What I Learned in October

Leaves can clog a vacuum cleaner. Big time. I also learned how to unclog all the possible parts where my vacuum cleaner could potentially be blocked with debris.
Navigating a super-polarized, largely inappropriate election season with a middle schooler and high schooler is very, very challenging. Yikes. I’ve had more discussions about things I’d rather not discuss with my children in one month than ever in my life, I think.
On my cello I learned several new techniques for pizzicato, a movement of a Sonata, and several little etudes.
On the piano I learned a lovely Bach fugue. I love Bach fugues.
My cello teacher taught me about using “fruit names” for rhythmic patterns, and I’ve been exploring that in my teaching, especially with my younger students. It works like magic! I’m so excited about it.
I’m learning a teensy bit of Latvian. There is a reason for this, and I’ll dive into it in detail in an upcoming future post, I promise.