What should I do with my teacher? 4.6 -> 7

[Phaboo]

Hello everyone.

I've been studying musical composition for many years at the conservatory. My first composition teacher, with whom I was really happy to study, had a stroke two years ago. He never recovered. I've been studying with a substitute (the person I am referring to I Ching) since, and I'm not happy with him to say the least.

I'm now in the process of changing teacher, I've been waiting for a month now. There is a new one which I know and like, he already agreed, but I should wait that he is officially hired to teach, and Italian bureaucracy is really slow even though we're on the second semester already. Circumstances are like 99% sure that he will be hired because he's in a really high position in the national rankings. My current teacher, on the other hand, ranks really low even though he's quite sure to stay, and that the rankings won't matter since he wrongly believes he's already hired. There are two chairs in the composition department, so chances are they will both teach, if he's lucky, but it's also possible that he will be replaced by someone else. The teacher with whom I want to study, asks me to wait to tell about my decision until it's official. But everyone knows that he will probably be hired, including my current teacher, and I'm dying to tell him.

Today, I had nausea followed by an anxiety attack while on class with him, and I shut down my computer (it was a remote lesson) and told that I was sick to be on class. I know it may sound silly but there are many reasons why I feel anxious with this teacher and the overall situation makes me feel worse because I hate that I can't tell him of my transferring.

There is also one important detail. In our conservatory a composition teacher also teaches other subjects (counterpoint and orchestration in my case). The teacher with whom I want to study suggested me to keep studying counterpoint and orchestration with the other teacher, because I'm not as much dissatisfied with him teaching those two subjects as much as I am with musical composition. But today I felt like I'm sick of having him as a teacher whatsoever. Hence the question.

 

[Willem D]

Hi Fabio,

The way I see it, is that the Yi advices you to choose what is best for you.

At this moment you don't know what to do, but you do know what you want.
It seems to me you are hesitant (maybe afraid?) to tell the teacher you don't like, the truth.
I believe the oracle is addressing that.

4.6 Legge translation: The sixth line, dynamic, shows one smiting the ignorant youth. But no advantage will come from doing him an injury. Advantage would come from warding off injury from him.

The way I see line 6 is that it is of no use to beat yourself up about your choice for the new teacher, but 'discipline' yourself/focus yourself (stand for what you want) (hex. 7) and do what needs to be done.

hex. 7 Legge translation: Discipline indicates that with firm correctness and a leader of age and experience, there will be good fortune and no error.

Hope this will help and good luck!

 

[moss elk]

a substitute, I'm not happy with him to say the least.

Frustrated, or angry even?

My current teacher, on the other hand, ranks really low

Do you kind of think he is dense, a dummy?

he wrongly believes (edit: he'll get the job)

He is out of touch? Clueless!?

if he's lucky,

Maybe he doesn't deserve his position?

Today, I had nausea followed by an anxiety attack while on class with him.

Strong feelings!

The teacher with whom I want to study suggested me to keep studying counterpoint and orchestration with the other teacher, because I'm not as much dissatisfied with him teaching those two subjects as much as I am with musical composition.

So, that works, no?

But today I felt like I'm sick of having him as a teacher whatsoever. Hence the question.

So, when I get 4.6, it's about when I'm feeling angry at dealing with an idiot.

Sound familiar?

Advice is: Get control of your anger, Don't slap, punch, kick, push, bite, spit, hit with or throw things at him.
Reserve that only for extreme crisis.

 

[Phaboo]

Thank you both for your answers, which gave me lots of insight. Something really unexpected happened today: the teacher that I was planning to study with sent me an email to tell me he refused the chair because of disagreements with the principal. He didn't get much into detail about it.

I believe 4.6 and your suggestions still apply though, maybe even more now that I should stay with the teacher that I don't like. In the moment where I asked I Ching I had strong feelings of rejection but now I see a little more clearly and I feel like it's not the end of the world to keep studying with him if I manage to point at the things where I don't agree with him, without fighting or getting overwhelmed by anxiety.

 

[Olga Super Star]

I think it was advising you not to make yourself an enemy in the eyes of this teacher, since he was going to remain your teacher.

So in a way it means to be nice and calm, and not get into arguments perhaps?

 

[dfreed]

Author Richard Rutt calls Hex. 4 "Dodder" which is a parasitic plant without leaves or roots, that attaches itself to and lives off of other plants. Line 4.6 reads, 'Knocking down dodder ... favorable against raiders'.

Look at this, in combination with the trigrams, I get the sense that you want things to 'flow' more smoothly (like a river), so you can more deeply engage with your studies. This teacher is stopping this.

Overall, I sense this situation is workable and can be resolved to your liking. I recommend a four-pronged approach:

* one, that for the time being, you find a way to continue your studies - regardless of whom the teacher is (and that you don't drive yourself crazy or get into trouble in the meantime);

* two, that this situation will require a lot patience on your part - and may take longer than you'd like to be resolved;

* three, that you seek practical ('down to earth') ways to deal with the situation: is there anyone with the school who can advise you (a neutral party, whom won't get you into trouble)? Do you have the support of any of the other teachers or students?

*And four, that you don't let your emotions (fear, anxiety, anger) overwhelm the situation so it becomes unworkable.

I hope that's of some use to you.

Best, D.