Student Note

Mr. Law,

It is an incredibly difficult task for me to convey through words just how much you have impacted my life.  You are one of the few people who have known me since I was a child and been there to see me grow into the person I am today. I am so immensely grateful to have worked with you for those 8 (if I can count right, and we know I sometimes I can't) years, not just because you are so clearly passionate and talented at the cello, but more importantly because you are incredibly kind. I know we talked a little bit about this but when I came back after my break in 7th grade, I had also quit piano and dance.  It was starting to become clear to me that I faced sensory challenges-those challenges were, and continue to be integral to my artistic endeavors-I think I am able to connect and attach to music and art in a deep way because of these struggles, and they equally make those forms strenuous to pursue.  But cello was the only one I came back to.  Even after countless meltdowns during virtual learning because soemthing didn't sound or feel right, even after I stepped away from the instrument, I came back and that was because of you.  Because even when I showed up having not touched the instrument since my last lesson you still treated me with kindness and engagement.  I used to be so stressed before evey lesson because of how little I prepared, but I always left lessons wondering why, because you left me with a renewed love for this instrument.  Your passion for the cello is contagious.  It was in our lessons where I learned how to challenge myslf. Where I learned to engage with art, in spite of my challenges, maybe even bacause of them, and where I first learned to overcome them.  Thank you for valuing connection over progress.  Thank you for providing a space where I could learn to wrangle my wildness.  With the tools I developed in our lessons, I am now able to do so much-to draw, to art, to write and direct plays, and to love playing the cello on my own terms.  It was our lessons that informed the way I worked with my own cello mentees throughout high school. When it came time to write my college essay, I immediately knew I would be writing about our lessons.  And now, as a too-old person starting college in less than 2 weeks, (AH!!) it has become a highlight of my week to play an instrument I now actually practice, and enjoy music with somebody so passionate about it, and to see how far I've come.  Thank you for being patient enough to watch me grow in my own time and thank you for being kind.