Adjudication Pictures

It's All Over!

It was NOT as bad as I thought it would be. I learned a lot and hope to do it again next year! (Pictures coming soon! =)

Today is Adjudications!

I've been preparing for this for a long time. I'm not nervous...not yet anyway.=) I'm going go be playing Sweet Memories and Velocity. Oh, dear! I've got five minutes!!

Hello Everyone!

I thought I'd do a post about what I've been up to!

Well, I've been busy with a lot of school - math, teaching history and reading. I've found that I actually enjoy doing all three! I've been teaching Matthew, Joe, and Lydia history. We just passed Christopher Columbus.

I've also been busy with piano. A couple weeks ago, I did theory testing. Now I'm working toward adjudication. After that, the recital. I'm really enjoying piano and a candy bar for every 500 minutes of practice is a great way to get your students to practice.;-)

I've been working my way through the book "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy: a Righteous Gentile vs. the Third Reich." I thought I knew a lot about Nazis, Hitler, etc., but, really I don't! Just reading this made me absolutely disgusted with Hitler and his Nazis. It's a great book, but it takes perseverance to read, since it's about two inches thick. I'm just barely scratching the half-way point.

What have you been up to?

I've Started Violin Lessons Again!

Last year, Hannah started teaching me violin. When things got too busy with Sarah's courtship and engagement, I stopped for awhile. Hannah and I've been talking about playing fiddle duets together, so yesterday, she gave me a lesson. I sound terrible, but I'm very excited about maybe someday playing with Hannah and Phil!

A Christian Home

O give us homes built firm upon the Saviour,
Where Christ is Head, and Counsellor and Guide;
Where ev'ry child is taught His love and favor
And gives his heart to Christ, the crucified:
How sweet to know that tho' his footsteps waver
His faithful Lord is walking by his side!

O give us homes with godly fathers, mothers,
Who always place their hope and trust in Him;
Whose tender patience turmoil never bothers,
Whose calm and courage trouble cannot dim;
A home where each finds joy in serving others,
And love still shines, tho' days be dark and grim.

O give us homes where Christ is Lord and Master,
The Bible read, the precious hymns still sung;
Where prayer comes first in peace or in disaster,
And praise is natural speech to ev'ry tongue;
Where mountains move before a faith that's vaster,
And Christ sufficient is for old and young.

O Lord, our God, our homes are Thine forever!
We trust to Thee their problems, toil, and care;
Their bonds of love no enemy can sever
If Thou art always Lord and Master there:
Be Thou the center of our least endeavor:
Be Thou our Guest, our hearts and homes to share.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

More Love to Thee

More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!

Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.

This is my earnest plea:

More love, O Christ, to Thee;

More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;

Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best.

This all my prayer shall be:

More love, O Christ to Thee;

More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Let sorrow do its work, come grief or pain;

Sweet are Thy messengers, sweet their refrain,

When they can sing with me:

More love, O Christ, to Thee;

More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise;

This be the parting cry my heart shall raise;

This still its prayer shall be: More love, O Christ to Thee;

More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

-Elizabeth Prentiss

Count Your Many Blessings

I thought about doing this post as I was humming "Count Your Many Blessings". On Thanksgiving, Grandma Criss has everyone say one thing he is grateful for. I thought it would be a good idea if I did a post on everything I have to be grateful for. Well, I have so much to be grateful for that if I wrote it all out, I'd keep you here all day. So, like in the song, I'll count my blessings that money can't buy.

-An awesomely wonderful Lord and Savior who loves me unconditionally.
-A future home in heaven.
-A loving Daddy.
-A precious Momma.
-Nine very different, but very amazing siblings.
-Long, deep talks with my sisters
-Uplifting and encouraging walks and talks with my bosom friend.
-My many sweet friends.
-A brother-in-law and soon-to-be sister-in-law!
-A niece or nephew on the way!
-A large, dear family at church.
-My grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, cousins-in-law, and second cousins once removed.=)
-The sun, rain, wind, and snow-I love it all!
-Little reminders each day that Jesus loves me!

Count Your Many Blessings

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings. Money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Refrain

We're Starting Piano Lessons Today!

At Calvary

Years I spent in vanity and pride,

Caring not my Lord was crucified,

Knowing not it was for me He died

On Calvary.

Refrain:

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty

At Calvary.

By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;

Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,

Till my guilty soul imploring turned

To Calvary.

Refrain

Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus everything,

Now I gladly own Him as my King,

Now my raptured soul can only sing

Of Calvary!

Refrain

Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!

Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!

Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span

At Calvary!

Refrain

Take Up Your Cross

Verse One
My child, if you would follow
You must really count the cost
For in giving of yourself, I'll make you free
And in taking of my new life, you old like will be lost
Come along, take up your cross, follow me.

Chorus
Take up you and follow me
My burden is light and easy
Put on my yoke and learn of me
Take up your cross and follow me.

Verse Two
You may have a humbling weakness
I will give for you to bear
It is only that I want for you to see
That in your small affliction, My strength is always there
Follow on, do My work, trust in Me.

Chorus

Verse Three
I'll go with you, I will love you
I will lead you I will stay
No matter what your trial on earth may be
Just remember that the sufferings of this present day
Cannot compare with the glory that will be.

Chorus

From In His Name, Bluegrass Brethren

Violin Recital

Playing the Bach Double

Alla Hornpipe and Andante and Caprice by Gluck

Tell It to Jesus

Are you weary, are you heavy hearted?

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.

Are you grieving over joys departed?

Tell it to Jesus alone.

Chorus

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,

He is a Friend that’s well known.

You've no other such a friend or brother,

Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do the tears flow down your cheeks unbidden?

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.

Have you sins that to men’s eyes are hidden?

Tell it to Jesus alone.

Chorus

Do you fear the gathering clouds of sorrow?

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.

Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow?

Tell it to Jesus alone.

Chorus

Are you troubled at the thought of dying?

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.

For Christ’s coming kingdom are you sighing?

Tell it to Jesus alone.

Chorus

Lord Jesus

Lord when I came to you
All things became new
But it seems like the 'old man,' he really wants to stay
And though you live inside, in you I must abide
Yielded each moment so I can go your way

CHORUS
Lord Jesus take me, remake me
Let you love shine through me
Lord Jesus hold me and mold me
Into the person you want me to be

Lord, I give you the task
Of pulling off the mask
I wear in front of others each and every day
And would you please reveal the things that are concealed
Make your word more real to me
So I can know your ways

CHORUS

I know your word is true
So help me trust in you
Guide my thoughts and actions
And the words I say
And would you do your part
To come and change my heart
So when I am with others
They'll see that you're the way

CHORUS

Bach Double Violin Concerto in D minor 1st movement

This is the next song in my book, and I can wait to learn it!

btw Notice the bows; they are baroque.

Violin Adjudication

This morning I had a violin adjudication. These are the songs that I played. The first song is by Mollerhauer and the second song by Vivaldi .

Infant Paganini

Concerto in A minor

Theory Testing is This Saturday!

A couple months ago, Mrs. Clark said that Hannah and I should do theory testing given by the Lynden Teachers Association. After showing us all the different things we have to do, Hannah and I decided that it would be very beneficial if we want to be piano teachers to learn some more theory.


These are all the different things we have to do:

We have to learn two songs of contrasting styles, one memorized. I'm playing Daydreaming by Timothy Brown (a romantic piece) and Musette in D major by Johann Sebastian Bach (a baroque piece). We have to give a verbal description of the memorized piece (i.e. tempo, mood, dynamics, etc.)

We have to prepare six scales (two white key major, two black key major, and two minor played both natural and harmonic). I'm going to play A major, E major, A flat major, E flat major, A minor, and E minor. (I choose A because A is the only letter in the music scale that is in my name and E because it is the dominate note in the A major scale.) We have to do the primary triad inversions, chord progressions, and a whole bunch of other stuff that has escaped my mind at the present moment.

A few other things we have to do are rhythm and pulse development, sight-playing, a lot of different things to do with counting, the order of sharps and flats, the major key signatures, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

The only one thing I not too excited about is the listening. The teacher will play a piece on the piano and we have to say whether it's in 3/4 or 4/4 time and if it's a major or minor key. We also have to listen, while turned away from the piano, while the teacher plays different intervals, and be able to say if they are 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, 7ths, or 8ths.

Well, all of the agony, stress, and pain of this theory testing will be over Saturday night, so if you run into me the days prevailing the test, don't think anything of it if I seem to be otherwise engaged.:-)

~Susi

We Had Our First Piano Lesson After the Christmas Break Today!

I played the piano for the first time in church today! Laura was planning on playing, but was feeling sick. Hannah, her usual backup, wasn't feeling well, either. While we were running out the door, daddy asked me to play. I have a grand total of about six or seven songs that I can play well enough for church, so we sang those. It went pretty well, but the only problem was, I like to play songs fast, and everyone sang them very slow. I especially had trouble with the last song, Open Wide Ye Everlasting Doors. When I hit one wrong note, it leads to another and another. When we got home, Laura declared me to be "a regular pianist", and I couldn't back out even if I wanted to.=)