Or even to do what you can, but better.It would also be useful to have them watch you work with a student, and give you constructive criticism on what you do right and what you do wrong.In fact, you could video yourself teaching and post it on youtube, and ask some of us to give advice. Of course you'd have to consider it carefully. There is a point in watching videos analytically, too. Some really great performers/teachers get results and don't know what they do. (often they think they know but they are wrong)
I know how it works. But at least around here practically everyone's data can be accessed anyway. Even those who do not use internet themselves. The databases and traffic are vulnerable, no matter how careful one is. But the things that I find really important would not be affected by such things...If someone really would steal my identity it would be an annoyance that I would know how to deal with. I am more likely to be hit by a car when I go out and I still do it...
You don't find your time to be of any importance?
I've been here for 10 years, folks. Do you really think I'm banking my well being on that stuff? I would simply like to step forward now.
You've been here 2 months longer than me.Wow! You'd think if I'd played piano for 10 years I'd be better. <grin> Strange thing though m1469, most people here sincerely want to be helpful. (there might be a couple who are frustrated with you and will express anger or disappointment, but even those don't seem to actively wish you harm)So you need not reject every suggestion as out to get you - you are going to appear paranoid that way.
Nothing really new here, folks. A bunch of twists and turns, people believing they know something they don't and acting accordingly. I've been in a rut of all ruts (one I do not believe I will get out of by doing the same things I've been doing), that is one thing I believe certain people are actually quite aware of and would not even wish it any other way. In fact, it's just where you wanted me to be, yes? Twisting things around, pts, the whole stupid competition thing, hinting at things to make me nervous or self-conscious, posting pseudo philosophical, psychological, or mathematical things and much, much more
I've been in a rut of all ruts.....I would simply like to step forward now.
I am speaking of a general modus operandi that has been observable since day #1, but on which my perspective and reaction to has changed over time and with experience. The characteristics and characters of the forum have not altogether changed, but are patterned. One thing that a person may not understand or know about me is that, while I do not blanketly remember every detail of my entire life and every moment within it all, there are some details that I may have etched into my memory from years (and sometimes more years) ago that still do come into play. For one example (out of many), I have forever remembered one, quite small comment that one of my teachers made to me in my very first lesson with him, that may not have seemed like something I would have stashed away but, without necessarily trying to do so, I did stash it away. That is just a small example and is not just about what that particular content is. There are examples like that for several individuals. My mind takes these things and utilizes them within a bigger context that may or may not seem to be directly involved with that individual, but upon which I develop a sense of consistencies and/or inconsistencies, as a separate entity (though sometimes related) to an individual's growth (or lack thereof) over time. There are several reasons I have ever posted on this forum. The only one I will say for now has two parts:1. One of the aspects of learning that I have felt I most lacked was/is a sense of perspective that helps me hash out a fuller picture, both of whatever my current situation might be, as well as whatever the bigger picture may be in relation to my own circumstances. I have found that gaining a sense of perspective is both one of the most valuable aspects to growth, as well as one of the most expensive (and that is not just monetarily). 2. It has always been important to me that if there might even be just one, lonely individual somewhere in the world who absolutely must gain a sense of perspective in a similar way, that it's possible they may do so from what is probably a fairly obscure set of circumstances in what has been my own life. And yes, while all individuals have probably undergone some sort of walking through fire, I still do believe there are obscurities about some of my own path that will probably not widely apply to all individuals in a direct way. That is OK with me, though just as I have aimed to learn from others, I would suspect a learner may still observe my visible path and learn something if they might have a tendency to do that. But, I especially wish to reach that one, even if I look like a fool to many. Whether or not I have (ever) achieved that is another thing but is not going to be reported to me by those who are judging me and my path.
Because 85 students doesn't translate to 85 hours/week? Or even half that, since I have 6 classes which carry a large portion of those students. In my piano classes (4), I must still be quite aware of where each individual student is at, how they learn, what their home life is, and I spend each class helping them individually (as well as group instruction) etc.. My singing classes are a bit different, since they are largely singing together. Also, there are 4 months of the year that I do not get paid for classes, as well as the fact that private students drop off during the summer (especially during the summers that I was gone for a month, doing my own study). So, when/if I make "extra" income during any month(s) in the regular school year, it must be rationed for the months that I make zero or significantly less income. That is part of the reality of not having a University/College/Regular Public School teaching job.But, I happen to agree that it is indeed (still) a very first world problem. It turns out we have kept the roof over our head and it is looking more promising that we will continue to do so, but I certainly know now what it is like to walk a very thin line, and to have done so in part just because I loved the piano so much and put a full faith into the endeavor of studying it. This has all given me a new perspective on those who actually do have 3rd world problems, as well as others with more first world problems. And, I actually know now that it's very possible for individuals to get stuck, even in a Country like the US, in ruts that are next to impossible to get out of.
As far as I am concerned, I have simply described certain aspects/facts of the reality of being a (type of) musician, with a strange path, who is still trying to make a living as a musician and who was in the middle of important musical growth, in the middle of a severe economic recession - you are the one assigning words like that to it. How many people are on a career path that is related to their degree at all anymore, despite what that degree was in (let alone music)? The numbers are getting smaller and smaller, but music (among others) is one that is especially tricky. Among other things, people should be aware that school loans for music study can be extremely difficult to pay off under certain circumstances and probably will not be paid off with helpful timing through being a music professional. It's not a fable. I have a friend who is a talented singer and a favorite of the teacher, who coming into her third year of University was going to need to start taking out loans to continue with schooling, and through some deep considerations decided against continuing her schooling and went into a different profession before school started up again this past Fall. From where I stand right now, I actually feel that was a very smart decision, and it would take a bit to convince me otherwise.
If we lost our house, had nobody to take us in, and could not rent a house even because we lost a house and it messed up our credit, or could not get a job even at a store because nobody was hiring (we actually did go through that), and we were living on the streets, that is pretty third world, actually.
Actually, you are wrong, I am actively moving out of it.
That is my point.
I am taking the actions that I need, in the ways that I can, according to me, not you. Feel free to let these threads die! People keep them going, even when I don't! And I've had my share of lighthearted posts, which of course I am criticized for, as well.
I didn't ever once ask for advice, as you know. However, repeated "perspective sharing" has been quite helpful!
Then why did you post? Simply to request sympathy? Appointing yourself a victim doesn't buy any online.
m1469You are 38 years old now. You don't seem to be in touch with reality. Its almost too late for you to have a baby, and I don't think you should You are a child yourself. You should ask for help from the people in your church or your family. I will talk with them if you like. What does your sister say?
I think that the above is entirely out of order.Best,Alistair
Dont you have the same attitude eXcept more indirect and circUitous
I'm sorry, I do not understand; the "same attitude" to what and as whose?Best,Alistair
That and his you were referring to in the comment of yours I quoted.
Now I don't even understand your use of English! Can you have another try?Best,Alistair
I'm sorry; what I sought to convey was the impression that the attitude you hold is not altogether different from the one owned by pts1, whose post emphasizing said attitude you appraised to be "entirely out of order"; this attitude is to the main theme of the thread in which this conversation is being made - that theme which I see so often recurring in the annals of Pianostreet sparking discontentment in such cases as now: m1469 and her personal philosophical posts.
Thank you for your clarity on this.I have expressed few views on any aspect of the matter covered in this thread but none that I have expressed are in any sense incompatible either with the reaction that I expressed to the post to which I took exception or indeed to what I've written above in response to yours. For the record and for the avoidance of doubt, I do indeed harbour reservations about the manner and extent to which m1469 follows what has increasingly of late become a common trend to lay bare far more facts and thoughts in a public forum than are likely to be of any benefit to her or to anyone else - the spectacle of such indiscriminately self-enforced public nudity is often a less than welcome one - but my view on this in no wise gainsays my opinion that the post concerned was "out of order".Best,Alistair
6. I've posted under my real name before (which you supposedly do yourself)
Topic: There's "whining" and then there's Whining. 