Midterm is OVER...bring on the papers.
So my "poor me" phase is over now that my midterm is done. I wrote and wrote for an hour, and I hope I at least get a "C". Right now, that's all I need to avoid retaking the course.
Now I'm on to write two papers. Since one is due next Friday, you can guess what fun I'll be having over the next 7 days. I'll finish just in time for spring break, which I'm looking forward to very much. The roadtrip to St. Louis fell through, so now I'm going to be working on the second paper and traveling to Carrolton, GA, to be part of a panel discussion for a piano pedagogy class at the University of West Georgia, formerly known for ever and ever as West Georgia College. As one of the panelists, I'm supposed to tell the students how to start and build a private music studio. Considering God built the studio I currently have, I think they'll get a right smart lesson in faith.
Y'all might not know this, but I run my studio differently from most other teachers. Matter of fact, I'm the only teacher in town, and perhaps in a larger region, who does what I do: I pray with each student at the beginning of every lesson.
From what I remember, this was my conviction from the first student God brought my way. I told God that I would publicly declare Him in this work, and I mention this aspect of my teaching method in the initial interview before I commit to working with a student and his family.
God has blessed my studio. By my second year of teaching, I was teaching 41 private students each week. This year, I cut back to go to school, but I still teach 31 private lessons, including three music theory students. God has taken, is taking, and will continue to take care of me, and I am awed at how He cares for me.
Tonight I went to a concert by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, directed by Paul Hillier (co-founder and former musical director of the world-famous Hilliard Ensemble). I haven't heard such beauty in years. Their program was as follows:
--Kreek: Four Estonian Religious Folk Songs
--Britten: Hymn to St. Cecilia, Op. 27
--Part: Magnificat
--Britten: Hymn to the Virgin
--Part: Nunc dimittis
--Poulenc: Mass in G Major, FP 89
The music was clearly religious, and I felt as if God has crafted a concert of music that would touch me personally. I was familiar with all but the Kreek pieces, and those were so beautiful. I bought two of their CDs and a book on Arvo Part written by Hilliard, who stayed after to autograph each of them.
There is a line in Britten's "Hymn to St. Cecilia" that brought me to tears, and it is my prayer:
Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire.
Being a "composing mortal", I pray that God Himself (and not St. Cecilia) would appear and inspire me by startling me with the immortal fire of the Holy Spirit.
Now I'm on to write two papers. Since one is due next Friday, you can guess what fun I'll be having over the next 7 days. I'll finish just in time for spring break, which I'm looking forward to very much. The roadtrip to St. Louis fell through, so now I'm going to be working on the second paper and traveling to Carrolton, GA, to be part of a panel discussion for a piano pedagogy class at the University of West Georgia, formerly known for ever and ever as West Georgia College. As one of the panelists, I'm supposed to tell the students how to start and build a private music studio. Considering God built the studio I currently have, I think they'll get a right smart lesson in faith.
Y'all might not know this, but I run my studio differently from most other teachers. Matter of fact, I'm the only teacher in town, and perhaps in a larger region, who does what I do: I pray with each student at the beginning of every lesson.
From what I remember, this was my conviction from the first student God brought my way. I told God that I would publicly declare Him in this work, and I mention this aspect of my teaching method in the initial interview before I commit to working with a student and his family.
God has blessed my studio. By my second year of teaching, I was teaching 41 private students each week. This year, I cut back to go to school, but I still teach 31 private lessons, including three music theory students. God has taken, is taking, and will continue to take care of me, and I am awed at how He cares for me.
Tonight I went to a concert by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, directed by Paul Hillier (co-founder and former musical director of the world-famous Hilliard Ensemble). I haven't heard such beauty in years. Their program was as follows:
--Kreek: Four Estonian Religious Folk Songs
--Britten: Hymn to St. Cecilia, Op. 27
--Part: Magnificat
--Britten: Hymn to the Virgin
--Part: Nunc dimittis
--Poulenc: Mass in G Major, FP 89
The music was clearly religious, and I felt as if God has crafted a concert of music that would touch me personally. I was familiar with all but the Kreek pieces, and those were so beautiful. I bought two of their CDs and a book on Arvo Part written by Hilliard, who stayed after to autograph each of them.
There is a line in Britten's "Hymn to St. Cecilia" that brought me to tears, and it is my prayer:
Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire.
Being a "composing mortal", I pray that God Himself (and not St. Cecilia) would appear and inspire me by startling me with the immortal fire of the Holy Spirit.
posted by Jason at 11:14 PM
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