Suzuki Trained

I'm actually really sad my Suzuki teacher training class is over.  It was really fun and super interesting.  My teacher, Pam Devenport, has had so many exciting teaching and learning opportunities.  It was hard to soak in everything.  Plus, the six of us in the class seemed to really get along well, so it was fun working together and just joking around.  

Pablo, Alexandra, half of me, a random girl from the first year class,
Karen, Susanna with demon eyes, Peter (my teaching partner), and Pam

On Sunday, we had our final festival.  It was a play down with the entire School for Strings cello department, so we started with the most advanced piece and worked backwards (adding more and more cellists each song) down to Twinkle.

My student, Anna -- age 4, came to the festival.  She jumped in with the big Twinkle crowd, plucking some of the melody.

Getting all situated.

Pam, my teacher, checking in on Anna.

Getting ready...

Apparently we were really concerned about something :)

This cracked me up.  Marcus got some great pictures.

Our little concert go-er.  Notice his dog on the chair :)

Guess he was confused too???

Getting all ready to begin.

One last run through to check sound balance.  

I love watching the bows in sync.

I love Karen's hair here.

Sasha announcing the concert.  He's the director of the school.

An opening Twinkle

Back row is Karen, me, Susanna, Pablo, and someone we didn't know

Building up the numbers.

Pablo and Alex, a SfS faculty member

Maureen and Alex leading the group.

Franz our sweet, and a little crazy, pianist :)

me, Elizabeth (a faculty member), and Susanna

This is such a great video of Tarantella.  

Chase decided to help record.

Marcus and Chase watched most of the concert in the lobby with this view :)

Now that you've finished your long-term Suzuki teacher training course, 

what are you going to do???

I'm going to DISNEY WORLD!

My First Suzuki Festival

This weekend, I was able to help with the festival at School for Strings, where I am taking the Suzuki teacher training course.  My post was to help get the cellists organized who were under five years old-- they sat in the audience until their turns, which were toward the end of the concert.  I took a couple pictures and videos, and I'm posting them more so I'll have somewhere to keep them.  Two of the four videos uploaded, so feel free to enjoy some Twinkles :)

The line up of cellos.  A few were violin sized! Cute :) 

The lady in the green sweater helping get everyone ready is my teacher. 

The classes I observe every week are taught by the guy in the front of the kids. 

This video was the first piece in their concert.  They always start and end with Twinkles.  The cellists were all on stage, and you can almost see the violinists in the front of the audience.

This is the Pre-Twinkle class.  The kids are 3-5 years old.  Sorry it's not zoomed in any closer. I took the picture quickly while lining other kids up to perform.

This is the Pre-Twinkle class performing their bows and Ants.

And while I was off organizing those tiny Twinklers, someone else was apparently also having a crazy day.  Sunday's are always exhausting for him.  Poor little guy rolled to him stomach and crashed.  I guess we have a stomach sleeper.  :)

Back to School

I guess I really am pretty crazy since I decided to do the Suzuki training program at the School for Strings.  Not that enrolling was the crazy part (because I think it will be a fantastic experience) -- it's the timing.  Last week was formal registration, and Monday was the first meeting for class.  Plus now I'll have to trek into Manhattan probably twice a week for classes and observations.  There's nothing like starting a program when you're full-term!  See, I'm crazy, told you.  Haha.  It would be nice if our little guy would come at a time to minimize the classes I have to miss...  But anyway, I really think it will be a great class.  (One down, two years to go!)

There is one who may not enjoy the fact that finally I'll be using my cello more.  Another napping spot may be occupied.

Here's a funny picture.  It was taken about two seconds too late, but this same little one does not like me reading my manual.  She enjoys sitting on the books a little too much.  :)

And then, once she was okay with me reading the book, she decided to take over the pens.

Maybe she'll observe my lessons once I'm the formal Suzuki teacher.  For now, I'll be the one observing other teachers, reading about teaching methods and how people learn, and memorizing Suzuki songs.  But for some reason, I'm sure all those in our apartment will be learning those pieces as well.  :)

Benjamin in the City

Well here's a fun story.  I really wanted to take pictures throughout this adventure, but I couldn't since I was the only person there (besides a billion people in Manhattan of course).  So I drew pictures on my computer to help you visualize the excitement.

It starts with me.  

                                                 

   So here's me originally.

     

And of course, me now.

With the belly.

And here's me this afternoon.  Dressed for an audition/interview.  

I have been looking into starting at the School for Strings in Manhattan this fall.  It's a two-year teacher training course for the Suzuki Approach.  I had been considering a program like this for after college, but we made other plans at the time.  Guess what-- it's offered two places around the country.  One being the program I looked at before, and the other is this one in Manhattan.  So I went to the orientation meeting a couple weeks ago and scheduled this interview to keep the option open.  And so today, I was off to the city to play my solo and have an interview with the school director.

So naturally, here's the next picture in my story.

Yep, and me with the cello.  On my back.  Again, picture Manhattan in the background.  And I was off to my interview/audition.  You'd think it couldn't get crazier-- girl, pregnant, dressed for an interview, with a cello, ...  oh wait... 

...IN THE RAIN!

Seriously though.  Lots of rain.  I was soaked.  My shoes.  Pants.  Basically everything but my head and cello :)  (Again, picture crazy Manhattan in the background and two subway transfers.)  It was a pretty ridiculous afternoon.  Haha.  

In case you were wondering, the interview went well.  Somehow I managed to decently play an audition piece after way too many months of not practicing.  I was pretty nervous to say the least.  And now we have some time to decide for sure if I'm starting with the program in the fall.  But at least the option is there, and it would be a great experience and credential to have.

Here's the only actual picture of the event.  

Benjamin, my cello, and me heading out to the city.