Well here it is the middle of July, or almost middle, and the school supplies are in the stores and the ads are beginning to hit. Geesh I hate this time of year. I won't mind it when school actually starts but mentally I'm not ready to start "thinking" about going back to school yet.
Granted I don't totally shut school out of my head once that bell rings in mid June, but I certainly don't concentrate on preparations that need to be made and things that have to be done.
Part of the dilemma is that I'm still looking for administrative work. I have three applications that are still out there, with another position opening up this week. So my mind is playing the "what if" games and driving myself crazy. I just need to not worry about things, what will be will be.
Soon I'll start listening to "new" music for the upcoming year, heck if I'm really bored I might just stop into the high school and steal my mail and toss most of it away. Oh boy!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Summer Break Has Begun
Yes, at last! Summer break is here. Don't get me wrong, I love my students and most of my job, but let's face it, school is tough! If not for handling the barrage of minute problems through into the fire by students, their parents, the administrators, and just the endless paperwork, school would be easy; especially teaching choir.
Things get to move at my pace now; or at least at the pace my family lets me set. I completely a book on Michigan's involvement in the Civil War, and I'm about half way through a book on Cadillac's settling of Detroit. Not too bad for someone who doesn't really care for history, but I'm really learning to appreciate some Michigan history.
I'm going to listen to new music this summer, and hopefully stay ahead of things again next year at school. I'm hopeful, not optomistic just hopeful, that we'll have a contract by the fall and perhaps a small raise. It's been at least five years since the last raise and the budget at home is getting tighter and tighter, just like the rest of Michigan.
Our oldest daughter is going to be married next year; a year from today as a matter of fact. Hopefully the time will go by relatively smoothly, not too fast or too slowly. Our middle daughter is expecting a baby (boy) in early September, so that will be a different change for this year. Our son is engaged and we believe is expecting his first child before the end of the year. 2009 has been quite the ride!
Hopefully more news to follow soon!
Things get to move at my pace now; or at least at the pace my family lets me set. I completely a book on Michigan's involvement in the Civil War, and I'm about half way through a book on Cadillac's settling of Detroit. Not too bad for someone who doesn't really care for history, but I'm really learning to appreciate some Michigan history.
I'm going to listen to new music this summer, and hopefully stay ahead of things again next year at school. I'm hopeful, not optomistic just hopeful, that we'll have a contract by the fall and perhaps a small raise. It's been at least five years since the last raise and the budget at home is getting tighter and tighter, just like the rest of Michigan.
Our oldest daughter is going to be married next year; a year from today as a matter of fact. Hopefully the time will go by relatively smoothly, not too fast or too slowly. Our middle daughter is expecting a baby (boy) in early September, so that will be a different change for this year. Our son is engaged and we believe is expecting his first child before the end of the year. 2009 has been quite the ride!
Hopefully more news to follow soon!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Student Honors
Every spring our high school hosts an Honors Convocation to honor the graduating seniors; listing their accomplishments, academics and scholarships, plus plans for the future. Each department may award a student or two for a variety of criteria. In the past I usually ask the students in my advanced choir for their input on whom to select. They know up front that I hold 100% of the decision, but I do appreciate their candor on the seniors in the choirs. Sometimes they recognize things, deeds, and even people, that I may have simply overlooked or taken for granted.
This year I had someone in mind when I handed out the ballots, and true to form the students agreed with my choice: Brianna Peruski. Brianna is not one of the flashy seniors who hogs the spot light at every chance, but rather is a strong leader by her actions and her words. She questions others as well as herself and shows that many times the answer to a problem is the simple, and obvious choice that lies right under our noses.
Brianna has been in my choirs since middle school and has been a strong alto, who does all the right things at all the right times. She has matured into a lovely young woman who knows her limits and isn't afraid to show her true emotions: good, bad or otherwise. She is far from a drama queen, although she continues to shine on our stage in straight shows and musicals. This spring she entertained and stabilized our production of "Bye Bye Birdie" playing the role of Rose Alvarez, Albert Peterson's secretary. Just remember, "Spanish is not a religion!"
I know that whereever Brianna ends up she will be successful and entertaining; a true leader amongst us all!
This year I had someone in mind when I handed out the ballots, and true to form the students agreed with my choice: Brianna Peruski. Brianna is not one of the flashy seniors who hogs the spot light at every chance, but rather is a strong leader by her actions and her words. She questions others as well as herself and shows that many times the answer to a problem is the simple, and obvious choice that lies right under our noses.
Brianna has been in my choirs since middle school and has been a strong alto, who does all the right things at all the right times. She has matured into a lovely young woman who knows her limits and isn't afraid to show her true emotions: good, bad or otherwise. She is far from a drama queen, although she continues to shine on our stage in straight shows and musicals. This spring she entertained and stabilized our production of "Bye Bye Birdie" playing the role of Rose Alvarez, Albert Peterson's secretary. Just remember, "Spanish is not a religion!"
I know that whereever Brianna ends up she will be successful and entertaining; a true leader amongst us all!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Choral Festival
We're heading into that season known as March Madness. For most people it refers to the basketball teams as they head into their tournaments and prepare to close out their season, hopefully with some playoff games, and perhaps a title and trophy.
For musicians March Madness means choir festival season. I find the preparations to be exciting, perhaps where I do my best work. It's fun to have a nicely trained group ready their selections and practice sight reading. The challenges come along when you plan to take the "less than experienced" choir into festival. For many students this is their first time at festival, so they don't really appreciate the specifics of the preparation process until they've actually gone through the festival.
Some years it is more of a chore than others. This school year my advanced students are doing well, musically and theory-wise. My concert choir has both of their songs prepared nicely (which scares me a little bit since the competition is still more than three weeks ago). Their sight-reading is improving steadily. For the most part their attitudes and efforts are also where I'd like them to be. Hopefully this will continue and they will peak just at the right moment. It would be interesting to find out exactly how many of them took the sight reading home to practice over mid-winter break. I'd like to think 80%, but we'll see.
For musicians March Madness means choir festival season. I find the preparations to be exciting, perhaps where I do my best work. It's fun to have a nicely trained group ready their selections and practice sight reading. The challenges come along when you plan to take the "less than experienced" choir into festival. For many students this is their first time at festival, so they don't really appreciate the specifics of the preparation process until they've actually gone through the festival.
Some years it is more of a chore than others. This school year my advanced students are doing well, musically and theory-wise. My concert choir has both of their songs prepared nicely (which scares me a little bit since the competition is still more than three weeks ago). Their sight-reading is improving steadily. For the most part their attitudes and efforts are also where I'd like them to be. Hopefully this will continue and they will peak just at the right moment. It would be interesting to find out exactly how many of them took the sight reading home to practice over mid-winter break. I'd like to think 80%, but we'll see.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A Sunrise Kyrie
There are few things more beautiful than a sunrise or sunset. This one comes with a Kyrie attached. Enjoy!
Monday, January 19, 2009
23 Things Update
One of the tasks from the 23 Things adventure was networking on sites like Facebook. I've enjoyed the site and have made many connections with current students, colleagues and friends.
More importantly it has allowed me to connect with people whom I'd lost contact with over the years. I recently found one of my best friends from junior high (yes it was junior high back then, and not this modern "middle school"). Over the past week we've worked on catching up with each other and will continue to renew our past friendship.
Let's hear it for Facebook!
More importantly it has allowed me to connect with people whom I'd lost contact with over the years. I recently found one of my best friends from junior high (yes it was junior high back then, and not this modern "middle school"). Over the past week we've worked on catching up with each other and will continue to renew our past friendship.
Let's hear it for Facebook!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Microsoft SongSmith Program
Well it looks like all of the world's composers with now soon be out of a job.
Check out this video!
Check out this video!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Semester Exams, Solo & Ensemble, and New Music
Howdy,
This is just some ramblings about this time of year. The end of the first semester is coming soon. That means writing choir exams, figuring grades and most importantly, that the school year is HALF OVER!!!! Yes, it's downhill from here folks! The nice thing is that the schedule is different, not the same old routine, which makes it a bit easier to deal with.
Secondly, exams break up the flow we were trying to achieve in rehearsals preparing for district solo & ensemble festival. Our is 2 weeks earlier this year, and I feel a bit more of the pressure. On top of this there are more entries this year, not really a bad thing, but it's work to try and help everyone be ready to do their best. I'm sure everyone will do just fine.
The time of year that follows Christmas break is the time to dig out some new music for the choirs, especially the ones that may not be going to festival; groups like the middle school kids, and beginning high school choirs. Of course trying to find just the right choral festival piece is a challenge too, it usually means concentrating on just two pieces for awhile instead of finding the five or six needed for the next performance. Having four performing groups means a LOT of music to sort through and pick out, and begin rehearsing.
We've been watching The Phantom of the Opera in 8th grade choir. We watch the original, silent movie version, followed by the 2004 musical version. We'll pick up the medley afterwards and prepare that selection for a March concert. I'm hopeful that by watching the movies it will bring more meaning to the rehearsal process for the kids.
Right now I'm hoping that we have no school tomorrow, due to the cold, below 0 windchill factor. I could use some extra sleep!
This is just some ramblings about this time of year. The end of the first semester is coming soon. That means writing choir exams, figuring grades and most importantly, that the school year is HALF OVER!!!! Yes, it's downhill from here folks! The nice thing is that the schedule is different, not the same old routine, which makes it a bit easier to deal with.
Secondly, exams break up the flow we were trying to achieve in rehearsals preparing for district solo & ensemble festival. Our is 2 weeks earlier this year, and I feel a bit more of the pressure. On top of this there are more entries this year, not really a bad thing, but it's work to try and help everyone be ready to do their best. I'm sure everyone will do just fine.
The time of year that follows Christmas break is the time to dig out some new music for the choirs, especially the ones that may not be going to festival; groups like the middle school kids, and beginning high school choirs. Of course trying to find just the right choral festival piece is a challenge too, it usually means concentrating on just two pieces for awhile instead of finding the five or six needed for the next performance. Having four performing groups means a LOT of music to sort through and pick out, and begin rehearsing.
We've been watching The Phantom of the Opera in 8th grade choir. We watch the original, silent movie version, followed by the 2004 musical version. We'll pick up the medley afterwards and prepare that selection for a March concert. I'm hopeful that by watching the movies it will bring more meaning to the rehearsal process for the kids.
Right now I'm hoping that we have no school tomorrow, due to the cold, below 0 windchill factor. I could use some extra sleep!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Musical Youth International (MYI) Update
I've written earlier about my travels with MYI, and how there is a group on Facebook for the group's alums. I'm thrilled to see that the group membership is up to 25 people and we're starting to post photos and other articles. Hopefully if we keep putting things out into cyberspace more alums will find it and contribute.
And even worser?
Before I begin...yes, I know "worser" is NOT a word.
After my school injuries and cars incidents I began to think that it just "has to" get better. Well you know how the karma goes...don't mess with it.
Beginning New Year's Eve day I began coming down with diverticulitis, and by New Year's Day I had it BIG time. I really didn't get much relief until Saturday, and the stomach is still a bit sensitive, so I'm watching what I'm eating.
One really nice bright spot for the beginning of 2009...I did manage to get to see & hear Mustard's Retreat perform on Jan. 2, 2009 at the new theater in Canton. The venue still "smells" of newness, in a good way. The performance was in the Biltmore Room and is really quite small, and somewhat fancy for a folk duo. I'm not complaining. Afterall I got to sit right in front & center, within spittin' distance. Great music and such a soothing way to begin the year. I believe they'll be performing with the Yellow Room Gang on Friday, January 16, 2009 at The Ark in Ann Arbor. I can't wait.
After my school injuries and cars incidents I began to think that it just "has to" get better. Well you know how the karma goes...don't mess with it.
Beginning New Year's Eve day I began coming down with diverticulitis, and by New Year's Day I had it BIG time. I really didn't get much relief until Saturday, and the stomach is still a bit sensitive, so I'm watching what I'm eating.
One really nice bright spot for the beginning of 2009...I did manage to get to see & hear Mustard's Retreat perform on Jan. 2, 2009 at the new theater in Canton. The venue still "smells" of newness, in a good way. The performance was in the Biltmore Room and is really quite small, and somewhat fancy for a folk duo. I'm not complaining. Afterall I got to sit right in front & center, within spittin' distance. Great music and such a soothing way to begin the year. I believe they'll be performing with the Yellow Room Gang on Friday, January 16, 2009 at The Ark in Ann Arbor. I can't wait.
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