12 Things That Make My Job Better Than Yours

Next week we'll be finishing our school session.  Then taking a break for a couple weeks and in mid July we'll be moving on to our summer session of lessons and workshops.  Lots of really wonderful things happened this year.  In fact, there are 12 things that just make my job better than yours...  :)


(1)  many new students have come as a result of parents talking about the program and students playing for their friends - thank you for this!


(2)  referrals are the best and I've been able to discontinue all paid advertising.  Yay!


(3)  the new students and parents that have come in are exactly what I want to attract;  they get the program, appreciate the musical progress and love making music together!


(4)  the 32 day challenge and the 100 day challenge got us all practicing more and it connected the students to each other


(5)  moving the furniture out and around the studio, painting, and getting new pieces has made the space even better


(6)  I've pushed through my own mental barriers around teaching the higher levels (reading notes and so on) and as a result...


(7)  teaching my upper level students has given me a new appreciation for Neil and his brilliance


(8)  and it's made me very proud of my students and what they're able to play and create at the piano


(9)  pushed through another mental barrier around learning other instruments;  taking up the guitar is shifting my relationship with music and it's opened up a new avenue of expression


(10)  exploring the world of blogging has been fun because I get to showcase my students;  the videos and interviews have been a great way to connect with students and parents on a different level - thank you for participating and allowing me to video you!!


(11)  playing the piano has been more fun for me this year;  coming from a traditional background, I have hidden hang-ups that many people don't know about;  many of these hang-ups have been almost completely silenced due to me playing more with my students.  


(12)  and the last thing I'll share is that because I'm able to teach this amazing program to amazing people and can do that from my home, I'm able to be with my two girls.  This is a major blessing for our family!


Looking forward to some fun in the sun this summer!  And to exploring this awesome musical journey we're on!

A Musical Cavern

I think introducing a new student and his/her parent to the Simply Music program is like being a trail guide into the Grand Canyon (I imagine).  The hikers have no idea what is coming around the corner, but the guide does.  There must be moments on the trail when the guide sits back and watches with a mischievous grin as the group wanders into a cavern that is more breathtaking than anything they’ve ever seen before.   All the effort it took to get them there must be worth it in that moment.

As a Simply Music teacher, I cannot predict when that moment of "awe" will happen.  But I love guiding students and parents towards the possibility of being blown away.  When a student is discovering composition after only having learned a couple songs or when a student has an “uh ha!” moment because he can see where a new musical tool fits into what he already knows is like standing in that cavern.  Suddenly, what was once unexpected and hidden is now out in the open.  A beautiful thing!   

Edie is a fairly new student.  She’s had 20 lessons and leading her through the musical cavern that is Simply Music has been a joy.  I love her eagerness to use what she's learned to create her own songs.  Here she is playing a piece she wrote called, “The Night It All Happened”.