Ripe for the Picking

August 21, 2007 at 9:51 AM

Now the berries are ripe. Slowing down on the trail, I make time for random grabs at the bright new colors I spy beneath the turning leaves. Raspberries are my favorite, although the tart blueberries haven't yet peaked.

And when the season turns, I know it's time to round up the studio from their summer activities and get them all lined up for fall tutelage again. It's always suspenseful to see who will be back, and who will be moving on to something else this time. I have to admit, I hate this part of my job, which feels somewhat like asking for a second date. My fingers fumble on the buttons of the phone, nervously, as I plan each speech and brace for each reply.

What hurts the most is seeing someone that I've invested a good amount of myself on decide that she doesn't want violin lessons anymore. It's potential squandered, ideas going to rot, unpicked. Why did I plan their road so carefully if they were not going to travel it after all? It makes me shake my heavy head and sigh.

I'm still itching for the day I can see a student from start to finish and send him off into the world with a bagful of music. I suppose my time as a teacher is still short. Time will bring it, I hope.

Meanwhile, I enjoy the raspberries.

From Tom Holzman
Posted on August 21, 2007 at 12:50 PM

Emily - It is important to realize that even the students who do not come back may take away something valuable from having studied with a very good teacher like you. As time goes on, you will see students through until they go off on their own, and you will have students who only spend a relatively short time with you. Both will have gained something important from their work with you and the attention you gave them. My father and grandfather were both teachers, and their true legacy and joy was not in the students they had who won Nobel Prizes (although they both did have such students), but the ones they inspired and helped to achieve great things in life that were sometimes unrelated to the fields in which they taught. Watch the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus" if you have not already seen it. It makes these points fairly well.

From Laurie Niles
Posted on August 21, 2007 at 6:50 PM

It never gets easier, when a student quits. Sure, one can be philosophical, one can know that this student's time with the violin will at least inform their life's direction in some small way, but it still just hurts!

From Albert Justice
Posted on August 21, 2007 at 8:11 PM

Emily, just be consistently loyal and patient to your role in what you do--your art renews you as well.

The ripe berries will appear when you do not expect them. My mom was such a teacher and still influences students she hasn't seen in forty years. And some of them to this day say how tough she was, and how she made them tough--in life. A very good thing.

Doctors. Lawyers. Everyday people...

While it remains incomprehensible for anyone to not want lessons any longer to me, I'm walking in different shoes in that way.

This letting go--I'm no better myself. I really throw myself into things. It sounds like you do too. Be encouraged.

From Yixi Zhang
Posted on August 22, 2007 at 3:37 AM

Emily, the type of work I do depending constantly on the government's shifting priorities that I have no control over, but each project I take on, I have to sincerely treat it as though it will turn to something fruitful. It's not a matter of letting go; it's why I'm doing anything whole-heartedly. It's the journey itself that really matters: glean, experience and move on is plenty for us to enjoy. Other people's priorities are outside the scope of our journey, but the more you put in for others, the more you will get out of the process.

From Tia Pietsch
Posted on August 23, 2007 at 12:57 AM

Hi Emily,

It doesn't seem like the summer can be over. I'm still holding out for a couple more days of sun down here in Homer. I know your pain regarding the "new" year of lessons...Email me for ideas for over-summer retention (doesn't involve teaching over the summer...) It's challenging but I've had great response with a couple techniques.

Tia

From Emily Grossman
Posted on August 23, 2007 at 8:00 AM

Hi Tia, Maybe you could post a thread in the discussion section and share your ideas with everyone. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would benefit from your thoughts.

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Ripe for the Picking

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