It had been a long time since I had the chance to listen to a weekload of lessons by a great musician, to multi leveled young aspiring musicians. Roberto arrived in Israel on Dec. 28th and had spent a week in the Israeli conservatory of Music, Tel Aviv.
46 lessons to singers, wind players, string players, harpsichordists…and for me it was an opportunity to catch up on teaching methods, realize what I have neglected in my own teaching routine, stimulate myself to re-reading materials i have known so well in the past, and reclaim myself.
What does reclaiming myself mean in this context?
We do have the tendency to enter routines…there is something comforting about those…we go in paths we know can work, we walk on safe roads, we do what we have succeeded in so many times before…but, if I may, it is like a physical thing, we operate, always, the same muscles, the same movements, and get used to that…
reclaiming myself means that I could see my work through someone else’s eyes, and realize what parts I should retrain…
So, here I am now – after these weeks of increased input – deciding to leave one of my jobs, the one which is more time consuming and less relevant to my own progress, self development or specific professional needs, and allow myself some time to practice, read, filling up the batteries.
So, thank you Roberto, for many many things (and those of you following my blog know that i already wrote about him in the past as one of the most influential musicians in my life), and for this period in which you have put a mirror infront of me, reminding me who I CAN be.
Dear Drora,
Seems that we follow the same path these days.
There is nothing like constant changes that makes us aware of ourrselves, and the collaborations with great figures is a constant reminder. Routines are anti- art sometimes.
Dear Michal,
Thank you for reacting, it is also comforting in more ways than one that other musicians I appreciate are following similar paths, as we usually are so lonely in this marvelous yet so complex profession of ours.
You are right,
there is a sheer loneliness in this profession. and yet there are so many collaborations & experiences that makes every day so fruitful:)
Food for thought – thanks.
Janet