I consider myself fortunate to have stumbled cross this video yesterday. At a time of year when piano lessons can tend to become routine… and when I’m desperately wishing for a tropical holiday away from coughing kids and the abrasive ding of my studio email… it’s sometimes difficult to continually feel inspired.
And then I watched this.
We can always take inspiration from others who are doing amazing things. And we can transfer that inspiration to our own lives; do amazing things ourselves with that new-found spark. But when that inspirational being is a child it is is even more powerful.
The Position of a Piano Teacher
We are in a unique position as a Piano Teacher where we can enter into a “circle of inspiration” with our young students. We inspire them to do great things; they in turn do these great things.. and then we feel inspired by what they have done. It’s an enviable position. Most of the world spends their day in an environment void of any chance of this at all. We spend our day completely surrounded by this potential. Sure our piano students may not be entering triathlons pushing their disabled brother every step of the way, but each has the potential to do something amazing.
The Responsibility of a Piano Teacher
What we do with this potential is where the difference between a good piano teacher and a great piano teacher lies. Good teachers do their job well. Great teachers leave a legacy. How will you inspire your students to do amazing things in this world? Have you found that place of motivation within yourself where you desire to inspire?
They are some big questions to ask. But they can make a lasting difference not only in the lives of your students, but in your own life as well.
When you said, “Get out your Kleenex”…..you were not kidding. I teared up especially when he gave his speech. What a true lesson of love, compassion and patience for us all. Thank you VERY much for your wonderful post. I “will definitely” apply the things you shared in my life and in my teaching.
Great post! Prompts a lot of self-checking. Am I inspiring the student to want to be all that they can be, or am I just teaching them how to read the music? That’s an especially difficult balance with beginning students. Once they’ve learned to read the music, the “inspiring” part comes easy. But it’s hard to do both at the same time.