Child at Heart

Author: Laurence Brooke

Getting out of bed is sometimes the biggest achievement of my day. I am a graduate student and between academic expectations and frequent existential crises, it is always a moment for celebration when I can make it out the door.

Getting dressed and going into a classroom full of 3 and 4-year-olds before I have a chance for coffee can seem difficult, if not impossible. Yet, every Tuesday and Thursday I serve at Diggs-Latham Elementary alongside a wonderful team of colleagues, from 8 to 10 am. We work with two classrooms of prekindergarten students: large group instruction starts the morning off, followed by one-on-one or small group instruction in playing the violin. It is loud, it is hectic, it is organized chaos, and I love it.

Shouts of "the musicians are here!" greet the team every morning and it amazes me that a general "good morning everyone" is greeted by an enthusiastic chorus of replies. I am always nervous when it is my turn to lead the classroom, but this year with ArtistCorps has taught me how to accept my mistakes, go outside of my comfort zone, and roll with the punches. There is not much room for embarrassment when one leads 36 youngsters in snorting like a pig during "Old MacDonald". Their giggles are infectious, and it is sometimes hard for me to not get swept up in their energy and excitement. Any lethargy or depressive mood I bring in with me is blown away and replaced with the satisfaction that I am a musician sharing my passion, and the realization that I am a child at heart.