Arranging and Repairing

This week I made a list of the instruments that needed repaired as I noted before.  Since, the weather is up and down weird things have been happening with tuning and bridges.  Additionally, I arranged a section of the violin part in Alice in Wonderland for viola on my school's school's software program, Sibelius.  The instruments I played this week were viola and cello.  I am surprisingly getting better and better on cello.  I was able to help someone with fourth position on cello.  I told her to play her open A and play her 1st finger on A on the D string and match it.  After I told her this she immediately got it and told me "I'm such a great teacher".   I now feel I am going in the right direction  (this is the extensive story from the last post). 

Even when the freshman entered the classroom yesterday with smiles on their faces and said hello to me while I was sitting down arranging on Sibelius makes me feel accepted as a teacher.  It doesn't even feel I worked that hard.  Conficius said "If you love what you do you'll never have to work a day in your life".  This is really true for me, because I love music and children, which is why I decided to go into teaching.  At first it was tough and I thought the freshman wouldn't never respect me.  But, that has certainly changed. 

Deferred Saga

I always look forward to working with the Freshman and String Orchestras. The students always make me laugh. If I made a list of the funny stuff that happens in each orchestra and each section we would be here all day. The bass section in Freshman Orchestra definitely wins that category "most comical section". Everytime the period ends I get upset cause I wish it wasn't over, because I really understand music and children better than French and science. I was also told yesterday that "I was great teacher. Now, I know I'm going in the right direction. But at the moment I have to wait till Thursday for more Freshman Orchestra saga.

Expanding Alexander String Technician!

 

Today, I wrote down information about what was wrong with three cellos.  I included the model, number, and problems.  This was my first day being asked to work as a real string technician.  Being a string technician is useful.  Especially in emergencies whenever a string pops off or when a bow hair snaps.  Additionally, I have instructed students about the certain chairs they should be sitting during rehearsals.  For example cellists can't have the ordinary student classroom chairs it's not good for their sitting position  they need the national public seating music chairs.  Bassists need stools obviously because the height of the bass combined with a student sitting down needs to be in proportion.  Violinists and violists also should be comfortable and they should not be forced to sit in any uncomfortable position.  Wow never thought I would get this close to speaking like a doctor. 

POP Spring/String!

I can't believe how warm it is today.  I wish it was this nice everyday.  But, it's supposed to be back in the 40s and 50s over the weekend.  Boo!  Today I decided to practice cello and bass to get more confident when I play them with String and Freshman Orchestra.  But, here's more to the story.  After I grabbed the bass I always play in Freshman Orchestra.  I began to tune one of the strings and then all of a sudden the string I wasn't even tuning popped.  It's very unusal  for bass strings to pop, because the strings do not have much tension compared to the violin, viola, and cello.  It's even more unusal for a string to pop when you haven't even touched it.   But, luckily I was able to take one of the other basses and was pleased with the progress I made today with fingerings. 

Zin Zin the Violin

The Senior Project is getting better and better everyday.  I get along really well with a lot of the freshman in Freshman Orchestra.  I got to know a lot of them outside of orchestra, during off periods.  It's great to know more about them to know how their personalities and to become friends with them.  Additionally, Mrs. Garafolo just added a new tune to their concert program.  It's Alice and Wonderland Themes from the movie that came in out last year.  I am going to play in their concert.  I have played both violin 1 and 2 last week.  Tomorrow I am going to play cello in Freshman Orchestra.  Wow!  I have played every instrument in both orchestras.  What an accomplishemt. 

Happy March!

I can't believe it's already March.  The year is flying by.  I can't believe I will be going to college in less than 6 months.  It's scary!  Anyway I continued with my Senior Project.  I played bass once again, today.  I really am starting to understand the finger placements.  I write in fingerings to help myself play the right notes.  It's great that I can say "I play 4 instruments".  I never thought I would be able to say that.  Of course I don't play cello and bass as well as violin and viola.  Of course viola is still my favorite in the string family, because I learned it first and that's where my music education began.  I can't wait to learn more on violin, cello, and bass.  Well that's all I got for tonight.  Hope you all have a great night!