Probably one of my favorite days on social media is the first day of school. With each of my friends posting pics of their crisply dressed children and fresh haircuts, it takes me back to a time of innocence and hope.
One of my former teachers also posted a message. Mrs. Light was my 7th & 8th grade music teacher. We were fortunate to reconnect a few years ago and have a great peer relationship, even though it is still awkward to call her by her first name. She posted a picture of a banner she has in her classroom. The banner tells of all the wonderful things these students will learn this year in music. Her heartfelt post made me smile as every item on the list is đŸ’¯true.
Over my lifetime, music has been the one constant I could rely on. It has literally taken me all over the world and I have been fortunate to meet the most amazing people I could have not otherwise encountered. This post is not about my life’s musical adventure, this post is about the special educator who hung this sign in her classroom. She doesn’t realize it, but this sign is not about the students entering her classroom, it’s about the ones who have already exited. See, I was one of her first batch of Volusia County students so many years ago. In my parents house is a box of blue Solo & Ensemble medals that Mrs. Light helped me achieve. My first exposure to all county band and the baritone came under the guidance of her classroom. As my musical career expanded to high school, a Euprope trip, The University of Kansas, Japan, and ultimately countless of Saturday morning performances, the lessons she taught of hard work and practice were never forgotten. Mrs Light recognized my talent, but she saw my heart first and foremost. She was a parent to so many long before she was blessed with Her daughter.
One of the great things about music is that it teaches you to see the world differently. The notes on the page only tell part of the story, and often when sight reading, you look at the entire page to better understand the notes before you. When I look at this banner, I see something very different. Reading it from top to bottom, it says all the things the student will experience, but reading this from the bottom to the top, tells the true story of who Kris Light is an educator and friend.
When I see this poster, it reads like this:
To Kris Light...
You... are the reason we made it here!
You.... are Loved by all of your students current and former.
You... are a Friend to all that meet you!
You... are so very very Important to us!
You... are an Instrumentalist (and a heck of a Clarinet player)
You... are a Composer, making our lives your manuscript.
You... are a Creator of Dreams.
You... are quite the Performer, having a smile everyday, even when life and career are overwhelming.
You... are a Mover of peoples hearts, the good in you shines through on all of us.
Never heard you sing... lol!!
You... have made so many Musicians through your love of people and music(in that order).
We all have been blessed to have been in your classroom.
Mrs. Light is just one of the educators along my life’s journey who have made an incredible impact on the lives of so many students. With so many of her former students now taking the mantle of music educators themselves, I hope she knows that her great opus will always be the students who cherish her classroom.
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