Ah, isn’t it nice to feel comfortable in doing what you do on a daily basis? I think we all enjoy feeling like we have accomplished a certain level of expertise in our lives – teaching, cooking, sewing, playing an instrument, or whatever your gifted area is. I’m a music teacher and have grown up around music. Both of my parents were musical and they served in local church ministries. My mother was playing the organ the night before she gave birth to me. I probably came out of the womb singing and wiggling my fingers, ready to sing and play a keyboard instrument.

In school, I always knew I was going to teach music since it came so naturally! I enjoyed my elementary, middle school, high school, college and post graduate classes; most of which were music related. Music as a whole has come easy to me.

After college, the speed of life increased and so did the daily life demands. In my case, I married right after college, started teaching school and got busy with raising a family. I was still involved in music, but after graduate school, I didn’t really push myself musically – especially playing the piano and organ. There wasn’t really time to practice for hours a day anymore.

Now, let’s fast forward to 2018.  Recently I received a request to play for our local High School musical. I was honored to be asked and decided to accept the accompanist job.

Oh boy – I forgot how challenging Broadway style music is to play! When I received the 222 page piano score and listening tracks my enthusiasm began to wane. What had I gotten myself into? Could I do this? I started listening to the music and trying some of the songs. I could play the music, but not at the breakneck tempo expected. After decades of playing elementary music and synth music for church, my college level skills were very rusty!! I diligently started practicing, but it was tough – constant key and meter changes. This was totally out of my comfort zone and I felt deflated.

The first day of rehearsal came and I nervously entered the choir room. To both my joy and dismay, many of my former students are in the musical. When rehearsal started and the tempo established, I knew I was in trouble. I spent most of the time catching up with the singers, and it felt like a total disaster! I apologized to the choral director after rehearsal, but she reassured me that we were all learning the musical.

After the rehearsal I went home and immediately contacted several friends about getting a more accomplished accompanist to replace me. I was mortified at my horrible piano playing. When the High School choral director heard that I was looking for a replacement, she insisted I stick with it and continue being the musical accompanist!

Well…I am playing for the musical. I practice no less than one hour a day, and one day I practiced for five hours! In fact, I have a slight case of carpal tunnel syndrome in my left wrist, a piano injury!! Each rehearsal gets better, but I am by no means a Broadway accompanist. I’ve had to modify many of the songs and still struggle with some of the constant meter changes. Sometimes during rehearsal I get lost, but it is happening less and less. The production is this week, and I think I’ll make it, but it definitely won’t be perfect.

So why am I sharing this story? As a teacher, we expect our students to “get” what we are teaching and get frustrated when they don’t. However, we forget that everyone learns differently. I now know how some of my students feel. Some students pick up a new skill or concept in one try, while others have to repeat something over and over, or need a different approach to learning that skill. The next time my students struggle with something I’m teaching, I want to remind myself about my experience playing the piano for this musical, and remember how I felt when I failed. I also want to remember how hard it’s been to keep working on the music and even after lots of trying, a lot of the music is not perfect.

Perseverance in daily practice and encouragement from our directors have been the two things that have kept me playing for this musical. I want to take this experience as reminder to help me be a better teacher, be more creative in ways that I teach and have more empathy for my students when they are struggling.

“Perseverance is a word that means to keep on trying. Finish what you start and you will find it satisfying!”

-Becky Muncy