Learning is a Mystery

I really wanted to entitle this entry "I Don't Believe In Learning," but thought that would make everyone hot under the collar.

And it's not true.  But ... it's kind of true.  I teach.  Four days a week, minimum, I do it.  Recently, I have been despairing that no matter what I do, no matter what they do, nobody can ever get better. 

BUT.  They do.  I do.  I mean, I'm better now that I was a year ago.  And so are they. 

But you NEVER see it happening!  I can practice double tonguing until the cows come home, but I don't get better. But then, two weeks later, I'm better.  And I can work with sight reading with my students week after week after depressing week, and they never learn anything.  But then, a month later, they do it better. 

How is this possible?  It's like... I have no idea, actually.  Sometimes I wonder if it's just time passing.  That time itself makes it happen. 

And I know I know I know that's not true.  How is it that I can hold both thoughts in my head simultaneously?  I get some kid coming in, worried because she has a concert on SATURDAY and she needs to learn this one solo in that piece NOW!  And I mentally shake my head. 

My brain whispers, "Dude.  There's no way.  It doesn't work like that.  If you don't know it now, nothing will get it learned by Saturday.  For.Get. It."  Yet I work with the student.  They figure out rhythms.  Fingerings.  Slurs and breaths.  Dynamics.  And then on Saturday night, I get a text "HEY K8! IT WAS AMAZING! YAAAAY!"
(They like all-caps.)

I guess they did learn something.  But  I didn't see it happen.