A very wise friend gave me the advice to truly think of myself as a contributor to my section as I played the final two performances of Meredith Willson's "the Music Man". In the past ten years I have had the privilege to play in summer show pit orchestras with gifted musicians...especially in our woodwind section. "Being a contribution" (Zander, 2000) is embodied in that experience. Concentrating on the blend, on how our parts complement or play off of one another produces wonderful results for the section, and orchestra as a whole.This show that just closed was especially poignant for me. I watched a young man take on a lead role that was a perfect fit for him, as his acting and singing made the character totally believable. But also I was transported back in time to a phone call from his mother saying she had a very nice eight year old son who wanted to take piano lessons and would I teach him...and the years that followed sitting beside him at the piano nurturing his musical talent and helping him to reach his goals.
That's what teachers do, and our students can make us extremely proud of them...it's our job, but also who we are. The impact we have left may never be truly known, or it may be incredibly humbling, as it was to me last night, to hear a past student say "everything I've accomplished musically is because of you"! I feel unbelievably honored to have been a contribution in this young man's life, and he has blessed me by being a contribution in mine as well!
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