Tools of my trade- Yes, folks, the compositions are finished and off to the post office for their journey to Canada! Good luck to all of you! I think each and every one of them are TERRIFIC, whether or not they place in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Honorable Mention, or no rating at all. You are ALL winners just for submitting one, and I'm very proud of the hard-working students AND helpers who made them all happen. When we hear about Mozart composing at age 4, we're not nearly as impressed as BEFORE we've seen what nice work OUR 4 yr olds can do! Most of the current batch are 6 - 12, but for a few of them, it's their 3rd and 4th year submitting. Keep writing, kiddos, you have awesome ideas!

Happy First Day of Autumn! (no matter how rainy or cold!)

OK, that last part was for ME, since it's easy for me to get blue without sunny and warm weather. OK, at least sunny. I seem to need more and more Vit D every year I get older.

MYC classes and lessons are going well, as we all learn the routine, or re-learn it. Web site is working, and schedule intact. The pianos were tuned yesterday, and sound great! Replaced the old amp for the black Yamaha keyboard with one specifically made for keyboards (not guitars or bass) and IT sounds great too! Wedding in 2 weeks, plans in the works for the rehearsal dinner I'm "catering". Things are good.

I ran across this poem this morning:

Heather's song

This is a special love song

For all the young people in the world,

Here's hoping someone kind

Watches over each and every one,

Because in every young face,

No matter how angry or sad,

Lies the blossom of a pure heart,

Not evil wrong or bad.

So if you have a young child,

Be gentle wise and kind,

And treat them like an orchid,

So rare and hard to find,

Your love will be like water

To all the seeds you sow.

For they are the fairest flowers

In life's garden where they grow.

And if you know the old folks,

Be gentle wise and kind,

Their souls will soon depart us,

And leave this world behind,

They've given us the future,

They taught us what they know,

To soon become a part of

God's kingdom where they go.

This is a special love song

For all the people in the world.

Rory Block

Tuesday, September FIRST, 2009!

WOW! Is it possible that it's September already? I've been neglecting this blog, being on vacation last week and in a flurry of activity yesterday getting ready for the 1st classes and lessons of the year. They came, and what a great group of kids and parents! I'm really looking forward to this year. Ran across this quote this morning:

“A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge, and wisdom in the pupils.”
―Ever Garrison

Kind of stuffy language, but you get the idea. "Activating magnets".....hmm...I like that idea. I do believe that they are they in everyone, young and old, just waiting to be activated. I'll do my best this year to bring that into fruition for each and every one of them. There is nothing like all those sets of eyes looking intently at me, wondering what new thing I'll tell them, or ask them to do. I told one class yesterday it wasn't like school, at least not always, since to demonstrate the word "forte", I asked them to shout it LOUDLY. They did a GREAT job! Loudly and with great enthusiasm. Can't wait for the next ones. Today is all private lessons, and they are a whole different cat altogether.

Does anyone think that teaching is a God-given gift, or just a learned set of skills, magnets, if you will that OUR teachers activated in us? Perhaps a combination of both? Food for thought.....