What a pleasure to reconnect with everyone at the August Brunch! The food was delicious and a lot of important information was shared. Thanks to Kelli Riding and all who helped make it a wonderful morning.
As I’ve been thinking about this year’s theme of “Collaborate, Create, Celebrate!”, I’ve become more aware of how those three things apply in my teaching. Of course, my collaboration with DVMTA teachers has been a huge blessing over the years, and I’m able to have my students participate in events like our upcoming Music Marathon. But I’ve also noticed the collaboration that happens between me and my students. We have been choosing our pieces for the fall recitals and Marathon, and I usually play
several pieces and allow them to choose. They still must play two pieces with contrasting styles, but they feel more ownership and (theoretically) will be more willing to practice if they have had a say.
Not too many of my students choose to do the Original Composition festival, but for those who do, I’m always surprised by their creativity. The biggest challenge is often reining them in, not allowing them to go down too many rabbit holes in one piece. But as we analyze form or look at how other composers used motives and sequences or the I, IV, and V chords, students see how they can apply that in their own compositions. Those lightbulb moments are part of the joy of teaching for me.
I was talking with one of my adult students last week, the grandfather of one of my students, trying to get back what he was able to do as an 11-year-old. He sometimes gets frustrated that his hands just won’t do what his brain understands they need to do. He’s a wonderful musician, a singer and brass player, and even though he’s only been taking lessons since June, expects a great deal from himself. We looked back at the pieces we started with in June, and he was able to play through them easily. His
scales are fluid and he feels more confident when his hands have to move around the keyboard. He kind of sat back with a thoughtful, “Hmm, I guess I am getting better.” For me, it was a moment to celebrate, that realization that hard work really does pay off and goals can be reached even if you’re in your 60s!
I encourage each of you to look for those little moments, the times we can collaborate, create, or celebrate with our students. The work we do as teachers is important; we are inspiring another generation to love music as we do. Keep up the great work!
Lorri McHardy
DVMTA President
Read the full September 2024 Newsletter
As I’ve been thinking about this year’s theme of “Collaborate, Create, Celebrate!”, I’ve become more aware of how those three things apply in my teaching. Of course, my collaboration with DVMTA teachers has been a huge blessing over the years, and I’m able to have my students participate in events like our upcoming Music Marathon. But I’ve also noticed the collaboration that happens between me and my students. We have been choosing our pieces for the fall recitals and Marathon, and I usually play
several pieces and allow them to choose. They still must play two pieces with contrasting styles, but they feel more ownership and (theoretically) will be more willing to practice if they have had a say.
Not too many of my students choose to do the Original Composition festival, but for those who do, I’m always surprised by their creativity. The biggest challenge is often reining them in, not allowing them to go down too many rabbit holes in one piece. But as we analyze form or look at how other composers used motives and sequences or the I, IV, and V chords, students see how they can apply that in their own compositions. Those lightbulb moments are part of the joy of teaching for me.
I was talking with one of my adult students last week, the grandfather of one of my students, trying to get back what he was able to do as an 11-year-old. He sometimes gets frustrated that his hands just won’t do what his brain understands they need to do. He’s a wonderful musician, a singer and brass player, and even though he’s only been taking lessons since June, expects a great deal from himself. We looked back at the pieces we started with in June, and he was able to play through them easily. His
scales are fluid and he feels more confident when his hands have to move around the keyboard. He kind of sat back with a thoughtful, “Hmm, I guess I am getting better.” For me, it was a moment to celebrate, that realization that hard work really does pay off and goals can be reached even if you’re in your 60s!
I encourage each of you to look for those little moments, the times we can collaborate, create, or celebrate with our students. The work we do as teachers is important; we are inspiring another generation to love music as we do. Keep up the great work!
Lorri McHardy
DVMTA President
Read the full September 2024 Newsletter
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