From the President...
Insignificant? I Hardly Think So Becky Rodgers, President, AMEA
Sitting atop Lookout Mountain I am awaiting the sun- set over Little River Canyon. I anxiously anticipate the moment when the night sky is finally black and I will be treated to that miracle that always brings me to a place of great tranquility and peace. I spend hours looking toward the heavens and watching the millions of stars that will seem to appear from nowhere as my eyes adjust to the tiny lights against the vast, unending darkness. My amateur star gazing will bring me to the conclusion that I am but a small, insignificant creature in this seemingly unending uni- verse. But if I truly believed that, how could I face another day or another school year? As quickly as I seem to shrink into nothingness, I am brought back to the realization that I am significant and that what I do does matter. Thinking about myself, my students, my friends, and my fellow music educators, I have come to understand a simply stated truth: What we do does matter because music touches the heart, soul, and the very center of our being. It connects all humanity to each other and to that power that is greater than all of us. Music helps to make life worth living. How many people actually earn a living by working at something that has been a major part of their own life since elementary or middle school? How many people have a job in which they can teach young people about a subject that is so important it is a part of our culture, our daily lives, and even our religious beliefs and worship rituals? How many adults can remember the names of some of their teachers but all of their music teachers? How many jobs are so enjoyable that it is also a main hobby of the worker? How many lives have you touched through music? How has your life been enriched through music? Aren't we blessed to be in this wonderful world of music edu- cation?
As we begin our school year I hope that each of you realizes that you are significant and that you do matter. For many of your students, you might be the only smiling face
2 ala breve - august 2005
and kind word that comes their way that day. The children that enter our classrooms come to us because they want to be there. They want to sing, and play, and learn about music. They want to become a part of the greater whole. And we learn from them, too. We learn to see each day through eager, young eyes. We are transformed back to our own days as young musicians when we had a teacher that gave us those words of encouragement that put us on the path to a lifetime love of music. Stars in the heavens, music teachers in their class- rooms, and music students in our schools: Insignificant? I hardly think so.
All add meaning,
beauty, hope, and light to our lives. Gaze upon the beautiful night sky and think of your students as you begin another year and realize that you, your stu- dents, and music do matter.
I hope you and your students have a wonderful year!!!
Becky
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