Birthday Parties!

A few weeks ago, one of my students asked me to pray for his mom. She was in the hospital. I have three from their family in my different bands. The next day, on the announcements I read that this little boy's birthday was that day. Now, at my school, it is a huge deal for the elementary kids to bring in treats for their classmates and teachers on their birthday. He didn't have anything that day, and I knew it was going to be at least a few days before his mom was back from the hospital. I ran out during my lunch to get some cupcakes for a celebration during our band class. We surprised this little boy with a party! When we started singing, he had to turn away because he had tears in his eyes! I heard one of his friends say, "See, you did get a birthday." It was one of those touching teaching moments that I won't soon forget! For me, teaching is more about caring about that students than anything else. The students whom I have had the opportunity to show how much I care about them are the ones who work the hardest in my classes. They show me the most respect and end up to be the core of my band! The more I can encourage and show love to these kids, the more I can truly impact their lives!

Brain Damage?

I have always wondered about percussionists. They seem to be a little less interested in listening and and little more interested in hitting things! Sometimes, when I am in front of one of my bands, I can actually watch what goes on in the back of my classroom. Much of the time, even if they are quiet, there is very little listening going on! Today in 6th grade band, I was showing the percussionists their newest rudiment they need to know. I noticed some of them were really struggling with their left hands. I asked, "How many of you are right-handed?" One student acted shocked that I would ask such a question. I asked him what was wrong. He said, "Did you just ask us how many of us were brain damaged?" I think we need to do a listening exercise next time!!

Drumline

Kingsway will soon experience their very first drumline! I cannot wait to perform this piece. My percussion section has been working independently on this for the last few weeks. The piece, "I Played My Best For Him," is great and my group loves it! It goes along with the Middle School Choir singing "The Little Drummer Boy." I've been sending the percussion section into my office to work to see how they do with the piece. Today, I worked with them for the first time as a group on this number. Wow! I have some talented kids! One of them took it home and learned it all! He then taught two others in the group their part! Now he's working with another one. He knows all of the parts well enough to teach the whole song! I am so impressed! Students like this make my teaching so much easier!

Kingsway

I teach at a small Christian school in Orrville, Ohio. I love it! I have 4th -12th grade instrumental music and typing. I have five bands (4th, 5th, 6th, Junior High, and High School) and two string groups. The program was very small when I started. It was a hard first 2 years, just because of the size of the groups. I was always rewriting the music to make it fit our instrumentation. This year, my High School band doubled in size. It was a huge encouragement to me and the band members. It also saves me time since I don't have to rewrite very much anymore.

I really love what I do. I can't imagine enjoying anything else as much as I love teaching! I feel like I get to create all day long. Musical "art" is so unique. It depends on so many factors, especially when working with adolescents! All day long, I spend time helping them create sound together. Sometimes, it is beautiful. Other times, we finish a song and just laugh at at how horrible it sounded! My job is to picture what I want to hear and try to explain that through the movement of my hands. I'm still learning. (If anyone knows how to make a percussionist play quietly, let me know) The more I learn, the more I enjoy my classes. Most days, I come home knowing I am in the perfect career!

Music to My Ears

I just love 4th grade band! As they walk in the room, they fill it immediately with their enthusiasm. Today's class had 3 violins, 6 flutes, 2 clarinets, 4 trumpets, 1 trombone, 1 baritone, 2 saxophones, and 4 percussionists. There was a lot of energy in that room!!
We began by reviewing what we have learned so far this year. That includes getting the instrument out, putting it together, and making some kind of sound on their instrument. We were ready for the next step...playing a note. I walked around the room and began to show the different instruments their fingerings. I have to make this trip around the room several times because by the time I get around, someone has forgotten what I told them the first time!
We are ready. I count, "One, two, ready, play." And we're off. The year (and the careers of these young musicians) has begun.
The sound that follows my count is one of the most unique sounds in the world. It could be described in many ways. The ones I hear most frequently are: car horn, train whistle, something collapsing, or even total and complete chaos! If you listen really closely, there is usually one predominate note. In this case, that note was a 'd'. Only about %30 of the band was actually playing, but there was energy in that sound!
I love that sound. I love hearing that awful noise. It reminds me of how bad last year's first day of band was and, even more importantly, how far they have come. My fifth graders can play a 64 measure piece. It has 8 different notes. They play their instruments and count their rests. They get a decent sound and still have some enthusiasm left over from last year! But one year ago, a very similar sound came from room 125. One year ago, that 'd' (or car horn) rang out. Next year, it'll happen again and I'm sure I'll think the same thing: I love the fourth grade band!!

Expect the Unexpected

It has been a long time since I posted last. I just rejoined the world of the internet!! I am now beginning my 3rd year of teaching. (The last time I posted was during my student teaching).
I love teaching. There is nothing I would rather do with my life! I love the students. Outgoing, shy, intelligent, studious, talented, funny...I could go on and on.
I love not knowing what is going to happen in my classroom at any given time. For example: Last week, one student pulled out these funny-looking glasses in the middle of class and began to act out this dramatic scene (he's a percussionist, in case anyone was wondering). I felt like I had totally lost control of my class. We were all laughing...myself included! This is not something that happens frequently in my classroom. I decided to take a minute and just laugh. It seemed better than to threaten detention for any and all who chose to continue the disruptive behavior. It ended up being the best band rehearsal we have had so far this year! We were all really enjoying it! I later told this particular student (I'll call him Andrew, since I am sure that is not the last time he will be mentioned on this blog!) not to bring his glasses to class. He smiled and said "OK. I just wanted to see what you would do." I love how my students continue to test me. Last year, Andrew came in and serenaded us with songs he made up on the spot for and his classmates and me, hid inside the percussion cabinet, and started the "Aflac" comment after the oboe (and anyone who sounded like a duck when playing) finished a section. He makes things interesting and always adventureous! Adventure - One more perk of being a teacher!