The following was written by my late wife Elaine. She wrote a long book, a diary really, from which this is the penultimate passage:
The Jump Start from the Jump Rope
K seemed to be discouraged for two or three lessons in a row, but I knew he had been trying hard. So I told him that he had counted the timing in one of his pieces so well that day that I wanted to give him a little prize, and I gave him a jump rope. (I probably gave him a choice; I kept a few things in the piano bench for times like this).
His mother called later that day and said that on the way over to the lesson, K had told her he wanted to quit lessons that day. But after he got the jump rope, he changed his mind and perked up about practicing and after that there was a noticeable difference in his lessons and his attitude. I learned from that experience, and have given prizes from time to time for very specific improvements in a weak area of a student’s progress. It’s the little things…
I’m so happy that I kept a notebook of these little stories and since packrats keep notebooks forever, it’s been possible to recall these little “you made my day!” stories which I had forgotten about, 20+ years later, and it’s been a sweet treat. These memories, touching and funny, help me to relive the rich experiences I’ve had teaching children. Other than also being a mom, being a teacher is the most rewarding and satisfying activity I can think of, and I’ve especially enjoyed teaching music because it is my number-one favorite pleasure of life – and what could be better than passing this love of music along to somebody else?
To be continued…
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About the Author: RD Blakeslee (1931 – 2024) built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.
Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family
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