What’s at the heart of being a teacher? I could write for hours and not even begin to scratch the surface. But one of my favorite quotes certainly captures one aspect of it perfectly: “You don’t get points for predicting rain. You get points for building arks.” Those words of Lou Gerstner, the former CEO of IBM, powerfully describe much of what we do. Anyone can predict the challenges of beginning clarinet players going over the break, violinists learning to shift, or the ubiquitous skill of playing in tune. But what makes us teachers is that we provide those “arks” to embrace and surmount those challenges. And that my friends, in great measure, is what makes you so very special in the lives of all those you teach. Bring on the rain; for we all have arks parked out behind our schools big enough for everybody!

Peter Loel Boonshaft, Director of Education
KHS America

About the Author

Dr. Boonshaft, Director of Education for KHS America, is the author of the critically acclaimed best-selling books Teaching Music with Passion, Teaching Music with Purpose, and Teaching Music with Promise. He was honored by the National Association for Music Education and Music For All as the first recipient of the “George M. Parks Award for Leadership in Music Education.” Dr. Boonshaft was selected for the Center for Scholarly Research and Academic Excellence at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, where he is Professor Emeritus of Music.