When my son first came to me begging to be able to play viola, I had my doubts.  Viola and bass lessons start in grade 7.  The grade 7 orchestra had no violas and reached out to grade 6 violin players at an orchestra workshop.  The viola teacher had been my son's grade 4 and 5 violin teacher and I knew that they had had problems because my son often forgot his instument and didn't practice enough.

I let him go ahead with it and he started in the grade 7 orchestra after 2 lessons.  I didn't make him practice too much because he was playing similar stringed insturments in lessons and orchestra practice 4 times a week.  He and the teacher get along famously now.  Although it still takes some doing to get him to practice he is doing well.  It wasn't until the final junior strings concert though, watching him march up and down the stairs to play violin in front of the stage and viola on the stage, that I found out that he was the only grade 6 student ever in the history of the music centre to play viola with them.

A funny thing came out of this.  At his first orchestra practice this year they didn't have any viola music for him because they had never had a viola player at the beginning of the year.

I celebrate this, somegirl

Funny I was just thinking about this recently.

Seelerboy - I've heard from another English teacher in Korea that he is doing 'good things' among the ex-pat community there, as well as being a great, if informal, ambasador for Canada among his students.   Not sure what all this means but I think its good - our Mark on the world.

Seelergirl - I cannot get over how positive, courageous, and brave she has been during this past year - a Joy to all who know her.

I'll celebrate this with you seeler.

 It's hard to do this, CH.  

My oldest came home the other day, and told he was asked to go see his supervisor after his shift -- he is working at a large pool now, as a fulltime lifeguard/instructor.  He started part way through this seasons classes.  Anyhow, he was understandably nervous when he went to see her, and .......she said....that she had many parents go out of their way to tell her what a wonderful instructor he is....   He was so happy.  (he is an awesome instructor, one set of parents hired him to give instructions to their children at their home pool..when he wasn't going to be working doing instructions in the summer at his previous employer).

My youngest is always busy with air cadets, and i was sad when he said he couldnt' help with the pageant as he had previosly committed to "stuff a bus".  I didn't say anything, but , he went and changed his volunteer shift, and then helped his mom with the pageant.  He made the kids rice krispie squares for the practise, then stood in for joseph, and on pageant day, fetched, stepped into roles, and just was a good helper..and kid.  The little ones really like having him around, and they tease him ...and of course, as admin2, birthstone & busymom's children knows, he loves to play.  it was such a gift to have him there, and willing to be a kid again for a while.   

so, i celebrate that both my boys are growing into men that care for even the littlest children and that children like to be around.  

Pinga - I remember meeting your boys at Five Oaks - the older briefly, the younger for the weekend.  They are everything you say about them and more.  

Yes, Pinga it is really hard to brag about our own. I love your stories and I celebrate with you.