Rethinking Teaching....In a Good Way

An opportunity has presented itself. And, like most opportunities, it came unexpectedly.

I was given the opportunity to become an institute director. I find this simultaneously daunting and exciting. I'm excited for the potential. I'm excited for what types of changes a Suzuki institute could bring about to the area I live.

But saying you're excited about this type of a job is kind of like looking at Mt. Everest from the base and saying you're looking forward to reaching the top. There's a LOT of...well... stuff between you and that peak. A lot can go wrong.

As I begin the initial planning steps I realized that this is going to be a totally different kind of teaching environment that me and the other directors are going to have to learn how to provide for kids. An institute is a break from the daily music routine. It's intense, exhausting but--most importantly--fun. The very nature of an institute has the power to respark a child's musical enthusiasm. It's the jolt of energy needed when practicing flatlines.

So this is a huge responsibility, to say the least. But one that will be--I hope--worth the work.

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Like Brushing Your Teeth

One of my teacher trainers told me that practicing should be like brushing your teeth. There is never a day when your tooth brushing is affected by other events in your day. The process is completely emotionally detached. I mulled over her words of wisdom for quite some time after she said them to me. What struck me the most was the suggestion of emotionally detaching myself. All my life I have been told that music is supposed to express emotion. So it was almost like it would be wrong to try and strip that away. For me, the teeth brushing example was a very interesting concept. I realized that the level of habitual repetition of that daily routine is rarely achieved in any other life areas. Dishes get put off, vacuuming, shopping for groceries.... but I always make the time to brush my teeth. Always making the time for practice? A lofty ideal indeed.

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