Lessons Learned From My Music Teacher Mom
They say a mother’s love is a bottomless well, and mine, a teacher by profession, ensured it overflowed with lessons that extended far beyond textbooks. Most kids dread seeing their parents at school, but for me, it was a badge of honor. My childhood wasn’t filled with the usual after-school soccer practices. Instead, the soundtrack of my life was a symphony of recorders, tambourines, and the occasional off-key rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” My mom wasn’t just a dispenser of bedtime stories. She was a maestro of melodies, an elementary music teacher whose classroom spilled over into the rhythm of our home.
Music Became My Playground
My house wasn’t just a place to live. It was a musical wonderland. Instruments became cherished toys, and the trumpet was my constant companion. My mother always required that my sister and I be studying an instrument at all times. Mom, our extremely patient instructor, always taught us the basics to every instrument we touched. She was a great teacher, transforming simple scales into playful adventures. Learning music wasn’t about perfection. It was about the joy of creating sounds, the thrill of discovery, and spending cherished quality time with my mom.
Life Lessons In A Four-Four Time
Music for us wasn’t just about notes and rhythms; it was a metaphor for life. Mom emphasized the importance of teamwork, demonstrated by the cohesion of different instruments coming together to create a harmonious whole. She taught me discipline and perseverance, the value of practice in perfecting a skill. Most importantly, she instilled in me the joy of expressing myself and of finding my own rhythm in the melody of life.
Sure, there were moments of frustration (the recorder squeaks still haunt my dreams). But the memories I cherish most are the impromptu living room concerts, the car rides filled with sing-alongs, and the sheer joy of creating music together. Having a music teacher for a mom wasn’t just about learning an instrument; it was about learning valuable life lessons wrapped in a melody that continues to guide me to this day.
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Girl Power! 5 Most Powerful Women In Las Vegas
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman
Mayor Carolyn Goodman has served as the Mayor of Las Vegas since 2011.
It goes without saying that Mayor Carolyn Goodman has made her mark on the city. After her husband Oscar met his term limit in 2011, the city decided they wanted the leadership of Carolyn who, in turn, has reached her term limit. She is the founder of highly regarded The Meadows School. Her hard work to try to bring professional sports to Las Vegas during her term has absolutely bore fruit. While many of the pro teams we associate with the city fall outside of her jurisdiction, there is no question that her full-throated support of the concept has helped make the valley the hotbed of professional sports that we see today.
Sandra Douglass Morgan, President Of Las Vegas Raiders
Sandra Douglass Morgan is only the third female ever to serve as an NFL team president.
Speaking of women and professional sports in Las Vegas, there are several to choose from. Las Vegas Aces A’ja Wilson and coach Becky Hammon would be amazing picks, but we gotta give the nod to Las Vegas Raiders president Sandra Douglass Morgan. She is the first ever Black woman, and Asian woman, to ever serve as president of an NFL franchise. Before taking the mantle at the head of the Silver & Black table, she served as an attorney for The Mirage, the city of North Las Vegas and headed the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Plus, she is Las Vegas born and raised!
Miriam Adelson
As one of the richest people on the planet, Miriam Adelson has made sure to affect change wherever she can for organizations and causes she cares about.
When you hear the last name Adelson, you are unquestionably thinking powerful. Miriam Adelson holds a lot of power as one of the richest people on the planet (ranked 42nd in the world from Bloomberg). Not only locally but internationally as well. She has used her fortune from ownership of Las Vegas Sands to gain favor in Washington DC, support her birthplace of Israel, and most recently buy the Dallas Mavericks from fellow billionaire Mark Cuban.
Restaurant Entrepreneur Elizabeth Blau
Elizabeth Blau has been one of the driving forces in revolutionizing Las Vegas dining.
If you have had a great meal in Las Vegas, chances are you’ve eaten at one of Elizabeth Blau’s restaurants. From Honey Salt to Buddy V’s Ristorante to the former (and very missed) Andiron in Downtown Summerlin, Elizabeth’s eye for culinary excellence has made her an international star. She helped bring Le Cirque to Bellagio, oversaw dining at the Wynn, and has several restaurants in Las Vegas, Vancouver BC and beyond. She has been a driving force from making Las Vegas the “cheap shrimp cocktail” place to one of the top dining destinations in the world.
