At Isa’s small-town school, choir membership was mandatory. It was also torture. Despite treatment, the congenital paralysis of Isa’s left vocal cord had never fully resolved and she spoke with a slight rasp in her voice. The school’s music teacher, Mr. Dubinsky, refused to excuse Isa from choir, instead instructing her to mouth the words, “so you don’t throw the other children off.”
Wow, this story is excellent, Dascha! It was one of those where I was asking myself while reading, did this really happen? Which I think means that you struck a perfect balance between believability and astonishment, in terms of the reader's experience. I also love how you included the note at the end about what inspired you to write the story—this is helpful insight to see how other fiction writers come up with their ideas.
I was told I couldn't play the flute in band because "flute was for girls." I was assigned the trombone. I quit after a year and started playing guitar. Some teachers shouldn't be teachers.
This was a lot of fun to read! I had a middle school art teacher who told me I had so little art talent that I shouldn’t even bother to look at art because I would never understand it. I carried that belief with me a long time into adulthood. At the other extreme it was the encouragement and belief of two high school teachers that made me believe I had a talent for writing. I wish all teachers understood the power they have to shape lives.
I was lucky and never realized until reading this story. I truly am absolutely tone deaf but love to sing. I attended an elementary school without a choir and so joined the church choir. We were all welcome and were encouraged to sing with all our hearts. I was even placed right out front because of my height. What a gift that was!! And it took this story for me to find the gratitude toward that wonderful woman who welcomed me with grace and joy. 🥰
Great story, Dascha. Revenge fantasy is satisfying reading, and writing. Not all teachers have their students interests in mind. Nor are all teachers mentors. We both triumphed over these experiences. Experiences that prolonged self-doubt which we eventually kicked to the curb. Thanks for sharing, Dascha.
I was also thought talentless in the subject of music by my middle school music teacher, before I got into a high school of fine arts as one of the top 3 candidates, played the violin, then got into a conservatory for the university as one of the top 4 candidates. Even in high school, my egotistical violin teacher tried to demean me, saying I played bad, but at the same time, I got an offer by one of the famous soloists who was also playing first violin in Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra to go to Berlin and become his pupil. So, when it comes to music, or art for that matter, never ever believe just one person's opinion, because it's daunting how mistaken they turn out to be sometimes.
Wow, this story is excellent, Dascha! It was one of those where I was asking myself while reading, did this really happen? Which I think means that you struck a perfect balance between believability and astonishment, in terms of the reader's experience. I also love how you included the note at the end about what inspired you to write the story—this is helpful insight to see how other fiction writers come up with their ideas.
I was told I couldn't play the flute in band because "flute was for girls." I was assigned the trombone. I quit after a year and started playing guitar. Some teachers shouldn't be teachers.
This was a lot of fun to read! I had a middle school art teacher who told me I had so little art talent that I shouldn’t even bother to look at art because I would never understand it. I carried that belief with me a long time into adulthood. At the other extreme it was the encouragement and belief of two high school teachers that made me believe I had a talent for writing. I wish all teachers understood the power they have to shape lives.
I was lucky and never realized until reading this story. I truly am absolutely tone deaf but love to sing. I attended an elementary school without a choir and so joined the church choir. We were all welcome and were encouraged to sing with all our hearts. I was even placed right out front because of my height. What a gift that was!! And it took this story for me to find the gratitude toward that wonderful woman who welcomed me with grace and joy. 🥰
Great story, Dascha. Revenge fantasy is satisfying reading, and writing. Not all teachers have their students interests in mind. Nor are all teachers mentors. We both triumphed over these experiences. Experiences that prolonged self-doubt which we eventually kicked to the curb. Thanks for sharing, Dascha.
I was also thought talentless in the subject of music by my middle school music teacher, before I got into a high school of fine arts as one of the top 3 candidates, played the violin, then got into a conservatory for the university as one of the top 4 candidates. Even in high school, my egotistical violin teacher tried to demean me, saying I played bad, but at the same time, I got an offer by one of the famous soloists who was also playing first violin in Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra to go to Berlin and become his pupil. So, when it comes to music, or art for that matter, never ever believe just one person's opinion, because it's daunting how mistaken they turn out to be sometimes.
And that’s why some people shouldn’t be teachers/work with kids! Great story, Dascha.