Promotion

Many years have passed, and I continue to teach music classes. I must admit, I am surprised that students are still interested in exploring music by studying concert band instruments such as the clarinet or trombone. Way back at the beginning of my teaching career, I did think to myself on many occasions, and often questioned myself whether or not I would be teaching music in 2005, or in 2010. I simply was not convinced that students would be interested in learning music in this older way. With all the technology entering the education system, the midi, the digital audio, the faster machines, and exciting ways to layer high quality sounds, instantly, and the costs were coming down quickly too.  One could easily afford to design a high quality studio in their home and communicate / sharing ideas efficiently over the net. So, how is this possible?
Reflecting on my career, I notice that promotion has been a big part of my success. I also am annoyed at this as well. I remember being so nervous at specific times during the school year, especially during course selection process.  Will there be enough interest to keep me teaching music for another year - I wondered? I would think about how fortunate it would be to be teaching Math or English - these subjects always need teschers! Then, of course I realized that students selecting music really wanted to be there, so at least I would enjoy working with these students for the most part. Promotion is important for music teschers to keep a job.  There is no guarantee. A music teacher must continue to offer special experiences to students, arrange excursions, and get involved with new ways to delivering music courses that are interesting and challenging. A music tescher has to keep good communication with parents, get involved in the community and generate support from the school administration.  A music teacher must continue to stay current with new ideas, keep up to date with music skills and understanding. A successful music teacher runs many bands: concert band, jazz band, R & B group, small ensembles, etc. in daily music classes, a music teacher must talk about the importance of music, offer lessons that attract interest and are connected to technology. A music teacher must continue to promote, promote and promote. The music department must be active in the school, perform at assemblies, and at pep rallies, and a sporting events, in the hallways, etc. There is music council and recordings, P.A. Announcements, and of course fund raising!
I am grateful that I still get to do what I enjoy doing, so much everyday.  I look forward to preparing for concerts and music festivals. It's fun and interesting. But, again, I must admit, I am surprised. I wonder, will learning and studying music still be appealing in 2030?

Survey and questionaires & OMEA

We all get asked to complete surveys and questionnaires. Sometimes, depending on my circumstances, I do complete them. Rarely does anything come by way of return. Last month, I attended the annual OMEA conference, held in Toronto.  I enjoy attending and I do learn a lot. Alexander Savastian of quarteto gelato performed and so I was inspired to attend more than usual. About a week after the conference, I am invited to complete a survey about the conference, so I did.  Some surveys take a fair amount of time.  This particular survey was average in length.
Two weeks later, I get notice that my name was selected and that I am a winner of a free conference ticket for next year! The conference next year is in Niagara falls, so my expense will be hotel only.  I suppose it is wise to complete questionnaires and surveys - you never know what can come of it.

The holidays offers time for practice and reflection

I am grateful for some time to practice and reflect, the holidays inspire me to explore my skill development and help me to plan ahead. It's a nice time of the year, particularly this year, the weather has been so nice! Recently, at school I have had some time to shoot hoops in the gym, compose some music using garage band, and this too, has been a true delight. The added time at school has been wonderful for me and this holiday season, I look forward to doing some additional
Fact icing and listening to music. Before our last day, Friday December 18th, I did announce to my students to consider taking their musical instruments home to practice. I encouraged them to think about this seriously because they would want to maintain the development of their abilities they have invested time since September working. It will be an easier return for them in January. Musicians are similar to athletes, you need to keep the mind, body, spirit, current and fresh. Happy Holodays, may you have a blessed Christmas, full of family, joy, peace and food!
Oh yes, and of course, music!

I'm intrigued

I'm intrigued by young teachers new to the profession. They bring a new energy and fresh ideas. They seem to be comfortable with trying new ideas, even if they appear to be a bit risky. I say this having just recently saying farewell to a new teacher filling in for one of my colleagues at school. He contributed and offered some interesting suggestions for activities. Last year there was another teacher filling in for another colleague in the department.  He too, helped me to understand new technology and to embrace these exciting possibilities. This is nothing new. Young teachers are current and excited about education. They have new skills and are quick to apply these new ideas in an efficient manner. In addition, young teachers connect with students much faster than I can, as i am teaching in my 31st year. These young teschers speak the language and understand the students and their nuances in speech and body language. They know all the new phrases and how to use them. This year I am working with a York University student, a student teacher. He too is getting along so well with the students and the students look forward to his visits which occur once a week. Again, he uses the technology efficiently and is up to date with the forward ideas to be tapped into for today's teaching. He is studying the new methods and is aware about how to relate to students living today. I am intrigued and curious because I get exposed to new ways of teaching and relating to students, and get inspired about exploring new technology.

So far, so good

As mentioned in previous postings, I am a regular classroom music teacher this year, having resigned from the arts headship, effective September 1st, 2015. I am very much enjoying my year so far. I find that my teaching is smoother, and tension-free. I have more time to prepare my lessons, and my patience level is calmer. I can concentrate on teaching and enjoy the activities with a more relaxed feeling. I offer more freedom to the students, offering them more time to work on projects. We are spending some time in the keyboard lab, composing music with the computer and keyboard. I feel less pressure on me to arrange meetings, attend meetings, respond to and address concerns from other arts areas.  For example, problems with scheduling, problems with the dance floor, problems with storage, sign-off on purchase orders, reviewing examinations, installing a printer, purchasing other items required, and the list goes on and on.
I have only experienced 4 on-calls, which is amazing, an average of 1 per month so far. I cannot complain at all about extra duties. Next semester, I think I will have cafeteria supervision, but hopefully that will not be too overwhelming. So, I am pleased so far, so good!

Also, I have had some time to attend yoga after school, and run a bit in the gym shooting basketball hoops, and I think that soon I may even complete sessions in the weight room!

Guest Artists

Inviting guest artists to further enhance your music program delivery is indeed a valuable activity.  This past week, I invited percussionist / guitarist:  Rodrigo Chavez to work with my classes for five days.  It was an incredible experience.  This is not the first time for this visiting artist.  Over the years, I have invited him many times, and for five days in a row as well.  But for some reason, it was different this time.

He is a very talented educator, keeping the students engaged with his skill and artistry.  He includes lessons on playing technique, posture, and variety of performance tones from each percussion instrument he describes.  Students are exposed to a variety of Latin American styles:  samba, Salsa, etc., and a variety of percussion instrument colours.  He invites students to move to the music and sing in Spanish.  The memory work is challenging and the concentration level is consistent.  The students celebrate music and experience music in a community of sound, all contributing something unique and special at any expertise level.
Also, Rodrigo includes historical information that is interesting and raises the curiosity level of the students.

I really to think that this type of music instruction would work in the elementary school system.  I wonder if something like this could be arranged.  Rodrigo supplies the music instruments and is professional and so knowledgeable - everyone participates because he welcomes the energy and enthusiasm.  He is supportive and knows how to get the most out of every student.  The size of the group can be anywhere from 10 to 45 students.  Although, the best results do come from working with smaller groups.  The session would be work effectively if it happened once, but over five days is the best because he builds on previous experiences and reviews.

Congratulations!

I am really pleased with the start to this new year at school

Hello again, I am really pleased to the start of this new year at Saint Elizabeth CHS.  I am more relaxed since I resigned from the headship.  I feel great and hope that this continues for me.  I have not had an on-call duty as yet.  That's bonus.  Even some of my colleagues have commented on my spirit and smile and simply relaxed approach to conversations and school duties.  I feel that a huge load has been lifted from my shoulders.  This past week we experienced a school liturgy outdoors and I did not have to prepare for it, set-up equipment, clean-up equipment.  I sat as a member of the school community congregation.  It was so nice.  I focus on preparing and delivering my classes.  Less meetings and less responsibilities.

It was time for me to let go. 

Bye for now!

I resigned from the position of responsibility

Effective September 2015, I will be a classroom music teacher and have resigned from the position of responsibility: department head of arts at saint Elizabeth catholic high school.  After 12 years in this position I finally announced my intentions in May 2015.  I consulted with the school principal and the process of finding a replacement began.  Three weeks later, Yoland Chetty, visual arts educators at saint Elizabeth for some 10 years will be the department head.  I am pleased that the position was filled internally as it means everyone stays in their current position at school within the department.  Also, Yoland has a very good understanding of the special programming we offer and the team gets along well with him.  It's time to inject some new enthusiasm into the department as I felt that I was holding things back and my energy level was not the same.
We've lost some very key people in the last few years:  Michelle Janzen, Anne Carey, Fabian Walsh. These changes added to my gradual decline in energy level has influenced my decision.  To be honest, I have been thinking about stepping down for a few years now.  I finally did it and M looking forward to doing some different things in the last few years of my teaching career.

Making connections

I went to the airport early this morning to meet my daughter returning from a flight.  While waiting, I discovered some complimentary magazines and pamphlets about Toronto.  Wow, what a collection of interesting links and information.  I began to read some of the written material and observed the included illustrations.  After meeting my daughter, we returned home and so my exploration began.  I connected with so many sites.  There Re also dates of upcoming events that I may decide to attend, conference and more.
For example, listentotracks.ca is a map to spots in Toronto flagging the city's musical landmarks.  There are festivals in Toronto, such as Canadian music week, luminato, NXNE.
Another interesting site that I will continue to investigate is 4479toronto.ca, named after toronto's latitude and longitude, where music meets the world.
I recently read that making connections is an important way to boost your creativity.
Bye for now.

Ups and downs

It's amazing, teaching is.  At times, I am very excited about current activities and look forward to participating in very exciting projects.  Conversely, there are moments that ignite feelings of frustration and sadness.  I suppose this is life and it's about treasuring those special moments, when they occur with enjoyment and fun; and respond to the not so nice moments with charm and patience.  What is important to remember is that our students do appreciate our positive energy and respond better when we show interest and care in their work and development.

I have discovered some interesting articles that inspire my lessons.  One such article shared rules to success in the music business.  The first rule I shared with one of my classes today because it captured my interest.  The article suggested that whenever we are involved with music, we should bring our "A" game effort to the activity.  I could tell with the silence in the class that my added comments about this suggestion struck a nerve with all of them.
The class unfolded smoothly and I believe it was due to this brief presentation.
Bye for now

Some time has passed

I get ideas every now and again about themes and topics I would very much like to include and enter into this blog, but time seems to fly by without being able to accomplish this task on a regular basis.  One idea that does pop into my head is about music teachers and how passionate they are about their programs.  Unlike other disciplines, such as English or math or science, music teschers appear to be very serious about promoting their programs and increasing their numbers and sections.  If I use myself as an example, I dedicated time to arranging concerts, attending festivals, creating opportunities for field trips and excursions, recordings, and community performances, performing for assemblies, attending meetings with administration to convince them about the need for more money to support all these great initiatives for the students, the school community and beyond!
indeed, it was serious work and we did it and continue to do it because we have a passion for the music and a passion for the program.  Like captain Kirk, from star trek, nothing is more important than your command, your ship!

Hungry?

I enter my 30th year in teaching and one of the biggest observations I have made over the last couple years is a noticeable difference in hunger.  What I mean, I do not find students to be hungry for knowledge, for learning, for studying.  I am convinced that students are very fragile, needing positive reinforcement at all times.  They do not handle negative criticism very well at all.  They get easily bored and lack patience, giving up quickly on skill development.  They lack confidence and want the highest results, but with minimal effort, investment of time and energy.  They feel entitled to everything and want others to solve their challenges for them.  It's unfortunate really because for the most part they are generally capable of much more but are easily distracted and would rather choose to be lazy and uncommitted to working hard to achieving greater goals and success.

So, what's the answer?  How do encourage young people to take more interest in their lives, more interest in their learning?  How do we create appetite and sustain the hunger?