Dear future self,
Over the last few weeks, I’ve seen a huge outpouring of gratitude posts on social media. It’s been refreshing to read through posts from old friends and past students, seeing what they’re doing and what they are grateful for in their lives right now.
What stood out to me over and over again was how many of them mentioned music as one of the big things they’re grateful for. It didn’t seem to matter how good the students were as musicians. It certainly didn’t make a difference if they were majoring in music or not, since very few of my students end up majoring in music. And yet I kept seeing it, over and over again. “I’m grateful for music.”
In addition, many of my past students posted about their friends. As I looked through their photos, many if not most of those friends were also my orchestra students. Whether those friends met in my class or not, I know they spent a lot of time together in orchestra. They played music together, worked in sectionals together, went on field trips and toured together. They succeeded together and failed together. Those experiences strengthened their friendships.
When I’m caught up in the day to day grind of teaching, when nothing I do seems to make any difference, it’s easy to think that none of this matters. It doesn’t matter if my students can play in tune or if they can do vibrato. Why bother?
Seeing those posts made me realize it does matter. It matters because somewhere in the process of learning how to play spiccato and how to read key signatures, my students are developing relationships that will last for years to come. They are learning how to do hard things and stick with it. And they are learning to love and appreciate music, something that will bring them happiness for the rest of their lives.
So when you’re feeling down about your job and wondering if it’s worth doing any of this, remember those gratitude posts. Music matters. Music makes a difference. Remember that.
Sincerely,
Me