Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.
Last week we walked into our regular drum lesson at New City School of Music ready to rock with (A)’s teacher Andrew. (A) really looks forward to them. While we were waiting for Andrew to come in to get us (A) often likes to look at the trophies to see who is testing this coming month. We hadn’t even realized it had been a year since (A) started lessons, until he found the trophy that adorned his name.
When we walked into our lesson (A) brought it up and Andrew checked his records. Yep it was time. He offered (A) two choices. Try to earn it right then and there- pop quiz style, or go home to prepare and test the following week. I was really unsure which he would choose, then he picked pop quiz. Although I was super excited that he was feeling so self assured, I was immediately nauseous. If he was nervous he didn’t look it one bit.
Andrew gave his assignment and he was off to the races. He made it through, but it was a little choppy and he had to stop once or twice when he first started to begin again. Really though, he did really well for a kid who was taking a pop quiz. Andrew concurred, then surprised me (pleasantly). He asked (A) how he thought he did, to which (A) replied “OK”.
Andrew asked if it was the very best he could do. (A) replied that no, he could do better with some preparation. Then Andrew told him that technically he had gotten enough of it right to earn the trophy, but offered him two more choices. He could take the trophy home that day having met the minimum requirements, or he could go home and prepare. Come back next week, and nail it.
(A) thought for a moment (how tempting it must have been) then said that he would rather practice and then knock it out of the park. Andrew and I were both pleased with this decision. They went on with their lesson. During this lesson they had a chance to “jam” together and it was awesome. Andrew gave him his assignment when we were leaving and said he knew (A) was going to kill it. (A) vowed to practice hard.
And practice he did. Every night he went into his room and prepared, asking RNYD to go in with him and listen to make sure he was doing it well.
This past Monday (A) headed back to class ready to rock it. I couldn’t be there because I had back to school night (which is apparently pointless without the teacher). RNYD accompanied him. I kept checking my phone to see how it went, and low and behold 10 minutes into the lesson I got the message. He nailed it, followed by two ecstatic photos. When I got home, he was really excited to tell me all about it. I am so proud of him.
I’m also so super glad that Andrew and The New City School of Music have the same type of values that we have in our house. (A) didn’t get that trophy just because he reached the 1 year mark. He didn’t get it because he met the minimum requirement, nor because he tried and he should be rewarded for that. He received the trophy as a reward for hard work, for practicing. He earned it. So did Andrew. In giving (A) options, and letting him take ownership of his progress, he taught him way more than the drums. He taught him that things worth doing are worth doing right, that hard work pays off, and that you shouldn’t settle for the minimum. He showed (A) what he was capable of with practice. I can’t wait to see where this goes next <3
