Dear Musick Friends,
I have to say, it’s been one heck of a year in my life. As many of you know, my move back to Kalamazoo from Texas was difficult professionally speaking. I felt I needed to rebuild. I felt disappointed. But I also felt grateful that I had so many musical connections already established to draw from. Our networks and connections are important.
I realized that when I let a connection go too long without being checked on. This person was a professor of mine in college for 3+ years, getting my through my undergrad performance requirements. Dr. Steve Zegree was a household name in many jazz and piano afficionado households especially in the Michigan area. His success was widespread and well known. When he passed away earlier this year from pancreatic cancer, I felt sad. Mostly because I know I should’ve reached out sooner to check and see how his life was going, and I didn’t due to busyness in my life and other excuses it’s very easy to make.
His passing helped me realize that life doesn’t have a designated timeline one can rely on, we really do have what we have, and give all we can, and then it’s time to move on and leave it to others to tend to, and this moving on can happen anytime. It is amazing to have the memories of his handwriting in my music, to hear his voice, even to anticipate seeing him pop up at certain musical events and venues even though I know he realistically cannot be there. I am grateful for the memories, and they inspire and move me to keep on keepin’ on.
This fall, I have one student in my piano studio. He is intelligent, witty, and sweet. It is nice working in a studio of one; it helps me balance family well and still reach out to just one person in the community and share music-making and learning with them. I suppose my advice to other piano teachers would be that if you need to relocate and start to rebuild slowly with your studio, this is fine. Whatever is going on in your life will settle at some point and you can pick up more students, but even having a connection to educating just one can help fill your need to do music work. Don’t feel as if you have failed or are not successful because of the small numbers in your studio. Simply keep working, and your work will shine through that one student and you will have made an impact in that person’s life.
Another connection I have never forgotten was that of my childhood teacher. One can not underestimated the impact a pre-college piano teacher has on one’s life. My pre-college teacher is still in the forefront of my mind often, and she keeps in touch with me as well by sending me teaching materials and resources she picks up from the conferences she still diligently attends. It is true, just one music teacher can make an impact in your life, and how many of us are blessed to have connected with numerous music teachers throughout our years! Their may fluctuate from very small to mediocre to well-off, but the value of their passion for music education is invaluable. No price you could pay them will give you those memories you spend in years of making music with their help and direction.
Thank your teachers. It will help you feel closure when they aren’t here to make music with anymore. Always embrace their memories, good and bad. It is what we have to draw from when we feel discouraged or depressed in our musical career journeys, as if we aren’t making a difference. They have all paved ways for us, and we have ways to pave for those coming behind us that we teach and work with.
With faith in music,
Monica P.
Monica Washington Padula 