Teacher Prep Period

El is taking her nap (please, sleep for three hours!) right now and I have been prepping for my first cello lesson in several years with a student who is completely new to the cello.

My last student I taught was in his elementary school orchestra, so had had some introduction to the cello. He was very distracted though and not very musically inclined. He kept telling me that he was going to quit cello and play lacrosse. A) don't tell your teacher that. B) after a while where you don't practice at all, it seems to be better to just quit.

I do think this new student will be a little easier to teach for a few reasons.

• He has taken a few years of piano lessons so already reads music. I started piano lessons when I was 6 and pretty much learned to read music alongside reading printed words. I don't remember learning to read music and it was difficult for me to help my previous student.
• He is a little more focused on music and the arts. I don't think he's very interested in playing sports, just in watching the Mariners and Seahawks.
• His parents will help him. They are a musical and performing arts family. I think there will be more pressure to practice and advance in the cello.
• I am not trying to write a master's thesis or go to school so can spend more time prepping for lessons.

Some things about teaching this student will be difficult.

• Having a clingy child. This will hopefully be resolved by having lessons and his house, where his teenage sisters can dote on El.
• Finding a good cello method book. He doesn't have one from orchestra, which is what I used to go along with. This may actually be a good thing. Recommendations are appreciated! So far, I've just told his mom to buy Suzuki Cello Book 1. I'd like a method book and maybe a scale book. I think we've got a trip to the music store in our future.
• Teaching in general is difficult. But it's a good difficult.

But overall, I am excited. I've been reviewing "Action Studies" for beginning cellists and they are great reminders for me about sitting in a good position, arms positions, and the bow hold. Action Studies are boring and kind of cheesy, but now that I'm looking at them from a teacher's perspective, they make a lot of sense.

Are you a music teacher? Do you have any tips for teaching?

Any cello teachers with a recommendation on a method book?

To you athletes, did/do you practice drills for your technique?

Just My Luck...

The weather cover came yesterday! Today while El was napping, I went to the garage to figure out how to attach it. Turns out that the BOB Strollers recalled the ones with a drawstring cord, which I have. But I can order the new way to attach it (velcro) from BOB for free, so that will be good. Basically, no cover for now. Uggh. I cannot catch a break.

The skies are clear and it is freezing here in WA. It would be perfect, but as I said yesterday, it is too cold for babies no.

Last night, I ended up rowing for 30 minutes "going" 0.5 miles. Rowing is hard. I have blisters on my hands. At least I will be able to *hopefully* keep up my level of fitness throughout the winter.

Last night, I read an article, "The Truth about Your Running Form," and it got me thinking. I've been working on my foot strike, which, according to the article, is not the most important part of form. Posture, cadence, and landing underneath your body are more important for form and injury prevention.

If I can't run because of the temperature and my child, I might as well improve my form by doing drills. Today, I ran in place with a metronome for 10 minutes. I am interested to see what my cadence is when I am out on the road. I will have to track it on my next run. I think running with a metronome could help me run at a steady, even pace, and be able to increase my cadence. When running in place, I also lift my knees forward and land gently below my body. So I'm working on two of the form points in the article. Come to think of, it is probably good for my posture, too. I will also look into some other running drills that I can do at home when the weather outside is frightful. I can take a problem and turn it to my advantage.



So here's to preparing for the future when dealing with things out of our control. And here's to squeezing in a run of any distance when you can.

Today's Workout
30 minutes of yoga
10 minutes running in place
5 minutes of running drills
Core

If you were trapped in your house in a blizzard, how would you get your workout in?
HIIT workouts and running drills. Plus, it will keep you warm if the power's out.

Do you have a motivational mantra?
I think I need to get one.

What is your favorite running drill?