Category archive

I have the best students.

As a thank you for helping him choose an instrument, one of my students drew this for me: a Marine playing the cello.   This could not be a more timely reminder of what’s important. I really do need my…

the giving tree

  Once there was a tree, probably germinated in the Bavarian forest around the turn of the 19th century- and this tree was felled, bucked, hauled and delivered to the workshop of a luthier. Although we cannot be sure of…

stick figure mania!

    Through the magic of Twitter, I was contacted by the fabulous English composer Alison Wrenn, who wanted some stick-figure illustrations for her book of beginning cello trios. Of course, I couldn’t resist. They just went on sale here,…

unexpected finds

  I was chatting with a friend from California the other day and he said it seems like I’ve adjusted to east coast living. It got me thinking about the differences between the two places, and how moving away from…

lights out

I just realized that my primary aim as an instructor is not to convey information but rather to do whatever it takes to foster the bravery required to continue learning. In this respect, I guess I’m more of a coach than…

my own little walden

  I’m a city girl.  I’m an escapist.  I love road trips. Maybe it doesn’t matter how I begin this stupid post. To put it bluntly: I love this city but hate this apartment. I was in such a hurry…