Nice Meeting You

Information:

• Source: A Slice of Sunshine Notebook
• Key: C Major
• Measures: 37
• Parts: Cello and Piano
• Duration: 3:00
• Pages: 3 Pages

“Your life just got a whole lot more complicated when you met me.”
― Anthony T. Hincks

Hello everyone!

Life’s full of wonderful surprises that can have an emotional impact. Meeting new people, for example, can be surprising, and often leads to unexpected opportunities or a long lasting friendship. Meeting people fulfills one of our most basic psychological needs: The desire for social connection, and what a better way for me to do it than through music.

Opening a piano studio gave me the opportunity to meet, and interact with people with different backgrounds and ages. I did not know it at that time, but having met people with an interest in music, or at least curious about it, had enriched, and transformed my life in the most positive way, since they have provided me with the opportunity to gain new ideas, challenge my assumptions, and brighten my days.

While I was teaching, my days were fill with lessons, practice, schedules. I did not think much about my future, and certainly, I never thought I’d settle back to my country. But now that I am here, with extra time to do anything I want, I think of all the students I had the fortune to meet and teach. Would they think of me? I’d like to think so. If I have the opportunity to go back in time, I will do it all over again.

Milo was the youngest student I ever taught. He was a four years old at that time and it was surprising how he could handle a thirty minutes lesson, often much better than most teenagers. I remember Marion, she answered to one of the flyers I used to delivered in the neighborhood door to door. She was eighty at the time of her first lesson. Full of wisdom, courage and insight, I’ll remember her smile for the rest of my life. She fulfilled a childhood dream deferred by different circumstances and I am honor to had been part of it.

Juliette was 9 years old when I met her. With her energy, she invigorated my studio, and like a firecracker, she kept me on my toes. Thanks to her ability to socialize, some friends and classmates, enrolled in my program. Weston, Talia, Lilly, Eva, Finn, just to name a few, were parading weekly, in and out of my studio.

The teacher-student dynamic exchange, left me a little exhausted at the end of a long day, because it was intellectually and emotionally a challenge, both in equal parts. The emotional side of it, took me off guard, since I didn’t take in consideration that nurturing confidence and discipline to an unmotivated student was going to be futile. I did realize later, the parallels between these students and an alcoholic not willing to attend AA meetings are stunning.

Whether I was getting more attached to my students’ progress than I initially anticipated, or dealing with the frustration of unmotivated students, or even questioning my own methods when things weren’t going well, I was genuine joyful to welcome each student into my space, and tried to understand their struggles, or celebrate their victories.

Some of my most profound memories come from the adult students, those brave souls who decided to pursue piano later in life. They were Engineers, Professors, Technicians, Federal workers, Nursers. During lessons, all being humble, and acting as a child being reprimanded for not mastering their Do Re Mi’s, also confused by which of their fingers is number five, those moments were, to say the least, priceless.

I’d like to named some students I met through the years. Their interest, their love for music and their effort to learned, made me see the world as a better place. Although, not every memory is pleasant, but the imperfect moments are equally precious.

Conner
Skyler
Eztli
Tian
Bryan
Anthony
Emily
Chloe
Hayleigh
Griffin
Hannah
Jonah
Reggie
Phillip
Oscar
Brian
Mary
Bobi
Leslie
Jim
Bronson
Jesus
Hunter
Francesco
Alan
Callister
Ilyssa
Jack
Van
Fiona
Cruz
Mason
James
Olivia

Over the years, my studio was filled with the sounds of hesitant first notes, triumphant recital pieces, and everything in between. Every student has left their mark, not just in the melodies they played, but on my heart as well. My life is better because of them. In the end, I realized that while I was teaching them music, they were teaching me how to be stronger, more creative. Their beautiful unpredictability kept me amused and my days brighter.

Their names, like favorite pieces of music, bring me so many memories, and I hope the memories keep growing richer with time, echoing long after the last note has been played. I have composed a piece of music while I was reflecting in my former years as a piano teacher, what a better way to thank each and everyone than to dedicate this piece to all of them and say: it was so nice meeting you!

©Javier Anaya