Playing tourist

On our way to the Idaho Suzuki Institute mi compadre and I had a more leisurely drive on the second leg of our trip this year, not needing to check in until late afternoon.  We stopped for gas and a picnic lunch in Baker City, Oregon.  We found the park we visited last year easily, but missing the first turn and the second being closed for construction meant a fairly lengthy detour through the historic downtown area.  After we finally found the park from the back side and had our lunch, we decided to go back to see some of those interesting buildings.

This is the Geiser Grand Hotel.  If we had been PAYING guests we could have moved further into the lobby and taken better pictures of the stained glass skylight. 

I looked with interest at the photographs of early settlers on the wall, too.  Wondering if any might be my wandering ancestor who traveled the Oregon Trail.  As far as I know he didn't live in Baker City, but we don't really know where he ended up.  I liked this embroidered Oregon Trail display.

After spending quite a while in the gift shop as well as looking at some of the beautiful architecture of some churches, we continued on our way, thinking we would arrive at the top of check in time.... until we passed the "Mountain Time Zone" sign.  Oops.  How could we both forget that?  Oh well, we still arrived in time to stop for groceries for our dorm breakfasts and lunches, just didn't get to unpack before heading off to dinner.

Strings Adjudicator Words of Wisdom

Every year I try to attend as much strings adjudication in our local music festival as possible, in addition to that of my own students.  The adjudicators are usually highly qualified teachers, and there is a lot my students and I can learn from them.  This year we had William van der Sloot at our festival.  I will share here some bits from my notes.  I have extensive notes, so I thought I would break them up into several blog posts.

Perform every chance you get.
Play WITH and listen to your accompanist.
Always be thinking and listening at least one note ahead, know where you are going.
The adjudicator's scores and comments are only an opinion of how you played THAT DAY.

"The greatest enemy of art in music is tension."  Yehudi Menuhin
Looking out at the audience can cause loss of focus.  Watching the bow is a better alternative.
Do more than just play everything in the score ("honest" playing); bring the music to life. The bow needs to reflect the music.  Find moments of tension and release.

Watch You Tube.  Have heroes.  Know the stars of the day as well as the historic ones.
Use GOOD speakers for listening to music on computer.
We can base our movement and sound on our stars.

Always sing your music.  Notice your breathing and transfer that to your playing.
Be careful to develop good vibrato habits right from the start of learning to vibrato.
Pull rather than push the sound.
Support the sound and stay strong with either more bow or more weight, even when playing more quietly.
The bow hand should be soft and like the springs (shock absorbers?) of a car.

If we play beautifully, even little accidents don't matter too much.  Beautiful is better than correct.

Part 2

Characteristics of Advanced Students: List 1

Here is a list developed by violinist, David Strom.
I have been putting these nuggets up in small sets weekly or so on my studio announcements for the beginners and intermediates to learn to think and act and eventually become like advanced students!  I thought I would include them on my blog as well.

1. Practice slowly - never faster than easy.
2. Get ready carefully.
3. Never give up.
4. Don't whine or complain.
5. Practice in small nuggets - then put into context.
6. Practice to make easy, practice to make clear.

Not your mother's orthotics!

Growing up, I knew a few kids who had to have special shoes.  They were for correcting something about the way they stood or walked and usually they hated them.  I didn't pay a lot of attention, but I know they weren't always the most stylish thing out there.

I finally decided to do something about my back issues and went to see a physical therapist to see how I can improve my posture and strengthen my back to support my crooked spine as it ages.  Well, one of the first places she looked was my feet!  She noted a fallen arch resulting in over-pronation of one foot.  This compounded the effect of a slightly shorter leg which might be part of my back problem. The prescription was "stability running shoes".  Didn't even know such a thing existed!  So out with the old runners and in with this pair of Asics which have firm arches (different material in the arch section which is more dense) and a heel counter which doesn't give much side-to-side.  As it happens these are a great fit for my narrow feet which like a wide toe box, as well.

As much as I like these shoes, they aren't always appropriate for every occasion.  I've been keeping my eye out for new sandals for a while.  I saw some in a store a few weeks ago which caught my eye.  It wasn't the fashion that caught my eye, but the shape of the sole.

These are Orthaheel Porto III slides.  The arch and heel cup in these also are meant to counter over-pronation!  And bonus to that, having all three straps velcro adjustable means a perfect fit!  Check out the video HERE. Interestingly, after wearing them full time (indoors and out) for a few weeks, I have the impression that my leg/foot is learning to stand with less pronation even after I take them off.  Is that possible?

Big changes

Moving in with Dad's help...

Moving out with Dad's help...

The cure for the common cold?

I am a believer!

Last month I came down with a doozy of a cold - shortly after son number one. It was recommended to me by someone who had a doctor recommend it to them.... to use home made nasal spray. I googled a recipe and found this: http://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/how-to-make-your-own-saline-nose-wash/

The Neti Pot idea does not appeal, but a spray? Why not? I didn't have a proper nasal sprayer, so used a (well washed) spray bottle from my lens cleaner. A little awkward, but it worked.

The cold was still nasty, but it did seem to phase out pretty quickly after I started using the spray.

This was really much more convenient than my previous sure cure, "tear therapy", which required spending an entire day reading the saddest book I could find and resulted in puffy red eyes and a drippy (but not stuffy) nose.  The spray dripping down the back of the throat really does taste like tears, so I'm sure it works the same way.

A week or so ago son number one woke up all stuffed up. He'd had a sore throat for a few days he said, and now was coughing, etc. Here we go again! Sure enough, a few days later I had that scratchy, sore throat feeling. :-(

But I mixed up a new batch of the nasal spray and started using it right away, several times a day. I also gargled some - I always do that to try to wash out some of the nasty bugs when I am sick, and I think it helps. But THIS time... I had the sore throat for about four days, and a bit of swelling of the lymph nodes, but my nose never stuffed up at all, and today I feel completely well. Son number one is still coughing. Next time I'll chase him with the spray bottle before he so kindly shares!

A Cello Lesson from Brinton Smith

Brinton Smith, principal cellist for the Houston Symphony and associate professor of cello at Rice University has written an excellent article titled "Common Themes" in this month's ASTA magazine Cello Forum. "Bits of hopefully practical advice my students are tired of hearing." He has shared the article on the Internet Cello Society forums HERE. A very worthwhile read for any cello teacher or student.