SAA 2008 – Monday

Today there was one last session (I did the two-hour one) and the closing ceremony.

Music Theory in the String Studio
Katherine J. Wood

SAA 2008 – Sunday

These are the sessions I attended today:

Facing “Improviphobia!” With Language Skills (bass)
Chris Rathbun and Nancy Hair

Cello Masterclass
Clinician: Anthony Elliott

Dvorak, Concerto in b minor, Op 104, 1st mvmt, Allegro
Tchaikovsky, Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op 33, Theme and 3 variations
Haydn, Concerto in C major, 1st mvmt, Moderato
Sammartini, Sonata in G major, 1st mvmt, Allegro

There were good sessions scheduled in the afternoon, but I had to leave at noon for Scooter’s adoption, and I didn’t go back.

SAA 2008 – Saturday

These are the sessions I attended today:

What Makes Good Teaching? (Keynote)
Dr. Robert A. Duke

Cello Playing is Easy
Tanya Carey

Plug In, Turn On, Tune In: Teaching Through the Senses
Part 2: Follow the Bouncing Ball
Carolyn Mead

From the Shoulder: Simplifying the Right Arm for Cellists
Dianna R. Nuttall

Pretend Cellos for Young, Foundation-Level Cellists:
Connecting the Young Mind to Musical Motion
David Evenchick

Practice with Purpose!
Dianna Galindo

SAA 2008 – Friday

These are the sessions I attended today:

Right Hand Rehab: Creative Bow Solutions
Heather Watson Hardie & Deborah Park

Using Practice Spots Creatively (guitar)
MaryLou Roberts

Upgrading Assessment: Observing to Learn in the Suzuki Lesson
Pamela Devenport

Piano Recital

OK, due to a misunderstanding I didn’t actually perform, but I was prepared to. I did go up and play my piece (Indigo, by Robert Grove) at the end, while everyone was packing up. Just to try out the concert grand and the hall, you know. I had several nice comments afterward, both gratifying and encouraging.

The other fun thing is that I played from memory, and really felt like I was making music in spite of a couple of finger or memory slips (I’m not really sure which they were). My piano lessons this year have inspired me to make more effort at memorizing at least some of the cello music I am going to perform.