A Great Teacher

Weekly wisdom to level up your creative life in 3 minutes, for free.

A SHORT STORY

I’ve been lucky to have had such great teachers in my life.

Recently, I stumbled upon an email from my college voice teacher, Rocco Dal Vera, that floored me.

When I was in college, we all referred to Rocco as “God”. The reason being is that you could ask him any question and he always had the answer. He was effortlessly intelligent combined with a kindness and gentleness that was unparalleled.

Much like many of my professors in college, he was always one phone call or email away years after you graduated.

So, when my classmate Julianna and I were lost as we attempted to teach theater in the Dadaab Refugee Camp in 2011, naturally, we wrote Rocco for advice.

Looking back at the email, I stumbled upon some of the most profound teaching advice that I’ve ever received.

In his final paragraph, he told us, “…you shouldn't really try to teach them anything. Think of revealing and drawing out rather than teaching. See how little you can say and how much you can facilitate and get out of the way. When you disappear entirely you'll have accomplished an amazing thing.”

I never realized how much this has affected my teaching and artistic practice, and in particular, that fundamental insight of revealing rather than teaching.

Sadly, Rocco passed from brain cancer in 2017 having left this Earth way too soon. But, his words and spirit live on inside of me.

It’s a reminder that the best in us never die. When I’m no longer breathing, I hope there will be parts of me available to others the way Rocco’s spirit lives with me.

Who is one of your greatest teachers? How can you be more like them today?

A CREATIVE TOOL

Midjourney's first mobile app is officially out, and it's called "Niji Journey"

Midjourney has been an industry leader in generative AI, but largely inaccessible for a wider audience until now!

Want to start creating images from scratch? Download Niji today.

A PIECE OF ART

“Epitath” by Merrit Malloy

When I die
Give what’s left of me away
To children
And old men that wait to die.
And if you need to cry,
Cry for your brother
Walking the street beside you.
And when you need me,
Put your arms
Around anyone
And give them
What you need to give to me.

I want to leave you something,
Something better
Than words
Or sounds.

Look for me
In the people I’ve known
Or loved,
And if you cannot give me away,
At least let me live on in your eyes
And not on your mind.

You can love me most
By letting
Hands touch hands,
By letting
Bodies touch bodies,
And by letting go
Of children
That need to be free.

Love doesn’t die,
People do.
So, when all that’s left of me
Is love,
Give me away.

I’ll see you at home
In the earth.

Grateful,

Michael