Two school virtual performances this week & NAMM

I’m looking forward to presenting two school virtual performances this week, both on the same day!  I hope that they are successful.  I plan to continue to reach-out to potential clients.  It would be nice to have a presentation confirmed, once-a-week; this would be ideal.  I’m excited about attending the NAMM conference last week.  I gleaned some very interesting ideas and information from this event.  I am thinking about many ideas that I will explore and research.  For example:  TWITCH; OBS: podcasting; and more.  

Remembering some details experienced in my teaching career

 It was always challenging to keep my job.  I remember advertising constantly to keep music courses alive at school.  I realized that it was about keeping my job in music, and not have to accept courses in other areas in order to work.  Early in my career, I did not have a full time music teaching load.

     I remember preparing long computer printed banners for parents night.  I would mount these sheets of bounded paper along the walls for the gymnasium and cafeteria.  It was a way to invite parents to the Christmas Concert or Spring Concert.  I would hand these paper banners, I do not remember if I first seemed permission to do so.  I probably did because I did want to follow school policies.  In order to offer music all year, the music department worked with the religion department.  This relationship was beneficial to music, but I think it was also welcomed by the religion subject teachers because the music students tended to be good students, so discipline was a bit better in the classroom.  Among the many benefits to studying music:  focus, concentration, dedication to practicing, listening, team work, etc.

     I could not understand how the fashion show at Bressani would sell-out tickets to over 1000 guests attending.  I tried to get involved with this, by offering to perform live music, and even some recorded music if I could.  My attempts failed.  Music concerts were mostly held in the gymnasium.  However, we did arrange our Spring Concerts to take place at Markham Theatre.  It was challenging to rent a truck, load with all our instruments, deliver, unload at Markham Theatre, set-up throughout the day, deliver a concert in the evening, cleanup, drive the equipment home late that evening, with the next morning, return to school to unload the equipment, drive back the rented truck and then return to school.  What an incredible amount of organization, effort, work.  It was our hope (Mr. P.Mannion, who initiated this, but I continued the tradition), that this would encourage students to take music.

     Other strategies to sell the program.  We would arrange excursions, mostly to Huntsville for a weekend music camp.  We did travel to Halifax by bus to attend MusicFest Canada Nationals.  After P. Mannion left the school, I continued to work on introducing a better vest uniform, with fancy ties, “performance uniform”;  we recorded a cassette tape; we traveled more; we did our annual tour of family of schools, visiting and performing at elementary schools, to try and boost music interest.  The tour required organization as well with school buses, and a rented truck.  Three schools per day!!!!  Where did I get the energy?

     I remember having conversations with Frank Coffey, who was the chaplain at the school.  Some of these conversations developed into shouting matches.  He was trying to help me to better understand the purpose of music at liturgies.  I was not ready to understand this; mainly because I viewed school liturgies as a performance opportunity for the musicians (mainly choir members), and to promote the music program.  He was correct, the school liturgy required a cantor to inspire the entire congregation to join-in to sing in ways of heightened spiritual prayer, and praise to our Lord God.  I would work with students to choose songs that were current and would impress the audience.  In a way, I was mis-using and abusing this sacred moment.  

     Always trying to defend the importance of music education;  always trying to convince other students, teachers, administrators, parents, and others in the school community - that music is important to me and it can be a valuable experience for everyone else.  Yes, entertaining, but worthy of so much more.  I had to know my stuff, and I had to make connections, network and find ways to elevate the importance of music.