The past few months have been an absolute whirlwind. The beginning of a new school year brought me several new students who are turning out to be quite delightful. I now have such a perfect assortment of students: younger and older, classical and pop singers, beginning and intermediate pianists, highly motivated and a bit challenging. I love watching their progress as well as my own growth as a teacher, since I learn just as much from them as they learn from me.
But the most exciting new development has been starting a master’s degree program in Vocal Pedagogy at Holy Names University! (I’ve also discovered that most people are not familiar with the term pedagogy, which basically means the study of teaching. Vocal pedagogy includes physiology and anatomy of the voice as well as different strategies for teaching vocal technique.) HNU is a wonderful, small school, and I am so looking forward to these next two years of intense learning. It’s only been a couple of weeks, and I absolutely love it!
However, I’ve had to make some tough decisions recently about how to manage my time and where my priorities are. I had hoped to keep working part-time at my office job to supplement my teaching income. I’ve been broke for long periods of time before, and have no desire whatsoever to put myself in that situation again. But I’ve also pushed myself too hard before, to the point where I fall apart and can’t function because I am so overwhelmed. Last week my body reminded me that I need more than 6 hours of sleep per night if I want to stay healthy and productive, and I realized that it was time to rethink my plan.
Yesterday I gave two-weeks notice at my office job. I am taking the plunge, giving up the security blanket, and becoming a fully self-employed music teacher. Yikes! This is both exciting and terrifying! As scary as it is, I know it was the right decision. The crazy schedule I’d been attempting to manage just wasn’t going to work. I need to be able to finish my school work AND keep up with chores at home AND get enough sleep. It’s time to fully devote myself to the career I love, because I know that I can do this. More importantly, I was meant to do this.
So hopefully this also means I will have time to write more! I certainly have lots to say. (I didn’t even mention that my graduate program includes taking voice lessons, and my new teacher is amazing, and I’ll write more about that later!!)