Don't Talk about the Good Old Days, Talk about the Good New Days

This year has been different than the past, yet for a moment I caught myself comparing previous students' levels with my current students levels. I quickly had to remind myself that I'm living in the "Good New Days". Yes students from the past were learning a variety of piano and vocals music from a variety of genres and time-periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern), Jazz, Blues, Christian/Worship, Gospel, Broadway, Pop, Country and so much more. My past students were playing Bach, Beethoven through Modern Music. Yet what the students are learning and experiencing is different, because that was 14 years ago.

So much more new music, scripts and plays are available. It's so easy to compare the past to the present, yet what truly matters is focusing on the now. Had a vocal student say this week how thankful he is that I'm pushing his vocal range, watching an online student play jazz and blues on the piano, hearing vocalists sing music they never thought possible, giving my piano students new piano solos that were not around 14 years ago. Yes we hear the students say "I don't like this song or script/play", yet all I ask is that they try. I'm finding new warm-ups to help my students be successful. Students and I are creating new music and scripts.

It's so easy to get distracted by what other teachers are doing, yet in reality, each teacher is leading their students on a musical and theatrical journey of a lifetime. That's the blessing of the work, seeing the artists we work with succeed. These are the Good New Days.

What are your thoughts? Would like to know. Thanks for your support. Blessings.