Since I built the studio I’ve experimented with the way students and I enter and exit.

At first, transitions were sluggish.

I needed to wash my hands but was getting jammed at the door.

Students were confused about when the lesson really began and parents would try to chit chat to fill the awkward silence before the bow.
At the end of the day I felt exhausted.

The teacher, especially in their own space, draws energy and has a magnetism of sorts. Parent and student defer their energy to the teacher.

If I stay in my teaching from one lesson to the next, and then the next my body never differentiates on/off. Furthermore, the student and parent don’t know what to do when they enter. Finally, they resist leaving because I remain inside.

I wondered what would happen if I directed the energy with my presence. This has yielded a beautiful result.

Students arrive and sit on a bench outside the studio while I complete the prior lesson. Immediately after the bow I say my goodbyes, exit the studio and go into the tiny house to wash my hands. While I’m washing my hands the family packs up and exits. Then the next family enters and settles themselves in private. Parents can say one or two more things to the child. The child (who knows the plan, now that this our ritual) completely prepares their violin, bow, and sets up their foot chart. If they tune their violin they do it on their own. Meanwhile, I’m outside sitting on the bench. Once they are completely ready they knock a special knock (variation A) on the door. That is my signal to enter. They either pass me their violin to tune or we take our bow.

I love this rhythm because it gives me the opportunity to clear my head between each lesson. The child also has only one point before I enter… to get themselves ready. When I come in we get straight to work. I leave right when the work is finished. This imbues our time together with a feeling of preciousness, of sacredness. Our work together is important.

I offer space in the lesson for parent and child to ask clarifying questions. For those parents who use the coming and going times to ask big questions, I redirect the question to be discussed during our parent lesson which happens every seven weeks.

I encourage you to experiment with stepping out before your families and entering after them. See if it doesn’t re-invigorate your space.