High-tech class

I just finished one of my doctoral classes for the night, and I never left my office! One of my classes has students spread out all over Idaho, so our teacher wanted to hold class using a microphone and a webcam. We had some technical difficulties last week, but we got the kinks worked out. It will be so nice to stay in Rexburg for class!

Family Picture

Here's the happy family a few minutes after Nathan met his brother for the first time

Zachary David Mitchell

We have a new addition to the Mitchell family! My new nephew, Zachary David Mitchell, was born at 6:36 last night in Pocatello at 5 pounds, 14 ounces. He wasn't due for another week, so he was a bit of a surprise. Mom, Emily, is doing well after a rough C-section, and Dad, David, is in somewhat of a daze. Brother, Nathan, is his usual hyperactive, overly excited self. We visited for a bit last night, but my camera battery died so this one of Zachary and Grandma is the only picture I have. Hopefully my mom will send me the other pictures she took. He's about two hours old, so he's still pretty puffy, but he's sure a cutie!

Studio Update

My studio is finally finished! It's been so close for so long, and last week we did the last of the rearranging. We moved this desk down from the TV room where it hadn't really been doing much. Now it keeps both instruments and cases very neat and still gives me some writing space.


We also moved the mirror and attached it to the wall. The mirror is behind the student for most of the time, otherwise they stare at themselves the whole time. We also took down the clock so they aren't staring at that either. I was finding that for some of my students, the last five minutes were somewhat lacking in quality.


The piano and parent chairs are still in the same place, but the students now stand at a slightly different angle so the eager parents won't try to give them reminders or corrections while they are playing.


The sitting room is still basically the same, but we added some shelves for the students to put their cases in. That way they can get the instruments out and ready while the other student is in the studio, which will save a bit of time.


My favorite addition to the studio is the heater! It is an electric heater that heats the entire studio amazingly well. Our basement is now the warmest place in the house!

They're Human Too

Hopefully many of you saw the world premiere of a great new quartet played by John Williams just before President Obama was sworn in (he actually became president at 12:00 noon, while the quartet was still playing! The musicians included Anthony McGill, Gabriela Montero, Yo Yo Ma, and Itzhak Perlman, and they sounded great. I was especially amazed that they were able to sound decent at all when it was so cold outside. Last night I was listening to NPR on the radio, and they were talking to Yo Yo Ma about that very performance. Yo Yo admitted that what everyone was hearing was a recording done the previous Sunday, and they had actually soaped their bows! Even the piano was altered so that when the pianist pressed the keys no sound would come out. If they had actually attempted to play, it would have been a disaster. I was shocked, but also relieved to know that even the great Ma an Perlman can't play in freezing temperatures!

Confession

Okay, so Joni's partially right. I listen to Avril Lavigne, Weezer, and yes, Britney Spears. I'm not partial to them or anything, they are just the ones on my I-Pod that have the best beat for running. There are probably much better songs, but I'm pretty retarded when it comes to pop music (just ask Joni). Avril's really not that bad, as long as you get the edited version. I also wouldn't mind some of Michael Jackson's stuff on it as well.

So there you have it. I'm a classical nerd with weird taste in workout music.

Gym Tunes

I am always intrigued by what people listen to at the gym. Many people have their headphones plugged into the TV channels, but there is still a large percentage that are listening to their own Ipods or MP3s (it's been a while since I've seen a discman!). Since I'm such a classical nerd, you'd probable assume I was listening to some symphony or something like that, but you can run to that stuff! Most of you would probably laugh if you found out what I listen to while I'm working out. I see other teachers working out and try to imagine what they're listening to.

What do you listen to while you're working out? What do you think I listen to?

Branching Out

Last weekend Tyler and I were down in Snowflake and Show Low, Arizona performing in a concert. Most of you are immediately picturing some kind of classical concert, and normally you would be right. This time, however, I decided to branch out a bit from my classical roots. Some of you may know that Tyler's family occasionally performs in authentic cowboy western concerts. Hi dad sings and plays the guitar, as does Tyler, and his brother and sister dance. This was my first time performing with them, and I must admit that I felt way out of my element, but I had a great time. We did two concerts, and both of them went fairly well. Tyler and I did three pieces (tunes? numbers? ditties? I don't even know what they're called): Jerusalem Ridge, a faster fiddling tune, Ashokan Farewell, and The Orange Blossom Special. I'm still definitely a classical music nerd, but it was kind of fun to play music that the audience immediately identified with.

Me and TeAnna backstage

Me and Tyler about five seconds before Tyler ran onstage

They're Definitely Back

I was at the music building last night with Tyler, and as we were leaving we heard a barbershop version of the Star-Spangled Banner coming from the men's bathroom.

The music students are definitely back in full force. Sheesh.

It Begins Again

I think I'm finally ready to get back to work. Tyler and I had a wonderful Christmas break. We got some much needed sleep and some much needed quality time together. We absolutely loved not going anywhere for Christmas. It was so relaxing (except for those few days when we shoveled our driveway four or five times throughout the day to keep up with the blizzards). We watched movies, spent time with family, and ate some really great food.

This weekend we both started to feel a little anxious to get back to work. We are well rested, and we're excited to be productive again. I started teaching my lessons this morning, and I really feel like I'm a better teacher after taking that break. The kids seem to be a lot more rested as well. The university students are back in full force, taking over our grocery stores and Wal-Mart. I think some of them are a little shocked to come back to several feet of snow and negative temperatures!

Here's to a new semester! To all you teachers, students, spouses of students, and parents,
GOOD LUCK!!!