2013: Year in Review

Wow, it's hard to believe 2013 is almost at an end! It has been a great year, musically speaking. Here are a few highlights:

•  Several of my students have performed for a variety of audiences, some of them performing for the very first time in public. Bravo!
• I hosted a fiddling workshop at my studio with Lisa Deakins and Derek Deakins. 
• I started teaching Preschool and Kindergarten music classes at Saint Mary School. 
• I had the pleasure of going to the International Bluegrass Music Association's Wide Open Bluegrass event in Raleigh and am looking forward to going again in 2014.
• The North Carolina Bluegrass Association, for which I am secretary, kicked off monthly bluegrass jam sessions in Waynesborough Park and also recently started taping for the television show Carolina Jubilee. 
• I performed in my first bluegrass festival at White Oak Shores with Unshackled.
• I helped to organize a benefit concert for baby Piper Wilhide and was blessed to get to perform with the fabulous T. R. and the Boys.
• I got to hear Adam DeGraff perform at the Paramount Theatre.  
• I attended the Suzuki Association of the Americas course Suzuki Principles in Action and was impressed to learn that my very first violin teacher was one of the teachers who helped develop the course. 
• I spent a little time observing other Suzuki teachers at the North Carolina Suzuki Institute.
• I took a few wonderful violins and bows for test drives at Montgomery Violin.

Sometimes you're in so much of a rush to get things done, you don't realize all that you've already done. So next time you're feeling frazzled about all the things on your to-do list, stop and make a little list of all the things you've already done. You'll probably be as amazed as I am right now! It's a nice, refreshing little exercise.

In 2014, my policies will be changing a bit, so please make sure you've read over them and feel free to ask any questions you might have. This Thursday, December 19th, will be the last day of lessons for 2013. I will enjoy a couple weeks off with my family for Christmas and New Year's and look forward to seeing all of my returning students and new students starting January 7th! I hope this Christmas brings you and yours the blessings of peace, joy, and love.