From the end of November 2025 until early February 2026, I spent my Friday evenings and Saturday mornings teaching music to young children. I did this because I was chosen to be the music director for CYT Vermilion’s production of the play Annie. As a veteran of musical theater, I found great joy in the job. In reflection, I think I may have learned more from the kids than I taught them.
Music has been at the forefront of my life for as long as I can remember. Over the years, I have encountered many different kinds of teachers in this field. From participating in local youth theater, getting formally trained, and even learning to play guitar in a cramped band closet, each one of my teachers has taught me something unique.
I now sing in two of UL’s choirs; Chamber singers and Vermilion Voix. It is my fourth semester participating in these two groups and they have absolutely changed my college experience for the better. This being said, I have noticed something about music education, especially now that I have seen a fraction of the teaching side.
I am not a music major, nor have I ever seen myself going down the career path of music education. All I had going into this role was years of experience as a student of music, and many supportive people around me which I leaned on quite a bit.
In the beginning, I pictured myself as a modern Maria von Trapp, an effortless teacher that students adored. I had some blissful thoughts that this would be an easy job. After all, I had seen people teach me my whole life, wouldn’t I just copy what they had done?
I was incredibly wrong. I found this job to be a huge challenge. Not necessarily because of the music I was teaching or the students I was interacting with, but because I wrestled with intense imposter syndrome.
I quickly realized that music educators are incredibly special people. I had always known this, but it wasn’t until I was face-to-face with sixty students all relying on me to give them instructions, that I truly understood it. I tried my very best to copy what I remembered from the best of my teachers, but I always felt I was falling short in some way.
It is obvious that doing something for the first time will always be a challenge, and 99% of the time that challenge is worth the discomfort in order to grow. This was absolutely true in my experience. While there were many moments of uncertainty, this process has led me to learn more than I thought possible.
In reflecting on my experience with this show, I have come to have a deeper appreciation for everyone who dedicates their lives to teaching music. It can be an unforgiving and often thankless job, but it is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.
It is a true servant role as every teaching position is. My favorite aspect of this project was not the final result, though that was incredible to see, but the slow work that it took. The dedication to excellence that was shared by both myself and the students.
Although this definitely was not their favorite part of the rehearsal process – and who could blame them for that – they shocked me with their attentiveness. There was an unspoken knowledge that music rehearsals, though tedious, were incredibly important to the quality of the show. I was filled with nothing but pride throughout every step.
I truly had a great time with this job and I’m so thankful for the opportunity. I hope I get to have more experiences like this in the future. I could not be more grateful for all the music educators in my life, they have absolutely changed it for the better.