All professions have their frustrations and music teachers are no exception.
One of the toughest things for a music teacher is seeing someone with talent, sometimes great talent, being flippant about what they can do.
I have encountered a number of individuals who could have (past tense) easily excelled at music, perhaps even as a career choice. They exhibited talent and understanding and when coaxed, they accomplished great things.
And yet in some, there appeared no incentive to accel even when encouraged by teachers, their fellow musicians, or family and friends. They shrug. They find ways to excuse themselves from this task of learning with some admittedly clever excuses.
As a teacher this can be heartbreaking, especially since we know of lesser-talented individuals who would love to be be able to soar on their respective musical instruments and create glorious audio art for all to hear. There is an ecstasy to this which many will try to achieve but not experience.
So for the talented student to disregard this or deliberately throw this away seems incomprehensible to some, including me. To be able to do something well above the norm is often a cause of elation and self-encouragement. To ignore that seems tragic.
In some cases, that individual may eventually realize their folly (There! I've said it) and return at a later time. And better late than never. Others however, will never return because life got in the way, and that's fair enough; life does have its priorities and everyone should be allowed to make their own choices.
But there are some of us teachers who can't put the decision of others to rest... and that's our problem.
But it's still a shame.
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