The Teacher Learns

This fall has been an exchange of cultures as this community has invited me to take part in not only teaching kanteles to 10 - 15 students ranging from 5 years old to senior citizens, but also to be a part of Autumn festivals and holiday dinners.

As often happens, teachers learn and gain as much or more than their students from their teaching experiences. I can say this has been the case for me as well. I have learned inter-generational teaching is very rewarding in how we are all curious and attentive to the wonders of making music. The students in this class have been so much fun, so willing to try whatever I bring in to them and always anxious to learn more about each instrument I introduce. They are an impressive group of musicians and they are all eager to devour our Finnish licorice at the end of each class!

--Diane Jarvi

Kaamos

This is the time of kaamos, the time of winter darkness. In Finland on Christmas eve the Finns light ice candles, to set bits of light onto frozen lakes, front yards and also graveyards.

My daughter and I attended Cokato’s Pikku Joulu “little Christmas” party

where ten of my students played Christmas carols and other tunes we have been studying this fall. We ate rice pudding and other treats and then visited the Cokato graveyard where dozens of ice candles flickered their warm stars in the winter dark.

--Diane Jarvi