a new leaf

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Friday, January 12, 2007

12:29AM - new leaf

this journal is turning over a new leaf...it used to be for reflection...a forced reflection during my student teaching experiences.

well, those days are long gone...i have a job and i'm tired. I like it, don't get me wrong...but i'm bored and tired of feeling like i'm never doing enough. If it wouldn't kill me, i might be able to work hard enough to convince myself that I am a good music teacher...

I need to go on holiday...a long holiday. Or maybe i'm just overly tired and need to sleep. Things always feel and look different in the morning.

...till then...

Current mood: blah

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Tuesday, January 24, 2006

5:31PM - The Ceiling

The things that you find above ceiling tiles have always amused me. Freshman year, I put some action figures in the ceiling of my closet. I don't know why I did that, and I don't know if anyone ever found them. Then there is the whole Oreo incident in the corner room of 3rd East...which is connected to a prior ceiling incident too controversial to divulge in writing here.

I now have a new ceiling tale to add to the vault:
It was time for Concert Band rehearsal and a poor little freshman boy could not find his trombone. We were looking everywhere, for "In thirteen years, no instruments have been stolen from this instrument room!" We had looked almost everywhere when someone finally looked up. There it was, in its blue case, peeking out from above the deteriorating ceiling tiles. NOTE: these ceiling are high...probably 10 feet. Anyway, I piled two sax cases on top of a chair, climbed onto them, and maneuvered this trombone out from the ceiling. After much wrenching, it was free...the only casualty being my eye, thanks to little chunks of ceiling embedding themselves in meine Augen (my eyes).

In other news, I discovered that one of my semi-cooperating teachers knows both my clarinet teacher and band director...Man Alive! But, I really am going to enjoy working with these two crazy men. The kids love them, which has to mean something. They both care a great deal about what they do, which does mean something!

I "developed many student relationships" today. I taught a couple lessons, conducted, and got a really cool comment from a student. She said, "Most of our student teachers seem pretty nervous. You didn't seem nervous at all." I told her that I'm really not nervous, I'm more just trying to fit in, get with the groove, and not be the outsider anymore. Those are the things that bug me. Not the conducting or teaching...I can handle those, and am improving daily.

Today also revealed the true dynamics between and within the high school and middle school music programs...more on that soon.

I'm off to get pizza.

ps. In honor of my friends who may be reading this against their will...here is a photo to make you smile...

Current mood: satisfied

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Monday, January 23, 2006

5:07PM - There'll never be another first day of this...EVER!

The best thing about today, is that it is almost over. Don't get me wrong, it went well and all. I had fun...but I'm tired. Starting tomorrow I will be getting up at 5:30am to leave by 6:25am to arrive by 7am. I'm really going to have to start getting some sleep.

I'll write more on this later...

Current mood: cold

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Thursday, January 19, 2006

4:22PM - First Impressions

Well, I've only just now returned from my first meeting of cooperating teachers and students at what is to be my school for the next nine weeks. It went rather well. Everyone was very nice, I had a tour of the school and band room, and was able to discuss the craziest Starbucks drink I have ever made, with the students.
I had a very intense conversation with the director, my cooperating teacher, about his, and the department's, philosophy of music education. It was very interesting, and exciting, to hear someone stand by what they believe so much. He made sure to tell me that I am allowed to keep my own opinions and philosophy, but he wanted me to understand the methods behind the department.

Well, I'm off to work. I start conducting on Monday...I'm ready!
Before that, I have to survive playing Eb Clarinet all weekend.

Current mood: excited

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Tuesday, January 17, 2006