Author Archives: Jill

About Jill

I grew up in West Chicago, went to Wheaton College, attended Grace Church of DuPage in Warrenville, and am currently teaching orchestra and violin, viola, and cello lessons at Black Forest Academy in Germany.

Hoch Blauen Sunrise

A year and a half ago, I ran up to Hoch Blauen to watch the sunrise. The experience was so moving, I wanted to repeat it before leaving Germany again. It wasn’t going to be an exact copy, though. For … Continue reading

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Last Week of School

We just finished the last week of class at BFA. This coming week will be final exams followed by graduation on Friday. This means that my teaching work at BFA is basically done. Instrument Petting Zoo On Monday and Tuesday, … Continue reading

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Last Small Group

Monday night was our last small group meeting. In some ways, this goodbye was different than others. All our girls are seniors; both Emily and I are moving to the States next year. We’re all leaving together.  No one gets … Continue reading

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Last Spring Concert

I’m a little behind on processing all the major events that have happened in the last week. Today is really my first chance to sit and think through all of them. Last Sunday was the big Spring Concert, the final … Continue reading

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Last Nursing Home

Last Friday I took the Intermediate Orchestra to the nursing home for the last time. It was a good practice performance for the Spring Concert. At the end, I played a Kreisler piece, Liebesfreud, as a special treat for the … Continue reading

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Rain, Rain, Go Away

A week ago today, most of Kandern was afraid our beloved creek would overflow and flood the town. A couple years ago, a never-ending construction project started in Kandern in an attempt to make the creek able to withstand a … Continue reading

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Open Mic Night

Last Thursday night, the Art Factory hosted another Open Mic night for local musicians. A team of visiting artists and actors also presented songs and some simple improv acting sketches. I took my guitar student B.L. We played “Love Came … Continue reading

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Transition: Lasts

Earlier I wrote that as the end of my time at BFA approached, I was savoring every moment as if it was the last. In the last month, I began looking at things in a slightly different way. Rather than … Continue reading

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SAD

Staff Appreciation Dinner (appropriate acronym SAD) is something we like to call “Staff Banquet.” Our students enjoy dressing up for their banquets, and the entire staff of BFA dresses up for this dinner. It is sad, however, because this banquet … Continue reading

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Last Recital

Last Friday was the last Evening Recital of my time at BFA. Several voice students sang on this recital. One girl sang “The Phantom of the Opera.” The day of the performance, her accompanist asked me if I could join … Continue reading

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