Notes for a Rainy Day

I have a folder on my compute desktop titled “Affirmations.” Notes or letters that people have written to me over the recent years expressing appreciation for the “aha’s!” and little epiphanies they experienced in my workshop or course. These are the encouragements for me to keep going, that my work makes an impact and means something for some people and that helps me re-dedicate myself to it at the full measure of my capacity. It also is a nice thing to look at on both a real and metaphorical rainy day.

 

I recently received this one from one of the teachers in my Australian Jazz Course. I remember her as playing some swinging flute solos and surprising herself with her own accomplishment (having not really played jazz flute before). 

 

“Dear Doug,

 

So many times I have sat down to write to you and make sure you know how impactful your course was for me. The thing that finally gave me reason to write was our participant group chat going off asking for videos of something specific, and I fell down the rabbit hole of course recordings. And I found the one, the one that spoke to my soul - Mo Better Blues. It is still my most favourite that you shared with us, I think it was a light bulb/penny drop moment - the culmination of the previous 3 days' front-loading so I could enjoy, in such a pure way, the experience of learning this piece for the first time. Day 4 was also so poignant because of you sharing the Dark Room process for My Little Suede Shoes. Oh my heart!

I am just craving more of what you gave us!

 

Doug, your experience and passion for how music can inform a student's experience of school life has been profound for me. I have read and appreciated your words in your books, but because it was brought to life and you shared with such conviction, it has lit such a fire in me. And it isn't that I was on the fence about these opinions, I have always known deep in my soul that these core principles of quality music education are transformational. I have been ignited because I realised I have been too polite. I haven't been firm enough in my advocacy. I have accepted too many times the notion that music needs to just stay in its box in our curriculum and be happy with the slice that I get.

 

So thank you. Thank you for exquisitely informing my insight into quality music education. For further fine-tuning, on a granular level, what it means to advocate for music education and the power it holds. A million times over thank you. And I truly hope I get to see you and learn from you in person again one day soon.”

 

I wrote back:

 

Wasn't that the most lovely letter to receive! Brightened my day! Love the part about "being too polite." One of the perks of aging is that one cares less and less about being polite and more and more able and willing to speak from the heart of one's passion. While still trying to keep one's job! Retiring from school gave me yet more permission to speak the truth as I know it. (Though I also was suspended twice and put on a probation for doing that while I was teaching at my school!)

 

At any rate, your kind words and your own deep passion are deeply appreciated and I wish you all the best in your new venture. As well as continuing to play Mo and Mo Better Blues on the flute!

 

Reading letters like this is a nice way to start a day. Off I go!