...training days...

An early morning ice storm hampered my plans to see the Oscar nominated live action shorts at the Tivoli, so I spent some much needed time getting organized for my student's performances on March 1.

I might have the best job in the world! I have the privilege of instilling a love for learning music through music classes and private lessons to students of all ages. Sometimes it astounds me how well suited I am for this job.

Mondays and Thursdays are my most challenging days because of the classes I teach. On these days, ten little four year olds bust through my door with an abundance of energy. They choose their favorite digital piano and begin making noise of all kinds, changing the piano sounds to pipe organ, or harpsichord, or strings. A cacophony so ear piercing parents run from the room. So begins our forty five minutes of structured chaos. Though I'm convinced that I thrive in this chaos, it is exhausting nonetheless. Not so much because of their exuberance, but because they know so little about how to be in a class setting.

These classes really end up being training sessions for all that will come next. How to sit properly, how to treat instruments, how to not speak when others are speaking, when to play, when to rest, how to appropriately participate, how to wait for one's turn. And it's not like you can say it once and they get it. You have to say it over and over and over again, as patiently the 100^th time as if it were the 1^st time.

Today I said, “Please get your fingers out of your nose” and “Please get your hands out of your mouth” and “Please get your hands out of your pants” more times than I can count. Shirt sleeves were soaked from all the hand washing we did. But they make up for it with cute comments, sweet words, oodles of hugs and the most marvelous kid drawings.

Are you training for something? Maybe you're training someone. It's not easy. Most days are an uphill battle. There will be moments when you'll want to throw in the towel. There will be moments when you want to tear out your hair from sheer frustration. There will be moments when you will be so weary you won't want to go on. But don't give up. Set your goal, picture where you're going and believe that you will get there.

After teaching these classes for fourteen years, I've seen what happens on the other side. I promise, no matter what you're striving for, all the hard work and hair pulling will be well worth it.