What really is our job?
What are we really training our students for? My brother is a mathematician and educator and it’s refreshing to get his perspective. We should be creating life long learners and appreciators with a foundation that allows them to pursue the field if they so choose. Too often we approach students as though every one is going to enter the field we teach. How unfortunate for the student that enjoys a subject but doesn’t want to live it! It’s too easy for us educators to squeeze the enjoyment of a subject out of the student so that they loathe it.
My goal for my young musicians is to get them to enjoy their instrument and appreciate playing. Remember in the ‘Classical’ period, everyone was an amateur musician. Most households had a piano and most people could play it. Einstein turned to his violin to stimulate his mental processes.
Does this mean we sacrifice standards and fundamentals? Of course not! But we should look at the big picture, see how we fit in that, and create a positive and understanding learning atmosphere.
