I spent a fair portion of Sunday afternoon recording some music. I have a very nice studio program on my computer, a decent microphone, and a very rudimentary knowledge of how to make it all work. For these little projects I am artist, producer, and engineer. A lot of left brain - right brain shifting about.
As part of my wedding business I like to send a recording of me playing the brides processional to the couple after the big day. They can make it a part of their wedding album if they wish. Like all things, some appreciate it more than others, but I still enjoy making the gesture. Sometimes it's easy. I've already made the recording for someone else. Other times, like Sunday, I need to take the time to make a new recording to send.
As a service to my students, particularly my online students, I like to make a recording of the song or exercise they are working on so they have a reference. Because I generally teach classical music, my students don't really know what the song is supposed to sound like. A simple recording combined with the notes on the page helps move the process along.
I tend to think of this additional work as "customer service". When possible I like to give more than is expected. I grew up during a time when this was not considered unusual. There was the concept of "a baker's dozen" (pay for 12 but receive 13). And it wasn't for "a limited time only".
It's not totally unselfish of me. I want the bridal party to remember me fondly. A recording and simple thank-you note emailed to their inbox is usually a pretty easy thing to do but can also be meaningful to them.
A wedding is a one-off event. I don't often interact with the couple after unless they follow me on social media. But lessons are a long-term relationship. Two of my students are graduating high school this year and will soon be leaving for college after ten years of study each. I don't just want them to remember me fondly, I want them to play well too. The extra work I do for them helps them and me.
This is an interesting profession for sure. At times it can be inconvenient, boring, frustrating, and time consuming. But those moments are punctuated with joy, excitement, and sheer beauty and have the added benefit of being populated with some incredibly talented and interesting artists that I get to call "friend" and "colleague". Have I mentioned lately how much I love my job?