This was written on April 3, 2010.
I often get very attached to my violin students and, if they're kids, to their families. Losing a student can be very hard on me, especially if the loss is totally unexpected.
Recently I got a letter from the mother of one of my best students saying that her daughter was stopping her violin lessons right now and would participate in other activities instead. I was stunned. I have taught her daughter for about three years. She is a very sweet and talented girl, and she loves to play the violin. She even practices regularly (many talented kids do not), and I'm always impressed with the progress she makes in just one week. Her mother is musical and has been quite supportive of her daughter as a violin student until now.
I'm very fond of this little girl. Recently I bought her a small violin related gift for her and wrote her a note of praise. My praise was specific and heartfelt. The girl was really excited about it, and I had her read it out loud to her mother.
I will write back to the mother and implore her to let her daughter continue violin lessons, if not with me, than with another teacher. I'll tell her that her daughter has an unusual gift, and it should be nurtured. I'll tell her that her daughter will feel very bad if she is separated from something she loves so much. I'll offer to lower my charge if money is tight. I'll tell her everything I can think of.
I hope that the sweet, talented little girl will be able to take violin lessons, if not now, then at some time in the future. I'm very glad that I praised her so much when I did, not knowing how soon I would lose her. I hope that my praise will stick with her, reminding her that she is blessed with talent and keeping alive the wish to resume her violin lessons.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Naturalist's Log #3
This was written on March 29, 2010.
It's happening! Green is returning.
My Japanese cherry tree is in bloom.
The Red Menace (red maple) has lots of pollen which is strongly allergenic. I've got allergies and asthma, and pollen is the only part of spring that I don't like.
Naturalists's Log 2.1
This was written on March 26, 2010.
I woke up this morning, got dressed, and went to my dining room, where the window looks directly out on the center of the big Japanese cherry tree. "Wow!" I exclaimed. The cherry tree is partially in bloom and so pretty. I grabbed my camera and tried to take some photos, but there was a bit of wind, so the photos may be blurred. No problem. I'll try again tomorrow. There should be more blossoms then.
I woke up this morning, got dressed, and went to my dining room, where the window looks directly out on the center of the big Japanese cherry tree. "Wow!" I exclaimed. The cherry tree is partially in bloom and so pretty. I grabbed my camera and tried to take some photos, but there was a bit of wind, so the photos may be blurred. No problem. I'll try again tomorrow. There should be more blossoms then.
Naturalist's Log #2
This was written on March 25, 2010
There is a large Japanese cherry tree outside my living room window, and it is beginning to bud. When this happened last year, I took photos every day until the blossoms appeared. The photos were rather boring so this year, I'll wait for the blossoms to appear and then photograph them. They are so beautiful. I could photograph them every year as a sort of nature worship.
There is a large Japanese cherry tree outside my living room window, and it is beginning to bud. When this happened last year, I took photos every day until the blossoms appeared. The photos were rather boring so this year, I'll wait for the blossoms to appear and then photograph them. They are so beautiful. I could photograph them every year as a sort of nature worship.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Naturalist's Log #1
This was written on March 21, 2010.
I took a walk around the condo complex, looking for signs of spring. I found daffodils with large buds showing yellow, about to bloom. All it will take is one or two warm, sunny days.
I saw a lot of storm damage from winter snowstorms which had dumped heavy, wet snow on everything in December and January. The damage is most severe in the evergreens because of the combined weight of the foliage and the snow. I saw one spruce which was downed completely, and lots of others with their branches dragging on the ground. Now the condo grounds have lots of tree branches on the ground, and I wonder who will clean things up. I disposed of a few fallen tree limbs near my condo unit.
I saw a large branch of a pine tree on the ground. Nearby was sedge grass that looked like it was kissing the ground. I've never seen sedge grass like this before. I hope it survives.
Tulips sprout long before they bloom, and their foliage can be quite pretty. Sometimes their foliage looks like swirls of different shades of green, as in the next photo.
Some varieties have attractive, striped leaves.
I took a walk around the condo complex, looking for signs of spring. I found daffodils with large buds showing yellow, about to bloom. All it will take is one or two warm, sunny days.
The first flower I saw in bloom was periwinkle, a cheerful sign of spring.
I saw a lot of storm damage from winter snowstorms which had dumped heavy, wet snow on everything in December and January. The damage is most severe in the evergreens because of the combined weight of the foliage and the snow. I saw one spruce which was downed completely, and lots of others with their branches dragging on the ground. Now the condo grounds have lots of tree branches on the ground, and I wonder who will clean things up. I disposed of a few fallen tree limbs near my condo unit.
I saw a large branch of a pine tree on the ground. Nearby was sedge grass that looked like it was kissing the ground. I've never seen sedge grass like this before. I hope it survives.
One thing I don't like about spring is tree pollen. The red maples are pollinating now. I have allergies and asthma.
Tulips sprout long before they bloom, and their foliage can be quite pretty. Sometimes their foliage looks like swirls of different shades of green, as in the next photo.
Some varieties have attractive, striped leaves.
I finished my walk by going to see the pansies which I knew would be in bloom. They are cool weather flowers and beauties to treasure in the spring and fall.
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