As I have written before, it has been really difficult to break in with the musicians in a new place. People knew the violin & viola teacher as the only one that was here before I got here. It's difficult to make a name for yourself somewhere new, and I finally feel like I'm doing so!
I have now gotten 1 student from 7 different sources! I was telling my grandma, and she was agreeing with me, how much better this is than getting 7 students from one source. That means, most likely, more will come along from all those connections I now have. I keep on forgetting I really have only been here since the first of July, and we traveled and such quite a bit at first. It just takes time. I am incredibly encouraged --- I have gotten two students this week! I know that it may be another lull for a while, but the fact that the students keep on coming slowly but surely is unbelievably encouraging.

I'm playing a gig at Ole Miss - it's a vocal piece, On Wenlock's Edge by Vaughan Williams. I am playing with all professors and one grad student, so I was super nervous. (and the counting is somewhat hard...and that's my weakness). The only other "violist" in town is the man who is the only other private violin/viola teacher in town (he's a violinist, but plays viola for gigs), but he couldn't do it so I got the gig! I practiced and I felt so good about it! It went really well, and everyone was very friendly and encouraging. The cello prof was so sweet to me and she gave my number to a family who just moved here from Dallas. Their daughter is 9 and is a Suzuki student. I am very excited, because up to this point, I have only had 1 little girl and all boys...although all the boys are fun and sweet, I have to say that I wanted at least 2 or 3 girl students! So now I have 3! A 5 year old, 7 year old, and 9 year old. :-) I feel like I'm finally "in" if that makes sense, and it is such a good feeling.
I have another gig in November for a grad student's recital, so not only is it some more income, but it's a great opportunity to network and make more friends.

I've been struggling lately with a lot, especially thinking I'd never "break through" and be "one of the teachers in town", but I feel like it is finally happening. Yay! My hard work that seemed like it was for nothing is paying off and it feels very good.

Things are looking up, and I am starting to feel a little more confidence which is good. As you can probably tell, I am a very impatient person and do not like waiting for things. People kept on telling me "it just takes time!" but I did not like hearing that. They were right :-) I have been working on being more relaxed and patient.

I obviously have a long way to go before I will be happy with the number of students I have, but I figured that this was a pretty big step up, between getting 2 new students this week, and making new contacts who seem very encouraging and genuine --- so I am encouraged.