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July 7, 2005 at 1:00 AM

It hasn't been such a great week for me and my violin playing. Despite all my good intentions after my lesson last Friday, I haven't touched my instrument since then. I also cancelled this week's lesson in anticipation of a very busy week at work which will leave me no time to practice.

On a good note, however, I and my family went to the Stern Grove Festival last Sunday, where the San Francisco Symphony gives a free concert every summer. I think we're going to make it an annual tradition for the girls. This year's program was typically audience-pleasing: Shostakovich's Festive Overture, Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 3, and Dvorak's New World Symphony. As an added treat, the concert was directed by SFS Resident Conductor Edwin Outwater, of whom I am a big fan. Not only is he talented and good-looking, he's also a really nice guy. I met him way back in 1991 when he was the music director of the Bach Society Orchestra at Harvard. I auditioned for him, and although he didn't take me, he was so kind and professional that I wasn't the least bit hurt. I think that experience may have been the only failed audition I ever had where I didn't feel terrible afterwards.

And, last night I was too tired to actually play, but I did finally watch some of my "The Art of the Violin" DVD, which I'd ordered something like a month ago but hadn't had time to watch until now. Very, very inspiring indeed. I'm going to make the effort and actually practice tonight, no matter how late it is or how tired I am.