Instrumentals

This week I have officially decided to expand my artistic style. Instead of concentrating exclusively on portraiture, I am now working on an instrumental series. Not purely still-lifes, I intend to do images of people playing various instruments, ranging from the clarinet to the xylophone and everything in between. I'm having some issues with texture though, making wood look woody and metal look metallic. I wish I had a book of photographs, instead of being forced to find examples on the internet, since my printer isn't working. Trying to draw while staring at a computer screen is rough, and it's a little harder to get the tiny details.
I wonder if there are any good exercises for expanding your technique? I'm certain they'll go into that in my studio courses at UK, but I won't start those until next fall, and I'd like to begin practice now. Must remember to look some up on the good ol' web.
It occurs to me that I've never actually taken an art class, so I'm not exactly certain what to expect from studio courses. It's kind of funny, that I'm totally self taught. Maybe classes will help with my charcoal, as I've found I'm not very good at it. At least it will give me a place where I can paint, since it's really hard to do so with two young kids running around the house.
On the poetic side of things, I've been studying the works of Billy Collins, trying to get away from my habit of writing only angsty romantic drivel. I'm hoping to find some inspiration in his works, which have a broad subject matter and a better use of imagery than my own, but still echo my own personal style of open form, non-rhyming poetry. Although perhaps it would be better if I attempted some form? I usually find it a bit daunting, but practicing true stanzas and rhyming couplets might help my poetry sound... well, poetic.
On a personal note, I'm really kind of freaked out about school starting in less than two weeks. A 23 year old freshman with a husband and two children is a bit of a stretch from your average college student. I'm really hoping that I find some way to connect with the other students in my classes, since I will be four or five years older than most of them. I want to make friends, but I'm naturally pretty shy, and I'm not sure what we'll talk about beside homework. I mean, I'm in such a different place in my life than they are. I don't want to be seen as the old chick and looked at oddly like the few older people in my courses were the first time I attended college. I guess I an still pass for an 18 year old, right?
Well, no point in dwelling on it, I guess. Life is a river, I will just go with the flow.