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01/31/2013
Hi Dr. Laura!
I was a music student when I originally went to college, with piano as my major. My piano teacher was brilliant and eccentric. Upon hearing that my ambition was to perhaps be a concert pianist, she responded, "You're not good enough." I was a little shocked at her bluntness and it probably showed in my face, so she explained further about how my obvious shortcomings would not only hinder me, but eliminate me from this particular vocation. It was a real eye-opener because I thought all I had to do to get to Carnegie Hall was practice.
She didn't just stomp on my dreams and leave it at that, though. She also pointed out my areas of strength. As it turned out, while I love classical music, I love rock & roll as well, and wound up making a decent part-time income playing keyboards in a few local bands for about 15 years. I've also had a few piano students of my own and have found myself teaching very much the way she did.
Eventually I shifted gears completely, and these days I'm an assistant instructor in my tae kwon do class, with both children and adults.
The lesson was simple: Your dreams might be a bit out of reach, so play to your strengths and find your niche!
Ann
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