Today I met with a former student who is graduating from University of Toronto with a music degree. She reached-out to me because she wants more information about music, teaching, and other options. She did not get accepted into teachers’ College and is seeking some guidance.
I prepared some notes to take with me to this breakfast meeting. This is not the first meeting with former students. I have been meeting with former students for many years. We discuss many topics.
This meeting today helped me to reflect and put ideas to paper. It’s a good exercise; reviewing the current situation and planning for the future.
I enjoyed meeting with this former student and after I returned home, I sent her a copy of my notes, a name of another former student to contact, and the name of Niagara University, now located here in Vaughan - to explore this school regarding Teachers’ College.
I think it important to have these conversations; not only to benefit the student, but it encourages me to think about my future, and evaluate how things are progressing in a rewarding / valuable direction.
It’s important to network and challenge oneself to reflect and share!
Basically, I encouraged this former student to consider joining the OMEA, to attend conferences, to join a community group, to practice, perform, develop skills, research, continue to research educational changes, to teach in private studios, to form a small ensemble, to listen to music, develop confidence, to perform, perform and perform.
This posting is related to my accordion-life (performing and practicing); related to education-life (as I continue to work with Music Alive Festival); and related to my life for sure, as I assess where I came from, where I am now, and where I want to be in the future. I shared some ideas at this particular meeting about planning, about networking, about finding connections and exploring so many related paths. It’s what I am doing, and I enjoy it. I asked this former student what “hooked” her to explore music? She responded the performing, composing her own songs that helped her a lot. Exactly! It’s the making of music, the creative shaping of sound. I reminded her that she should not forget why she got involved with music and continue to perform.
I have another meeting next week with another former student. I think I have an idea to develop an article to send to the OMEA recorder magazine. This is another point to make: Through conversation, we notice new things, make new connections, and think about interesting ideas. We get to hear other ideas and how people value opportunity and act on opportunities, creating new adventures and also, there is great excitement and enjoyment in the process! It’s not just about the end result, but the journey too.
Bye for now.
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