My story of music learning I
I grew up listening to music with no ambition to sing. In college, I saw a few of my peers singing on the stage, and ambition of singing grew but I left the idea of thinking “this is too late to start to learn singing”. stopped me from taking any action.Well, by the time Asawari was born I was also a new person – I signed up for adult singing classes. And now the reality hit – THE PRACTICE was the key.I felt it was tough – and all other reasons (family, work, personal space, entertainment) justified my not continuing with learning music.Last year inspired by Aparna, Avani, and Parineetha at the campus I started once again the music classes with Aparan – the PRACTICE was tough (and I had all the reasons to be irregular in the sessions).As the lockdown started, Asawari continued online with Aparna (I still had the certificate of the work to not start practicing). But her practice inspired me to practice and I started practicing with her once in a weekend that once was very funny – I would just do minimum practice and run away (feel tired)But as I practiced I realized that I was improving, but would still find teh practice tough. Well, got inspired and joined Sunday sessions with Aparna – Initially would sit with my laptop and work simultaneously (thought this was better utilization of the time), but realized that I was not able to focus. SO started practicing with the group without any distractions. Still every Sunday the first thought is “how not to join the class”.Once I join, I enjoy practice, I like, I get inspired…..but the regularity (practice) is a big question for me.
Don’t take me wrong
I don’t hate the practice
Neither I am undisciplined
Nor lazy
Not even run away from new leanings
Actually sometimes I and, sometimes
I am not wondering If we replace a child in my place then what?
In this entire journey what helped me was
“Respect”
Inviting you to
Respect each child as an individual, a unique individual, sometimes much different from us.
Respect each child’s beliefs, opinions, ideas and most importantly thinking process.
Respect their needs, again, which at times are very different from adult’s needs.
Respect each choice, decision, and even decision-making process.
Respect their current interests, change in interests, and sometimes multiple interests and sometimes clinging to just one interest. Respect their interests as their real motivations.
Respect their need for exploration as well as their style and kinds of explorations.
Respect their ability to learn from their experiences.
Respect their ways of expressing their needs, thoughts, and emotions, including not wanting to express them.
Respect for their preference of a specific (multiple) intelligence. Remember, a dancer can learn more by moving.
Respect their way of learning, mediums used, outcomes created (or not created). Respect their own style, which itself keeps changing and evolving.
Children do not need encouragement, they just need us to respect their endeavors. Then they encourage themselves, lead themselves.