Reasons To Teach

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Thinking of going into teaching?  Here are a few emails I’ve received that may just inspire you to go for it.  There is no greater feeling than being told by a person you respect that you made a difference in their lives.  Thank you to all my former students who take time out of their busy and productive lives to check in with me and stay connected.
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“Hey there Mr. C…  How are you doing? I hope all is going well with you and Dr. Noize, just wanted to shoot you an email to see how things are going. I am currently in Botswana running an HIV/AIDS project for the next year. You cross my mind sometimes and I just wanted to let you know that you are a really awesome guy and you were a really amazing and inspiring teacher. Hope your family is doing great!  Take care.”

Katy Digovich
Princeton student, voice of Sidney The Beak on the Dr. Noize recordings & wonderful person

“I miss you so much. Your passion has always been an inspiration in my life and I always get teary-eyed when I talk about my high school experience with Pinewood Singers and how amazing you were as a role model. You started something new at Pinewood, touched so many lives, and broke some records with them and that is something I constantly try to do now that you have shown me that it is possible.”

Nana Kanzaveli
UC Irvine graduate & wonderful person (I miss her too)

“I just spent 5 years at college studying music history and theory that you managed to teach me in just a couple semesters back in junior high… I don’t know if that says more about you, or less about (my college), but one way or another, I don’t think that I so much as encountered one name, piece or music characteristic in college that I was not already familiar with.”

Nathaniel Mela
Graduate of an anonymous college, drummer & cool guy

“I just wanted to give you a shout out.  I often think of all the awesome times I had with you and everyone else involved in SWARM.  Looking back I have realized that SWARM constitutes the majority of my fondest memories from high school. “         

Marc Cavigli
Songwriter & one of the funniest guys I ever taught

“I was reminded of you this past February when we (the Mount Holyoke College Glee Club) were singing Mozart’s Requiem with the Virginia Glee Club. I recall sitting in the Pinewood theater during my freshman year of high school and listening to the Pinewood Singers perform Mozart’s “Dies Irae”. I thought it was one of the coolest pieces ever, so I was thrilled to be able to do the full requiem (with professional orchestra and soloists) at Mount Holyoke!  Scary fact: I’ll be graduating in May (AAAAHHHHHH!!!), and driving back to the Bay Area this summer. I am looking into quality choirs to audition for (I definitely want to keep music and singing as an integral part of my life).  Also, I’ve told some of my fellow college buddies about your Beethoven disco song and dance performance.They were very impressed and quite jealous of my rockin’ high school music experience.  Best wishes and “Rock Me Amadeus”! 

Courtney Duhring
Awesome singer, even awesomer human being