Glee Finale: Via a Vocal Music Teacher

*SPOILER ALERT*

Here are things that went through my brain as I watched the Glee finale tonight.  Because I judge anything musical related inadvertently.

• “I hate my kids, I would literally whip them if I could.”  ….yes, we’ve all thought it in different words.  But really?  Don’t say it outloud.

• Mr. Shu!!!!!  You left you show choir…with no chaperone….in a hotel room in NYC!?  WHAAT!?

• Oh…you left to sing?  That’s okay then :)

• Rachel….you RUINED the moment for Finn :(.

• It’s really ironic that Rachel is singing on the Wicked stage….and Idina Menzel plays her mom on the show.  Mind. Blown.

• I’ve heard that version of “Yeah” before…..oh yeah, UO Divisi did it in ‘05.  I’m such an acappella nerd.

• The amount of money one of these show choirs get is 20xs the amount of my entire budget for my 6-12 vocal program.  I’m not even kidding.  Look at those amazing costumes.

• Does anyone else notice that Rachel always turns her head to the right when she high belts?  Is she just always audiating to one side or something?

• Ps - I love the original song idea!

• “Was that scripted?” - HAHA <3

• Watching this set is just making my brain come up with ideas for next year’s show choir set.

• They didn’t PLACE!?!?!? What!?

Not saying I’m too surprised though.  I mean, they’ve been slowly “getting better” every season.  So, I guess we’ll have to wait till next year!

Why Music Teachers Should Bend Over Backwards for Sports

….I of course believe the opposite of this, but I figured I would get your attention.  Or at least the attention of music teachers like me who get fired up over the sports debate.  Now, If you live anywhere on the eastern half of the United States, you have probably been soaked by rain.  What does this have to do with teaching?  A lot.

Rain cancels spring sport games/meets.  Games get rescheduled all right in a row.  Games conflict with every other music activity possible, including show choir, jazz band, marching band, and especially Solofest.  Our NYSSMA Solofest (quick description: Student sings solo.  Student gets scored.  Students’ score ranks them the following year for area honors ensembles) is this weekend.  I’m still getting kids who say they can’t go which screws up my schedule, not to mention all the money the school is losing by them not going.

I’ve had numerous kids drop because of a softball game or track meet that got rescheduled for that day and I have heard what I hear everyday “If I don’t go, my coach is going to kill me.”  Now, our department has bent over every day for the athletics department.  It’s not an exaggeration.  EVERY day.  During the musical, we had to schedule our rehearsals around recreational league middle school basketball. IT’S A REC LEAGUE!!!  For MIDDLE school.  During my colorguard practices, one of the girls that’s on track said her coach said “Oh…is colorguard even a sport?  Why do you have to go”  Go on www.wgi.org and then tell me if it’s a sport or not.  I’d love to see you try to spin a flag or rifle without getting a bloody nose or breaking your wrist.  Oh and you have to do it while marching.

My first show choir concert (Ever.  This is the first year the kids have even had a show choir) was last month.  I never get to have a full show choir rehearsal because most of my students are in the same gym class.  The kids said that if they could come to rehearsal, they would even make up the class.  Just to get my kids for one period out of the entire year sounded like the end of the world to some people.  But yet, if kids have to leave early for a game, no big deal.

Now, this isn’t to say that all coaches and teachers are like this.  I played some sports in high school and I definitely understand the benefits to athletics.  I also believe that being well rounded and learning at a young age how to balance your schedule is a good skill to learn.  However, if we are bending over backwards consistently: letting kids out for games early, scheduling concerts around games, scheduling rehearsals around games and practices, and even spending extra after school time with sports kids who missed musical practices for a game, then shouldn’t we be given the same courtesy?

I read an article in February about a teacher in Minnesota who scheduled a show choir camp on what looked like a professional development day.  After getting a letter in her file and docked a half a personal day, she took it to the board.  She states her case beautifully and I can totally relate:

“I was never granted permission for any of my choral activities,” Przymus said. “It is an expectation in my job. This is a contract issue for me. It’s not me trying to get away from a PLC time. I’m doing this for the kids. They’re the facts.”

I know most teachers put in way more effort than their contract, but for the performing arts, it’s like that 10 fold.  Everything is an expectation in your job.  I am required to work my weekends at solo festivals, all countys, area all states, auditions, etc…yet they won’t even pay for my gas money.

My favorite part about this article is this:

Przymus appeared to feel targeted and sited two other teachers that apparently missed PLC time unnecessarily for practice time.

“There was no conflict for those students, it was just more convenient,” Przymus said. “They opted for that time of day.”

PRACTICE TIME!?!??!  Are you kidding me?  Now I’d love to here your thoughts about this article and my post.  Has anyone else seen the unbalanced between athletics and the arts?

Music Ed - The Hunt For Resource Sites

Let me rewind to August, as I was preparing for my first year of teaching.  Now, after I had calmed myself down and assured myself that “Yes, this is actually happening”, I decided to attempt to get my curriculum together.

Oh wait, there isn’t one.

If you teach general music like me (ESPECIALLY middle school), you’re told, “Here are some concepts you should maybe get to. Go for it.”  As a new teacher, I had no clue how to start.

As February break comes to a close for me, I figured I would post a couple resource sites I have found useful and maybe, just maybe, I could save some teachers and student teachers the trouble that I had (and still have).

NY Philharmonic Kids - Now, I grew up towards NYC, so I went to NY Phil concerts when I was younger.  I love this site for many reasons:

1. The site is very easy to use and kid friendly
2. I use the “Instrument Storage Room” A LOT.  The first unit in my 7th grade curriculum is all about instruments, so I use their explanations and audio clips a ton, including for the listening portions of exams.
3.  They also have a section on composers.
4. GAMES!
5. The “Instrument Laboratory” is something I’m going to try this half of the year…I’ll let you know how it works.  The kids get to make their own kind of silly instruments.

Music Tech Teacher - HUGE resource.  Like, this teacher has been a life saver for me.  In addition to quizzes and games, and worksheets, there are a ton of specific instrument midis on here.  This site is great for middle school, where the kids get bored quicker and are more apt to use technology.

Grooveshark - Now, most of probably know about this site already, as it isn’t a specific music ed resource.  I have a user name so that I can save playlists on my account.  Each class has a playlist.  For example, “7th Grade” has the “Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra” all ready to be played.  I also have playlists for Show Choir, my regular choruses, and my voice students.  You can also export playlists into cool little players you can put on your teacher website.

Susan Paradis Piano Teacher Resources - A friend posted this on Facebook, and I’ll used some of the staff templates, etc.  There are pdf files of:

• Flash Cards
• Theory Aids
• Picture Scales
• Rhythm PDFs
• Games, like “Note Bingo”
• Composing Activities

And a lot more!  This is geared more towards elementary general music, but you can get away with using some of these for middle school as well.

These are some of the resources I can think of right now.  I have more saved on my computer at school that I may be able to email to myself (since Tumblr is blocked).

Now, back to keeping track of the Yankees vs. Phillies game on ESPN.  First exhibition game of the season :)

1st Music Educator Conference..check!

Today was an important day for me.  It was important for many reasons, one being that I needed a day away from school for stress related reasons.  (2 concerts in a week and a half…whaaat?).  It was also important because it was my first time at the Winter NYSSMA Conference.

NYSSMA stands for New York State Schools Music Association with is a state unit of MENC, which stands for The National Association for Music Education.  Luckily for me, the conference is held in Rochester so I didn’t have to pay for a hotel, gas, and tolls across the state.

My friend Leanne, an elementary instrumental teacher, was my partner in crime for most of the day.  This is her second year teaching, so it was nice to have someone that knew the ropes but didn’t think I was stupid for not knowing what the heck was going on.  We went to some seminars together, some separate, saw some familiar faces, and learned some things and could have done without others.

Here’s the thing.  We can do all the movement activities and improvisational exercises we want, but if you don’t tell me how to specifically use this in a normal classroom setting, then none of this is going to work.  When you’re teaching to a bunch of music teachers, yes it sounds perfect and goes smoothly.  Some of the stuff I could never imagine trying with my middle schoolers.

However, there were many bright points to this conference.  Meeting other teachers from around the state who have the same problems as you (fighting for the arts, ehem) makes you feel like you’re not fighting this never ending battle by yourself.

I wish I would have joined the college branch of MENC while I was still in school because they get into the 3 days conference for $30!  Some of the seminars would have given me a great advantage before I went into student teaching.  I guess we’ll have to see what else I learn tomorrow as I continue through this conference.

One milestone down, 259385092830 to go! :)

Top 10 moments of a First Year Music Teacher..so far

Here we are.  Thanksgiving.  3 1/2 Months into the school year.  Where has the time gone?  And what the heck have I done these past couple months?  Let me give you a glimpse into the first days as a music teacher.  I’ll put my lovely moments into a top 10 format.  Because let’s face it, you’re going to scroll down to number 1 anyways.

10.  Being the slick first year teacher I am, I briefly got lost in the school building while walking from the high school office back to my classroom.  I stopped in the middle of the hallway, spun around, and changed directions.  I thought no one had seen it…until I heard one of my students from behind me going “Umm, Miss. R…..where were you going??”

9.  Parents/teachers coming into my room looking for the teacher.  No am I not a student.  You’re looking at her.

8.  First parent phone call home.  I felt like I was going to puke.  Good thing I got the answering machine.

7.  Realizing middle/high school general music is a big free for all.  No, I’m not talking about the classroom management.  The curriculum is a free for all.  It’s a double edge sword - I have free reign to teach anything I want  ……I have free reign to teach anything I want……

6.  Teaching my first in school voice lesson and getting results right off the bat.

5.  Teaching my first in school voice lesson, getting results right off the bat, and hearing “Singing feels so much better now.  I never thought I could do that.” Booyah :)

4.  Doubling the volume from my soprano section.  It’s a beautiful thing.

3.  Writing a referral for a student that grabbed my arm hard enough to bruise it.  We’re all good now, but the worst part was all the reports, meetings, and other stuff.  I’m glad the student and I are on good terms now.

2.  Getting pneumonia and bronchitis at the same time, only taking one day off, and then trying to teach like that.  I wouldn’t recommend it.

1.  Making my students better vocalists and musicians in 3 1/2 months.  The look on their faces after they finally get something makes me forget any bad thing that has happened that day.  It’s very cliche, but if you’ve never experienced it, then don’t judge :)

Hey teachers!  Have any good first year moments?

Realization: I’m Not in College Anymore

May 8th, 2010 seems like a long time ago, but it still doesn’t mean that I don’t feel like I’m going back to my undergrad days in August.

Well news flash, I’m not.

This morning I went to a meeting with my future principal at the school I will be teaching at in the fall.  Which reminds me, I never made a post about that whole crazy time in my life.  You know, the part where I when through an intense interview process and got a music education job right out of college!!!

Focus back to this morning: My new “boss” took me on a tour of the school (which is super confusing) and talked to me about what the district is like, asked about my background again, made sure to tell me that I beat out a lot of candidates who have more experience than me, and that one of my master teachers gave me a huge glowing recommendation.  No pressure, or anything.

He then handed me off to another music teacher who I am so excited to work with.  He is filling the instrumental void that a retirement made and I am filling the vocal position that he originally occupied.  It’s nice to know that I have someone who told me straight out “If you have any questions, and I don’t care how stupid you may think they are, please ask me.“  Oh, and he’s coming in a couple full days in August to help me plan for the fall.

Seriously?  How did I get so lucky?  It was such a God thing that I even got a full time teaching position, but to get a position that fits so well is absolutely astounding.  I have full support from administration and faculty which, for a music teacher, is HUGE.  Oh, and I’m getting a SMART Board for the fall, which I am super excited about.

Back the original realization: I’m not going back to college in the fall.  I’ll be on the other end of the spectrum teaching my own bunch of students that are (hopefully) ready to learn.  As I walked the hallways of my “new” school, I commented that I felt like I was in 9th grade getting ready for my first day of high school.  He said, “Yeah, that’s basically how you’re going to feel for awhile.”

I guess it all comes full circle.

Okay Readers: What random blessing have you had in the past couple months?