Did you see the article in the NY Times, May 15, 2020, about the 92-year-old Denver piano teacher who continues to teach during the pandemic? She uses FaceTime to call the students at their homes, at their appointed lesson times, whereupon she expects them to be at the piano. warmed up and ready to go. When it came time for spring recitals, she used Zoom.

So many lessons (no pun intended)!

• “I’ve never done it that way before” doesn’t stop her.
• “I don’t know how to do that” is no deterrent.
• The main objective is still there. She said:

I believe strongly in continuity. My students learn to be persistent in what they are doing. I try to teach them not only how to learn, but how to work.

• She even found advantages to the new format:

It helped me know more about my students — what kind of life they have. It’s not much, just one room, but it is illuminating to me because I know where they come from. I know a little bit better who they are.”

• And the final lesson is clear, isn’t it? She’s 92 years old, still practicing her craft, finding new and creative ways to do things, and seeing pluses. What’s stopping us?

My son Mark is a fan of Marcus Aurelius. He sent me this quote when the lockdowns began:

If a thing is difficult to be accomplished by thyself, do not think that it is impossible for a man: but if anything is possible for a man and conformable to his nature, think that this can be attained by thyself too. – Marcus Aurelius 6.19

[Bob’s translation] Just because you can’t do it, doesn’t mean it can’t be done. And if it can be done, you could do it, too.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4.13, NKJV)