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Teachers can have an extremely significant effect on a student’s success, failures, goals and future ambitions; good teachers foster student development and inspires their students to strive for greatness. One of the most influential teachers in my life is my high school music teacher, Nancy Promane. Seeing as I went to a K-12 school, Ms. Promane was there to teach and hear me play my first notes on the tuba when I was nine years old and continued teaching and mentoring me throughout my high school years, as well. I was very fortunate to be able to have such a great relationship with her and she is the most important mentor in my music career. I had the opportunity to talk to Ms. Promane and ask her some questions about her experiences as not only a musician but also as an educator.

We talked about what her motivations were for becoming a teacher and, more specifically, a music educator. Like most musicians, she was raised in a very musical family; with two older siblings who had chosen to study music before her and other family members who were also talented musicians, she believed that studying music was a very honourable path. Her parents had never deterred her nor insisted she pursue a musical career and encouraged her and her siblings to follow their heart, which I think is quite admirable. I believe that if a person - whether that be parents, teachers or peers - pressures or forces someone to follow a certain path or enter a specific field that that person is much more likely to foster a resentment towards whatever it is they are being forced to do. Having come from a very musical family, however, she was expected to achieve grade 6 RCM in piano performance; after that it was then up to her whether she wanted to pursue it or not. Not only did Ms. Promane have family members who were also teachers, but she recalls even from a young age she had always been interested in teaching. While her siblings pursued careers in performance, she was more interested in teaching others to enjoy music as much as she did and still does. I think this is a very important quality to have as a teacher; being passionate about one’s craft and having a deep, genuine desire to share that passion with others is what separates the good teachers from the great ones.

I also asked her if she has discovered anything about herself throughout her years of teaching and if so, what did she discover? Relatively early on in her music career she was faced with several obstacles that tested her perseverance and choice to pursue a career in music. One of the most significant things she discovered about herself was that she was able to overcome a number of hindrances and difficulties that she did not know she could. Having experienced these roadblocks she has realized that not only did they make her stronger, but also that she was not going to let them get in the way of reaching her goal. This specifically resonated with me because not only are determination and perseverance two very important characteristics for a teacher, but they are also essential for success as a student.

We then conversed about if there is anything she wishes she could tell her past self. I was very interested in this question in particular because it is extremely relevant to where I am as a first year music education student. Her immediate response was to not give up; she explained that there was a period of time when she thought she had to give up on her work and ambitions. In the end, however, she wishes she could remind her past self to stay strong, believe in herself, and that if someone wants something bad enough they will get it. Even if it takes a little longer to reach their goal, if someone work hard and want to be successful bad enough then it will happen. After reflecting on her struggles she was able to find the positives in them; they allowed her to have a new perspective and made her realize even more that this was what she wanted to do. When she said this I found that I could relate to her situation. Despite being at essentially the beginning of music career, I have faced many struggles and obstacles thus far not only academically but also in finding myself and following my passion. When Ms. Promane spoke about not giving up and believing in herself, I realized that it pertained to my life, as well. There was a period of time in high school when I doubted not only whether or not music was the right path for me but also my ability as a musician. I really struggled and still do struggle with having confidence in myself and my craft. In high school especially there were times when I wanted to quit and give up because I did not think I was good enough or had what it took to be where I am today. Ms. Promane’s recount of her struggles allowed me to recognize that if I continue to work hard and stay determined, things will work out well in the end.

Overall, my interview with Ms. Promane was incredibly enlightening and inspirational. I knew she was an amazing teacher while I was a student but this conversation allowed me to see deeper into what makes her so special. Not only was she able to shed some light on the life of a teacher, but she also talked about the importance of perseverance, hard work and dedication, which are valuable qualities inside the classroom and out. While I learned a lot about teaching and being an educator in this interview, the knowledge I gained during my time as one of her students on not only musicianship, but on life as well are irreplaceable.