Too Cool for School

"Those who can, do; those who can't, teach."

Oh yeah....good one.  I mean come on, whoever came up with that saying could have done a much better job.  There's no literary merit to that.  They probably just think that they are "too cool for school".  And at least that phrase rhymes.  

Honestly, there's not a lot of truth to it either.  If that were true, skydiving would be a very messy sport, most heart operations would be extremely unsuccessful, and Luke Skywalker wouldn't be able to hit a deactivated droid if it were standing ten feet in front of him.  

Don't get me wrong, it's not like this is true for every great teacher.  But I don't really think we can blame Mr. Miyagi for not being the American Ninja Warrior.  It's not because he can't do it, it's because he's like sixty. That's like asking your grandpa to put on a cape and fly.  He may have a titanium hip replacement but he's still no Man of Steel.

Regardless, the best way to lead is by example.  It's quite hard to give an example of something that you know nothing about.  Just ask any student who's fallen asleep in the middle of a lecture. (Note: Choice C is the way to go.  It works for English and Spanish.)  You can't really "fake it 'til you make it" as a teacher because quite honestly, your students probably already know that strategy.

The faculty here at NYO is a real testament to this teaching expertise.  They come from all over the country: the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Metropolitan Opera, The New York Philharmonic, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, etc.  And I'm pretty sure that you have to at least have some clue of what you are doing before hired in orchestras such as these.  Otherwise, I could have had my dad take orchestral auditions.  And all he can play, musically speaking, is the radio.  He's currently working on learning the TV as well but that's been a little bit slower of a process since they don't make Rosetta Stone for the remote. 

Of course all of the NYO faculty offer extremely incredible expertise, but not only are they just principal players but they are players with principles (ba dum tsch).  Each one has is invested in the students they teach just as much as they are invested in the instrument they play.  Because of their commitment, we have become a part of their ability to share their work with others and it has been so rewarding for me to be in the company of these players.  

Today, when Robert Chen subbed for Joshua Bell and played the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, I knew that the violin wasn't the only thing he was playing.  His humor and his artistic comments were his contribution to us.  And I loved being a part of that.  And last week when Professor Vermuelen decided to sit and eat lunch with us instead of sitting with the other clinicians, that was a part of his investment.  And don't get me wrong, it wasn't social suicide (we aren't that uncool) but the horn section can't really hold a candle to the company of the other faculty here.  

Ultimately, I think that expression needs to be changed because it's a little bit outrageous.

How about this:

"Those who have a lot of free time on their hands like to make up vast generalizations about people who are more talented than they are."

I think it kinda rolls off the tongue, don't you?