Many concerts experienced, many stickers earned from practicing the viola since last time I wrote. Some time ago I had big problems in motivating Elli to practice. She said she would prefer playing the clarinet or the timpani. I think she was so overwhelmed for the fact playing is not easy. I tried to explain that playing any instrument is hard in the beginning. Maybe the clarinet would be even more difficult.
I have been forcing Elli to practice. She's been crying some times that she hates to play. Still, I've forced her. Not every day, but every now and then. At least she has to practice the day before the lesson. We had a deal that she has to play the viola at least to the moment when we have to buy her a bigger viola. Then she can quit or maybe change for another instrument. Until that she will be playing the viola. Of course I hope she loves playing then.
I hated playing the piano for years and still I played it. My mother said that I have to make the decision when it is time to inform the music school about participating next autumns lessons. Springtime, when there are all those spring concerts and everybody is having fun and you get compliments about you playing, I always wanted to continue. And then I just hated it every other time of the year. Piano just wasn't an instrument for me. Finally, I changed the instrument when I was 15. After that I have loved practicing. I haven't touched the piano much, but I love my saxophone.
For fiew weeks I felt Elli didn't really get much joy from playing. I wasn't quite sure if she was pretending or was it really so she did not like it. I bet she was surprised by the fact that practicing is had work. Now when she has learned something she at least seems to enjoy playing. She has played all the classics like Twinkle twinkle little star and basic Suzuki pieces (even though she is not thought with Suzuki method). She even has some favorite pieces she wants to play, even more than that obligatory 15 minutes. Of course it's getting more fun when she begins to handle the instrument. I hope she realizes that she could do amazing things with her viola.
Today we were talking about the coming performance and how to act on the stage. Elli doesn't really concentrate well before she starts to play. So she might have her fingers on wrong places e.g. and start to play. I told her that even those very good professional soloists take a moment on a stage to concentrate before they start playing. Then she said: "One day I might be a soloist too." Who knows.
