I had a great session with my students tonight. It was the last music we’ll make together.
I remarked to my engineer how far they’d come since the previous session. “They’re already better session singers than 5 days ago!” They had better ensemble, better focus, better takes, better insights.
So of course, half of them just graduated.
It’s bittersweet – I know in my heart that some of them may never again be involved in music-making, as much as I encourage them to keep music in their lives.
I also have that all-too-familiar educator feeling of having to say goodbye just as they’re really mastering how to be an ensemble. This is what it means to teach – when you’ve done their job, it’s time for them to leave.
Tomorrow I’ll have a new ensemble, and I’ll start the journey over again.