White Camellia, Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Copyright 2012: singeronthesand
Happy is the (wo)man who finds wisdom…
Proverbs 3:13
As the vocal coach at a local high school Specialty Center for the Arts, I spend a portion of my work week teaching teenagers. I thoroughly enjoy working with the kids, imparting to them the best of my wisdom on vocal production, performance skills, and technical acumen. Watching them grow and mature as singers is one of the highlights of my week.
For the next three days, however, this teacher transforms into a student, attending master classes in vocal performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. A group of the best and brightest up-and-coming vocalists have previously auditioned and been chosen as the performers for these classes taught by world-class singers, orchestral conductors, or top-flight accompanists. I will have the privilege of being an observer in this unusual classroom environment, and am thrilled to be able to attend.
The writer of Proverbs believed that knowledge was definitely important, but having the wisdom to apply that knowledge was far superior to mere book-learning or acquired skills. Certainly this is true for a teacher, who must find the means to bestow his/her necessary knowledge to a wide variety of students and learning styles. I am grateful for the opportunity to watch the best in the business as they impart their wisdom – to both the young performers onstage and those of us who will be silent participants in the audience.
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