Practice Chains are Here!

Students are well on their way to filling their practice chains. It took me a while to figure out how to hang them in the studio, but an over-the-door set of hooks did the trick. One bead on the practice chain equals one full day of practice. Either the repertoire or the fact they get to see their practice accumulate is really motivating students to practice during the summer. Yay, on both accounts.

. . . and more than a month later . . .

Here we are, and it's post Honors Concert and post MMTA convention. I'm busily teaching summer students and we have only 3 weeks left in the teaching year of 2009-2010. I'm amazed that time just slips through my fingers like water through a sieve. I'm constantly confronted with the limits that time puts upon me. I'd just love to sit at the piano and sight read through every book in my studio, but that will never happen without the rest of my household falling down around me.

I've spent a lot of summer days with Camille, Narissa, Susan, and Merrily, deciding the pieces for the 2012 State Contest List. We've found some gems that we hope will go over well. Each year on the list I find so many pieces that are new to me. This year (2011 contest List) I've been enamored with Amy Beach's 'Barcarolle' and Moszkowski's 'Pantomime.' Up until I damaged my right wrist and thumb, that is . . . one day it just appeared. My small hands have always been a frustration for me. Since fracturing my right wrist a couple of years ago, I've had trouble reaching even an octave. After spending one evening playing pieces with a lot of RH octaves, this little pain in my thumb showed up, so I've got to let it rest for a while so it can heal.

Nothing profound, here, just enjoying summer and life with my family.