08/19/2026
Every August I lose a few students to college. These are typically students whom I’ve worked with intensely for many years. The transition is always bittersweet.
I recently posted a recital video of Jack K, who is now entering his first semester at Belmont in Nashville as a music major. We had about 4 years together. Started with drums but quickly added guitar, songwriting and all kinds of other ingredients to our weekly musical stew. We always had fun. He’ll be missed!
There’s also Solan B. I had the pleasure of working with Solan, starting around age 10 or 11 until his junior year in high school. He began on piano, but after a handful of years, we added guitar, bass guitar and voice. Always accompanied by ear training and music theory. We crammed a lot into the little time we had every week. Then, in the blink of an eye, we’re working on college audition music. Now he begins his first semester at Berklee College of Music in Boston. What a lovely journey we shared, and his is just beginning. How exciting!
This is Solan performing Claire De Lune by Debussy. He worked on this for 6 months but fell ill the day of the recital and had to postpone. He was disappointed but the delay allowed him another 6 months to keep absorbing and refining it before the next recital. Though it wasn’t his final recital performance, you could consider this piece a graduation of sorts but it’s also a lesson of courage, commitment, passion, and perseverance. It emphasizes rolling with the punches and keeping your eye on the prize. A lesson that’ll serve well, both in college and life, and a reminder we could all use time to time.
Thankfully I’ll retain some of my college aged students who study regionally. Shout out to Miles A and Aidan A who are both going to NIU.
I want to wish Solan, Jack and everyone else the very best of luck as they begin their new chapters in education, music and in life. Also a shout out to longtime former students like Martin B and Jackie K who just graduated college, and anyone else who I might have missed or lost touch with. I’m so proud of you all.
micky
