August 2004

Today will be very busy, because my mom, sister Madeline and I are packing to go to Vermont tomorrow!! Mads and I are going to Kinhaven, a two-week long chamber music camp. Kinhaven is one of my favorite places in the world, and I can't wait till we get there!! Unfortunately, while we're busy packing, practicing, cleaning and last-minute shopping, my grandfather and step-grandmother are going to visit our house. They came from Chicago to do something unrelated to us, but are just dropping by, I think. (This time I'm determined not to be dragged away by my grandfather to the computer, where he will show me his endless picture supply of tropical fish or exotic kangeroos he met three years ago on his trip to Thailand, or wherever (though these things can be interesting I don't think I'll have time for them today)).
Anyway, last Tuesday I had my fourth mandolin lesson. I'm not sure what I think about this teacher. He takes the longest time to explain the simplest things, and he isn't very good with words. It also seems like he's hyper-coding everything so that I have to try very hard to get an answer for a question like "Should my arm be positioned like this, or a little farther back?" I don't know, some lessons are really fun when I can understand what he's saying. I don't have to see him for two weeks, anyway.
In other news, the From The Top people called and asked if I'd like to be part of a benefit thing for the show, where they bring in "veterans" people who have already been on the show, and have people pay to hear them pay. That's really cool! Unfortunately, while I was talking on the phone, my 17-year-old sister had cut her first and second fingers on her left hand with a breadknife and was lying on the kitchen floor, seeing black spots. So as you can imagine I was very flustered when I picked up the phone, and didn't really hear half of what the guy was saying. But my mom talked to him again, and Lauren's cuts weren't too deep. At least she doesn't play the violin anymore. :)
Well, I'd better go start doing all the various things that need to be done. Adios.
--alice

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More entries: September 2004 • July 2004

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Mark O'Connor's method books -- released this week -- teach students using many styles of American music. Enter to win a set of the books this week, on Violinist.com. Photo: Deanna Rose