What We Did This Weekend

Nine of my students, ranging in age from 5 to 8 years, performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 2008 Stanford Open, one of the largest boys’ gymnastics invitational competitions in the nation, hosted at Stanford University. We gave 5 performances over 3 days!

They make it look easy, but imagine walking out onto the gymnasium floor to a standing audience, and having to fill that dramatic silence all at once. All of the children learned this music from written notation, so it was an ambitious goal for the newer students in this group, not to mention the 3rd and 4th finger technique and bow arms needed to generate big tone!

Bravo for all the musical and personal growth that took place in preparation for these performances.

See more photos from the weekend at: http://themusicwithinus.shutterfly.com

Success is…

“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.“
- John Wooden, retired NCAA basketball coach and player, winner of 10 NCAA National Championships as coach at UCLA

Here is a link to John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” -these are human qualities that transcend athletics and apply to the development of character in any pursuit

How do you measure success?

Always demanding the best of oneself, living with honor, devoting one’s talents and gifts to the benefits of others – these are the measures of success that endure when material things have passed away.

~ Henry Ford

What’s possible for you?

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”

~ Paulo Coelho