I consider my understanding of jazz theory hard won: I worked and worked to become fluid, because it didn’t come naturally to me. Comprehension of this incredibly complex music comes easily to some, but for me it took time and effort.
As hard won as this knowledge is, I find nothing more gratifying than sharing it. Taking something that seems complex and breaking it down into understandable components is a joy, and getting students excited about this way of describing the musical world is a passion.
Hard won and easily shared. That intersection is where teachers do their best work, I think. When a teacher really works to master something, and then makes it their mission to share it readily with others, they have the potential to really affect those students. That’s magical.