She-Twinkles

serious and toothless

Tess leading group lesson on Friday...

So our last home practice was actually very good.  She got out her music stand (which always indicates "I'm serious today!"  Her review was very good.  I talked to her about the poor bowing at group and she was pretty upset because she hadn't realized what she had done and it bothered her that she had done something wrong... Anyway, the minuets were sounding good.  Still not getting the fourth finger extended well enough to hit the fourth tape.  But she is so aware of the problem now, and that I will stop her and make her start over if she does it wrong.

In the past two weeks Tess has lost four teeth.  It was hysterical watching her try to eat a hot dog today.  This is her new toothless smile.

up down with the bow, Please let's come to a slow...

So yesterday we had group lesson.  At the end, after doing a lot of rhythm exercises, Alicia had the kids do some review pieces... From May Song to the Twinkles.  She played the piano accompaniment and let the kids take turns leading the songs.  Tess put up her hand for O Come Little Children to lead.  Of course, she had the bowing all wrong and started on a downbow, which was really awful to watch for the whole song as the rest of the kids were doing the bowing properly.

I am sinking into a state of violin despair.  I have become a terrible home teacher.  We are just not as motivated as we used to be.  Our household has become out of control busy.  Excuses excuses.  It's a vicious cycle.  The less we practice and the more her technique deteriorates and the more the review pieces become rusty, the more I hate practicing and lessons, and the whole thing degenerates.  That's where I am right now.  I am also in "Nutcracker hell", which happens every year since Jules has been 4 years old.  This is Tessie's first Nutcracker.  I need to slow down and enjoy all this, but no one will let me.  Can we have music recitals in October rather than December???  Why does every darn thing in the world have to happen in December???

remorse

Not much progress to report.  We had a lesson yesterday and it was good to see Tess concentrating.  Alicia said that she is seeing more fluidity in Tessie's bowing, but we still have issues. She spent time talking to Tess about musical phrases.  Partly this was to help Tess remember when to do her circle bows in minuet one, as she was forgetting some of them. 

I told Alicia how frustrated I have been lately.  I got a bit sharp with Tess on Monday night.  Very UN-Suzuki behaviour from me...