Pass it along...
It seems like I've always taught. I started teaching private piano and theory lessons right out of college. I found out quickly that I wasn't a teacher of beginners or young children. I could make the biggest difference to someone who already had the bug and was dying to get better on their instrument. Trying to excite a kid struggling with Mel Bay book 3 was as painful for me as for them, so I concentrated on the more experienced student, the ones prepping for college, or who are playing in bands and aren't sure how to comp chord charts, or who bought a Chapman Stick after noodling on guitar and are a little overwhelmed, etc. I've taught private lessons in piano, electronic music production, arranging, composition, guitar and Chapman Stick and really believe in not being didactic or going down the same academic path for every student. I really try to listen to what my students want and find ways to fool them into learning it; I usually wind up learning something myself.
Although my teaching days are over, I'm grateful to have spent so many years influencing younger players. When I go out and hear them playing in their own ensembles, and when I work with them professionally I have to confess to feeling a little proud to have helped them become the great musicians they are.
