The Readiness Is All

It was in my college years that I was first introduced to:

 

• Zen Buddhism

 

• Backpacking and camping

 

• Foreign travel

 

• Political protest on the streets

 

• Teaching in alternative schools

 

• Jazz piano

 

• Choral singing

 

• World music

 

• Poetry

 

• Folk Dance

 

• Orff Schulwerk

All of the above— and more—resonated far beyond college, echoing down through the next 50 years. Between 18 and 22, I left the direct orbit of my childhood home and my parent’s daily presence, met some people who I would stay in touch with for decades, had some sexual awakening, felt my frontal lobes developing and more. I was ripe for influence and was influenced indeed by each and every one of the above. 

 

In that next half-century, I taught kids in preschool, elementary and middle school, did a little work with babies, with seniors from 70 to 103, with teachers between 25 and 60 years old, with occasional high school groups. But the one missing piece in the long span of a human life was college kids. 

Again, I did do various guest classes with this age both live and online over the years and did teach one semester each of five years at The SF Conservatory. But I missed the opportunity to work with college kids on a regular basis and the possibility of influencing them the way that I had been influenced. 

 

These thoughts arising after teaching a 90-minute guest class to 15 Elementary Music Education students at Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tennessee. A sheer delight, leaving me with the satisfaction of having been able to do it and the frustration of not having ongoing classes with this age group. In anything we study, the readiness is all and these young adults were indeed ready for everything I had to offer. 

If I ever wanted to work part-time or full-time at a University, they would have to accept my Special Energy Pokemon Card credential (see January posts). Otherwise, I’m not qualified. But if any Music Ed professors out there are reading this, I am indeed most happy to teach a guest class. Or a semester while you’re on sabbatical. 

 

Give me a ring.