7 Lessons Learned from Remaining Teachable... (One Thought Thursday No. 64)
Christina Whitlock, Beyond Measure Podcast
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"Someone has said, "Education is going from an unconscious to conscious awareness of one's ignorance." Our acute need is to cultivate a willingness to learn and to remain teachable." Charles Swindoll
As I discussed in Episode 197 this week, I set an intention at the start of 2024 to Remain Teachable in all things.
Admittedly, this is not much of a stretch from my usual approach to life. But - as I'm often reminding you - there is power in naming these things.
I went deep on a couple of BIG lessons on the podcast, but I thought it would be fun to host a bit of a "lightening round" here this week.
So, without further ado, please enjoy this list of 7 things I've learned (and, in many cases, RE-learned) this year:
Jealousy is easy. It's a human default, of sorts. Even so, moving through those feelings and making the effort to celebrate the accomplishments of others is often so. worth. it.
If you are not paying for the product, you ARE the product. Working in such a generous field means we can get a little spoiled with free content. It's important to keep an eye on how the services we utilize are making their money.
Chili Crunch is worth the hype. Thanks, Amy Chaplin of PianoPantry.com for putting it on my radar. My favorite blend is made by Spice World. Fried eggs topped with a little chili-onion crunch has become my breakfast of choice.
Seeing our own practice through a "teacher lens" is not always best for us. I had a very open heart-to-heart with Merideth Hite-Estevez on the Artists for Joy podcast earlier this year and she helped me realize I use a corrective approach to my own music-making that does not always serve me well. I also talked about (different) practice hang-ups in episode 154 of Beyond Measure.
We do not need to capture ALL the moments. I talked about this in episode 195, but I still find myself thinking about it frequently. Sometimes the magic - especially when it comes to live music - is most powerful in the absence of cameras.
The purpose of rest is NOT so we can be more productive later. Vanessa Cornett and I talked about this in episode 180. I am definitely guilty of trying to optimize every. thing. but it's important to let rest be rest (and nothing else).
True experts are not easily found online. Creating social media presences, attractive websites, etc. takes TIME. And, oftentimes, a whole TEAM of marketers. The best advice comes from those who have their heads down and are doing the work instead of those who spend all their time talking about doing the work.
I think that's a pretty solid list of life lessons, if I do say so myself! 😄
🥂 Cheers to remaining open to life's lessons and embracing the fact that there is still SO much to be learned. 🥂
Now, IT'S YOUR TURN: Hit that REPLY button and tell me something 2024 taught *you*. I would love to know how this past year has shaped you (plus: remember, there's POWER in naming these things!).
Please know: I read every response, even though I might be slow at replying.💜
As mentioned above, this week's episode is a follow-up to episode 151, where I introduced my 2024 intention of Remaining Teachable. Check out Episode 151 here, and Episode 197 here.
13 days into *our* December Performance Challenge, my current Studio Leader has collected 59 signatures. I am confident at least 2/3rds of those people would not have heard her play this season, so I once again chalk this (simple!) incentive up for a BIG WIN. If you're looking for a way to keep students playing over Winter Break, be sure to check it out.
The Beyond Measure Community is my FAVORITE place to talk about repertoire.
If you appreciate my repertoire recommendations in this newsletter, you will love the "What Should I Teach Next?" series over there, as well as the 21 (!) recorded sessions of Teachers Teaching Teachers available to members.
ADDING to the community value:
Our December meet-up will be happening TOMORROW, 12.13.24, at 11am (eastern time). Instead of our usual single-focused repertoire study, I'm hosting a repertoire Show and Tell!
Teachers are tasked with bringing one piece they love to teach, whether it's from a method series, historical literature, or something else altogether.
I can't WAIT to see what my teacher friends choose. This will be the perfect shot-in-the-arm as we look forward to January repertoire assignments! We would love to have you join us live, or for the replay.
*This email may contain affiliate links. That's just smart business, but please know all recommendations are purely my own, and are absent of any icky ulterior sales motives.