I often play music at weddings. Usually during the ceremony but occasionally for the cocktail hour and/or dinner. At one such event I was playing at an outdoor cocktail party on the northern shore of Lake Huron. It was a beautiful summer day. The sun was shining and there were sail boats drifting by. The guests, mostly young adults, were dressed impeccably but every time the wind would gust the girls would get nervous and the boys would be hopeful. Everyone was enjoying themselves.
I had been playing for about an hour when one of the guests approached me. "I just looked over here and saw you smiling. You look like you're having a great time", he said. "I'm in a beautiful location on a beautiful day, playing beautiful music for some beautiful people. And I'm being well paid for it. What's not to like?", I replied.
On other days, after a day of teaching, I critique my lessons. Some lessons are pretty routine, some are difficult, others are fun. The fact that I'm never satisfied with my performance is both a blessing and a curse. I'm always trying to improve. But some times it does all come together. My focus and my ability to communicate effectively are on point. And (bonus points) I know all of the answers to their questions.
Of course working with very young children is never routine. I watched a 7 year old play the heck out of a renaissance piece on her pink, "Hello Kitty" guitar. Her mother asked meekly if it was time to buy her a new instrument.
A five year old once asked if Polly Wolly Doodle and Yankee Doodle were married.
I explained to a six year old that a particular song was originally written for the lute. "Do you know the word Lute", I asked. "Yes!" he said. "It's pirate money." (loot).
A little six year old girl explained to me how her mother's tuning fork worked. (Although she first called it a "pitch fork".) "You hold onto the long skinny part real tight. Then you hit the other end on something hard. And then, if you're real careful, it tickles a lot when you put it up your nose!"
For the past year I've taken on the position of choir director at my church. It's a small church with a small choir and I feel totally inadequate. But I'm better now than I was and I have a lot of support so I'll get even better. We have the potential to have a very nice little chamber group. But I've got a lot of teaching and learning to do to get us there.
When I was younger I thought that being a professional musician meant being in a band and going on the road. I didn't see this coming at all.
For a variety of reasons, my days can be stressful and retirement seems appealing. Yes, I said "stressful". The playing part is fun, it's that "gotta get it right" part that makes me crazy. But on balance I think I'm right where I need to be. And, upon reflection, very grateful.