students I have.  Let's face it, kids ARE cute, and while some of them make me want to rip my hair out and stomp my feet in frustration, most of them never cease to amaze me with their intelligent questions, surprising wit and active imagination. Here are some of my favorites : 1) Two adorable sisters--  M & M.  The oldest takes violin; she prefers to have private (as in, she doesn't want her mother in the lesson either) lessons with me, because, as her mother puts it, she "cherishes her time with you".  I have never seen her fidget or lose concentration...not even ONCE!  I appreciate this.  Her younger sister takes piano, and while they are only 15 min. lessons due to how young she is, she is sweet the entire time, and if she makes a mistake, she turns to me and says "I'm going to re-do that one".  A perfectionist!  yay! 2)  G-- a cute, dark-haire...

A piano student comes in today--an eleven-year old boy--and sits down at the beginning of the lesson and we do our normal scales and Hanon before I hear the piece he was supposed to have practiced that week.  He proceeds to play and promptly stops after six measures and looks at me.  The conversation went like this: Me:  "That's it?  That's all you practiced this week?!  What happened to the rest?" Student:  "Well, yes;  but I practiced those six measures pretty hard."  (Those six measures SUCKED--Fingering was all wrong and weird, rhythm was wrong, and he wasn't even using his book, he was trying to "guess" what the notes were, even though he can read music) Me:  "Well, I think you could have practiced a little more than those six measures if you had tried harder at home...you're definitely more capable than this." Student (under his breath):  "Well...I think I did a pretty good job, and I tried so that should count ...

I admit, I've been avoiding writing a post--should I be doing other things other than writing this? Yes.  Is it absolutely necessary to write a post even if one feels that they have nothing interesting to say?  No.  But here I am! I don't know.  I guess it's kind of like when I call my mom just to check in:  most of the time I don't have any exciting news, but I don't want to go for days without calling just because I'm not able to say this over the phone: "Congrats! You're going to be a grandma, yay!"  That's what my parents are hoping for each time I call....but it's not going to happen.  Not yet, at least. So this particular post is like that.  I wish I could write about some spectacular happening in my life right now, something super duper exciting to engage my reader in.  But it's just 'ol me checking in.  I did absolutely nothing exciting over the weekend, except go to a gun show with my hubby.  But obviously, that was his...

Today, I left the house a little earlier than usual to meet the hubby for lunch; it was snowing when I left, but I hadn't read any weather reports and wasn't really expecting any school cancellations.  Into the afternoon, however, it kept getting worse, so I ended up leaving my studio early and coming home.  Nice, yes, but I still will have to make up those lessons.  Le sigh. Right now, my husband is in the kitchen trying to improve upon the dinner I just made.  He usually doesn't have to do that, but tonight I admit, dinner was a flop.  I've been setting aside these recipes from Food Network magazine for my weekly plan.  There was a whole wheat spaghetti and turkey meatball recipe I thought sounded good at first, but then I kept putting off making it all week.  I finally did it tonight because I didn't feel like making a pit stop at the grocery store for anything else in this weather.  It sucks.  It's bland and boring.  I don't think ...

About a year ago, I remember writing about how I wanted to cook more meals at home and eat out less--for both economical and health reasons--but that fizzled out after less than a week, and since then, I don't think I've successfully lived through a full week without copping out at least once for takeout.  I thought that if I planned the whole week's menu on Sunday, it would prevent me from caving and stopping at some drive thru or getting takeout--dead wrong.  Half-way through the week, if I looked at what I had planned on the menu and decided I didn't "feel" like that anymore, I just got something else different and thus, ruined my week long plan. It's only Tuesday, so I probably shouldn't raise my hopes up too high, but I've been cooking at home since Sunday and not only has it been therapeutic, but it's made for a MUCH happier husband (I caught him jumping up and down for joy last night after he asked what I was making), a feeling of fulf...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html A friend posted this article from the WSJ on Facebook, and I loved it so much, I bought the book that part of the article is taken from for my Kindle.  It's a good read, and I found myself laughing out loud during the parts that were just so typical of the 'strict Chinese mother'.  I myself didn't particularly experience as hardcore of an Asian upbringing as the author's two daughters--and most second or third generation Asians--did, but I do see it among certain relatives on my father's side, and as a violin teacher, I notice the difference in parenting styles b/t East and West. The book is called Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua and I found it particularly fascinating as a teacher (and perhaps everlasting student of the violin myself) to catch a glimpse of how the stereotypical matriarch works with her child regarding academics and music lessons.  In this case, the a...

...this is how my husband spends his time at work:P http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk8OHd5jzyQ&feature=player_embedded

Don't ask me why, but for whatever reason this morning, when my hubby asked me if I'd like to go to the gym (his gym, not the clubhouse gym which is smaller and on the premises) I grumbled and promptly pulled the covers over my head and left him standing there waiting for a coherent answer.  After some patient waiting, he correctly presumed that I had fallen asleep again and decided to go to the gym alone.  As soon as he left, I sat up in bed in a panic realizing that I was about to sleep in WAY too late and that that just couldn't happen today.  So I got my butt out of bed and dashed off to our small gym--although nice--which only has treadmills, not an indoor track like the Urban Active one that Ryan is a member of (I should probably get a membership too, so it forces me to use it). I only did a 5K run on the treadmill, which actually is the most I've ever done on a machine (it's just so much easier for me to go longer on rural roads and pavement, but it's ju...

Hmm...almost 3pm and only one student has canceled so far.  Another called to check and see if we were still having lessons, and since I'm already here [I left only an hour 1/2 early, lol] I told her we were.  I really hope there aren't any "no-shows"--people just assuming there aren't lessons and not bothering to call or email, because then that's just a whole lot of sitting around.  I do practice when I have little breaks like that, but sometimes I don't get a whole lot done during those snippets of practice time because once I start, I hate to stop--especially when I think I'm making headway on something. I brought my laptop with me to the studio so I can check email and weather updates throughout the evening. I know I'm lame and behind the rest of the world with no iphone, blackberry or smartphone, but what can I say? I was brought up in a frugal, no nonsense home and married a fellow cheapskate who shares my frugal, no frills outlook on life...

I made split pea soup last night for the first time with the pressure cooker.  Wow.  That thing is amazing.  I was a little timid at first about opening the lid, so I let it sit there longer than needed.  I finally got the nerve to handle the pressure release valve slowly and I was amazed at how creamy and 'done' the soup was after only a couple of minutes.  The only other way I'd be able to get that kind of texture with a bean or lentil soup is if I put it in the food processor, which I always try to avoid doing. Maybe one of these days, I'll do a house wide search for my camera's battery charger so I can start putting some darned pictures on here. Here's the recipe for Split Pea and Ham Soup for the pressure cooker: Pressure Cooker Split Pea and Ham Soup 1 pound split peas 3 cups diced ham bone from ham or smoked ham hock (optional) 3 carrots, diced 3 stalks celery, diced 1/2 onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 bay leaf 3 tablespoons chopped...

Because I dropped my violin at the shop last week for some major cleaning and fingerboard leveling, I couldn't--of course--practice these first few days of the new year.  I'll be picking it up sometime tomorrow, hopefully. I did not get around to using the pressure cooker last night, but I found a split pea and ham soup recipe that claims to only take 4 min. to cook, so I will try that tonight.  I just used my new aeropress for the first time today and made a nonfat latte; tastes like any other latte I ever made as a barista.  I think I may have used too much espresso grind--it's really strong.  Now, I just need to get some flavored syrups (sugar free), and it will be like I had never quit working at Starbucks.  I'm glad I got this, because I have a sorry addiction to Sbux and after working there off and on for three years and discovering just how over priced their drinks are (in ratio to how easy it is to make the drinks) I will definitely feel less guilty fr...