No Complaints---yet! :)

I walked out my door this morning and found it to be an absolutely beautiful day here in Schaumburg! Although it is still very nippy outside, with no wind and the sun shining high in the sky, I couldn't help but wonder if we were getting a small glimpse of a bright and beautiful spring.

Now I am at work, sipping my tea (a Yerba Mate blend) and trying to acclimate to my day! I don't always feel human until I have had my morning tea or coffee. My tea this morning is a new one. It has a very strong earthy taste. Not my favorite of the Mate line, but still good. I like trying new teas everytime I go! Helps me figure out what I do and do not like.

Both of my students did well in their lessons last night. Talk about a huge strata of teaching. One was a 9 year old, the other an adult. Yet both are unique in their own way and have improved so much. Last night with both of them, I worked on head voice techniques. They seemed to understand. We'll see after a weeks worth of practice. But I was able to get the tones light, airy, and spinning. With my adult, I now need to pull the voice back into a frontal position.

I know that each week with my students won't present the perfect scenario of learning and improvement. But you sure to feel like you need to make the most of it when they do improve!

My practice went ok. I will say that I do feel a little better these days. Still tired, and my energy lacks a lot. But in general, I feel better since my surgery. Still miles to go, but time has a natural way of healing if we let it.

Last night I went over my Sunday morning piece, the Mozart Exsultate, and Purcell's "Your Awful Voice." I always get a kick out of singing that last one! It's like the one set by, is it Bernstein, "I hate music, but I love to sing!" Oxymoron! The coloratura on the Purcell went much better than Monday, but that middle section, that first word, I just can't get it to set right! It'll come! Just needs to settle in my voice. I absolutely cannot wait to perform the Mozart. Supposed to be doing a concert in October with strings and piano! We'll see!

Sunday morning's piece has come to mean so much in my life. I feel very urgent about this text! Pray hard that I will get the communication across! The name of the piece is "Ashamed of Jesus?" Of course the answer is that we shouldn't be. But how many of us, if we examined our lives truly are deep down ashamed to call Him our Lord and Savior and Friend. What a thought! What audacity----after He saved us and died for us, showing the ultimate sacrifice of love, how dare we slap Him in the face. And yet we do everyday. Oh, that this piece would continue to grow in my heart!

Well, today is going to be busy. Full day of work, then teaching, then practicing. I am preparing a student for a competition next week. Much to be done! Much to think on til 5:00.