I don't think I scarred any young children and some may have even had some fun in this first week of early childhood music education, despite my pianist's suggestions that I be more peppy. I have a strong reaction to such comments: they were the reason that I dropped music education years ago and I think, regardless of the age being taught, are misguided. Teachers should be genuine. As I grow more comfortable I will show authentic joy without the worry of the lesson plan. I'm already having fun, but certainly less so if it is under scrutiny. I write this and say it to myself as I segue to my other work of the day and week, that of being a mentor to other teachers. It is so important to be taught as a teacher.
This afternoon I headed way way way out into Queens on the F train, 90 minutes away from home to a busy suburb with gas stations, fried chicken, Halal restaurants, and even a funeral home with a lawn. I found the school building which housed MS358Q, along with two other schools with similarly codified names as is common in New York, and spent nearly two hours meeting with a group of middle schoolers about to embark on a journey of cello playing. They will be in a class of 14. We had individual interviews with them to see how interested they really were and to give them an idea of what to expect. They were all excited about getting their cello. And yes, it's pretty cool!
What a joyful thing novelty is; embarking on something new, and not yet feeling the pangs of insecurity and disappointment. And after these, the triumph of perseverance in the face of doubt. There are so many ways to grow and grow more. I get to be the one growing. And at the same time and from the awareness this affords me, I get to guide another, in fact many others, on the same path.
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