We were extremely fortunate to convince the talented Cami Austen to take on a new violin student. Esme is very enthusiastic about learning this difficult instrument. Cami teaches full time as orchestra director at a local junior high, voluntarily directs the Sugar Creek Ward youth orchestra, runs the Bentonville School District Honors Orchestra (which she writes grants to fund) is an accomplished musician, and keeps only a handful of students in her private Suzuki violin studio. We really hit the jackpot. I’m excited too. True Suzuki instruction heavily stressed parental involvement in lessons and practice. I think this will be a wonderful (and sometimes challenging) little journey for Esme and I. Quincy has cautioned me not to go too “little white donkey” (a reference from a truly hilarious and alarming book about crazy mother a who loses a battle of wills with her daughters during piano and violin lessons. Any time I used to encourage Q to replay something after sensing a lack of effort, we would call out “little white donkey!” …me to lighten the mood, her use was to tell me I was being crazy and to self-check my expectations.) Tiger Mother on her baby sister. Esme is a very eager student so far, so I don’t see that happening, but I appreciate her comical sentiment of what kind of orchestra mom she sees me as.
It’s gonna be all twinkles, all the time. Giddeup Donkey.
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