Feelings

Just like my fellow blogger, Dana, said in her latest post (linked on the right!) - it's been a while since I've posted anything! I've been trying to hold out with a post until I heard back from the school district where I did a sample lesson so I could report in with a verdict.  However, I'm still waiting to hear back.  Last Wednesday when I did my sample lesson, my interviewer said that he would try let me know by the end of the week.  Naturally I sat glued to my phone from 9-4 Thursday and Friday waiting...and Monday and Tuesday and yesterday and today, but alas, no phone call.  Good things come to those who wait.

I feel like a lot of things are up in the air - not just because of the job situation but definitely not helped by the job sitch.  So many feelings! I feel like I should be doing more planning for my wedding and that it's not really planned at all (probably because it's not).  We're approaching the 1 year countdown and I'm itching to get into planning. I do like to plan things and make lists of things to do, so I'm looking forward to the details.  Also up in the air are my living situations in the future. I can't live with my parents forever, especially with the impending marriage! But I can't think about where I'll be living until I have a job.  Blerg. 

I'm heading up to my alma mater (now I kinda like saying that!) on Sunday to spend Monday - Friday playing in the band for the conducting symposium they hold each summer.  It's great to learn about conducting through observation.  Conducting is something that a music educator can always - and should always - work on for not only personal growth but for the betterment of the students.  Fringe benefits of the symposium include being able to spend time with some of my bestest friends from the school of music!  It's going to be bittersweet on the last day of symposium because I will be signing out, handing in my keys, and leaving my apartment for the last time.  In fact, I'll be the last one of my roomies to close the door on our home for the last 2 years.  As silly as it sounds, I feel like it's really the end once I can't say that 190-01 is my apartment anymore.  My roommate since freshmen year is still there so I'll be with her until Thursday when she leaves for good.  I know as of right now that I'll see my roomies in about a year at my wedding, but after that, I don't know when I'll see them again.  It's hard and I get all sad when I think about it (read as: I'm crying just thinking about it).  I feel like I'll be reliving the sadness I felt saying good bye to my roomies on graduation day and the day after except this time it'll just be me crying over a building. But let's be honest, that apartment was more than a building for the last 2 years. I think one thing that was holding me together after graduation was knowing that I'd be back the last week in June.  Even though I know 4 of my 5 roomies are in Colorado, Connecticut, North Dakota, and California (not in our apartment) I've been feeling like going back would make me with them. Okay I'm a kook and holding on to the past. I don't know. Just crazy feelings. But rest assured roomies, I'll be sure to leave our apartment with a smile and hope that the people who next inhabit it will be kind to it.

In other world news, I've been feeling really good about my playing lately! I'm playing in an orchestra for a summer concert that is on Saturday.  We've rehearsed the last two Wednesdays and it's been lots of fun.  I'm playing second to a lady who is getting her DMA in flute performance and it's a joy because we match so well! Our tones blend well and she plays in tune so it's very easy to sit next to her. The lady playing piccolo is getting her masters and she's great too. I'm glad I can carry my weight in the section and that they were impressed with my playing. Woo! 

Looking forward to:

• teaching my little flute student tomorrow for the first time in a while
• watching movies with my girls tonight and campfire tomorrow night (pending weather)
• seeing Matt tomorrow
• gig on Saturday
• going to campus on Sunday
• a phone call

Here Goes Nothing

I only know what I've been told
And I was told what others know
And others know what they were told
And they were told what others know - The Dear Hunter - "No God"

Since my last blog post, I received some good news!  I was called by the district next to mine for the second round of interviews, which is a sample lesson. Tomorrow is the big day - teaching 5th grade trumpets (they start band in 5th grade there) how to play dotted quarter notes.  I'm very excited because it's a great district, close to home, and they might hire me!

I'm constantly reminded that in music education, there are few new ideas.  I think the quote that I used in the opening of this post pretty well sums up what I mean.  In my first interview for this district, I talked about introducing students to band instruments by bringing them into the general music classes for the students to try.  Advantages: it's a smaller crowd to control, it's easier to sanitize the mouthpieces, there are two sets of adult ears and hands to help the kids try the instruments, etc. When I was talking to my parents about the interview after the fact, I said that I couldn't remember where I heard that idea and my mom reminded me that I heard it from her!  It was a great idea and it was well received by my interviewer.  It wasn't a new idea and I didn't come up with it myself, but at this point in my teaching career, all I really have to go on are the ideas of others and my brief elementary band experience during junior student teaching. 


So yeah, tomorrow is my interview.  I think I'm ready! I asked for the names of the students I will be teaching (a tip I picked up from my mom who picked it up from someone she interviewed once - see nothing new here) and made hanging name tags to put on the music stands.  That way, I can address the students by name and immediately have a connection with them.  I'm only a little nervous but I know that once I get going, the kids and I will all have fun and the nerves will go away.  I also wrote up a lesson plan and made it look all nicey nicey in case any of the people observing my lesson want to see it.  I practiced trumpet yesterday with my papa so I sort of have chops (well chops enough for 5th graders). I also made rhythm charts on pretty colors of construction paper to help explain counting the dotted quarters.  I found out from my interviewer that the students use the Kodaly counting system (ta, ti ti) in general music so I will use what the kids know instead of trying to get into the subdivisions right away. "You see, the dot is half the value of the note it's attached to...blah blah blah jargon jargon math math".  I only have a half an hour so I figure since it's an introductory lesson, I'll stick with what they know. Known to unknown. Holler Jerome Bruner!  


Also on the docket for tomorrow are a bike ride/jog/maybe both/maybe only one (pending this rain stopping) and an orchestra rehearsal.  I'm lucky to have 2 very athletic friends that are willing to run and bike with me.  I'm also lucky to have parents who are musicians and get me gigs! It's been forever since I've played in an orchestra so I'm really looking forward to the 2 rehearsals and a gig this month. 


Fingers crossed for my sample lesson in approximately 13 hours. Here goes nothing!

The Waiting Game

Brought to you from TX!

So I'm currently on vacation in Texas with two of my best friends! It's awesome.  Our condo/hotel room has a kitchen fully stocked with dishes, plates, utensils, pans, etc., a bedroom with a king size bed, a balcony overlooking the giant pool and Gulf of Mexico...yeah it's pretty darn cool. The only thing that's kind of weird is that while I'm trying to relax, part of me has a hard time not following a schedule.  As a music education student, my life has been scheduled very strictly (by both my own doing and the rigorous coursework of my...alma mater) for the last 4 years.  Now, not knowing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing when causes me a little anxiety.  Old habits die hard, I guess.  Regardless, I have to keep telling myself "HEY! YOU'RE ON VACATION!"

...

But wait. I'm not totally off duty. I'm waiting to hear back from two school districts as to the status of my application.  I had one interview in each of the districts but now I'm waiting to see if I have been selected to be a "finalist" for either/both districts.  As a "finalist" (a cool title if you ask me), I'll have to go in and teach a sample lesson to real students! No more "If this happens, what would you do?". It's all me showing my stuff.  I think that if I get called to do a sample lesson in either of the schools, it will be a strong point for me because I have always had good rapport with kids.  So while taking in the pool, Gulf of Mexico, and the relaxation that I hope to achieve, I will be awaiting the incoming call from somewhere east of me. 


Oh and one more thing, my loyal readers. Please check out the blog written by my wonderful friend Dana.  I neglected to include a link when I published my first post.  It's a great read, especially for people who are embarking on their "real life" in music education. Dana's blog!