Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carolyn Iga. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Carolyn with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I have wondered where my bad behavior came from as a kid. My parents and grandparents lived seemingly very principled lives, teaching us a blend of ethics and personal preferences: not to lie, not to cheat, be kind and helpful to others, and clean our rooms.
My parents went a step further, teaching us about finances, politics, and helping those in need, while maintaining we also shouldn’t cuss, spit in public, or disobey them.
Although I was surrounded by ethical, good-behaving role models and teachers, I may have simply considered them irrelevant to my life. When I was about 8 years old I decided that the belligerent life was quite advantageous to me, as it made me feel powerful in my circle of shy kids. I learned that challenging the teachers in front of my friends gave me their respect and positive attention. I remember concluding that taking precious things from classmates were more “daring” and “endearing” than “wrong.” It seemed that during that year, a few different adults (my principle, my vice principle, the director of my after school program, etc.) confronted and disciplined me to no avail. It was not until I crossed Mr Kamaka that I started to reconsider my thinking.
Mr Kamaka was my very good natured, middle aged round-bellied, swimming teacher whom I enjoyed walking all over by challenging his every instruction to the class. The heckling got worse over the weeks, until Mr Kamaka finally drew the line. He told me and another kid to get out of the pool and meet him after class. I had not considered this scenario of being shamed in front of all of the parents and the crowd of observers around the swimming pool. I was immediately concerned at the endless possibilities of disciplines that he might choose to exercise: would he hit us? would he shame us further in public? would he throw us out of the class?
On the contrary, his course of action was so unexpected that it became etched in my memory, changing my behavior toward him forever. What Mr Kamaka did in his anger and frustration toward us, was take us to the concession stand where he asked us what we wanted for lunch. He proceeded to buy us our favorite meal while he explained how our actions made him feel as a teacher. He said what we did embarrassed him and made him wonder if he was a good teacher. In my 8-year-old mind, it was revolutionary to suppose that my little girl actions actually could have that effect on an adult. I learned that an adult was a person just like me.
This was my first lesson on empathy and it would create an “ethics” compartment in my brain that I could start to fill with actual experiences. It would take decades to mature to a point where it could become my life mission to love, care, and help people through ethical behavior, rather than cheat, steal, and tear down others to appear better than they are.
In running my music school these days, I orient my new hires by saying that, “Love and care for people and the process of growing in good communication, integrity, character, and respect are the ‘why’ behind why we do what we do.”
Our motto at Neighborhood Music is: “Experience the Excellence… Enjoy the Process.” In music, it is impossible not to pursue excellence. There is a certain precision required to play a piece the way it is intended to be played, and ‘excellence’ comes when one’s artistry enhances a piece of music. This kind of ‘artistry’ is built through one’s deep experience and personalization of the music.
“Enjoying the PROCESS” is the part of learning that not all of us get or appreciate. It is not until we start to value the road from point A to point B that we can start to develop character. A product-based society does not promote the value of “process” of how we get there, as long as we get there, and the temptation to cut corners in order to produce en masse always exists for those who don’t develop this kind of character. Our lofty goals of integrity, respectful living, and clear communication are only developed as a process of growing in character.
For me, doing business is about finding a way to serve the community while growing in character. It is about providing a learning environment where staff and students learn to grow into a people who live ethically, lovingly, and relating to others in a life-giving way.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Neighborhood Music School & Store has been in Arcadia since 2007 when I had the chance to realize my vision to create a place within the community where people could feel known and cared for, and where they could gain a solid musical education from a professional staff. I started with the motto, “Experience the Excellence” But added “Enjoy the Process” soon after to acknowledge the journey of our staff who believe the road excellence can and should also be enjoyable.
Excellence is a musician’s assumed goal. One cannot pursue music without striving after a desired sound or combination of pitches, rhythms, and expressions that as a musical piece, is assessed and appreciated by an audience. What is negotiable is the process to getting there. One can teeter daily between self-flagellation and self-aggrandizement, depending on what the competition is doing or what the critics are saying at any given point in time.
As a music school we could very easily feed into these harmful perspectives, but we believe that the process of seeking excellence does not have to go down this path. We therefore emphasize teaching styles and hire those who already value methods that are life-giving, communal, relational, and enjoyable.
Our kids rock band programs and private lessons are tangible ways we express our values.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Over the years, my most impactful mentors and teachers have left their mark on my life by exhibiting their care, vulnerability, and commitment to me. These contributions to my development have made me value these very attributes as I teach, run a business, and continue on my journey.
I admire and am grateful for the amazing and talented folks that fill this earth. It is clear that comparing our skills to other geniuses would be an endlessly frustrating losing battle. And yet my temptation in the past was to measure my worth against others’ skill sets and skill levels. After plugging away at skills that I deemed “good enough” or “sufficiently competent” to start serving the general public while building the capacity to care, be vulnerable, and commit to persons and situations have been a much better strategy than trying solely to develop a skill set to perfection, and definitely a much more fulfilling route.
My advice to my younger self and all those out there seeking fulfillment is to listen well, take relational risks, and enter into the other person’s point of view in order to broaden my perspective on what is helpful.
This is what my journey is about.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking for people and business owners who have the desire to collaborate on creating a vibrant and caring community. It doesn’t matter what field someone is in, what matters is alignment toward this common goal of caring and treating people with kindness.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.neighborhoodmusic.net
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/neighborhoodmusicarcadia
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/neighborhoodmusicarcadia
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOPlNn0hxl88Sobc-ypah1A
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/neighborhood-music-school-and-store-arcadia
