Category Preliminaries
Ode to Joy
Beethoven’s 9th Symphony is my favorite. I’ve loved it since I was a child – pieces of the fourth movement were printed in our church hymnal under the title “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.” I have loved it on telecasts for the Olympics over the years, where it now helps Visa pay the bills. I […]
Beginner’s Mind
Potential Teacher just confirmed our first lesson for Wednesday, and I’m just back from the violin shop, where I rented the instrument above. I hope it meets her standards. The family who recommended her to me told me that their first instrument had to go back after failing her tests. We’ll see – the shop […]
Beats and REM
My new phone has integrated Beats Audio. That’s the same Beats Audio that produces the headphones kids and whatever we’re calling hipsters these days wear on their ears – the bulky, often red but sometimes white, green, or orange headphones that cost more than I have ever imagined spending on headphones. Happily, on my new […]
If You Want Something Done Ask a Busy Person
It’s the middle of crunch time for me vocationally – our huge annual fundraiser for our kids is in full swing, I’m teaching an 11 hour program all weekend long, we’re doing organizational strategic planning, and last night was our quarterly board meeting. I also just got back from a whirlwind trip Monday, and we […]
I’ve Waited this Long
I had a great trip back to Wichita to meet the new nephew, and we did undertake the task of finding that “boy with violin” pic. We were wholly unsuccessful. I did find three pics I’ll post soon, which at least prove a touch of proclivity toward the musical. As we hunted through Mom’s tightly […]
The Players
I’ve scheduled my first lesson for one week from today. In between now and then I get to go violin shopping, and I’m looking forward to being in a music store again. I remember going often as a child, first while accompanying my younger sister on quests for piano stuff, then for my own violin […]
“I’m Sure You Remember More Than You Think”
I heard back from Potential Teacher, and am excited to meet her. She gave me a note of encouragement – “I’m sure you remember more than you think” – and it seems like the schedule I’m hoping for will suit her well. She comes recommended by friends whose daughter takes lessons from her. They tell […]
Quietude – The Mischka Effect
Ten days ago we had to let our cat Mischka go after an inoperable mass was discovered in her intestines. My partner and I had her for 15 years – “As long as we’ve had each other,” I used to say. The loss remains palpable, of course – a hole in our tiny family. I […]
Learning to Play the Violin Again
Off and on over the years I’ve considered taking up the violin again. Today, I hit send on this: Hello Potential Teacher, My friend gave me your name and contact info. I’m considering taking back up the violin – I played for three years or so in elementary school, and I’m 37 now, so I’m […]
Ryan Libel 