New (school) Year Resolutions

I’m not generally one for new year’s resolutions in January. January may be the calendar new year, but for me and many of my teacher friends, August/September is the actual new year. I love the start of the school season and this year marks year 22 of teaching private lessons.

The first lesson I taught was in 2003. I was right out of high school, taking a gap semester before going to FSU to study violin performance. I started teaching a handful of violin students including adults. I was 18 and one of my first students was in her 40s. My other regular student was in middle school and I used to babysit her and her brother as well! That was an adventure. I would go to their house and while the parents were there, I taught the violin lesson, then roles would switch and I went from violin teacher to babysitter.

I’ve come a long way from the babysitter teacher, and am grateful for the 2 decades of working with individual violinists and violists.

Each fall, I take a look at my teaching. I review everything:

• scheduling

• invoicing

• advertising

• teaching methods

• student success

• student retention

• student opportunities

• communication

This year I’m using My Music Staff for scheduling and invoicing, I’m being more proactive about advertising, providing monthly group lessons, putting on two student recitals, and working on Level 1 Bornoff Approach certification.

Group classes and recitals are two things I have done in the past, but haven’t had the capacity to do in Jacksonville until this school year. Last summer I left my w-2 “fancy job” to focus on teaching. I have my private studio of violin and viola students and also work with a youth orchestra. This is the first school year I’ve had the energy and opportunity to bring back group lessons and more performance opportunities for my students. I’m looking forward to see what we can grow!

Working on the Bornoff Certification this year helps me focus and reflect on my teaching in 1:1 and group settings. I’m incorporating the approach in my private studio and with the youth orchestra students.

Over the summer I attended the National Bornoff Workshop at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and loved it. Being there reminded me what it feels like to be a student learning something new. So often we forget what it is like to be a student and it shows in our communication and interaction with our own students.

The majority of my teaching years were in Texas. I am incredibly grateful for my decade in Houston. I taught at Sam Houston State University, my private studio, Strake Jesuit, AFA, Houston Orchestra for All, and in schools in Klein, Cy-Fair, Katy, Spring Branch, Clear Lake, and Houston ISD. In the summers I taught at the SHSU Pedagogy Workshop and at the TexStrings Camp.

I currently serve as the Director of Operations and am on the viola faculty of the TexStrings Camp. Going back to Texas each summer is like a getting a rejuvenation injection for my teaching. There really isn’t anything like Texas Music Education.

Going to the Bornoff Workshop and going back to Texas for a week were very inspiring for this school year. I’m taking that energy into my teaching this year. My goals are:

• provide more performance opportunities for my students

• foster community through group classes

• remember what it feels like to learn and try something new

• create and promote better communication with students and parents

Wishing all who teach and all who learn a happy new school year!