by Rachel | Uncategorized
One of the things I secretly look forward to at each lesson I teach is hearing the clever (and sometimes not-so-clever) excuses my students come up with to explain why they haven’t practiced.
I think I get such a kick out of them because I was once in their shoes: a busy kid who really wanted to excel at an instrument — piano, in my case — but just didn’t always have the motivation to do the work. I always had a handy excuse up my sleeve for my wonderfully patient piano teacher (she was a nun, after all!) and now I’m on the other side of the coin.
Since the fall session has just begun, I’ve heard some doozies after asking the dreaded question, “So have you had a chance to practice over the break?” Here are a couple of my favorites over the past two (just two!) days:
I really wanted to practice, but I had to go school supply shopping.
School supply shopping can be so overwhelming! :)
I know I was supposed to work on my chords, but I was busy writing my own songs instead. 10 of them!
Okay, this one was good.
My dad was watching TV and I didn’t want to bother him.
Mind you, this student’s dad attends every lesson, is extremely involved, and tracks his son’s practice.
The week is still young, so I have lots more excuses to look forward to in the coming days. I think I have mastered the art of balancing validation with encouragement; discipline is not my forte. How do you handle the excuses presented by your students? And please feel free to add any doozies you’ve heard to my list!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
Okay, people: I need your help! The time has finally come to buy a new portable keyboard. The hand-me-down Yamaha my mom gave me a couple years ago has served its purpose, and will continue to do so in my studio’s waiting room, but I’m in the market for an upgrade.
Yesterday I put out the following tweet, hoping to elicit more than a few replies:
I did receive three responses — thank you Kat, Allison and Caitlin! — but would love to throw a few more options into the pool of candidates.
So if you have a recommendation for a keyboard that is easy to tote (back and forth from gigs, rehearsals, etc.), won’t break the bank (preferably under $500), and sounds great, please let me know by leaving a comment.
Thank you in advance for your help!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
Early morning workout? Check! Coffee? Check! Game plan? Check! Am I ready to get back to work today or what? Check!
After two long, lazy weeks of vacation, the thought of seeing all of my students this week makes me giddy with excitement. Not only does teaching lessons and providing music therapy keep my brain active and alert, but it also gives me plenty of fresh material for the blog. Not to mention the fact that I just plain ol’ love what I do.
Never before have I had the luxury to spend my days planning, practicing, creating, recording, and writing — all in my pajamas, if I so pleased. But that is what my new schedule allows, since I no longer balance my full-time studio with a full-time job at a school. Sure, my days stretch a little further into the night, but the freedom that I have now is so worth it.
There is still so much I have left to do before I welcome my first student into the studio at 3 pm this afternoon, so I’d better get a move on. Here’s wishing you all an exciting and productive Monday, and crossing my fingers that I have the same!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
One thing I look forward to every summer is having the time to play a few gigs here and there. I very rarely get to do so during the school year (although I’m hoping that changes with my new schedule this year), so it’s been a special treat to perform around town pretty frequently these last few months.
Back in June, I played my first gig with Ryan, an extremely talented guitarist I met through his wife Misty. Not only have the two of us played gigs together, but he has also invited me to sing with his band a couple of times this month. If you’ve never sung with a live band, you don’t know what you’re missing!
We’ve talked on past episodes of the Music Therapy Round Table podcast how important it is for music therapists to nurture the musician in themselves, since after all, we were musicians first.
I know that with each gig I play, I fall a little bit more in love with music and am even more inspired as a therapist and educator. It sounds cheesy, but it’s completely true.
What have you done this summer to nurture your inner musician?
by Rachel | Uncategorized
For the first time in five years, I will not be returning to school tomorrow with the rest of my former colleagues at The Hope Institute. It’s a strange feeling, for sure.
People have been asking all summer how it feels to be completely self-employed, but I haven’t really been able to give a good answer yet since school has been out. However, I will be able to do so after tomorrow, because then I think it truly will feel “real” to me.
I always loved those first few weeks back: catching up with coworkers, the excitement of a fresh new start, meeting new students. Those things I will definitely miss. But having my days free to plan, write songs, and create new resources for my students before they arrive for their lessons and music therapy sessions in the afternoon? That will be the bees’ knees.
Although my fall session doesn’t begin until Monday, tomorrow kicks off a brand new chapter in my life. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds!
