So I had to remember about my blog…again…its been so long I can’t even find my last one! So if I repeat myself…forgive me…
Term two just began today! It’s shaping up to be our busiest term yet :/ We have a church service on Sunday where they want music presentations. Next, on the 25th we have a church dedication where they want even more music presentations. The next week we have ABRSM music exams…gulp. Then a month later we have our final term presentation to the parents AND THEN…the Kenyan Music Festival. Woof. The kids will certainly get their performing on :) it’s good for them…I wish I could get them to do more but getting them to perform in front of their peers is like pulling teeth without pain killers. I’ve tried motivating them in every way but nothing seems to work. I don’t get it…they’re more comfortable playing in front of complete strangers than people they know. Makes no sense. On the positive side…I just got a crap ton of new music :) EEEEE!!! It’s like Christmas :) So I’m hoping that the new music motivates them to practice and play for people.
I start up my lessons tomorrow and I’m looking forward to see if my attempts to create independence among my babies worked. I really hope it did…it will make this term for me soooooo much easier. There was a glint of hope around Easter…the orchestra got together and practiced on their own :X I was speechless, thrilled, and so, so, proud. I think they really want to make me proud…which is good but I’m also afraid that with all this stuff going on and all the pressure…it will take the fun they have out of making music…which is the last thing I want. I’m sure I’ll find something to keep them entertained…besides me :P
I also have a visitor coming in a few weeks!! He is a cellist so I’m looking forward to picking his brain about teaching baby cellos…I always have difficulty with the bow hold…its easy for me to do but…why is it so hard for me to explain it. You’d think that after teaching for a full year I would have it down by down. I wonder what I’m doing wrong. Any Advice?
On the positive side of that…I’m getting really good at teaching violin and viola…and I have had some really great motivation speeches…guess I just need more practice.
On a more personal note I’ve been working on growing a tougher skin…there have been some more rumors about me (go figure). For example, apparently I’m a whore. So woo hoo. It just frustrates me thinking that I’m working with adults only to find out that I’m working with children while teaching children. If you have questions about someone…why would ANYONE think that it’s right to not ask them? Or just forget about it. Most likely, it’s none of your business anyway. I figure it’s my house…I’m going to do whatever I want. If they wanted me to act a certain way it should have been brought up when I applied for the job. As long as my students are happy and get the lessons they require no questions should be brought up about my life outside of work.
Enough of that. I’m also worried that with the hours I work I’m getting burned out…I’m feeling more and more that maybe teaching in a public school isn’t for me. I miss performing and playing in an orchestra SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much. I can’t get to Nairobi enough! It’s so far :( I get to play in an orchestra once every three months. I perform less. It’s sad. It makes me sad. What I would love to do…is live in a city like NYC or Boston, play in a professional or semi-professional orchestra, teach private lessons, and do yoga for the rest of my life. I just…feel like there has to be more to my life then teaching 73 plus lessons a week and living in a town smaller than Potsdam. Lets put it this way…I want more for my life than this. That being said…I’m officially coming home in late November, early December. I can’t remember if I said that yet or not…
I think that’s all for now…
