Last weds, at 5 a.m., I rolled out of bed at the Park Central Hotel next to Carnegie Hall to catch a ride to the airport. New York was great, but it was time to return to reality.
When I saw the headlines and reactions, reality hit hard. After reflection, I realized a lesson here that speaks to the unique strength artists can develop: the ability to process and transform our emotions.
Tuesday, as the guest clinician for NYC citywide teacher training, I worked with educators on SEL—a buzzword in education that stands for social-emotional learning. In a nutshell:
Music helps students express and process feelings.
Teachers model this process as safe guides.
A key takeaway: Part of being a teacher means working through our feelings to support our students and model that process for them. For teachers who feel insecure about their musical skills, leaning into these challenges can create a deeper connection—showing students how to embrace learning and gracefully make mistakes. This is especially relevant in the areas of music I teach, including Eclectic styles, harmony, and improvisation, where traditional music teachers often feel confronted by the newness of the concepts.
But the same applies to all of us who practice music. Music’s expansiveness requires that we confront limits and skills we wish we had, things we want to do but can’t... so learning to process frustration, disappointment, or self-doubt becomes part of the journey.
And outside of music? The same principles hold. No matter how recent events make us feel, the question is how we process emotions—for ourselves and those who look up to us or share our communities.
A few days ago, my son said something profound: “I feel whatever emotions you feel.” It was a reminder of how deeply our emotional processing impacts others. This might be a moment to recognize that expressing and working through emotions is vital.
Music can be a part of that process, and as artists, we can model resilience and emotional health for ourselves and others.
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(Teachers and musicians: my free daily newsletter simplifies growth for musicians. and includes a free course at the outset related to playing and teaching eclectic styles, harmony, and improvisation- Join 10,000 musicians who read it here: https://lnkd.in/e6PkfcgZ )
