339 – Why We Teach

Just got a text from a graduating senior:
Student: I just wanted to reiterate how thankful I am. You got me so far in my high school band career and I just really wanted to say thank you for helping me improve myself band wise and mentally. Thank you for everything!
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This is why we teach. It's not about putting out professional musicians (though that's a bonus when it happens!), it's about developing people. It's easy to forget that sometimes, to get frustrated with students who aren't practicing or don't seem to be getting anywhere [to be clear, she was not in that category] but at the end of the day, music is as much (or more) about helping people to grow as humans as it is about helping them grow as musicians.