Why Did I Become a Music Teacher?

By Liz Comninellis
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Liz is one of the new additions to our piano faculty at Orpheus this year.  She is a singer, piano, and composer and now pursuing a doctoral degree in music composition at The University of Texas at Austin.  Liz has maintained an active teaching studio for over eight years.  She shares about her inspiration becoming a professional musician and music teacher in the following article.
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​I have been blessed in my life by the investment of many great teachers.  These men and women, knowingly and unknowingly, formally and informally, have served to craft me into the unique person I am today.  I am humbled by the hundreds of patient hours my teachers have endured with me.

One teacher, Rika, especially stands out as the inspiration for my own desire to pursue music education as a career.  Her excellence as a musician and teacher, as well as her constant encouragement is the very reason I thought myself capable enough to pursue music professionally.

I am appreciative of the fact that being a teacher is an enormous and wonderful responsibility.  As a teacher, I believe I must never stop learning.  This desire for excellence is one I saw without fail in Rika.  During my long study with her I was constantly amazed by her intelligence and skill.  If she did not immediately have an answer to a particular question, whether musical, technical, historical, etc., she would have an answer for me by the next lesson.  Her organization and pedagogical expertise I still find astounding.

It is similar commitment to excellence that attracted me to the Orpheus Academy.  I am so honored to be a part of this community.  It is an excellent place for musical development and encouragement, not just of students, but of teachers as well.  The commitment to furthering students’ joy of music is apparent in the daily activity of the school, even simply in the faces of smiling students in the lobby awaiting their lessons.

My desire moving forward is to continue growing as a musician and teacher, so that I can benefit my students in the way my teachers, Rika especially, have benefitted me.    I am excited for the opportunities I have to teach and to learn from my new colleagues at the Orpheus Academy, all of whom I greatly respect and admire.

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