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May 5, 2003
Table of Contents:
1. MTIPS Theme
2. Welcome Notes
3. MTIPS Development
4. Notable Quotables
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1. MTIPS Theme
"Non-action", on the other hand is a choice.
It is a choice to stay on the same step. It's like a
frog trying to cross a river without going in the
water…
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2. Welcome Notes
Welcome to Music Teachers Insightful Practices (MTIPS)
Newsletter!
It's a beautiful 60 degree day here on Long Island! The
sun is shining, and I do believe we have seen the last
of a very long New York winter. Yeah!
As of this 9:00 AM, MTIPS officially has 494
subscribers. Yeah! As many of you know, this year, I
have set a goal of 600 total subscribers. I am just
about halfway to my goal. Would you take a moment to
forward this issue to anyone whom would benefit from a
positive ezine to assist them in utilizing their fullest
potentials as teachers and students? Thanks!
MTIPS is a "by subscription" only FREE
newsletter. My goal is to provide you with practical
tips and insights that will make your career or
education in music, more fulfilling, rewarding and
enjoyable. Please feel free to contact me if you would
like to see a certain topic covered in an upcoming issue
of MTIPS. My email address is editor@musicsimplymusic.com
FREE REPORTS FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTS! Yep, they're
FREE! So check them out at http://www.musicsimplymusic.com
and follow the links to the FREE report page. This page
is only accessible if you are a registered MTIPS
subscriber. We have lots of information and resources
you can use. We're constantly adding and updating, so
check it often!
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3. MTIPS Development
Years ago I was reading a book called "Zen and the
Martial Arts". It was a very easy 70 page read,
with each topic divided into a short 10-13 page chapter.
One of the chapters was entitled "Active
Inactivity" and throughout the years, this topic
continues to stay with me as a reminder that sometimes
the best action is a choice for non-action.
As educators we are basically responsible for two
things. One is making sure that somehow, we have the
next step for our student to take on their path. This is
the knowledge part of our service. Easily added to by
taking a new course, researching new materials or
sharing with colleagues. Yet, so often, in our
excitement to see our student grow, we not only make
sure that we have the next step for our students, but we
downright push them to take it!
The second responsibility of a master educator is a bit
subtler. It cannot necessarily be learned by taking
another course or researching new materials. It is the
feeling portion, the human portion of our service. It is
knowing when to provide the next step and when to choose
to simply stay on the step the student is presently on.
It is knowing when the next action to take is one of
non-action.
Please don't confuse "no action" with
"non-action." "No action" is usually
the result of not knowing what to do next. It is usually
not a choice, it is a common default mode, when
confronted with a situation in which we are not certain
what to do.
"Non-action", on the other hand, is a choice.
It is a choice to stay on the same step. It's like a
frog trying to cross a river without going in the water.
He jumps from shore to rock, waits on the rock for a
passing log, jumps on that and then finally hops to the
other bank. His waiting on the rock is not a "no
action", it is instead a "non-action." It
is a choice (assuming frogs have the intelligence to
make such a deductive decision!) to wait.
"Non-action" is an opportunity to reflect, to
take stock, to let things settle, to allow the student
to digest. I have a friend who is an author and English
teacher at a local high school. A while ago, she had
come up with an idea for a book. A month later, I
checked in with her to see where she was at with her
book, and she had zero pages written! When I asked her
why she hadn't yet taken action, she replied that she
had, I just couldn't yet see or measure the result. She
said that she was "composting" her idea. On
the outside of a compost pile, it appears that nothing
is happening. Yet, under the top layer, organic matter
is being broken down so that it may be utilized as
nutrients by the plants. Such is non-action.
Take the time with your students to actively choose to
not give them new information, but instead to allow them
the chance to digest the information that you have
already shared. Take some time to celebrate the success
of learning a particular skill or song. Review it at the
beginning of each lesson. Share it with some friends or
family members. Make a recording of it. Allow yourself
and your students to revel in the success of a skill
truly learned, and be assured that the skill will be
with them for the rest of their lives!
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4. Notable Quotable
"…deliberate inaction is action, and it is often
a way to allow a cloudy situation to become
clear."
- Shale Paul
Copyright © 2003 Nicholas Ambrosino. All rights
reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or
distribute MTIPS so long as this copyright notice and
full contact information about the author is attached.
The author of this issue is Nicholas Ambrosino and he
may be contacted at:
director@musicsimplymusic.com
or reached by telephone at 631-863-2069
To subscribe, simply send an email to:
mtips@aweber.com
with the words "subscribe" subject line of the
email.
"We
enjoy what we do, and so will you!"
phone: 631-863-2354
fax: 631-471-8311
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