Milt’s Mindful Moment #1

I’m guessing the word “mindful” caught your attention. Maybe the idea of “moment” also served to inspire you to read this little thing. As for “Milt”, well, “who” probably entered your mind. Let’s start with that. I’ve been fortunate to have a great career in the field of music education. Instrumental music education mostly. 17 years at the secondary level (and beginners!), another bunch at the university level at both a regional university and a great big’un (do you really need to know who to establish credential?), and for the last 13 years in the rare roll of non-profit/freelance educator, which has taken me to various parts of the USA and the globe. In addition, I’m also somewhat of an adventurer. My “somethin’ to do” list includes trekking for mountain gorillas, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, Machu Pichu, charging rhinos – and other various animals, and most recently, biking solo and unsupported from LA to DC in support of YOU and music education. The big thinkers at Jupiter Instruments/KHS America think with the career I’ve had I might have some kind of perspective or insight on things in our professions. Perhaps, just a different perspective.

Maybe I do.

Now, understand that I’m not about the crowds, the limelight, the affiliation. Those get in the way of what my – what our – mission should be: to turn kids on to the incredible things that making music first and foremost offers. In fact, there’s been no time more important for our vocation than right now. We live in hot times, don’t we? Hot social issues, hot political issues, hot school issues and most devastating of all: hot emotional issues, the likes of which we’ve never seen. Understand, I’m not talking just about our students. I’m talking about US. About YOU. Seems we have gotten lost in the shuffle, that we’ve been forgotten along with not only what we have to deal with professionally and personally, but also the incredible toll it takes on us. And that’s where this little monthly happening comes in.

I’m going to be offering quick, monthly thoughts on approaches to navigating our challenging environment. Could be anything from our own self-preservation to rehearsal psychology. It all centers around being mindful of our emotional well-being – the biggest, daily challenge that many of us face. And to that end, here’s a beginning-of-the-new year gift for you, if you’ll take it.

It’s what’s inside you.

Here’s what you do.

1. Begin with 5 minutes, but no more than 10 minutes before classes start, during a planning period, during lunch or right after school.
2. On your o[ice door (or wherever appropriate), post a time that you WILL NOT SEE OR SPEAK WITH ANYONE, NO MATTER THE ISSUE. You can call this time “me time”, or “be time”, or “dream time”. You may not be on your phone, your computer, studying a score, or anything else. Just sit (closing eyes is allowed). Allow your subconscious to come through, to think about family, friends, yourself, your program, whatever. It’s your time. YOURS. Teach in an office? Same thing goes. No discussions. It’s your time.

   Example: 7:00-7:10 am, Mindful time. ( or “me”, or “be”, or “dream”) I’ll be happy to chat with you before or after that time, but I am unavailable during it!

3. By posting this time, understand that you’re also sending a message to your students about positive mental health, that it’s okay to be time-selfish.

“But, Milt, I’m just too busy.” You can believe that, or you can be proactive. Don’t make time: take time. Yep, you’ll probably be uncomfortable at first. After some “directed practice”, though . . . !

And there you have it! I’m gifting you a mindful moment from this first “Mindful Moment”. And thanks for taking the time to read MMM #1. Great to have you aboard!