IrishOboe

So I’m about to start two weeks of sight seeing with Mom and Dad and I’m behind with my blog already!  Massively out of order, here is the past week before the two weeks before it . . .

I spent all Monday (Jan. 28)  morning putting together a plan for teaching piano.  Here I couldn’t curb my perfectionist tendencies and I think it might have been an appropriate decision.  It hasn’t happened yet, but I might get to start teaching eager little minds music using the medium of the piano.  My brain is going crazy with the possibilities.  :)  How fun!

I was able to do that in part because I'd written my conductus for satzlehre the week before while visiting Stephan.  I didn't even play through it as I'd planned to and it was well received.  I got a bit of it on video for you.  Mind you, the class is sight-reading, but it gives you some idea of what I'm doing.

2008-01-28_my_conductus_satzlehre.MPG

After Satzlehre I met with Lu and we played some Irish whistle music.  It sure felt good to play again, and what’s more, she had the book that I grew up with.  I always say I learned Irish whistle in college by going to local sessions, but really, one of the influencing factors was a gift to my sister.  My Dad’s folks gave her a whistle and a book and I’m the one who looked at it now and then.  Once we went trick-or-treating as Scottish girls and I played whistle after someone answered the door.  We got some interesting reactions. ;)  So, as you might guess I got a warm fuzzy feeling playing the songs again and imagining what I would say if as a little girl playing those tunes I could look into the future and see myself playing those same tunes sitting in the medieval torture room in Switzerland . . .

I must write this anecdote for posterity.  Heather and I made tape recordings with our Fisher Price tape recorder.  A few years ago Heather spliced some of the best cuts and made a CD for us.  It was a great present and one of the selections on it is a story by me, my crazy self, and creative I.  I remember telling stories and making up plays for myself all growing up and my uncle testifies that I would entertain myself on road trips by staring out the window and telling myself stories.  Some of the were quite morbid, and this particular story is about a ‘dying wedding.’  Mom always said I meant a funeral, but I couldn’t remember.  She may be right, but who knows?  In the story there is a girl name Marsha.  For some reason, some number of people had to dye once the page was turned (I must have been ‘reading’ a book to myself).  I am quite dramatic as I tell the story and at one point Marsha cries out (I’m paraphrasing from memory) “My name isn’t Marsha, it’s Cutta.  No, don’t call me Cutta, call me ‘Not Cut’ because I don’t want to be cut.  Yes, that’s my name, Not Cut.”  Where did all that come from?  Who really knows, but there’s a tune in the ol’ Clark Tin Whistle book called “Cutty’s Wedding.”

I’ll never catch up at this pace, but that always happens.  I’m not so much of a social person, but all of my socializing happened on Monday and I spent the day from 3pm being with people!  Work suffered, but it was all good stuff that I hadn’t been making time for before.  I had a fondue with Veronika, I talked with Mom and Heather on the phone, and I Skyped Stephan in Washington.  Then I had a miscommunication with Mom and Skyped her (she had accidentally called me with Skype and it lets you know if you’ve missed a call).  Well anyway, it’s the last week before vacation anyway, right?

Instrumental lessons were not as well prepare for but went alright anyway.  I’ve really had something click in voice lessons and my voice glides right into a beautiful place easily now.  I still have work to do, but it is so lovely to sing now!  We started an Irish ballad, and it feels so natural to do the little ornaments, whereas before they always sounded terrible.  I’m excited about learning some accompaniments on harp and learning to sing and play at the same time.

Thursday Rebekkah played in a piano recital and did a great job.  She got what it takes inside of her and I’m excited to watch her grow.

Today and throughout the week I’ve been dealing with lots of things that needed to be done for the trip but won’t bother relating the adventures.  I’m happy we have a basic plan and the major stuff is taken care of.  It doesn’t look like we’ll have good weather for the Jungfrau trip, but here’s hoping something will change between now and then.