In grad school, I frequently wrote personal journal entries about my experiences with my voice teacher. I also began printing copies of our correspondence and putting them in what I called my "Glenda File". Yesterday, when I found out that she had died, for a second I thought that it was really time to close the Glenda Files. But then I realized that I will never be time to close the files. She will continue to be a presence in my life because of the things I learned from her. So today, The Glenda Files move to my blog. I won't be sharing previous entries, but I think it will be good for me to write about the things I have learned.
The Glenda Files: Online Edition--Entry 1.
Yesterday shortly after I heard the news, I was helping a student to find a new song. We were singing "Only Hope" and I got to the line that says, "At the top of my lungs I'm giving it back," and I had to fight back the tears. Everyday in my teaching, I am giving it back and paying it forward. Glenda lives on in every lesson that each of her students teach.
This was my Facebook post yesterday:
When I first started grad school, I would sit in the library and listen to classical singers while I did my homework. It was a great way to multi-task. But there was one singer whose performances drew me in so much that I stopped everything else to listen.
She was my teacher, my mentor, and my friend. I am a better singer, teacher, and person because of her influence. Glenda Maurice will be greatly missed.
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