Funny Pronunciation

The continuing quartet performed last week.  This was their first rehearsal since then, so I had a look for some new music for them and took a couple of compilation books along.  The first violin and viola were there at the start, so I gave them each a book to flip through and see if anything took their fancy.

Viola [looking at me with big eyes through big glasses, over the music stand]: Can we do Tango, number 3?

When the second violin and cello arrived I handed out booklets, and they all had a look through their parts before we played.  A bit of "How does my part go?" and "What's that rhythm?" and "Is that a 2 or a 3?" and then someone looked across at the 2nd piece.  I was still helping the cello, and the other girls started off the rhythm - dum - da dum - da dum - da dum ... for a while.

Cello [so judgmentally]: What's that?  Bor-ing.

We started playing the tango.  The cello part was really easy.  While she was playing, she stole a few glances at the second piece.

Cello [suddenly, eyes wide, very excited, and still playing]: Oh!  OH!  Can we do the number 2? PLEASE?  I just worked out which piece it is and my grandma LOVES it!
Viola: So are we playing that one now?  Fun-nee cull-ee fun-nee cull-ah?
Me [laughing]: Um.  Ah.  Few-ni-cue-lee few-ni-cue-lah.

Watching Too Much

Last year, I conducted the young string group.  Everyone knows that nobody watches the conductor - but I was trying very hard to get them to watch.  As it turned out, not entirely futilely.  On a day when they'd all been given sugar just before the rehearsal (thanks, whoever was responsible for that one), one of the girls then crashed into her stand.  It was like she just fell off the front of her chair, into the music stand, which then fell over taking the folder and all its music with it, followed by kids from random places around the room getting up with their instruments trying to help, causing more mayhem. 

Me [to stand-crashing girl]: Are you okay?
Girl [a little embarrassed]: Yes...
Me: Are you sure?
Girl: Um, yep...  I ... Can I get some-
Girl 2: Ooh, ooh, I'll get her some ice!
Girl 3: Can I get her some ice too?  I'll help! 
Girl 4: I know where it is!
Me: Everyone sit down.  [instructions for calm collection of ice pack from the adjacent staff room followed.  Girl 1 was still looking a bit shaken and sheepish]  Are you sure you're okay?
Girl: Um, yes... I was- I was just- I was watching you.  Like, like this [proceeds to do an intense stare that pulls her head forward, and her whole body starts coming forward as well...]
Me: Stop!  I get the picture.  No need to do this all over again.
Girl: Oh yeah. 

The Chatterbox (2)

At the end of the last ensemble for the year, this 9-yr-old girl approached me.

Girl: So... [matter-of-fact] You must be happy you don't have to deal with us any more.
Me [smiling]: Actually, I really enjoy taking this group.  It is a lot of fun.
Girl [in that awkward way*]: Umm... Yeah.  What I really meant was, you must be happy you don't have to deal with C the Chatterbox anymore.
Me: Umm ......... Yes.  [Entertaining as this kid is, there's only so much rehearsing one can do with that level of chatter].


*That awkward way of showing, I was trying to be tactful, but now you're going to make me come right out and say it, aren't you?!

Chatterbox

At the start of ensemble rehearsal, one of the cellists (who sits inside 2nd desk) came up to me.

Girl [smiling nervously]: Um... Can I ask you a question? 
Me: Sure, what is it?
Girl: Well... and I'm pretty sure you're going to say no...
Me [suspicious]: Uh huh...
Girl: But I want to ask you anyway.
Me: Okay. [wait]
Girl: Is there any chance I can sit next to G today?
Me: Umm...
Girl: It's just that, um, you might have noticed, I sit next to... um [tries to find a polite way to say this] well, um, she's a bit of a chatterbox. [No kidding.  Chattiest child in the room, ever].
Me [trying not to smile too much]: Ah, yes... I had noticed that.  G would have to sit in the back row with you though - have you asked her if it's okay?
G [jumping into view at hearing her name]: What do I have to do?
Girl: Sit next to me, so... the chatterbox... can be not next to me.
Me: So we'd have S and C [the chatterbox] in the front, and the 2 of you at the back.

G was fine with it, and it turned out to be really good for C to sit right under my nose.  Of course, it meant I had one very energetic (and thankfully, very capable) cellist sitting next to a very energetic and chatty cellist...  But the chatterbox didn't move her chair around or move over to talk to the double bass or run outside randomly or any of the other things she does that are not sitting quietly.

Rehearsal Alphabet

Currently, my ensemble is working on a piece that has rehearsal letters up to H.  Last week, we had several cases of me saying, play from C, and half the group playing from E (for example).  One girl tried to work out a Letter for Animal alphabet.  This week, she'd got a working list up to H.  While choosing a sticker afterwards, she told me what they were:

A is for Ant
B is for Bee (B is?  yes, for Bee, as in, you know, a Bee - for reduction of confusion, this might turn into B is for Bumblebee)
C is for Cat
D is for Dog
E is for Elephant
F is for Frog
G is for Giraffe
H is for Hippo

I hope I can remember all these next week!  I'm curious what 'I' would be...