A Thought from Mr. Adamson

Everyone has heard that practice makes perfect.

They're wrong.

Practice, without aim, technique, or guidance does not result in perfection. Unless you practice it right, it's not going to suddenly appear perfect.

One of my ballet teachers, Mr. Adamson had a saying. "Practice does not make perfect. Practice makes permanent."

Picture from http://www.flickr.com/photos/peculiarmomma/1594538553/in/set-72157602462231066/ by Shalet Ann. Attribution, Noncommercial, Non-derivative License.

Around the House: Drying

With all the hype on environmental issues, it's good to conserve while we go. The beauty of most forms of conservation is you generally end up saving money in the process, at least in the long run. It's great to be able to take advantage of a sunny day to hang out clothes, rather than put them in the dryer. It saves electricity, and gives you fresh smelling clothes. It can be hard if you live in humid areas, but Calgary is perfect for it. Today we had a load out for an hour, and it was warm and dry by the time it was brought in.

I promise, last post on laundry. :)

Picture from http://www.flickr.com/photos/7-how-7/1609904448/ By Steve. Attribution, Noncommercial, Non-derivative Licence.

Around the House: Ironing

The other day in class, we were talking about a particular short story that used ironing as a symbol to represent monotony and how society "irons" out the wrinkles in individuals, till we're all the same (flat board). Our student teacher brought in an ironing board and iron, and asked for volunteers to iron out parts of the shirt and tell us what pops into our head. At one point, she asked "How may of you have ever ironed?" Almost everyone raised their hand, but about 4 or 5 people had never ironed!

If you're one of them, go iron something. It's relaxing. I love it. I have fond memories with irons: my uncle taught me to iron, quilting with my grandmother (there's lots of ironing in sewing), watching my dad iron his work shirts, and more. I iron with my right hand, with my board set up for left-handers, and set my iron on the left side, since my uncle taught me how he learned: from left handed Grandma Dorothy.

It's great fun. Try it! But read the care label of your shirt first, just in case.

Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/pfv/638405449/in/photostream/ By Pedro Veneroso. Attribution Noncommercial Licence.

Happy Mother's Day!

I have such wonderful women who have raised me in different parts of my life. Of course there's my mom, who has always been there, but I also want to thank people like my grandmothers who have supported her, and people like Mrs. Palmour, Mrs. Erickson, Aunt Heather, and Mrs. Smith who have been there for me when she couldn't. Thank you all!

The Tale of the Evasive Piano Teacher

Finally, the long awaited news! I have been tempting you all about it since February, and it's now come together enough to share.

Back in February, I was looking around for a piano teacher, and called one of the University profs to see if she knew any masters students who would be willing to teach me. She asked me to come over to hear my level (Canadian music level systems are so simple, but I don't know mine since I've never had a Canadian teacher before), so we met one afternoon, and talked about my interests and learning style. I played her one song from my Pride and Prejudice soundtrack book, and she said she would teach me.

My first lesson was supposed to be in the beginning of March, but because of the Calgary Music Festival, she was busy through all of March and into April. Then she got sick, but finally, we had a lesson. I was disappointed at all I had forgotten (I know how to read music, but had forgotten a lot of the theory {scales, tempo vocabulary, and dynamics}), but it's all coming back. Plus, there's a lot more that I've never learned on perfecting my finger strength and hand positioning (which is, to put it nicely, is sloppy).

Anyhow, that's what's new with me. That and spring is FINALLY here!!! No joke this time- today it rained for the first time since I got here. So exciting. My Narcissus have bloomed, and they are so cheery, looking at the sun. And naturally, with spring comes a haircut, so I no longer have long hair, but it's easier to care for short, and a lot of people have said that it looks good.

Piano/Rose Picture courtesy of Roddyrotton. http://www.flickr.com/photos/roddyrotten/8362745/ Attribution, Noncomertial, Non-derivitive Licence.

Narcissus Picture by myself. Creative Commons licence: Attribution, Noncomertial.