We're Coming to Your Concert!

On Saturday, I was in a chamber music concert.  So, I told pretty much everyone I know - including my school quartets - that it was on.  To the juniors, I gave flyers as I don't have all their email addresses just yet.  Last week, then - after the obligatory "Let's scare the life out of our teacher as she arrives" - there were clamouring voices.

Girls: Ooh, ooh - we're coming to your concert! - Oh yeah, we're coming too!
Violin 1: My mum wants to go, so I get to go too!
Viola: My mum? She just wants to know a couple of things?  Here!  She wrote down the questions on the form.  Answer the questions!  [I wrote down answers]  So, last night, I practiced... [pause]
Me: Um... that's great! [I really thought there was going to be more of that sentence]
Viola: Yeah.  [nodding vigorously]  Oh!  Yeah, that's when I saw the note.  And showed it to her.  [very excited] So we should be coming, because mum and dad really want to go!

Messy Writing

A grade 10 girl was just about out the door, but I was still writing in her notebook.  I don't have very neat handwriting unless I'm really trying, so writing quickly, while standing up... It's very messy.  I had memories of trying to decipher one of my violin teacher's handwriting.  He's Greek.

Me: Wait... Just a moment...
Girl [peering at the page]: Okay.
Me: Because... Part of ... learning violin... Involves learning to decipher... Really messy writing...
Girl [with raised eyebrow, then with a 'well, duh' tone of voice]: Uh - my mother is a doctor.
Me [laughing]: Good point.  You'll be fine.

Parents

I often send my students a recording of me playing what they need to practice.  I'd promised this 11-yr-old girl that I'd send her the new piece, but hadn't.  At the time of her lesson, there was the sound of a cello lesson 10m down the hall, and a violin practising on the other side of the wall (coming through loud and clear).

Me: I know I said I'd send you the recording, but you can hear how ... 'quiet' ... it is here, and there's construction happening next door at home, and my parents were staying... There was just ... no quiet time.
Girl [knowingly]: Oh... Parents... [then, in much the same way parents talk about their kids] They grow up so quickly, don't they???