Every year students in the Dana Rice Music Studio are encouraged to do something special for their school music teacher. Whenever I mention this to them their initial reaction is usually something like, “Why would I do that when I have you? YOU should be the music teacher of the year!” Wow. That really makes me feel good as a music teacher- especially since there are very few (if any) awards designed for private music teachers to receive public recognition for the work they do. However, I also want my students to make connections with what they are learning at school and what they do after school. It is these connections that will help deepen their learning and increase their levels of success. So, I remind them that I am not a SCHOOL music teacher and that there are many things their school music teacher shows them that helps with…