As a follow-up to my previous post about teaching a class with no music, I offer you two stories from instructors who had to teach with no music, and the learning opportunity–and even joy–they experienced as a result. Do we place too much importance on our music? Read this and ponder that question again.As a follow-up to my post last week about teaching without music, Bill Roach sent me something he wrote in his weekly newsletter following a class in which he also experienced stereo failure back in January of 2011. It is so enlightening, I wanted to share it with you. If you missed my post, read it here, and make sure to read the excellent comments by instructors as well. Apparently it’s not an uncommon thing to have to teach a class with no music. So if you have not experienced it yet, if you teach long enough, you will! Best to take some of these stories to heart–it’s a phenomenal learning experience.
In addition to Bill’s article below, here is a comment left by Bryon Black on my previous article just in case you missed it. It contains some excellent gems:
I haven’t had to instruct without music yet, but my group rides are always focused on performance. The music is just there.
Love your thoughts on this Renee.
The “no music” lesson has happend to me more than once and it always reminds there are just some things i don’t have maximum control over as much as i would like to. It reminds me there are little bumps in the road and to by all mean “laugh” and keep it light. If i do, then my class will learn from this as well. If i stress out over a simple little thing like music then what happens when something really BIG happens! Life is too short and you just gotta find the lessons and laugh sometimes.