Goings-on

The past month has brought on some victories and some setbacks. I am now a teacher with the Merit School of Music in downtown Chicago. I travel with their Bridges program to several schools on the South Side once a week. The flutists I work with at these schools bring me so much joy -- I believe they understand the value and rarity of music education even more than my regular private students. They are completely attentive, enthusiastic, and tenacious.

Setbacks have included a bicycle accident that I suffered about a month ago. I can only urge all drivers to check their review mirrors at all times. Luckily, none of my injuries related to my hands or fingers -- I hobbled around on crutches for a while, and now I'm walking and rehabilitating my left leg. The driver's insurance is covering my expenses, and a new bicycle.

The greatest news of late is that I've been asked to come with a small contingent of musicians from the Youth Orchestra of the Americas to the Dominican Republic in May. We will perform chamber music and teach young people there for a week. The prospect is so exciting, and completely scary - I'll be teaching six hours a day in Spanish.

Aside from all that, the studio continues to grow, and I continue to practice, and for that I'm sincerely grateful.