Hello from the Colorado Suzuki Institute, where my five year old girl did her first big concert last night! It was something else. There were maybe sixty cellist on stage, all lined up, the littlest ones in the front. They play the hardest pieces first, and the little ones have to sit through these pieces until it's their turn to play. It's not so easy for a five year old to be sitting on stage in the spotlight in the front for eight pieces, waiting to play French Folk Song and Twinkle.

Isabelle got up about four times and tried to come down and sit with us in the audience. We had to motion for her to sit down. She bowed after the first three songs that she wasn't even playing on. She played with her belly button a little bit.

But she played like a pro and we were all thrilled! Go Isabelle! After the concert, I gave her a special necklace with a cello charm on it. She was very proud and showed it to all the cellists at the cello pizza party afterwards.

She loves her teacher here, David Evancheck. I do to. He has been my teacher trainer for Suzuki Book 1. Today is my last class for six hours (uggh!). But I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

In the Suzuki teacher training course, we have eight cellists, ranging in age from 15-48, of varying levels but mostly professionals. We sit around in a class room and talk about which bow stroke to teach on which piece, and how to size a cello on a little one, and what the philosophy of Suzuki really is. It's kind of fun, to be having all kinds of musical discussions with these cellists.
I haven't been in a group of cellists like this in ages, it seems.

Anyway, we will rent a house near here for the next week and try to explore the Vail area a little bit, and then, back to the Bay Area next Friday.