Years ago, I was giving a workshop on encouraging musicality and creativity in elementary students. The teachers were interested and very eager to learn. It was a great group, but a few minutes into the presentation, I noticed a teacher in the back who showed signs of discomfort. As the session proceeded she looked more and more uncomfortable. During one activity, I suggested that a good way to help students get comfortable with dynamics is to cover a piece with clear contact paper and then allow the students to write in their own dynamics which they could then change in multiple ways.

We all did this together. We started p and then added a crescendo to mf, then a decrescendo and ended p. We started mf and then added a decrescendo, then a crescendo, and ended mf. We started f and a long decresendo and ended p. At this point the teacher who was so uncomfortable just couldn’t take it anymore. “You mean there’s no right way?” She was nearly in tears. We talked a little about preparing for exams or auditions vs. the value of changing up pieces to reinforce concepts, foster creativity, and keep boredom at bay. I thought, “42.”

In Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy our heroes find the answer to “life, the universe, and everything” is 42. The Philosopher’s Union protests demanding clearly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty. I had clearly given this uncomfortable teacher a lot more doubt and uncertainty than she could handle.

Of course the story is silly and entertaining but it always resonated with me because the answers to our questions are often not very revealing- especially if we are not ready for them. They might as well be the number 42. It is the journey and the asking along the way that are important. In my capacity of QOTS*, I often have students who just want answers- who value correctness above all else. We have all met them. They want black and white, right and wrong. You can hear the physic screaming when you give them options on phrasing, ornaments, dynamics, style, etc.

If I can get them started on a path of asking the right questions then I feel that I have done my job. When experience and growth are found in the journey itself no one minds if the ultimate  answer is 42.

* Queen of Transfer Students

 

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