The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel strike a chord in me today. He said, “No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.” Our Lord’s words strike a harmonious chord!

I have had many piano teachers. Today, those piano teachers have influenced my life and helped me pursue wisdom in music. This blog is my first public writing honoring them. But before I share these thoughts, let me offer a few words from the scripture on the importance of learning. I also want to look at the word education and its hidden meaning.

Proverbs tells us beautiful things about the pursuit of learning. Proverbs tells us we must pursue wisdom and love her to gain insight (Proverbs 4:6-7). Proverbs exhort us to guard wisdom for she is our life (Proverbs 4:13). Proverbs instructs us that when we fear God, we gain wisdom and insight of God (Proverbs 9:10).

There are two angles from which we can view education. The word education might derive from the Latin educere, which means to bring out the potential and wisdom within people. Alternatively, the root word in Latin could be educare, which means to lead out to new learning horizons.

I pause today to think of those who brought out wisdom from within me. They led me to new horizons. I wish I had paused to capture a photo with these giants in the grind of life. Alas, all I have is the memory I cherish in my heart.

Ms. Jerri Witt. As a young teenager, I auditioned for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the early summer. I auditioned before the admissions panel of this prestigious music school. My grandmother accompanied me. The panel thought I was not ready to enter their school but wanted to give me the summer to see if I could improve. They invited me to study with Ms. Witt. They gave me three months to study with Ms. Witt before granting a second audition.

She had a beautiful home in San Francisco. Two concert-size Steinway pianos were next to a window facing the Pacific Ocean. I was observant when I first met her. She was on crutches and had braces on her legs. At every piano demonstration, she readjusted herself and placed herself on the piano bench. Looking back now, she knew how to draw music out of me. She was patient with me.

The most memorable moment was when she opened my mind to JS Bach and helped me understand themes, counterpoints, voicing, and music structure. Through her, I had my first experience at a Master Class, where students met for a whole day with her, and we all played a piece in front of each other, received feedback, and played the song again.

I am forever indebted to her for introducing me to the world of real classical music. After my second audition, I was admitted to the school and offered a few recitals.

At my first recital, my memory slipped, and I looked at her, not knowing what to do. I remember playing the passage twice until I broke through the memory gap. She helped me bounce back from that experience; I will never forget it.

Ms. Loida Tirtawanita. Ms. Loida took my skill set and grilled me in the later part of my high school career. She was strict and stern. Yet, reflecting, she invested so many hours in my development. Even after a triple bypass surgery, she continued to invest in me. She pushed my skill set even further and brought me to several piano competitions throughout my time with her. It was fitting that she spent so much time with me through Beethoven and other greats. My senior recital was my final project with her as I prepared for college. The farewell was bittersweet. And even at a young age, my heart felt such gratitude for her impact on my life. I realized I belonged to her last generation of students. She retired shortly after.

Dr. William Corrbet-Jones. In college, Bill opened my eyes to great detail in music. He focused on writing down all fingering on the score. His version of the music was filled with pencil markings of numbered fingering, marking sections of music with various colors. He was patient and kind to me. Whenever I did not deliver, he took another approach to move my heart to learn a piece again. He helped me understand that details and roadmaps help guide the heart to find expression in music.

I have reflected on significant giants in my life because of the Master’s words, “No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.”

I see now how my musical temperaments find their roots in these teachers. I am not a concert pianist. I have taken the wisdom from these teachers. I found its fruit in my ministry. As I continue my vocation, I hope to inspire some students to attain wisdom and love for life.