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Landing on my Feet: Teaching and Learning During a Career in Education
James Kleiner
Reviewed by: Susan Brown, Hollywood Book Reviews
“To teach is to touch a life forever.” This quote, although anonymous, is so appropriate to this account of the author’s life because it represents the heart and soul of Mr. Kleiner’s nostalgic narrative of his lifelong role as a music teacher. Throughout his career, which spanned decades, he not only inspired thousands of young people to reach their full potential as musicians, but also encouraged an appreciation of music in many, many other students.
The author’s affinity for music began at an early age when as a third grader he “received the highest score on the music aptitude test” at his elementary school. That was the start of a passion that would sustain him both professionally, and personally, for the next 33 years as an educator in Connecticut’s public school system.
Throughout this story, Mr. Kleiner pays tribute to the many colleagues, co-workers and, yes, students, who played a part in the successful music programs he organized and managed. He acknowledges, “Helping guide these youngsters was a passion of mine from day one of my career. As the saying goes, ‘This is why we teach.’” Although his teaching journey was not without challenges, including job changes and even a period of time not as an educator, the pull of interacting with one ”… enthusiastic kid who was on the right road in life…,” helped him recognize “for a teacher, it doesn’t get any better.”
I enjoyed the writing method the author utilized, interspersing details of his childhood, college experience and first teaching assignments with a comprehensive chronicle of his years in the various schools in which he taught. He identifies the chapters as Recollections and they provide insight to his developing teaching style and understanding, with the help of his students, of what defines a great teacher. He notes, “I realized that a teacher never stops being a learner as well.”
The author toots the proverbial French horn for the immense importance of music education as part of a school curriculum. A commitment to mastering an instrument brings with it discipline, perseverance; it builds confidence and a sense of achievement and for those in an orchestra it teaches teamwork. For those of us with an appreciation but no aptitude for music, we are assured that if nothing else, the relaxing benefits of listening to music adds harmony to one’s life.
The last pages of the book offer suggestions on what to do to have a successful career in music education, a bibliography of books relevant to teaching and a gallery of photos representative of the author’s long-term career.
Gratitude and generosity is the overarching theme of this memoir. Mr. Kleiner is a man who loved what he did and, more importantly, was loved by those for whom he did it. He, for almost four decades, was an everyday hero. This book celebrates his very accomplished career. Landing on my Feet: Teaching and Learning During a Career in Education is an incredible story that holds a tremendous amount of wisdom within its pages.
