Making Time for Making Music

I am sure my life is some kind of scary example of time mismanagement. I have four children under the age of 8, I teach a dozen or more music lessons each week, I play in a community orchestra that meets weekly for 2.5 hour rehearsals, we take our family to church for three hours every Sunday, and we don't hire a nanny or house cleaner. Oh yeah, and I occasionally contribute to this blog. Realistically, I probably don't have time for all of that--something should probably get cut. Perhaps some would advise me to make some cuts in the music department to try to ease my schedule.  But somehow, I am still holding on and trying to "make time" for the music in my life. Most days it translates to a messy house and dishes left undone, but some part of me is afraid that once I let go of the music, I won't ever get it back--and to me, that is scarier than the clutter that resides in my home.

Earlier this month I crammed even more music into my life by participating in our orchestra's annual fundraiser. I performed some pieces with my friend Yoshiko, who accompanied on the piano. 

We got a smaller crowd at the gala than anticipated, but I still had fun getting on stage and playing works by Rachmaninoff, Elgar, and Bloch. We finished our set with some arrangements by the Piano Guys: Titanium and Thousand Years.

Forest and Ramona came to the event as a Daddy/Daughter date. It was so sweet to feel Ramona's little arms around me as I came down from the stage.

Surveying the refreshment table, the three of us made sure to eat cupcakes with little heart rings on them, so each of the three sisters could have one as a souvenir.

I guess time management is really all about personal priorities. So, as long as I assert that keeping a pristine house is not my top priority (I don't think anyone would argue with that) maybe I can justify spending so much time playing and teaching music.

Or maybe I am a complete lunatic who should stop typing right now and sweep the kitchen floor.

Either way, I discovered a product that comes very close to "making time" in my somewhat overloaded schedule--dry shampoo! It says right on the can that I can use it INSTEAD OF WASHING MY HAIR! A few sprays, and voila! my hair is clean. In much less time than it takes to wash and dry my hair with water and normal shampoo.

I do still wash my hair like a normal person. Sometimes. By now I am sure it is painfully obvious that personal appearance is not high on my list of priorities, either. But my children are fed, I'm happily married (to a husband who does a LOT of dishes without complaining), and I still remember how to play the cello.

Now I really should stop typing and sweep the kitchen floor.