When was it already…? Oh yeah. Summer of 2020. In the midst of a global pandemic. I was at home, without a job, wondering what would happen with my life. Then I saw an ad on Facebook for a music studio seeking a piano teacher.
I wasn’t really considering teaching piano because my own days of classical training were a little far behind me. But I felt I needed to get out there and try stuff, anything, so I wouldn’t be stuck between my four walls doing nothing for days on end.
Following all the COVID protocols of the time, I met Debi for the first time for an interview. Social distancing, masks, sanitizing, etc. We started chatting about the job and all kinds of other ideas of projects: drama clubs, vocal lessons, arts & crafts, etc. etc. etc. There really was a connection happening!
During that summer, we were allowed to teach piano inside with a heavy protocol in place. That’s how I started teaching piano! With a plastic partition between me and the students, wearing masks and having to sanitize the keyboard before and after every class. Phew!
But throughout all this craziness, cool things started to happen. I got to know amazing people of all ages. We bonded over the pleasure of learning music. I learned a few musical terms in English… because I had taken my own piano lessons in French!
I got to paint with lots of kids and adults. I had the wonderful pleasure of teaching drama and musical theatre to amazing kids. And I got to know some great colleagues with whom I was able to collaborate, create and exchange. We also would goof off and be crazy. That part I won’t detail here 😉
It is now time for me to go back to my home province. I’d like to leave you with a random list of things I’ll miss as I leave Lupton Street Studios. If you know, you know 😉
- Randomly singing in a crazy opera voice with Debi when nobody was around the studio
- Lizzie stroking her “beard” at musical theatre
- Isla barking at the downstairs neighbours’ dog
- The Norfolk Music Festival and the great time I’ve had with all of our vocal students
- Travis and his obsession with meatballs
- Sip N Paint at Just John’s
- Performing the Frosty Blues with Debi at the Play It Forward Recital
- Creating a bunch of cool music games for the Deluxe lessons and seeing kids enjoying themselves while learning music theory
- Making a fun lipdub for the studio’s reopening
There would be so much more.