Why use wisdom or oracle cards?I started using these cards back in the 90’s. They were a quick and easy way to shift my perspective. There could be a specific issue I was trying to clear up, a way to start the day off with some wisdom, or for broader

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What happened to your dynamics?In a recent lesson with a middle school age book 5 violin student there was a discussion about dynamics. Although playing notes, rhythms and articulations accurately, and mostly with beautiful tone, there was no sense of dynamic interest. The movement-long play through did not project any

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The terminator of spontaneity, happiness and joyThe antidote to perfectionism is your own intuition. Trying to fulfill a perceived standard may result in a more technically accurate performance but a soulless one. There is a high price for that “perfect” performance paid for with a dysregulated nervous system and anxiety.

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Writing a book, composing a piece of music, painting, sculpting, designingCreativity has its own timing. I’ve been trying to get started writing a book that I’ve been thinking about for years. I’ve made some effort but the book hasn’t really taken shape. I haven’t figured out how to get into

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For the first time in a long timeThis weekend I played in a really fun concert. It was a halloween program. A lot of us orchestra members dressed in costume including yours truly. A lot of audience members dressed up too. We played in our larger hall which was not

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Once upon a time…There was a violin teacher who didn’t teach scales. She thought that scales are “stupid.” But this person didn’t actually practice scales herself. Even though she taught many violin lessons, she never had her students play scales and they never learned why scales were important. Scales are

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You may be on the verge of making a huge decision in your lifeOr, you may feel as though something has to change because some aspect of your life has become untenable. You may feel stuck because you can’t wrap your mind around how you’re going to make the necessary

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Youthful dreamsDreams change over time. Those dreams from early in life aren’t always what we need later on. If you try pursuing that dream from the past you may realize it isn’t fulfilling in the way your thought it would be. Reconciling dreams from the past with your life nowYou

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Starting something newI’m excited to be starting a Suzuki book 1 group class in a couple of weeks. For many years I have taught private Suzuki lessons but did not have time in my schedule to offer group class to my students. Group class is critical especially with so much

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We advocate for each otherThose of us who belong to a union have compassion for the auto workers. It takes a lot of courage, a sense that there is no better option, to take the risk of striking. Outwardly they demonstrate solidarity with their fellow workers, not showing any sign

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