Don't feel like teaching today.

[ingagroznaya]

Can anyone relate?

[ingagroznaya]

Difficult students, sweaty pieces, front panel kimono. Agggr, never my choice of shoes! I want to be in sales or at least marketing. Where did m1469 go? What did she say she's gona to do?

Today it's me who does not feel inspired. The only thing I do not want to sell is pianos.

[jakev2.0]

Why don't you just chill out and play a Schubert Sonata or something? 

[debussy symbolism]

Ingagroznaya, are you balking at teaching? That is one of my great fears, that a teacher starts to get bored teaching.

[m1469]

Inga, I can't say that I really know what you are talking about but I do have some days that I just don't feel like teaching.  However, my most recent situation was not this sort of thing.  What I was feeling recently was more along the lines of needing to really find myself individually (in a much deeper way) within the profession and within the field.  I was not just uninspired about teaching, but more so about the field of music in general.  I needed to find and then take a stand for the things that I value in music (and for me it is closely related to those things that I value in life), even though they differ (perhaps quite greatly) from anybody I know.

Also, I have wanted to be helping people (and always have felt this way about life and people) in a way that is valuable to all of us on a much deeper level than chords and arpeggios.  If I do not have a profession that gives me this venue, I am doing the wrong thing and will not be satisfied with the work of my life.  Ultimately I know that I want for something very big to be shared between me and others, and it is more than a mere "knowledge of things".  So, I was thinking about doing something else.

Since then, however, I feel I have had a complete renewal within my teaching and within my sense of music and its place in the world.  And it's things like this that keep me going.  Haven't you ever experienced this ?  You get to a certain and seeming "end" and then things happen in such a way that you see more of the path before you ? 

I will take what I have been given and I am grateful, but I will always keep my eyes and ears as wide open as they can be.

That is one of my great fears, that a teacher starts to get bored teaching.

I do not believe that I have ever felt bored teaching.  Though I have had days where I just don't feel like teaching, sometimes it's out of sheer laziness, sometimes it's out of fear that I am not doing as well as I can be and I am just not wanting to face it, and sometimes it's something else (who knows what?).  Also, I almost invariably end up very much enjoying the day once I am actually doing/have done the teaching.  Anyway, I can't imagine being bored with teaching (mainly because I love learning throughout the process), per se, but at some point if I find it's just not my calling anymore, I may be ready to move along. 

Anyway, cheers and best wishes 


m1469

[Bob]

Take it easy.  Run on habit.  Find one little doable thing you can focus your attention on and improve.

[stevehopwood]

Can anyone relate?

Yep. Me. Often.

Then the kids turn up and I am happy again 

Best job in the world, piano teaching.

Steve 

[debussy symbolism]

You mentioned earlier that some of your students don't practice enough Steve Hopwood. Are you enthusiastic about teaching them?

[ingagroznaya]

However, my most recent situation was not this sort of thing.  What I was feeling recently was more along the lines of needing to really find myself individually (in a much deeper way) within the profession and within the field.  I was not just uninspired about teaching, but more so about the field of music in general.  I needed to find and then take a stand for the things that I value in music (and for me it is closely related to those things that I value in life), even though they differ (perhaps quite greatly) from anybody I know.

Also, I have wanted to be helping people (and always have felt this way about life and people) in a way that is valuable to all of us on a much deeper level than chords and arpeggios.  If I do not have a profession that gives me this venue, I am doing the wrong thing and will not be satisfied with the work of my life.  Ultimately I know that I want for something very big to be shared between me and others, and it is more than a mere "knowledge of things".  So, I was thinking about doing something else.

Since then, however, I feel I have had a complete renewal within my teaching and within my sense of music and its place in the world.  And it's things like this that keep me going.  Haven't you ever experienced this ? 

Nope, I have not lately, m1469. Perhaps when I was 10... I find your "depths" incredibly vague and unsupported. Don't know how old are you, but I'm afraid finding one self first is not a bad idea ... before finding your self within a profession or a field.
Every one of your posts for some reason made me think of Chekhov.

[stevehopwood]

You mentioned earlier that some of your students don't practice enough Steve Hopwood. Are you enthusiastic about teaching them?

Yep, you bet I am DS  . Everybody brings something to the party, so everyone is worth teaching.

I give them all a happy lesson, whether they have practised enough, not enough or not at all. 'What goes around comes around' is a saying that many could do with remembering when going about their daily lives.

Steve 

[ingagroznaya]

Tfu Tfu Tfu, I have no students who aren't practicing. But my sweaty adult students ask to go "pee" during the lesson time. Steve, which is this category? Do you have any adults who ask to "pee" during the lesson?

[stevehopwood]

Tfu Tfu Tfu,

Tfu?

I have no students who aren't practicing.

Would be a bit of a waste of time, wouldn't it 

But my sweaty adult students ask to go "pee" during the lesson time. Steve, which is this category? Do you have any adults who ask to "pee" during the lesson?

Not usually. They have the sense to go before starting the lesson. The kids do, occasionally - that's kids for you. Hey ho.

Steve 

[pianistimo]

with the incredible heat wave we're dealing with - i wouldn't doubt students go in the bathroom to cool off.  you know, turn on the fan.  especially since they have sweating problems in the first place.  nothing like a cold washcloth on the forehead.

about the teaching - steve hopwood is probably right on the money.  it's like going to church.  at first you don't want to, but when you get there the 'halellujah's' wake you up.  i always feel cheered by students, too.  they ask a question - and voila' - you are back at what you love to do no matter if you haven't had lunch.

not eating isn't a good routine though.  kind of breaks down the health after awhile.  i don't hold it against my teacher for making a sandwich in the middle of my lesson.  good teachers can get away with practically anything.  i mean, once he went in a closet and talked for five minutes on his cell phone.  i think it was regarding an upcoming concert.  but, being that i didn't want to alarm him - i didn't go over and put my ear against the closet.  just kept practicing.

[pianochild]

i dont feel like practicing today

[ingagroznaya]

i dont feel like practicing today

I hear you loud and clear, Pianochild. Whatever you said really works  .  Thank you.

[ingagroznaya]

m1469,
I feel you lack the substance takes for an adult discussion. Whether you're a real persona or a ghost male writer I do sincerely dislike your style. You are just way "too much" ( for a grown up woman ) . Please do not message me in private to ask why don't I find you clever. I just don't. Sorrrry.

[pianistimo]

i am shocked, ingagroznya, at your lack of feelings.  perhaps that is why we relate well to each other.  i go on about the bible and you go on about imperfections and sweaty hands.   m1469needs tranquility to think and you have serously disturbed it.  now, all she will be thinking is revenge and it is not a nice place to be on the opposite end of her revenge.  unless...unless...you and she are the same person and also the opposite gender - which would explain sudden outbursts of criticim that are unlikely to go farther than jest between women unless they are competing over a man.  of course, i could let this disintegrate since she tried to take thalbergmad away from me by talking about her cooking.  but, i say - let her have him.  he'll come back to me eventually (if he ever lets me off that island 300 miles off the coast of scotland). 

as i see it,m1469has posted a picture of herself on the forum.  her front must match yours in size...which also makes me wonder.  and, though you have not discussed having a chicken for a husband - it is slightly incongruous that you ran off with that stalinist student/lover and then decline to talk about married bliss.  i asked several pointed questions about that and got no answer.  i wanted to know the details about your first days together - being that he was so shy and all.  usually girls don't go on about making moves - they just make them and keep it secret.  guys go and talk about it.  which makes me think...hmm... now, ingagrozyna could be mayla's other self making her feel insecure and then thinking of ways to respond to herself.  but, that wouldn't make sense since she posted a beautiful picture of herself (albeit only half a face first).  which brings me back to what happened to the other side.  is she two people.  could her chicken husband be the shy student?  why did she say she owned a chicken farm.  does she keep husbands in a coop when she's done with them.  what was she doing with 30 people over at the house.  does she bring them over to look at the ex's all cooped up?

[gruffalo]

mayla is one of the most inspiring, motivating, intelligent, fun and special people on this forum. i would seriously re-consider your statement until you get to know her better.

Gruff

[ingagroznaya]

mayla is one of the most inspiring, motivating, intelligent, fun and special people on this forum. i would seriously re-consider your statement until you get to know her better.

Gruff

Ttk, tsk, tsk .
She is also half way beautiful too.

[gruffalo]

Ttk, tsk, tsk .
She is also half way beautiful too.

thats right. although, her personality shines through first.

Gruff

[ingagroznaya]

thats right. although, her personality shines through first.

Gruff

Alo, Gruff? 

[gruffalo]

yup, i think with my brain now.

Gruff

[arensky]

The kids turn up and I am happy again 

Best job in the world, piano teaching.

Steve 

I experienced this today after having taken two months off with hardly a lesson taught. It was a great feeling. It is the best job in the world!     If only it paid better...