Summer's Piano competition

Summer has been doing private piano lessons for about 2 months at Art City Music Academy.  (because she graduated from group lessons.)  When she started, her teacher had her begin learning a song by JS Bach so that she could participate in the Baroque Music Festival which was today.  In her age division there were about 35 music students who auditioned.  She went in and played her piece in front of a judge.  After all of the students had auditioned, they called back 10 students to return later in the day for a recital and competition.  I was very surprised that Summer got called back mostly because it was her first competition.  So, we went back later in the day for the recital.  She performed  2nd out of 10.  She did wonderfully, but so did a few other kids.  One girl was unbelievably good for her age group and she got a trophy for outstanding performance.  And so did Summer.  I was so proud of her to make it to the top 2 out of 35 students who auditioned.  She was very nervous, but I'm sure it will get easier with each competition.  She is already looking forward to learning a song for the next festival.   

Notice: I don't have a picture of Summer's performance today because Rick's new birthday present has not arrived yet.  (Don't tell him, he'll be so excited.)  see previous post if you're confused about the camera situation.

This might be a long one...

And I'm not going to worry about punctuation, spelling or grammar.  If you know me at all you know that it might be painful to neglect the grammar and all, but this is how I do it when I neglect my journal writing for a few days and I want to get caught up... I just type (write) as fast as I can and get it all out there and somehow it all manages to relieve my guilty conscience.

Today is my dad's birthday.  I took flowers to the cemetery.  Happy Birthday Dad.  I know, waste of time, the snow is falling, the wind is blowing, and the deer will probably eat the flowers, but that all seems appropriate some how.  I remember a picture of my dad when I was elem. school age.  It was his birthday and he was out shoveling snow.  Lots of snow.  Every time the weather is bad in March I always think, "at least it didn't snow as much as it did on Dad's birthday." So, we can all look on the bright side.  And speaking of birthdays, Happy Birthday to Audrey's new baby girl born this morning.

Next,  My foot.

I went to the dr. on Feb. 23 and he said everything looked good and that I could ditch the ugly black boot and crutches (whoops, I already did that) and start walking on my foot.  His big concern at that point was swelling.  So, I wore a big, ugly, Granny sock and iced and elevated my foot daily.  I went back to the dr. on March 23 and the good news is: my bones have healed very nicely even though he was a little concerned because it was the 2nd time around on the bunion surgery.  Good, right?  Wrong.  The peace toes are still going strong.  I have been taping them together thanks to the advice of my roommate.  Dr. rogers said that was a good thing, but he was surprised that it hadn't helped the peace toes.  Now his concern is that if the peace toes don't calm down then they will have to go back in for surgery and work on the tendons.  That will require a cast and crutches.  Nice.  Since the bones have healed completely, his recommendation was to get out and run, jump, do backhandsprings, whatever I can to use the muscles and tendons.  hopefully it will strengthen the weak tendon and loosen the tight tendon and allow my toe to go back into a normal position.  So, yesterday I went to the gym and walk/ran 3 1/2 miles on the treadmill.  Today was 5 1/2 miles on the eliptical.  Awesome.  It hurt so bad, but probably not as bad as surgery so I will be back at the gym tomorrow!  If you find yourselves on  your knees tonight with nothing to pray about, Pray for my tendons.  I figure if you can beg for birthday cards and wishes, why not beg for blessings...

and speaking of begging for birthday wishes...I did send out a fun little package to my friend Leslie.  Leslie (and her sister) worked with me (and my sister) at AC for years.  She had a baby girl just a few months after Summer was born.  She now has 4 kids.  I can't believe how fast time has flown.  Thanks for the nice letter you wrote and thanks to the rest of you who participated.  (Janey, my mom thinks that you should have received an honorable mention.  I'll see what I can do about that.  She loved the email you sent.  Thanks for all those fun/nice things  you said and thanks for keeping in touch.  I feel like I still keep in touch a little through dave and kristen!!)   

And I think it is a fantastic idea to beg for birthday wishes.  it was fun to hear from so many people.  thanks again.

Oh, and pretty much the biggest reason for neglecting the blog is because, drum roll (use your imagination...)

I pulled my kids out of school 4 weeks ago and we have been homeschooling.  I have received all sorts of reactions from "You are out of your mind." to "wow, that is awesome.  I"m thinking about doing the same thing."  and everywhere in between.

There are about 100 different reasons why we did this, I'll briefly mention a little bit.

I have spent A LOT of time in Sierra's classroom.  first year teacher.  got married over Thanksgiving.  Hopefully she starts a family soon and doesn't have to depend on her teaching career for a living.  She was not made out to be a teacher.  I know they have to start somewhere, but my kid was suffering.  the class was out of control.  I could go on for an hour.  examples would include 4 letter words used by the students on more than one occasion of volunteering.  Sierra was just getting lost in the shuffle.  One kid in the class COULD NOT READ.  How does the rest of the class progress when there are non-readers in the class...

Summer's teacher got married last summer and was pregnant a week later.  She was sick every other day (I can relate).  She was at the dr., ultrasound, or home sick at least one day a week since school started.  I read somewhere that the average high school graduate has susbstitute teachers throughout their school experience to equal one entire  year of school.  Well, with summer, I think she has hit that by the end of 6th grade.  He teacher had her baby yesterday and so now another substitute.     

Then there were the horror stories shared by my visiting teachers about the bus.  My kids are on the bus for 40 minutes getting to school and 40 minutes getting home.  That is an awful lot of unsupervised interaction with who-knows what craziness.

AND,  I was thinking recently about my calling.  I have been in YW's for just over a year which means I haven't been in primary.  I hate not knowing what my kids are learning for 2 hours each week.  I hate missing the songs and the sharing time activities.  And then I thought that if I am missing out on what they are learning at church for 2 hours, 1 day a week.  What am I missing out on 8 hours a day 5 days a week?

Well, I could go on and on about the reasons why we chose this.  but, as for the last 4 weeks...we are having a ball!  We found a school in California where we got their books, schedules, outlines, everything we need.  We basically signed up for a semester of distance learning where the kids will both get grades and a transcript.  Basically, I am their teacher, but I have the luxury of blaming the yucky stuff on the "real teacher" who grades their papers.  So, we are committed for 5 months.  At that point we will evaluate the whole experience and make a decision for next year.  In the meantime we are just enjoying the whole experience one day at a time.

I have found that we can sleep an extra half hour in the mornings and still start "school" at the same time they are used to.  We start with math each day and just work at our pace through the rest of the subjects.  We are usually done by lunch time.  We have been able to spend a lot more time doing things like going to the library, going to a movie, going on a bike ride, and doing family activities.  It seems like I would be busier with my kids home all day, but somehow we are getting so much more accomplished.  It does require me to be very organized, but that's a good thing.

About the whole socialization thing...I don't really buy it.  I went to school with some pretty strange kids who were right there at school with me.  I won't mention any names, but seriously there were some weird kids in my school.  I don't think that homeschooling will make my kids weird.  They still play with the neighbor kids, go to gymnastics, piano, activity days, the library, the store, the bank, the post office (with me, of course).  It's not like we're all locked up in our rooms reading and doing Algebra all day.  I've become acquainted with some homeschooling folks around here and honestly I'm pretty impressed with them and wouldn't pleased as punch if my kids were as responsible, polite, and well-rounded as they are.  it depends on what day you catch us, but i think for the most party my kids are getting a long better and we don't feel so rushed to get everything done.  My kids used to get off the bus and I would have to crack a whip to get their "homework" done, piano practiced, jobs completed, dinner eaten, bathed and into bed.   We don't have as much of that anymore and I really enjoy it.

And, I really enjoy my kids.  Everyone says that they grow up so fast and I believe it.  I'm enjoying spending this extra time with them.  This whole set-up may or may not be permanant , but for now we really like it.  I think we are going to a movie on Friday.

Oh, and there are no pictures because my adorable husband took my camera on a diving trip to Catalina and got water in the camera and it no longer works.  conveniently enough, his birthday is in a couple of weeks and I think he will be getting a camera!

tomatillos are planted and growing nicely in the basement window.  I just need SUN.

Ok, I think I'm caught up for now.  I'll try to not be so neglectful to all of you.  I have had a few inquieries as to my whereabouts and I appreciate it, MOM. 

 

   

Let it be known...

We had our dog first.

I didn't vote for Obama, but I like him a little more today than I did yesterday.  The first family has adopted a Portuguese Water Dog for their family pet.  The chose a PWD because of their medium size and good nature.  They are also hypoallergenic.  Senator Ted Kennedy was influential in their decision--he owns two PWD's himself.  

They might name the dog Frank.  Real original.  I prefer Hooee.  Here is where that name comes from...Summer went to Head Start in Michigan.  We had to meet with her teacher about half way through the year.  She said that Summer was a great student and was a very creative story teller.  She was constantly telling stories about her dog named Hooee.  Rick and I looked at each other and laughed.  We looked back at the teacher and explained to her that we didn't have a dog.  At least not a real dog.  Our family has had an imaginary dog named Hooee for about 7 years.  I just seemed natural that when we finally got a dog his name had to be Hooee.

Pronounced...  Who-E.   

Read more here about the First Dog  

I keep finding reasons to go to Provo...

 

because there is a new bakery and it's awesome.  The cookies are Yummy.  It's next to Sam's Club.  I went in there this morning.  The girl at the counter asked if I had ever been in before.  I laughed out loud and order two of my favorite cookies.  I had the exact change before she even rang up my order.  Do you think I have a problem? 

www.thesweettoothfairy.blogspot.com

Laugh with me on this one...

The other day I was hanging out with Cole coloring in a coloring book (his new favorite past time and my old favorite past time). Cole reached up and just picked his nose.

Me: Cole, get a tissue. We DO NOT pick our nose.
Cole: But mom, I saw(ed) you do it.

Hum, better be a little better on the example I set. You have to admit it's kind of funny. We've all done it. Hopefully not at a stop light.
I just wanted you all to know that we're normal over here and we pick our noses.

quilting queen

This is my cute mom with her latest creation.

I wish you could see it up close.

I hate WINTER

We got a little spring fever and decided to create a little arrangement.  We should have used yellow tissue paper to make it look like a forsythia bush, but since we didn't have yellow we used purple.  It matches the blue couch nicely.  sort of.

It was easy.  We just went to the neighbors and helped ourselves to some of his over grown trash trees.  Tore/cut tissue paper into small pieces.  Wrapped them around the end of a pencil to make a little pointy end.  Dipped that end into glue and wrapped it around the tiny branches.

Fun.  Easy.

I think we will make one with yellow or pink.  I wonder if we could make one that looked like pussy willows?...

Anyways, just a reminder that there are 4 mailing days left until my birthday.  I have a package started.  It's gonna be awesome.  I talked with some of my super creative friends  yesterday.  I got some really good ideas.  I probably won't get anything done in time for the birthday package, but you never know...

If you don't know what I'm talking about, that's too bad.  But you can keep reading to figure it out. 

Felted Wool projects

At the first of the year Summer and I went to DI and found some wool sweaters.  We washed them in hot water and dried them and they came out the size of doll clothes.  Here are some things that we made.

They are flowers if you can't tell.  They are about 2 to 4 inches.  I made the first few with Summer.  Then we made some together.  Now she makes them by herself.  We put them on our coats, I wore one to church on my dress, and we put some on gifts packages and gave them away.  We got this idea from here: a feathered nest.  She has a few posts and tutorials using felt.  We also looked at the website of Betz White.  She pretty much rules the world of felted wool projects.  Summer has made some of the cupcake pincushions.

 They turned out cute.  And you know that if an eleven  year old can do it, anyone can!

Country Living magazine did a little piece on felted wool back in January.  They made a bag (book bag style) out of an old sweater.  It's cute.

I found an orange sweater with a big snowflake pattern on the front.  One day I might try making a pillow with it.  

So, now that winter is over, go look through your closet and clean out those wool sweaters and felt them. Spring is here and you won't need your sweaters much longer.  

One thing we learned is to not wash or dry sweaters that are too different in color at the same time.  I washed a black sweater (from banana republic--ouch, I can't believe I did that) with an off white sweater.  The off white sweater has tons of little black fibers stuck to it.    

AMARA:  You can just send Tia over here when she needs to do a project this week.  We have plenty of felted wool to go around.

Peace Toes

Peace Toes is what my dr. called my foot yesterday when I went in.  This is what he said about the whole thing.  The incision that follows down my big toe is where they did the bunionectomy.  It is healing, but not as straight as he would have liked.  He said that it may not ever bother me, but in the X-ray he can see that the end where my toe is is elevated an extra 2 millimeters.  The joint where my big toe connects is very stiff.  I have to work it and bend it at least twice  day or Hello Physical Therapy.    THEN, the spot where my peace toes are is where the nueroma was located.  It still hurts.  Like it did before surgery.  that makes me nervous.  The dr. said that they are still separated because of so much swelling (maybe because I was supposed to use crutches the entire time I had the black boot on, but I only used them for about half of the time.  oooops).  The joint of the #2 toe is rotated a little bit and almost dislocated.  Hopefully that is not permanent.  The ball of my foot is KILLING me.  The dr. said he did a lot of work in a little space and the fact that there is still pain and swelling is understandable.  You can kind of see how much swelling there is when you look at both feet together.

The dr. said absolutely no running for 4 more weeks until I can go back and have him check it.  Yeah right, like I would try to run.  First, it hurts too bad and second, I can barely walk.  How in the world can I run?

So, I hurt.  a lot more than I thought I would.

I am nervous that this problem/pain is permanent.

I am impatient.

I am tired of winter.

storage room overhaul

I didn't think I had that much food storage until we emptied out the entire storage room.  We had the shelves torn out.  They were inefficient.  Too tall and not strong enough to hold my "stuff".  They were already starting to sag--big time.  We had tried to reinforce them, but it was clearly just a band-aid type fix.  They weren't working for us.  We had them rebuilt--closer together and much stronger.  Now I just need to get the food back on the shelves so that I can take an inventory and get busy working on my food storage again.

I hate winter reminder...

I got the cutest letter in the mail yesterday from a friend that I haven't seen in years.  It was so stinking nice.  I am putting her name in the drawing like 10 times for making me feel so good.  Thanks, you know who are.

If you don't know what I'm talking about scroll down a few entries and read about my birthday/favorite things contest. (title:  I hate WINTER)

14 days left to join the fun.

also, Summer had a sub yesterday, too.  And today was ice skating and Valentines party.  Her education is just rockin'.  I don't know what else to say about it.

soapbox alert...

are you kidding?  again?

Summer had a substitute AGAIN today.  I asked her what they did and she said, "read and play games."

I guess that was better than the last time. 

Scripture Stories

This happened a few weeks ago, but I just remembered it and wanted to get it recorded...

There was an activity at the Church and the kiddos got to go have breakfast and meet their new teachers for the new year.  They had to fill out a little information sheet so that their new teachers could get to know them a little better.  Since Cole is still learning his ABC's, I had to help him write down some of his answers, ok, all of his answers.  There were questions like favorite color, favorite food, and because it was for church, favorite scripture story.  I prompted Cole a bit about his favorite scripture story... David and Goliath, Daniel in the Lion's Den, Noah's ark... you know those larger than life type of stories that I figured would stick in a little kid's head.  He looked at me like "what are you thinking, Mom?" and said Paul Bunnion.

whoops, I forgot about that one.  It took me by such surprise that I think I actually wrote it down. hum, maybe we'll be spending a little bit more time reading scripture stories.

And BTW, this is the last time that all 3 of my kids will attend a primary activity together because in 5 short months Summer will turn 12 and she'll be outta there.

 

I hate WINTER

I'm feeling a little down.  Not like "down" on the couch, watching TV for 14 hours a day like I've been doing for the past 4 weeks.  But "down" like I'm tired of gray skies, no sunshine, nothing to do.  I went to AC yesterday.  I was in the neighborhood and I had to stop by for my fry sauce "fix".  Lanny was a little bummed.  You know, business is slow, it's that time of the year.  It's always one step forward and two steps back.  I tried to cheer him up by telling him about this AWESOME bakery in Provo (Sweet Tooth Fairy--it's by sam's club--how convenient).  He didn't really care much about the bakery.  apparently he is not motivated by oatmeal cookies like I am.

I talked to my mom yesterday, too.  She was with Brandi and they were both a little down with the weather and nothing to do.  

Kelli, down the street keeps commenting that she is feeling tired of being cooped up with sick kids, too.    

I thought it was just me with my swollen, discolored foot.  But I think it's everyone!  tired of winter.  Tired of cold.  Tired of being tired.

My hand hurts.  arthritis.  I know, I'm getting old.  Falling apart.  But when my hand is sore that means the weather is about to change.  I looked at the forecast and that darn ground hog was right.  More winter.  snow is on it's way.  I can't take it!!  

So, this is what I want to do about it...

it's my birthday in 20 days.  And I'm throwing a little party.  Not the typical party where everyone shows up with presents and we eat cake and ice cream until we're sick.   This little celebration is different.  This party is me putting together my own gift.    If you want to participate in my party this is what you have to do:

reply to this post and I will put your name in a hat one time.

OR

send me an email with a funny story.  about me. or you. or us.  whatever you want.  If you send me an email I will put your name in the hat two more times.  (3 if you can make me laugh outloud)

OR

send me a real letter.  in the mail.  with a stamp.  I LOVE to get mail--not bills.  real mail.  If I get a letter from you in my mailbox I will put your name in a hat three more times.

So, I am going to spend the next 20 days gathering up some of my favorite things and putting together my own birthday gift.  I will keep adding your names into my "hat" for each time you contact me according to the directions.  The contest ends on February 27 at midnight. On February 28 (the day AFTER my birthday) I will draw a name out of the hat.  That will be the winner of my ultimate birthday package.  I will mail it out to the winner on March 1.  

See, this is so fun.  I'm so excited.  I haven't had this much fun since I was sitting on the beach in December enjoying the sun, while it snowed in Utah.

So, don't worry if this is lame.  I know my mom will participate.  she always sends me a card for my birthday!!  I'm going to go sit by my mailbox and plan my package.

 

Good-bye pink cast, hello black boot

Note to self:  this is why it is always a good idea to keep a sharpie in your purse in case the dr. is running behind by about an hour.

 

Note to self:  this is why it is always a good idea to keep a sharpie in your purse in case the dr. is running behind by about an hour.

 

not for the weak...

here is the bionic foot:

calling all creative people I know...

We are planning out New Beginnings program for the Young Women at Church.  Our theme for the program is "Boot Camp"  there will be a skit, decorations, and awards that we need to coordinate.  BUT, specifically, my group (12-13 year old) is in charge of food (refreshments/dessert).  So, I need your ideas by Tuesday afternoon.

The budget is:  whatever, 

I thought of "mess tent" and MRE's but that's about as far as it goes.

camo could be involved

The girls are supposed to do most of it, but really that means I'll do at least 1/2 of the work.  And I will still be on crutches so that is a consideration.  

I can't wait to hear from you with your ideas. 

update

I still can't walk.  Last week I needed a change of scenery.  It was getting pretty boring sitting on the couch.  And the dr. said it was good to get up and get around as much as I could.  so, we went to Sam's Club on Thursday (of course).  Rick said he would get me a "Jazzy" or whatever it's called, but I wanted to get up off my butt so I used crutches.  We bought just a few things that we needed.  It was a quick trip.  Rick said that he would go get the truck and pick me up at the curb.  I told him I would try to hobble out as far as I could.  When I got to the truck I was red faced, out of breath and about to die.  I had to grab a tissue to wipe the sweat from my brow.  Seriously.  The next morning when I woke up my arms and shoulders and back were so sore I thought I was going to die.  but, I needed to use the bathroom so I quickly grabbed my crutches and hobbled to the bathroom, moaning with each step.  How could my arms be so sore?  It was good, though because it took my mind off the pain in my foot, if only for a moment.  As the days go by, my arms AND my foot hurt less and less.  Sort of.  I still cannot put ANY weight on my foot.  I am trying to follow the dr's orders, EXACTLY, because if everything goes perfectly well, I can get this cast off in 2 weeks.  I will still have to wear one of those big black boot things and use crutches, but still that is a huge improvement in my mind.

So, I'm surviving.  thanks for all of your help, support, food, and prayers.  I will survive.  

happy 2 me

The new U2 album comes out in 38 days, which is February 27, which is my birthday.  But, only if you live in Dublin.  If you live in the USA, then it comes out on March 3, either way, I will be celebrating, afterall it's been 5 years since the last album came out.  I've heard the single "Get your Boots On" a couple of times now and, yep, it's good.

From their website:

'On this spot where we're standing, 46 years ago, Dr King had a dream. On Tuesday, that dream comes to pass.' U2 performed 'Pride' and 'City of Blinding LIghts' to an audience of 400,000 in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington tonight.

"Let freedom ring," announced Bono as U2 arrived on stage and struck up the opening bars of Pride (In The Name of Love). “This is not just an American dream,' he said. "Also an Irish dream, a European dream, an African dream … an Israeli dream ... and also a Palestinian dream."

'Let freedom ring, let freedom ring....' he continued, as Edge played the opening chords to City of Blinding Lights. "What a thrill for four Irish boys from the north side of Dublin to honour you sir, the next president of the United States, Barack Obama...'

And it looked beautiful again tonight, in this city of blinding lights where as the song went tonight. 'America is getting ready to leave the ground....'

    

final music comments

Yeah, I think this program is great, but it's certainly not for everybody.  for example, you have never seen me drive around the county three times a week and park my fanny in a stadium chair and watch parents yell and scream at each other about why their kid isn't on the field (I'm talking about soccer.)  thank goodness for me, up to this point I have not had a child who wanted to play soccer and I am certainly not going to push it.  The reason:  I AM NOT THAT DEDICATED.  I may have to change my stance on that in the future, but for now I am not a soccer mom.  It doesn't work for me.  Same with piano for other people.  This is a pretty committed program and it's not for everyone.

About when to start kids on piano:

I had always heard that kids need to know how to read before they should start piano lessons.  Because if they can read words/books/whatever, then they can read music.  Summer started taking lessons in 3rd grade (same age as I was).  She did fantastic from the beginning but she could have started much sooner.  Sierra wasn't even in kindergarten when she started so she certainly wasn't reading.  she did fine as well.  of course, she didn't progress as quickly, but in the end she will come out ahead.  When Sierra first started I had some concerns and was actually afraid that had started too soon.  It seemed that she was just memorizing the notes and that she wasn't really reading the music.  I flipped out and went to the teacher thinking that my precious pennies were going to waste.  The teacher assured me more than once that it was ok.  She was learning ear training.  She didn't know how to read (words) and she didn't know that she was supposed to keep her eyes on the music the whole time.  It sounded hokey to me but I was patient and sure enough, she learned to play by ear and easily eventually learned to read music as well.  It was so crazy watching it all develop.   (But if you think about it, kids do learn to read in the very beginning by looking at the pictures as well as the words, so it's kinda the same, sort of...)

So, I am all about starting them early, when they are excited about it.  Especially boys.  I think of all the boys I took lessons with and most of them took for only 2 to 3 years and I never remember any of them ever playing for anything once they quit.  I think they need to get in several good years of lessons before they hit that 4th grade time frame when they get more and more interested in sports and things and they start to develop the attitude that piano lessons are for girls.  

Cole (age 3) has been taking Music in Me for 1 year.  Mostly I started doing it because he needed help/support in training for his Nursery class at church.  so, I did this class with him because it was once a week and the parent stays with the child.  I thought it would be a good place to start.  It was.  But, Cole struggled.  He wouldn't sing or do the hand motions or play on the keyboard or participate in any way.  Now he loves it.  Like I said before, he will sing, play the notes on the keyboard and do all of the activities.  It's not a piano class,  just as introduction to music.  I did kindermusic with Sierra for a while and it has some similarities.  Now that he has done it for 1 year he can move up to the next level where they spend more and more time on the keyboard.  oh, and they do flashcards each week and Cole can identify things like Base Cleft, Treble cleft, quarter note, quarter rest, whole note, whole rest.  Now, certainly he doesn't know what that all means, but it's all just introduction.  We'll see how he does in this class.  it's pretty flexible and he can repeat a semester if he needs more basics before he starts the lessons.  Either way, he will be in a piano class by next fall or next spring.  I'm pretty excited to see how he does.  Either way, it's comparable to a preschool class once a week because what do they really learn at preschool?  take turns, listen to the teacher, sing, listen.  So, even if he doesn't come out of his little music lessons able to write a symphony he still is gaining valuable skills.  So, I'm of the opinion, the younger the better.

Another thing they do is give you a CD with the music for that particular semester on it.  Some times it's just the music, sometimes words, and sometimes it includes the solfege.  So, we'll be cruising around town singing to our piano music.   What a great use of time!

That's all.  Maybe.   

Music Lessons Part 2

OK, a little bit about my own music training.  I had one of the best piano teachers around.  She was a young mom who moved into our ward.  She had a degree in Music History (I think) and her husband was on the faculty at BYU in music.  They have been in the MoTab.   They had piano music wall paper on their walls.  I loved her.  I babysat for them.  I think they had one of the best piano lesson experiences that there was to offer.  However, like I already said...the lessons were 30 minutes, in her home, with 3 young kids, phone ringing (those were the days before caller ID and answering machines!), kids crying.  They really did try to keep to to a minimum, but the reality is, looking back, there were a lot of distractions.  

We had 1 recital per year.

I never learned to sing while I played.  I absolutely cannot carry a tune for the life of me.

I cannot begin to play by ear.  I never received that type of ear training.

I cannot play while people sing.  I never learned that and I am too intimidated to try it now that I'm an adult (except for an extreme emergency for Primary once in a while)

I do not know how to transpose music.

I do not know very much music theory at all.

I think my mom paid about $50 per month for my piano lessons and I took for 8 years.  (7 from the same teacher).  If I'm off on any of this mom, please correct me.  I probably took a month or two off in the summers.  So, for my music education it cost approximately $500 per year or $4,000 plus the cost of books.  I seriously appreciate the sacrifice it was for my parents to do this for me and my sister for all of those years.  So, don't think I'm complaining in any way.

This is what Sierra's course of music training will be once she is done at Art City Music.

Sierra basically started in the beginning with the Young Musician Program.  (They have all sorts of flowcharts of when and where to start them for what age they are.  I always heard that  you should be able to read, so 1st or 2nd grade before they should start piano lessons.  These guys start their students in actual music classes at age 3, yikes, that's Cole!)

So, Young Musician is 4 semesters, each semester is 20 weeks with a recital at the end of the semester.  Sierra finished that course and took an optional transitional semester.  In this class they learned about transposing music and comping* while learning folk songs.  it was a fun semester.  So, she has had 5 semesters.  Now she is in Keyboard Musician, which is 4 semesters.  Their is an optional 5th semester if the teacher feels that  the student needs reenforcement on any of the concepts. 

That means by the time Sierra graduates she will have all of the skills I have mentioned in a total of 9 semesters or possibly 10.  Summer has done it in less time because she is older and could handle more information in less time.  But learning music is kind of like learning a foreign language and they say that by the time a child is 12 years old they have lost the ability to learn a language as a native language than a foreign language or a second language.  Basically the window of time for children to learn music is short and it is harder to learn it as they get older.

The basic price for a semester is $250.  There is a fee for books and a $20 fee per year for registration.  They give a discount for paying by the semester rather than by the month and they give a family discount for each additional member of the family.  Sierra is using summer's books so I didn't have to buy more books.  So, I don't know right off hand what that comes out to but for Sierra to take for 9 semesters, it will cost me around $4,500.  That is only $500 more than my music education cost my parents 25 years ago.  And I figure that Sierra is spending almost twice as much time in music instruction even if that is in a group setting.  And she loves it and she really will come out of this experience with so many more skills than I did.

*About Comping:  I didn't know what this was until the girls started learning it.  Sierra is performing a comping song for her recital piece.  It is a Cuban Folk song.  She will sing the words (melody) while she plays the accompaniment.  When they learn the song, the notes are not printed, just the chord names.  So, it might look like this:

C C F C

G F C C

They are able to use whatever variation they want.  The formula above is for a blues style song.

I seriously had no idea what any of this meant until the girls learned it in their classes.

I looked Harmony Road music class locations up online and is says that there is a location in Phoenix.  I don't know any more than that.

I don't know if any of this makes sense, but I love the program. 

        

 

"I'm about to get on my soap box" alert

Subject:

Art City Music.  I guess I am feeling a little bit sentimental because summer is just about to graduate from Art City Music Academy's Keyboard Musician Program and enter private piano lessons.  I know, you're thinking you've heard this one from me before, but you can choose to continue or not...Way back in the day when we lived in Mississippi Rick told  me about this music program that one of his advisors recommended for children.  It was Yamaha School of Music and it was a group music program.  First of all, we couldn't afford groceries, how could we afford a music school?  And it was a group lesson situation.  I was 100% convinced that it would not work.  I actually thought it was just a way to get more kids in the door for a lesson and out the door faster for a bigger cash flow.  But, since they offered a free trial class and Summer and Sierra could attend classes at the same time, I decided to give it a try.  One of Rick's fellow residents had 2 of his children in the same classes as my girls.  Jill (the mom) and I tried to sit and observe and be somewhat optimistic.  by the end of the class we were sold and had enrolled all 4 kids in the program.  We did it for a year and were very sad when our husbands graduated and it was time to move away from yamaha school of music.  Jill's family was moving to Tupelo and could not find a similar program.  She contemplated driving 2 hours to jackson each week just so her kids could continue with the program because she was so in love with it.  It was actually a possibility for them because they homeschooled and could work it out once a week.

  We did some research and consulted with music director there and discovered that there was another program called Harmony Road.  The founders of this program were originally trained in Yamaha, but had relocated and started their own music school.  I think they are based in Seattle.  So, we discovered that Art City Music uses harmony road curriculum, but also has implemented many of their own little details and have created their own music school with 3 different Utah Co. locations, plus a new one in SL county.  Perfect, we met the owners, figured out where summer and sierra fit into their program and got started immediately.  Cole has taken for 2 full semesters now as well.  His class is more music, singing, story telling, hand motions, and some key board exercises.  At first he would not have anything to do with the singing at all.  He would just sit on my lap and pout.  This week when he went he was playing the correct notes on the key board, playing other instruments (maracas, bells, drums, etc.) and (excuse me while a wipe a tear) HE EVEN SANG...SOLFEGE!!!  His new semester starts soon and they will be focusing less on stories and actions and more on the actual piano.  He's 3.  He's not even potty trained.  And he knows middle C.  Can you tell how excited I am?

OK back to the girls.  This is why I think it works:  First, I think it is the best deal for the money.  Don't ask me how much it is, it is pretty spendy.  BUT,  don't  you remember the days of piano lessons and you hated a certain song or you just weren't in the mood to practice or you were on vacation or whatever and so you didn't practice or you just flaked our for a few weeks.  Well, there is no flaking out in this program.  Sierra is in her first semester ( of 4) of Keyboard      Musician.  They have all 4 semesters laid out in a binder, week by week.  Each week of homework (music theory), flashcards, written homework, and sight reading excercises and all printed out, and described in detail.  for example, when we went to Hawaii last month.  I knew exactly what the girls were missing for those 2 weeks.  So, we bumped up our practicing before vacation and played a little catch up over Christmas and when we went back in january nobody knew the difference.  They do allow make-up classes but that works more for illness and not for a 2 week vacation situation.  So, I believe that by the time I have paid for these 4 semesters of lessons (basically 2 years with a 2 month break for summer vacation) Sierra will have learned more about music and piano than I ever did in all of my years of piano lessons (a lot!) 

Second, the kids love the group music lessons.  The lessons plans are laid out for the instructors in very specific details.  The girls have had 3 different teachers now.  I thought that wouldn't be very effective either, but because the lessons are so carefully planned and detailed, any instructor (who is trained in their program) could step in and teach a class without much more than a few minutes notice.  

Their instructors are very well trained.  Many of them are college music students or graduates.  They are thoroughly  trained in the Art City Music Curriculum.   Summer and Sierra's first teacher at Art City, Ms Krissy was a graduate student in music and was specializing in choir and conducting.  She has spent the last several months helping Art City Music to write a voice training program for some of their older music students.      

The kids each have their own keyboard.  They love playing together (I never could play duets because that was too much pressure to play "with" someone.  I never learned that skill).  They love singing with the music (I never learned how to accompany music and have never played for more than Primary--they don't care if I mess up!).  The classes are about 50 minutes long and the time FLIES by.  My kids are not afraid whatsoever to perform for anyone.  (Recitals scared the H right out of me) (speaking of recitals...there is another one, yes another one on January 24.  Same place different time.  call me if  you're dying to come and I'll let you in on the details.  My kids won't care who comes really.  They just love to perform.  How cool is that??)

They also do weekly sight reading training.  At first I didn't see the practicality of this but as the past couple of years have gone by, I can see how it all fits together and has developed that skill.  they believe that sigh reading is the single most important thing that  music student can take into adulthood because it will be the thing that determines most if an adult will use their music education to continue playing the piano.  Most adults will not take the time to sit down and study and learn a new piece of music on a regular basis.  However, if they have the skill to sit down and sight read through a piece, then they will be much more likely to continue playing the piano into adulthood.   

another thing I LOVE is that the lessons take place in a music studio.  There are about 10 keyboards, so there are more than enough for everyone to have their own keyboard (I know, I know, they're just keyboards, not baby grands, but, hey at least it makes the digital piano at home look a little better, right?)  There are no other children running around being a distraction, there is no phone ringing, or other disruptions.

They have "Pass Off Standards" that must be met in order for them to pass off a song.

They also have "Practice Directions" for their songs.  I love this idea.  It breaks everything down so nicely so that even the tough stuff is not intimidating. 

Ok, the downside:  I have been attending 2 hours of piano lessons every Tuesday for 3 1/2 years.  WHY?  It helps so much.  I know what my kids are supposed to be practicing, I can answer their questions so they don't have to wait all week to figure something out, and I can support them and the teacher.  The parents can help the child know what questions to ask or what parts are troubling them.  It really is a pain in the neck to arrange my schedule to do this (especially when I drive 30 minutes to the Orem locations and then SIT there for 2 hours) but I really wouldn't keep doing it if I didn't think it was worthwhile.  I absolutely know that I learn something each week along with them.  I'm amazed at all of the things they have learned.  I contemplated taking a music class at BYU but I was always too intimated because I knew NOTHING about music theory.  but, I would have no problem sending Summer off to a music class with what she knows right now.

Anyway, if anyone is still reading after this big, long, huge boring post, please know that I am not in anyway being rewarded for the good things I have said about this program.  I am just grateful that these 2 BYU music graduates got together and used their music knowledge and obsessive compulsive behaviors to write such a fabulous and detailed music program.

I survived...

BARELY.

here is a close up of my toes.  One of them didn't make the picture, but I swear it's in there somewhere.  It seems as though I may have lost the feeling in my 2nd toe, but whatever.  it could be worse.   I asked the dr. before he did the surgery if he had actually performed this procedure before.  He informed me that he had already done 3 of them that morning, but none with the staple situation that I had. The whole "worst case scenario" situation certainly ended up being the case.  It took the dr. 30 extra minutes just to remove the staple that was left from the last surgery.  It had "barbs".  He said everything was fine after he finally went down to Home Depot and picked up the wire cutters.

When I woke up, the nurse asked me what my pain level was.  I said 7 because I knew that they wouldn't let me go home if I said 10.  The nurse patted me and said that she wouldn't let me go home until I was at a 5.  so, the next time she came in I lied and told her 5.  so, they sent me on my way with some ice and pain medication.  I threw up on the way home.  I don't care if that's too much information,  it's true.  For the first 24 hours, my mom, Rick, and the other mother babied me along as they cleaned my house and did the laundry.  Mostly I just wanted to sit and cry, but I knew that wouldn't make anything better.  I'm feeling better now, my pain level is 9.5

PS

Do not bring me cookies.  I'm serious. 

Happy to me

Rick is so sweet.  He got me a new sewing machine for Christmas.  It's so fancy that it took both of us an hour to learn how to thread it on Christmas day.  I've been so excited to try it out, but a little intimidated as well.  After the hour long attempt to thread the machine, I was almost in tears and ready to return the whole thing on Dec. 26.  But, I plugged along and have learned what a few of the whistles and bells do.  I have mastered some simple projects for the last week just so I could concentrate on the complicated owners manual and all of the fancy things I may some day learn how to do.  

Here's the thing, I'm sad to let me old sewing machine go.  Now that I've used this new one, I'm realizing how crappy my old sewing machine really was.  It doesn't have a light.  I know, I know, just replace the light, right? Wrong, I tried that like 5 times, for the last little while I've just been using an old desk lamp aimed at the needle area when I sew.  I bought that old thing for $89 at Walmart.  It was in K'ville.  I had been tutoring and I had saved every single penny until I could afford to buy the cheapest machine there was.  I was so excited, and the funny thing is, I couldn't sew a straight line if I tried.  but, I've learned a little along the way. I sewed these cute little dish towels last week so practice using my new machine.  The Christmas decorations weren't even put away and I was whipping cute Valentine looking dish towels.  I just couldn't help how cute they turned out.  I made one last night with green so that I'll be ready for St. Patrick's day. 

   

Book Review

Summer got this book for Christmas:

It's called the Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart.  It's a New York Times Bestseller.  I started reading it before Summer did, then she got it and started reading it.  At first she didn't like it, then she couldn't put it down.  I'm at the part right now where I can't put it down either.  It has 450+ pages and there is at least 1 sequel.  So, for having not even finished the book, I recommend this for a quickish, clean, clever read.  I'll let you know when I finish it how well I really liked it.  

And I'll probably be getting the sequel (the Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey) for Summer (and me) to read soon: 

   

I've been thinking...

OK. I'm going under the knife in a few days, no, I'm not getting my front yard done.  It's more like the back step or the...whatever...it's my foot.  Nothing exciting.  But, still I'm stinking nervous.  It made me think of a conversation between Summer and my mom from when we were in Hawaii.  Rick and I had taken Cole and gone grocery shopping for an hour or so.  We left Summer and Sierra with Grandma Nanners.  (I swear that is the only time for the entire trip that I left my children with my mother)  Summer immediately started taking over and marching everyone around the condo, cleaning up, organizing, you know, the usual "Summer's in change scene".  Sierra and my mom hid from her for a few minutes and managed to have this little conversation:    My mom asked if Summer does this often.  Sierra said yes.  and that they would be fine if I ever died.  Summer would just take right over and not skip a beat.  Everything would be taken care of by Summer.  The only problem would be when the "new Mom" came along, if Summer and "the new Mom" would be able to get along.  Sierra said the whole thing without even a second thought.  

Are you kidding, I'm not even dead yet, and the kids have it all planned out.  Maybe I should take applications for "the new Mom" just in case something happens.  I wouldn't want Summer and "the new Mom" to differ on opinions, like who is really in charge, or anything.

yeah, so it makes me think that when I go to the hospital in a few days, maybe I should leave a list or something.  Maybe they won't even notice I'm gone... 

Happy New Year 2009

Bye Bye Nursery

Why am I so sad about this?  I knew it was coming.  Every Mormon mother counts down the days until her little darling baby can attend nursery.  It's the best Sunday of the year.  Well, my Nursery days are over.  next week my baby will be in Sunbeams.  (He'll probably only last 4 1/2 minutes, but still he is officially a Sunbeam.)  I am sad.  He is growing up.  He even tried to poop in the potty during Sacrament meeting.  I'm so proud.  And I just realized that for 7 months ALL of my children will be in Primary.   And then Summer will have a birthday and she will graduate from Primary and she will be in Young Women's and then I really will cry.  I want my kids to stay little for a while longer.  I'm not ready for this growing up thing.  well, I am ready for potty training to be done.  No more diapers, forever.

Which kid is this?

I realized as I was posting about Cole, that I had some pictures that looked similar.  This is a picture of Summer in 2000 (age 3) when we lived next to Cameron & Kim in Grand Blanc, MI.  School was cancelled along with just about everything else.  The coat still has a strip of masking tape on the inside with Summer's name and address.  Sierra does NOT have a snow picture wearing this coat because it doesn't snow like this in Mississippi which is where we lived when she was 3