Tone

I walked through a lot of streets today, from one teacher training program to another, thinking about where I am and where I'm going.  I've spent a lot of time teaching in my life, but in this New York life teaching music will be an area in which I will undoubtedly grow.   I realized this morning that to grow, one must be less in some way than what one becomes, and I felt a humility in realizing that my walking self was a much less experienced, much greener, less wise teacher than I will become.  I have so much to learn from all these people around me.

I began Suzuki Teacher Training with Pamela Devenport this morning and was faced with a strong antidote to the No-Nonsense Nurturing voice in which I've been immersing myself.  Such a warm positive, loving energy.  It's hard to believe that the students of each of these approaches are both from the same species.  It isn't that these teaching styles are incompatible; in many ways I think they may be very similar and I trust that both are working from love to have high expectations for their students.  Both believe that every child is capable and expect that accountability from their teachers.  But the tone is different.  To me, one is direct and demanding, and the other warm and persistent.  But I think there is love in both and it will be very interesting to experience both in the coming weeks and months.  (And there is still one more educational model to be thrown into this mix, starting next week.)

We concluded teacher training for the Harmony Program this afternoon and so next week will begin the classes and trying to find our way, our structure, our voice in the classroom.  It is an exciting time and in between now and then I'm trying to find another voice, my audition and playing-the-cello voice which is a little rusty at the moment.  Dusting and polishing, getting closer, seeing and learning more.