NOSTALGIA

My goal in keeping this blog is to write every two to three days. I love to write. I always have. I tend to write  a lot (my second grade teacher told me long ago I was "too verbose"), so take that as a warning!! to those who may one day decide to follow me.

I've been thinking for a couple of days about what my second posting would be about. I definitely am trying to stay open to inspiration, and want mostly to stick to subjects that will be informative, perhaps controversial and will hopefully create a dialogue between me and other singers. But today, as chance would have it, I read that Marvin Hamlisch had died (quite young - only 68, and when you're 50 as I am, that seems young). I found a version of Lea Michele singing "What I Did for Love" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAxRCbRxuIo)  to post on my Facebook page in honor of his life and work. So, I'm sitting here listening to it, and looking at my Facebook page, and looking over those who have "liked" the page, and noticing how some of them are students who are long gone.

All of this (spurred on of course by the sentimentality of the song I'm listening to -- I'm a total sucker for that kind of thing), I am overcome with this warm nostalgic feeling for all of my students present and past. I am so grateful for what I do for a living. Like any "job" it has it's ups and of course it's downs. Frankly, there are days that I would rather stay in my jammie's and not shower and be ready to smile and do "ee oo ee oo ee" at precisely 9:15. But invariably, once I'm with a student, I am totally carried away and get excited and inspired by what I am doing.

I treasure all of the connections I have made over the years. I love how people come and go, and we touch  lives for months and years. Sometimes tears are shed and personal stories are shared. I love seeing how people's frustrations with their singing are overcome and they feel surprised and proud as they see how their voice can grow and change. I love watching children grow into teens and then young adults. I often say it is like having an extended family. It is hard and sad to say good-bye when students must go on to new cities or other past-times, but as my buddy the Buddha says: "all compounded things change and pass away."

So, to all of the students who have honored me by coming to me to share your lives and your love of music, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you John R. and Amy H. and Alicia A. and Barbie B. and Melanie Q. and Madison W. and Nicole C. and Abby K. and Christopher C. and Jill B. and Gill L. and Alison B. and Kaitlyn D. and Chelsea P. and Zari W. and Niyama R. and Alexis L. and Margaret S. and Robin W. and Casey D. and Morgan L. and Casey R. and Malcolm S. and Robyn T. and Ashlee V. and Alex M. and Marjorie S. and Nirav P. and Quinan L. and Young-Sun P. and Jodi J. and Brittany H. and Heather K. and Lily K. and SO MANY OTHERS!

You all have touched my life in the most wonderful of ways. There are some days when I have my own personal sorrows, but once I am with you, I am carried away from all of that. You all teach me every bit as much (or more) as I teach you. THANK YOU!