exciting awesomeness!

how is that for a title, huh?

but it really is exciting awesomeness cause i'm famous now!
yes, it's an undeniable truth that i'm awesome and now everyone in the city knows it {of course you already knew of my awesomeness, didn't you? well aren't you smart for being friends with me before the fame. that's how i know who loves me for me and who just wants a mustang for christmas}

you can see the article written about me in manhattan magazine here {i'm on page 54}

and don't worry, i'm not letting it go to my head. my agent says i'm staying very grounded :)
 {but on a more serious note, i've already gotten a phone call about a teaching opportunity, which is amazing. teaching the violin is truly my passion and i'm thrilled that someone wants me!}

and while we're here, i thought i'd share this video done by the students and faculty at my alma mater. at this point we've all seen a lib dub video or two, but this one is worth a look even if you didn't go to school there. {but watching it will make you want to go there. i miss that beautiful campus!} 

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!

suzuki time at last!

on sunday morning i'm leaving town for the week to start my suzuki training at the ottawa suzuki strings institute. i'm so excited and i've been looking forward to this for months {or longer}! this is the next step for me, in a series of several certifications, so i can become an official suzuki teacher, and grow up to have my very own studio where i can teach wee ones how to play the violin.

really, i couldn't be more thrilled about the whole thing.

i hope you all are well and enjoy your week. i'll be coming back a much more intelligent teacher, violinist, and person, and {hopefully} be back online at home where i can come visit you {i'm confined to the computer at work, which doesn't allow for much leisurely blog surfing}

pendant from papersparrow on etsy

i'm also thinking i may need to reward myself with some violin-themed jewels when i return. sensable, no?