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.