wellness4performers

Teachers are born - not made and you, ktbird seem to have the makings of a great teacher. You will find that you get almost as much satisfaction when your students do well as you did when you had a really good performance. What a great way to continue in your profession.

The reason I teach now, is because of the amazing training I received. I believe that I studied with the best teachers in the world. And I feel compelled and obligated to find a forum to pass on what I learned. They were all stars -- Ballet Russe, ABT, NYCB, the list goes on. And I attended as many masters classes as I could get to. How amazing it was to learn Swanhilda's opening variation from Cynthia Gregory. Or perfect the raising and lowering of your arms in the corps of Swan Lake from Alicia Alonso. You can't put a price on those experiences and I soaked it up as a student and young performer. Now as a teacher, I ache to pass along this one-of-kind knowledge to the next generation. Along the wayI discovered in some of those mater classes that not every great dancer is a good teacher. Teaching is a gift -- I am certain I have that gift.

If it makes you feel any better, I know many performers who have lost the joy they first experienced as children who performed because they are so aware of what can go wrong. On the other hand, it really does help to identify something that brings you back into the zone. For you emilysoxo it's feeling the music! When in doubt that is your safety net!

Sometimes I don't feel the satisfaction of performing because I'm thinking of so many other things- performing with the group, keeping the balance. I have come out of performances just bawling because I think I didn't do well. It's not the same from when I was younger and I can't feel that same happy exhiliration. More like a nervous exhiliration. I want to find the joy but it wanes extremely difficult at times. The only thing that helps is feeling the music.

I don't think anyone can be completely satisfied with everything in life. I always think in terms of a SCALE. If there are more "good" things on one side than "bad or mediocre" on the other, then I think you're ahead. That works for me. If whatever you do is better today than it was yesterday or last week, that's a cause for celebration, at least mentally.

If that's the case, then it seems like you're training is helping your confidence. I wonder, though, why you remain unsure about your satisfaction level. Is something missing? If so, you might want to consider a way to add it on to your schedule if time permits.

I am sort of satisfied? i see the effects of my training working...i do feel stronger, but i feel that its not so much what my training is doing for me technically..i think its more of what it is doing for me emotionally and intellectually.....

Well, in all honesty, I do like to prove people wrong - I hated geometry in highschool & the nun who was teaching it made some unflattering comments on my ineptness - so just to prove her wrong I got 87% on the Regents exam. However, where music was concerned, it bothered me so much not to play, that I couldn't even listen to WQXR. I HAD to get back. Damn the muscle aches, full steam ahead! I think most of the Forum responders are like that.

Lisa, that's the most inspiring story I've ever heard! I don't know if you were motivated to prove him wrong or just madly in love with playing the violin but your openness to the concertmaster's feedback and obvious dedication won!!! You came back after fifteen years. You make me proud.

My teachers, for the most part, were incredibly enthusiastic, to the point I had no other life but music - no chance of going out & playing with the kids. In all honesty I didn't mind. It was what I wanted to do also. The only time I had any problem was when I attempted to come back after 15 years of NOT PLAYING. I asked the concertmaster of the orchestra I was with then to help me, & he told me each week he intended to tell me I was so awful he thought we should stop, but whatever corrections he had suggested the week before were all in place, so we continued. The next one after that was just for the summer (3 in fact) - he was a 2nd violin player tho a good teacher - & very soon I could play better than he, so I "graduated". I still keep improving, which makes me feel great.

I hate to say it but my training stunk. The technical part was okay but the control issue was terrible. Maybe that's how it is with singing instructors. Because I couldn't hear myself sing, I relied on them totally for feedback. They acted like they were God. I've learned to steer clear of power-hungry teachers and trust my own instincts.

I've never had much family support for my career in musical theater but simply pushed ahead regardless. My training has been hit or miss perhaps because I had to do it mainly on my own. Sometimes, I lucked out with good teachers but either they or I had to move on. I think I need to give my training more thought. It helps knowing that other performers have struggled with less than wonderful teachers like me. I know on thing! If I ever become a teacher, I'll treat my students with respect. There's no reason to trample on their self-esteem.

Hi! I just learned about this forum from your Facebook page Dr. Hamilton. Your photograph as a dancer with New York City Ballet was awesome! I want to be a professional dancer like you were, but I'm more interested in contemporary ballet that's less structured. I'm happy with my dance teachers because they want me to be my best. Some of them were successful performers too. I guess Lisa's right that great teachers are born. I'm lucky to have had good training.

I agree with you. Ex-stars, who really want to help young people coming up, might be used to put the finishing touches on a young talent. But teaching is not something everyone can do. I can play but I don't think I'd be any good at teaching. Great teachers are born not made & they are like artists or sculptors who take a piece of canvas, wood or stone & see the possibilities in that medium. They get their satisfaction from the end result - the performer they make out of promising raw material.

I've experienced the opposite problem with a teacher who used to be a star. Once her career was over she seemed to resent the most talented students who had their whole lives ahead of them. I think it's a bad case of jealousy. Great teachers are dedicated to understanding their craft and helping others achieve. I think a lot of stars have a hard time letting go of being on center stage.

Sometimes teachers - though they may be good - were not able to perform in the careers they really wanted & it bothers them when some kid looks like he/she might be able to do what they couldn't. Really great teachers are inspired when they get promising material to work with. It makes their day

I suffered a lot from really critical teachers who thought being tough was the way to motivate their students. It wasn't!!! All it did was hurt our feelings and it made me scared to perform in front of others. I'm very careful now to only work with teachers who understand how to give constructive criticism. But I still get scared more than I should. It's a habit I need to get over.

Actually, not every performer is competitive. Some simply use their passion to excel. Still, being competitive can be helpful, as long as it doesn't lead to self-doubt if you have an off day. This is where good training can teach you to learn from your mistakes rather than comparing yourself to others. Remember, everyone has different strengths and no one is perfect.

I am very satisfied with my training & always test myself against my peers. I am really pleased when not only can I hold my own but often outdo someone I think should do better than I. That's competitive - but aren't we all.