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Writer's picturekatiemakesitvegan

"I Don't Get Paid to Listen to Your Wants"

A lesson with my student after working with a teacher in training

Me: How was your lesson with the teacher from Eastman?

My student: It was great Ms. Brown. He was nice. You need to work on that.

Me: You don’t need me to be nice to you. They don’t pay me enough for that.

My student: No but you should. He said “nice job” and “good”.

Me: And I don’t say that to you?

My student: You do, sometimes but you always say, “do it again” and “that’s not right”. He just let me keep playing.

Me: And that’s what you want? Someone to just pass you along?

My student: Yeah and be nice. You need to work on that.

She’s right, well kind of. Let me give you some context.

I tell this particular student every time I see her (which is twice a week) that she is going to get better whether she wants to or not. And to be honest, I’m not particularly sure that she wants to. Regardless, she shows up every time, on time, ready to go because her grandmother has decided that playing the violin is important for her granddaughter’s growth. This student isn’t my best student by far. She finds it way more interest in telling me about her day, desiring to teach me TikToks, and wondering why I am so short. Basically, anything instead of playing the violin. However, in spite of all of this, I am so invested in her. She’s smart, learns quickly, and has a fantastic personality: all the makings of a great musician. In knowing this, it is impossible to expect any less than greatness; whether she wants to give it to me on any given day or not. And while some day I hope she falls in love with the violin and steps into the greatness I know she has, I would be lying if I said the way I act towards her, or any student of mine, is solely to do with her...Read the rest HERE!

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