rumination on teaching
It's been a thoughtful winter for me. I've had, and appreciated lots of time for introspection. First, Joel's been working long hours, second, I've made the commitment to walk an hour a day (usually alone), and third, we've had the snow to keep other folks at home. I am enjoying my solitude.
What I've realized is that the work I'm doing of teaching kids to make and appreciate music is really important. Don't laugh, sometimes I wonder if what I'm doing is a boutique experience for already over-enriched children. However, I now understand in my heart of hearts that they need me, not only for their self-confidence, but also for their depth of knowledge. In this culture what we're teaching is generally a mile wide and an inch deep but music with me is not. I talk about the structure of music, the history of music, the lives of the composers, and what use each kind of music has; is it supposed to move you emotionally or physically?
I had a dream a few months ago that I couldn't die because my work here isn't done. It used to be that I thought my work had to do with raising my children but now my work has become the teaching. My composing will never be all done, whenever I die there will always be more music in me that hasn't had a chance to emerge. And I expect that when I die I will leave behind unfinished work in the education field. It was a revelation to know that I actually feel I supporting a cause by teaching music. It is a revelation to feel that my work is so meaningful.
What I've realized is that the work I'm doing of teaching kids to make and appreciate music is really important. Don't laugh, sometimes I wonder if what I'm doing is a boutique experience for already over-enriched children. However, I now understand in my heart of hearts that they need me, not only for their self-confidence, but also for their depth of knowledge. In this culture what we're teaching is generally a mile wide and an inch deep but music with me is not. I talk about the structure of music, the history of music, the lives of the composers, and what use each kind of music has; is it supposed to move you emotionally or physically?
I had a dream a few months ago that I couldn't die because my work here isn't done. It used to be that I thought my work had to do with raising my children but now my work has become the teaching. My composing will never be all done, whenever I die there will always be more music in me that hasn't had a chance to emerge. And I expect that when I die I will leave behind unfinished work in the education field. It was a revelation to know that I actually feel I supporting a cause by teaching music. It is a revelation to feel that my work is so meaningful.