I had three today - a nice warm up after about 10 days off. Tomorrow it will be 9 from 16.00 onwards. Thursday is when it gets back to normal with school work and private.

How about you?

I'll be starting up again on monday after about 3 weeks or so of a break

Starting back on 9th......

Yes, some grade 8 students yesterday and 3 sisters today. Not back at school yet though.

4 today. A nice little warm-up.

Sadly, 2 of them are inherited from a local space-waster.

Usual thing.

"When did you start learning this exam piece?"

"Last Feb".

Hey-ho.

Steve

I'm not starting back until next Monday. As I only work from home, I can have a slightly longer break - it seems to suit everyone to come back the week after school starts back.

I started on Monday. It's lovely to see them all again and to get their holiday news!

I'm starting back today as that is when the schools go back here - 5 today!

David

One yesterday (lovely!) - starting properly today - if they remember!
Also start playing again tonight - haven't touched the piano over Christmas!

One this afternoon, then school tomorrow.....

Officially back yesterday although a couple "forgot" (the teenagers)! All the little ones turned up nice and keen to start back! Espescially the girl who got a digital piano from Santa

No school until next week though so I have an extra day off!

Amanda xxx

I'm back doing school teaching tomorrow, but have had one private pupil this morning. I have a bits and bobs day on a Thursday when I'm not at any school for longer than half an hour, so I actually visit 8 school sin the day. Unfortunately some are there tomorrow and some aren't, so it's gonna be a bit stop and start which is annoying.......none of them will move to fill in the gaps!

Four yesterday and four today. lost one or two before crimbo and need to advertise pronto!! With only half a studio filled I couldn't afford to take more time off....

Starting next week - playing for choir rehearsal on Monday evening, then in school Tuesday morning and also ones who come to the house will start too. Lost 3 last term, so am looking to fill the spaces.

Tomorrow My dad jokes she may have forgotten what a white note is She does struggle, bless

My pupils came back today. The cheeky little ten-year-old was playing around with his rosin and said wistfully: one day this piece of rosin will be in a glass case with a plaque saying " this was once used by the world famous **** ******* when he was a lttle boy".

He meant it too -

Violinia

That's confidence for you Violinia!

Yes he's confident alright. He'll go far I'm sure - his mum's a doc after all so it's probably in the genes. He under-achieves at school sometimes but because he's bored, not because he can't do it - I think he's actually super-bright. You can see his little mind working away sometimes and then he comes out with something like he did today - he's adorable but he can also be infuriating at times.

Once I was telling him to keep his left hand in a sort of circle; I said 'make a shape that a mouse could get through'. He said 'like a baby mouse you mean'. I said 'no, quite a big mouse actually'. He goes 'well I think it's a very tiny baby mouse, which means I can keep my hand like this:' demonstrates the old 'frying pan hand' syndrome. That's when I feel like going after him with my frying pan, but you've got to hand it to the kid - he's got a great imagination and wonderful cheek.

Violinia

Pupil started back this evening after a somewhat hit-and-miss December (broken down parental car, ill parents, holidays...). To my surprise and great delight not only has he remembered what we covered in his last few lessons, he appears to have done some practice as well

Will be contacting Occasional Adult Learner tomorrow to see how she's set for 2006.

Any reason why you have put 'Occasional Adult Learner' with capital letters at the beginning of each word? Sounds like some sort of disease!!!!!

Occasional Adult Learner Syndrome!! OALS

Because that's her name, of course! Just like Pupil and Husband.

She's either reading this or psychic, because she e-mailed me earlier this evening to arrange this term's lessons. These are going from occasional to weekly, so she will now be referred to as Adult Pupil or some other term to help me identify her whilst preserving her anonymity.

Can't wait for her lessons to start again - she's really keen!

You've been teaching her that as well then?

I start back today, but it's going to be tough from the start for most of them, as they are preparing for at least one exam each, in March, except for a couple of beginners

Starting back today too, two private lessons this afternoon. I always feel a bit wierd going back after the xmas hols, as I don't stop teaching over summer and as a result xmas is the only time I don't teach throughout the whole year...

(It feels like first day back at school!

... I hope I've not forgotten everything!!)

Hope everyone else is getting back into the swing of things!