RELATIONSHIPS March 14, 2005 Issue

PRAYER TO GOD, FOR GOD

JASMINE ALEXANDRA

YEAR AFTER YEAR I begrudgingly carried out my task. As a school instrumental teacher, one of my duties was to assist the conductor each week as she tutored about 30 very young children playing stringed instruments in a small string ensemble.

I found much to be disgruntled about. For instance, during the colder months the room we used was absolutely freezing, but the conductor insisted on leaving the outside door open. The students and I constantly struggled to hear her soft voice. She was not addressing some sections of the orchestra. The seating arrangement was unworkable. The repertoire seemed to be too difficult for many of the children. And rehearsals started slowly and ran overtime.

I tried to talk with the conductor to fix this situation, yet my every suggestion met with her objection and disapproval. I asked if the door could be closed, but she insisted it be left open so that the little children would feel uninhibited if arriving late. I asked her if she could please talk a little louder; she would not need to talk loudly, she explained, if the children were quieter. I asked if she could address all sections of the orchestra equally, and I tried spacing the seats myself so the children had room to bow freely. Sometimes I tried talking to other work colleagues to help rectify an issue, but she became furious and scolded me harshly.

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