💜Teaching piano was always a lifeline for Mom. I remember moving back to my hometown of La Jolla, California at the age of 23. It was around the time that my grandmother on Mom's side had just passed away. Mom was grieving the loss of her own mother when she began to realize that my father's mind was deteriorating from an early-onset dementia. It was an incredibly painful time and I observed my mom distracting from this pain by taking on more students, spending more time in her piano studio. Every day she had some time away from the pain and difficult transitions these losses brought to her own life.
I have found myself doing the same. This past year has been a tough one. The loss of Mom has left a hole in my heart but one of the greatest comforts during this time has been teaching piano. A real connection to Mom's work has been brought to life by working with many of her former students. Each week, during lessons with her former students, I remember her passion, her spirit and her dedication to giving her all to every single student. Persistence and truly caring about the lives and musical progress each student achieved were what drove her as a teacher.
What a gift it is to have a job which surrounds me with music and children. I have found a renewed energy in this lifelong endeavor of sharing music. I spend more and more time in my studio these days. I am so grateful for the comfort I find in this quiet space, surrounded by the enthusiasm and curiosity of my students.
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