A day of 'just us two' after a week of meeting family, friends, doctors, chair salesmen... and an 'old' piano student.
He's now at university; but recognised me in my mask, greeted me with delight and then, after saying I had been 'a really, really scary teacher (moi? Well, maybe!) told me how much he had appreciated the way I related the lessons on how to learn the theory and succeed at aural tests to how to learn almost anything.
I have to say that (when I stopped blushing) I was absolutely delighted at how well, alive and bright he was looking, and how much he seemed to be approaching life with confidence and assurance. Such a change from 7 or 8 years ago.
I did stress how the stuff and techniques I taught in music lessons, be they ukulele, recorder, djembe, samba, piano or theory, could in outline be applied to every subject - sport, maths, languages, science - anything. It's the 'soft', or 'how-to-learn' skills that unlock the way into everything else in my view.
So I was delighted that this young man had embraced them so well. And yes, I did feel a little choked as we waved goodbye and went our ways...
Anyway, I'll just jump down from my soapbox and share photographs of... yes, Prairie Gardens again.
It's so different every time we go.
Here's the path from the entrance, towards the pig pen (they were dozing in their shady muddy patches) and the gardens proper
Sometimes the cliché 'a riot of colour' is the only description.
We didn't stay very long; that's the big advantage of a season ticket! We can always go back.
.
Oh that is glorious stitching! We had a day 'just the two of us' too. Sitting in the summerhouse in the late afternoon, leafing through our latest collection of library books was so delightful! And how wonderful to meet up with your old pupil - encounters like that bring amazing joy, and a sense of having done one's job well.
ReplyDeleteIsn't the stitching amazing! I shall keep going back to the photograph. Bumping into the student was just amazing, not least because he was so pleased to tell me about his exam results (brilliant) and University course (thoroughly enjoying it) and travel plans... I came away with a spring in my step!
DeleteSounds as though you are a true teacher, passing on "how to learn" as well as your instruments. Inspiring indeed, the Indian textile you showed us.
ReplyDeleteI always said, ever since I was quite young, that I would never be a teacher, and especially not a piano teacher, and yet I found that teaching was my absolute passion once I started being a piano teacher in my late 30s when I needed a job that fitted around the children. How life plays tricks on one!
Delete