Another Music Lesson?

The funny thing is that when I decided to become a music major, all those years ago, the very last thing that ever occured to me was teaching music to children. It is not that I had anything against that, in fact, I have always believed that children need a solid musical education, even if they are not going to become musicians (I could even say, "especially if they are not going to become musicians"). But I never saw that I was the person to do this teaching.

Well, things happen, circumstances change, and word of mouth gets going, and the next thing you know I have two music classes and private lessons going on and a book in progress. It is quite fun, does not really take that much time, and gives me some hope that there will be a few children out there who understand a few things about rhythm, harmony, and the elusive quality of variety within unity.

It all started, of course, with homeschooling. I decided Amalia needed to have a solid music education, aiming at the equivalent of a BA in music by age 16. We started her on lessons and then a neighborhood girl came twice a week for recorder, rhythm and pitch work. That is how it spread. So, if you are in the North Bay or East Bay and are looking for a music teacher (keyboard, theory, history, composition, percussion), I seem to be in business.

Today, however, Amalia has a substitute teacher (Melanie), so I have Veteran's Day off, for the most part. I will probably be giving a keyboard lesson later, but my plan is to spend most of my time in the studio, I am still trying to get something together for a big splash with a new series, and have to avoid the temptations of chemistry... or at least to keep them from taking too much time. It is just that synthetic resins are very interesting! They can do stuff to light that is really stunning. Unfortunately they require ghastly fumes that dissolve liver tissue and nerve cells, requiring working with masks, and I don't even like painting with gloves on, as many painters do to avoid absorbing nasty stuff through the skin. If someone comes up with a way to use synthetic resins without the need for super-toxic volatile organic solvents and hardeners, I will be very happy.