Genesis 15 – How does this relate?

I’ve been putting off my post on this passage for about a month, because I can’t quite put the right words on the page. I’ve written about how teacher to classroom relationships are similar to covenant relationships, but it doesn’t quite jibe. First, teachers are not God, and second, we don’t get to choose our ‘Abrams’.

As I write, I am reminded of an important part of Genesis 15: “Abram believed God.” Which begs the question: “Do your students believe you?” When you tell them learning scales will help them be better readers, do they believe you? When you suggest they will have a voice in music choices, do they believe you? When you tell them they can always ask you for help, do they believe you?

God enacted some specific demonstrations to establish his trustworthiness even though Abram took God at his word. You must build trust between yourself and your students. Be there at lunch time after planning to meet a student to work on improvisation. Don’t change your mind after your ensemble chooses between two musical options you provided, even if you like the other one better. Consider the time-worn phrases you use: “The only way to get better at sightreading is to do it.” Do you consistently provide opportunities for sightreading?” Maybe sightreading isn’t important to you. The point is to act in such a way that your students believe you, as their teacher, musical influencer, mentor, and guide. It is the only way to have an effective, meaningful working relationship.

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