Today …. I was just struck by how much I absolutely love my job.
I’ve been teaching piano for 5 years, and at this point I’ve learned a lot, but I still have a long way to go. I know I’ve learned because I can now teach for as long as I need to and not run out of things to do, and I used to struggle with a regular half hour lesson with some kids let alone a 45 minute make up lesson – or heaven forbid an hour long one. Now I just want to keep them for a few hours each so I can tell them everything I want to.
Teaching piano is sometimes exhausting because I’m spending a lot of energy one-on-one with kids. It’s especially hard when they are tired, or just not remembering a thing I taught them the week before – mostly because it’s discouraging and I feel like a horrible teacher.
Anyhow, today was particularly good because A. my most “energy-requiring” students had cancelled so I got a half hour break + had to expend less energy, and B. they all practiced! I started a practice challenge a month and a half ago to encourage them to practice, and it seems to be working because they leaps and bounds they’ve made since then are astounding. I guess all they needed was a little motivation.
I think my favourite thing about being able to teach the same students for a number of years is partially seeing their growth, but mostly just seeing them learn to love the instrument. I love piano, and seeing them start to have an appreciation for the instrument and to be excited to learn how to play makes it allllll worth it.
128 Days of Summer 