Bloom Later

Today was one of those days where everything goes off the rails. Plans change.

Mornings have been chaotic getting the toddlers out to preschool. Monday’s ED visit caught up with me. Although I had 3.5 hours of lessons scheduled in the evening, I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep my energy up through them.

I had a therapy session and threw in a load of my own laundry (finally). I called out of lessons, I called to board the dog for one more night, I set up a pizza order for my husband to pick up on his way home for dinner.

I physically rested and used the downtime to reconcile student attendance and makeup lessons, and sent out a few messages to parents to get a few more makeup lessons secured. This semester has been hard on everyone – entire families out sick for weeks at a time, including our own. Everyone has been patient and understanding.

My plans for working through some repertoire and other study materials went awry. Days like this used to irritate me immensely, less so now. Blocking eight hours of study time like I’m a single, childless, undergraduate student, is impossible, so we roll with the punches. Different things are prioritized at different times.

Music activities for today are as follows:

What: A 3.5 hour block of teaching at my small town’s arts center, including multiple beginner piano students, a beginner voice student, and a makeup lesson.

Why: Brings income ($23 per hour) and drives me to stay up to date on vocal and piano pedagogy. I also personally really like teaching and find connecting with my students rewarding.

Financial Investment: $0.00

Time Investment: 3.5 hours of teaching, 30 minutes of prep/close, 30 minutes of travel = 4.5 hours

What: Finding, printing, and learning 5-finger versions of songs my beginner piano students would like for lessons this evening.

Why: Several of my students find the method books (Roskell and Faber) unexciting and are more engaged when playing songs they know. One student in particular is really struggling with engagement.

Financial Investment: I do purchase these myself – I tell myself I’m being generous, but truthfully, I’m being lazy about going to the parents for reimbursement for these things. I believe this stems from my lack of confidence in general, and as a piano teacher, since this is my first go-round with teaching beginner students (that don’t want a standardized program like the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum). I do get the rights to keep a copy for myself.

In the end, $15.31. Includes 2 pieces, Sheet Music Direct PASS subscription (pays for itself in 2 more pieces like this purchased), and tax.

Time Investment: 25 minutes.

What: Lesson admin (attendance tracking, scheduling makeup lessons, etc.).

Why: Keeps me organized. I’m obligated to make up any lessons that I cancel and up to one missed lesson by the student. We also have weather-related cancellations to contend with.

Financial Investment: $0.00

Time Investment: 2 hours. This took a lot longer than planned because I made a fancy spreadsheet.