How Is Everyone Getting On?

Summer is essentially here. I've been doing other things over the past few weeks...end-of-school-year concerts, making sure my son has everything wrapped up (or almost) for this school year, tending to daily necessities, making as much money as I can.

This time of year, my income plummets. Student vacations, many parents believe in ceasing all learning activities, are the main reasons. Also, the two weekly orchestras in which I play and teach rehearse only during the school year. I haven't yet figured out a way to capitalize on summer using my abilities. I did try a summer orchestra, but it was eye-opening to me without a sponsor providing a location. I did manage to get a small group going at someone's house, but it wasn't worth it. One rehearsal had 2 people there. I never did attempt that again. A few summers ago, I did get a mailer from another string teacher advertising a summer orchestra that she was doing. I never got another one, and I suspect that she ran into the same kind of obstacles I did.

So....I keep writing. I've been working on my novel and doing independent study on various forms of writing. I designed, printed, and mailed advertisements for summer lessons. Previously, I had advertised in a newspaper for summer lessons, with no response.

A Buddhist friend of mine advises to not fight negative forces, but rather go with them and react differently. By trying to overcome the reduction of lessons, that can be a way of "fighting." So what would be a different way of reacting to it?

One way might be changing industries. Taking a vacation from music. Now, I do teach as many students as are willing over the summer, so I'm not taking a complete vacation. I'm thinking of nurturing copywriting contacts, doing advertising for, say, local businesses.

My requirements are that it must be work that I can do at home (to be with my father and son).

I will keep you apprised of progress.