whew!

wow.
was i only gone for 8 days? if feels more like 3 weeks. and i think i learned enough to fill that three weeks! {and how cute is this year's logo?}

i did three hours of observation a day, another five hours of class, and then an (optional) 2-3 hours of concerts on top of it all! {most of which i attended} 2 papers, and one presentation, 41 pages of observation notes, 17 repertoire sheets, and more than half a notebook full of notes. seriously, i have a huge new callus from my pen. i just hope it all makes sense when i read over it later this week...

and while all that sounds like {and was} a lot, i've come to the realization that i have so much more to learn! but i really can't possibly explain how much i learned, and what it has meant to me. i came back a better teacher, a better person, and then i remember this: i'm a suzuki certified teacher now! wow. it's a pretty amazing thing and just hasn't really sunk in yet.

{me, attending the institute as a child}

it's pretty cool to do teacher training at the same summer institute i attended as a child, but on top of that, i also got to see 2 of my former teachers {who were there teaching for the week} they are both hugely influential people in my life and it was so exciting to catch up. really, i was running around all week like a kid in a candy store.

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{accompanist velma, little sister, teacher jean, and me- after a recital way back in 2001}

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{jean and i now}

{teacher carl, me, little sister {holding my beautiful violin} with fellow student and friend josh}

{carl and i now}

and a new person to add to my "influential people" list- my teacher for the week, nancy. quite an inspiration. and she's aweeeesome!

 it really was an amazing week, surrounded by amazing people. {and lots of little kids running around with violins, cellos and maybe even a viola or two...}

i hope all of you have been well also. i'm happy to be home and catching up with you all!