Other stuff
Ok. Thanks so much for tolerating my silly vent--some of you suggested I "unfriend" the parent from FB: I thought about it, but ultimately decided that what goes around comes around. The way I see it, I did nothing wrong and really shouldn't be in a tiff about it. Yeah, I still find it annoying how she behaved one way w/ me but obviously acts another way with the new teacher--but it's not in my interest to bother even reading into it. Besides that, I still teach a student whose family is best friends with this former parent/son--it just wouldn't look good on my end. My solution is to stay away from FB. I hardly ever update my status like I used to, and I think long and hard before I consider posting something. Politics are a no-no and random thoughts are refrained when I put myself in others' shoes and imagine how silly they'd seem if I were a stranger reading those ridiculous rants.
I don't advertise my blog on FB so I'm not really worried about what I discuss on here. Of course, there's always a slight possibility someone I know may stumble upon it and know it's me, but other than my occasional vent, I try to keep the topics neutral. If I'm really worried, I guess I can always go back and delete:/
ANYWAY.
Less talk about teaching and more about other things. I've been trying to push myself harder in the practice department; so far, the minimum has been two hours daily, but I hope to increase it on the weekends. I've been working on excerpts again, and one in particular has been the bane of my existence: Schumann's Scherzo from his Symphony No.2. The metronome is a must for me when I'm going through it. It's a lot easier to pick out better fingerings when I'm going at a painstakingly slow speed, but once I increase the tempo, my fingers tighten up. Part of that though, I think, is a mental block. I get slightly fearful before I even play the first few notes and whatever passage I'm insecure about inevitably is shaky once I arrive. Ugh, I should probably take my own pedagogical advice I give to my students and stop myself from freaking out about the entire movement and instead, focus on "baby steps". One measure at a time, one phrase at a time, or one line at a time...until I can link them all together.
I've been playing the violin since I was 3, but in recent years I honestly feel like I just started playing. My outlook on how to practice is changing, as well as my view on approaching the standard violin and orchestral repertoire. I also have different reasons for wanting/needing to improve than I did before.
Have a lot of housework stuff to get done before I go out. I want to get a row in before I teach, too (esp. since I have that 5K tomorrow morning). Sigh, there's always an endless amount of *stuff* on my list to accomplish. It never ends.
I don't advertise my blog on FB so I'm not really worried about what I discuss on here. Of course, there's always a slight possibility someone I know may stumble upon it and know it's me, but other than my occasional vent, I try to keep the topics neutral. If I'm really worried, I guess I can always go back and delete:/
ANYWAY.
Less talk about teaching and more about other things. I've been trying to push myself harder in the practice department; so far, the minimum has been two hours daily, but I hope to increase it on the weekends. I've been working on excerpts again, and one in particular has been the bane of my existence: Schumann's Scherzo from his Symphony No.2. The metronome is a must for me when I'm going through it. It's a lot easier to pick out better fingerings when I'm going at a painstakingly slow speed, but once I increase the tempo, my fingers tighten up. Part of that though, I think, is a mental block. I get slightly fearful before I even play the first few notes and whatever passage I'm insecure about inevitably is shaky once I arrive. Ugh, I should probably take my own pedagogical advice I give to my students and stop myself from freaking out about the entire movement and instead, focus on "baby steps". One measure at a time, one phrase at a time, or one line at a time...until I can link them all together.
I've been playing the violin since I was 3, but in recent years I honestly feel like I just started playing. My outlook on how to practice is changing, as well as my view on approaching the standard violin and orchestral repertoire. I also have different reasons for wanting/needing to improve than I did before.
Have a lot of housework stuff to get done before I go out. I want to get a row in before I teach, too (esp. since I have that 5K tomorrow morning). Sigh, there's always an endless amount of *stuff* on my list to accomplish. It never ends.
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