Effective Mentorship: Alum Josh Rodriguez at DOP

My name is Joshua Rodriguez, a Community MusicWorks alum and practice mentor at the Daily Orchestra Program. I remember my first day as a mentor at DOP. I was advised that I would be meeting with two violists and a violinist. Lisa and Adrienne did a great job preparing me  and the other mentors for what to expect and how to work with the students. It wasn’t my first time working with some of these students, but I still had feelings of nervousness and anxiety. All I could think of was, “Will these students take a liking to me being around and practicing?”

Those feelings of nervousness and anxiety were put to rest quickly. The students at DOP really are what made the experience so special. I really enjoyed practicing with them. Repeating a measure over for intonation, then maybe dynamics, and then for both was not only helpful but fun. I constantly thought of ways to make the practice fun, whether through games or structured break time. In many practice sessions I would also talk to students about what it means to play an instrument and how through practice we can better our talent. I’ve learned so much about what effective mentorship is like, the importance of relationships, and the bond music helps us create with others.

My experience at Daily Orchestra Program is one that I will never forget. I will recall the spirited energy which Lisa and Adrienne used to guide students through orchestra and their private lessons. I hope to have the same spirit in the future when teaching students how to play a musical instrument. So, did the students take a liking to me? I think the answer to that question is yes, and I certainly hope so. I know that I gained a liking towards them and the love they have for their instruments, music, and improv day. Yes, something I definitely learned is that you can’t forget improv day if you’re talking about DOP. It is their favorite day.