Violin recital, and my first solo performance in about 15 years

I don't think I have mentioned on this blog that I have been teaching violin for the past couple of months. Some of you may not even know that I play violin since I have been somewhat of a closeted player for the past 5-10 years. I played very seriously in high school and some of college, but haven't done much with it for many years. But I did bring my violin to China with the idea that I could teach beginner students if the opportunity presented itself.

My friend, Allyson, has two girls, both who play violin and were looking for a teacher when they moved here. The older daughter, Ruth, is studying with a Chinese teacher at a huge violin school in Ningbo. The younger daughter, Grace, is my student. She is in the first grade and just learning how to read music. Both girls studied Suzuki method in the States and are great players. I didn't start playing until I was 12 or 13 (7th grade, as part of the Ft. Collins public school music program), so the fact that they are 6 and 8 years old and practice regularly and can get a decent sound out of their instruments is amazing. I have no experience with Suzuki method, let alone violin teaching, but I have one student and we have been having fun.

We decided to have a holiday recital for teachers and friends, and even though I am not Ruth's teacher we all wanted to do some Christmas tunes together. The program included Joy to the World, Angels We Have Heard on High, Rockin' Ole Saint Nicholas (Grace's favorite from the holiday music performance at school), and Silent Night. I decided I should prepare a piece as well since it is good for students to hear what their teacher can do, and also so the program would last more than 8 minutes. So I did Ave Maria with accompaniment on the piano by the school music teacher, Ms. Jenkins. She was great and also played accompaniment for the Christmas carols. She is one of those amazing piano players who asks the key and can go right into the appropriate accompaniment, keeping up with beginner and advanced violin performers alike!

Since the recital was at their house and everyone takes their shoes off in homes in China, I think this was the first time I have had a bare-foot performance. We performed the entire program again the next day at school for the first and third grade classes. I have to admit I was really nervous about my solo, but it went well and I am already thinking about doing another one in the spring.