Singing and Sheep

[adelheit]

Today I went for my first singing lesson and found out that I am a true alto.  She (my teacher) was quite impressed with how low I can reach and commented that I had a very wide range.  I had a blast and I am really excited that I am finally doing this.  My entire family is musical and can sing and have been trained...I was just not really

Comments

[mmcnealy]

No, it doesn't make you weird, it makes you normal and healthy, and ready to teach.

These are two quotes on teaching I read when I get jittery about teaching

The teachers I worry about are the ones who want to teach because they want to be up in front of a group (not the same as acting), or they want their name on the training hall, or they seek accolades and respect. They are more about marketing and ego, what they teach is just the means to that. The teachers I respect are the ones who continue to train, to learn, to explore. In Japanese sword arts (sorry, my main point of reference) 'humble spirit' is a huge factor that is often lost, but is a key to our own development, IMO. These arts are not 'ours', not about us. We may interpret what we have learned, focus on different aspects, but the important part is passing it on with understanding. As long as you periodically have these doubts, occasionally stop and reexamine what you are doing and why, I would say you are on a good path.Dave Drawdy - Post on Sword Forum, Oct.8, 2007

[adelheit]

Those quotes are awesome! Thank you for them.

I have to remind myself that I have done a lot of hard work to get the little bit of information I do have and it's better for me to get out there and share it so other's don't have to re-invent the wheel.

[miss_eabha]

um.. hello? have you met me??

No one wants to take a class to figure out that they are in way over their heads. People *love* when they are challenged, but can comprehend an idea or can get a basic idea of it, even them!

No one wants a teacher who makes their class so hard that they cannot gain any perspective on it. And I personally would never want to take a class from someone who thought they were so good that they didn't make it easy to relate to. If you say, I'm not an expert! But I love this! You should love it to! Then people will.

That's how I have approached this whole dance class concept. I am by no means an expert at anything. But I do know what I know, and I know it well, and I know what it's like to not know anything on the subject, so I can relate to beginners..

[adelheit]

Very good points.

[miss_eabha]

ps.. you are that awesome. you just don't realize it! :)

[acanthusleaf]

You are absolutely *not* the only one who feels that way. It's great that you have possibly too much stuff to cover rather than too little. I always end up talking really fast and run to the end of my material faster than I thought I would. Where are you teaching this class?

[adelheit]

Well, I'm making it a demonstration class to show just how approachable it is. It's a relatively simple process, just very time consuming and then throw in the desire to give the history behind it and it's going to be a difficult thing to squeeze in.

I'm teaching at Spring Collegium in Caid. You should come! My class is on Sunday.

[kdmorin]

No, you are not the only person who feels that way - especially given the "Well Actually" tendencies of the SCA crowd.

Do you remember going to Costume College a couple of years ago? Do you remember my response to the sleeve class I took from the professional costumer? I thought I was going to learn the perfect way to draft sleeves so they are right the first time. What I learned is that even the professional who has been doing this for years has to 'play' with the drafting because it isn't an exact science every time.

Yes, people look up to you because of your skills. But I think they will be less intimidated to hear you say "I tried X and it didn't work so I tried Y" or "this process really is easy - it just looks hard."

[adelheit]

Don't you just love the well actualizers? :P

Hehe...that won't be hard to do, I've tried lots and had to go back to the drawing board many times!