Some students…. November 9, 2007

….just put the joy in teaching!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’ve been in a bad mood all day. I’m tired. Of EVERYTHING.

I didn’t feel good yesterday AT ALL…if fact, I sort of scared myself a couple of times and wondered why I ever thought I was ready to be out and about again. Humph. Oh well…….so I decided to be wise for once and cancel work today. So I did. I didn’t cancel teaching though since that wasn’t until later this afternoon and I figured I’d feel better after sleeping in. NOT. I woke up after sleeping late, but not very well and had a horrible headache with a grumpy mood to match.

I walked around the house not quite knowing what to do with myself for almost an hour and finally came back to reality. I got ready to go face my students. By getting ready I mean I put on presentable clothes (although I was very tempted to go teach in my pj pants, t-shirt and fuzzy socks….only one problem with that, Mom would see…If she’d been gone or in her room or something I might have tried to sneak out, but I couldn’t.) anyway, so I put on the presentable clothes, looked at my hair and thought, hmmm…messy ponytail works, and proceeded to pretend like I put make-up on. Yep. I was “ready”.

I so enjoy watching my students when they play. Their faces crack me up. I can always tell when they’re bracing for the tough section or hoping I didn’t notice that they just played 6 wrong notes or smiling as soon as they make it through and they know from here on out the lesson is in the bag. Yeah, it’s good stuff. Today one of my students was playing beautifully and got to a section where she missed a flat…or sharp…she missed something. Anyway, she made THE MOST HYSTERICAL face and before I could stop myself I burst into laughter. She leaned in toward the music as if to say, “Whoa, wait a second, what was that??” Then she figured out what had gone wrong and laughed with me. I said, “Oh your face!!!!!!!!!!” I got a really good laugh out of it and wished I had gotten in on camera. So we enjoyed the mistake and she fixed it and finished out the most lovely piece perfectly. *smile*

At another students house…..

Her: Ohhh, I’m really, really good at this song!!!!

Me: Great!!! Let me hear!!!

Her: Ok!! *plays*

After about 20 mistakes she stops…..

Her: WELL…..I WAS really, really good at it, until you got here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn’t that always the way it is??!!! lol

Then she got to a song called “The Woodchuck Song”. She informed me that she had played this song for a choir. I said “Oh??” rather sceptically. “Yes,” she said, “My brother liked it so much he formed a stuffed animal choir and I was the pianist.” LOL

Later we did flash cards….

Me: This one?

Her: Uhhhhhhh……….a Nickle Rest?

Me: Excuse me??? Nickle Rest?? *laughing*

Her: No??

Me: Uhh, no. *laughing*

Her: Uhhhhhh…..oh I’m so close, I know I am…..ummmm, it’s a…a….a…a…….OH!!!!!!!!! A Quarter Rest!!!!!!!!!!!

Me: Yes, it’s a Quarter Rest. *laughing, shaking head*

Her: I knew it was something like that!!!

On to the note cards….I taught my students the whole “Every Good Boy Does Fine, FACE, Great Big Dogs Fight Animals and All Cows Eat Grass”. Soooo we get to a card. The note is “C”. I can see her saying the little reminders as she goes up to figure out what note it is….

“It’s a Cow.” She says simply. I burst into laughter. We had a good long giggle over that one.

I’m always having to tell this particular student that although composing on the spot is a great talent, she really should stick to the workbook. At least during lessons anyway. *smile* She is SOOOOOO funny!!!!!!

Sigh.

Well, I hope everyone has a great Friday!!!!!!!!!! I have got to clean this room so I can go watch a movie with my brother. I’ve ignored it far too long. (the room, not the brother…*wink*) Love and hugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!