everything's better with bongos

i'm wrapping up my 7th year of teaching at iowa state.  i was interviewed in my first semester by the student rag for some segment called 5 minutes with..., a clever and brief snapshot of new faculty.  the student journalist asked me what was my favorite thing about working for isu.  my brutally honest response of "free internet, nice speakers, and a place to practice" got me in all sorts of hot water with the wife. although i had been teaching a combo of public school and higher ed for 6 years prior to my current post, i had yet to become smitten with the trade of instruction.

i like the schedule - pushpushpush for big stretches with sizable vacations plugged in.  my calendar is automatically plugged in with performances and other cv-building engagements.  i am the local expert, occasionally impressing the kids in my ensembles and simultaneously giving my ego a stroke.  these selfish feelgoods are undeniably enjoyable, but they all have become trumped by my deepening love for and newfound pride in education.  whodathunk?

the wife recently spent a day with jeanne baxtresser, former ny phil flutist and current pedagogue at carnegie-mellon.  the entire isu flute studio traveled via school minivan to kansas city for a series of masterclasses with jeanne, only to encounter tornadic activity on the return trip.  they made an unannounced pit stop at an unsuspecting farm house in southwest iowa, nervously enduring stories of nascar and secondhand smoke while waiting for the weather to turn.

jeanne is a big time orchestral flutist and an energetic lady who, on the back side of her career, has found a refreshingly unique perspective on professional musicianship and education. she talked about being a musical guide instead of an outright teacher.  sure, there are technical and historical and equipment and repertoire things to share with your students, but they also need guidance during this period in their lives.

there's something beautiful about being a senior.  you have seen your studies to their fruition.  high school kids have done their parents proud and are on to the next phase of their life; attending college, picking up a full time job, mooching off their folks.  college seniors see different scenery through their windshield; continuing on to graduate research, moving somewhere to chase their dreams, mooching off their folks.  when these kids play their senior recital or portray their last role or display their final painting, the village of classmates and emotionally-attached teachers huddle around and embrace each other. the energy shared in those hugs is a lethal concoction of gratitude, joy, sadness and dreams.

i never considered jennifer warnes to be the voice of reason (and up until now didn't even know her name) but she has registered some real gems that have stood the test of time. in the market for catchy lines beefed-up with fortuitous lyrics? we've got the classic "who knows what tomorrow brings. the road is long, there are mountains in our way, but we climb a step every day."  and then there's the swayze jam "i've had the time of my life.  i've never felt like this before, yes it's true, and i owe it all to you."

s

the trick for our graduating college kids is to stay involved and motivated, fighting off the haze of humdrum daily life. creating art out in the real world is a long and often lonely path to travel.  making concerted efforts to practice, listen, learn and stay on the radar of your community's creative scene are each sizable undertakings in their own right.  being a good person to yourself and others needs to be numero uno on your list. remember that gigs go to those that are both outstanding at what they do and super cool people to be around.  mickey was right, man - it's a small small world.

the real world is daunting.  the learning curve is deceptively steep, but one you can navigate.  getting out there and really doing it benefits from a head-first dive lathered in nerve and initiative.  i consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside aspiring artists as they get their feet wet, sharing my experiences and thoughts in an effort to facilitate their personal discovery.  thanks folks.