A Band of Humans

Today, I:

Woke up kind of stressed, kind of unsure of myself and this job, and pretty anxious. I realized that I hadn't been managing my anxiety well recently and was in need of more personal balance despite being completely devoted to growing this small music program.

Felt like I was boring my young string beginners by talking too much. It's really hard to balance getting them TONS of new information about their orchestra program and my policies and getting to play lots. They are also so young and need a lot of reminding about posture, etc.

Felt refreshed after honors literature - even though it was a vocabulary day and we didn't get much else done, I really am feeling like the students and I are connecting well and are able to be honest with one another.

Got some important stuff done. I realized that I didn't need to do everything all at once - I need to get comfortable with the fact that I will die with items in my inbox - and got things done that needed to get done.

Was expecting a rough rehearsal with concert band because the older students are slower to take to higher expectations and much change since they have been playing for a whole year without putting much practice or effort into their music. They all arrived on time or early, and the one who told me he was going to skip cause he forgot to do homework immediately changed his mind after I spoke with him and told him how important it is that he be there with us and not skip rehearsal. The concert b-flat scale is sounding much better (though far from perfect) and they took to my new policies (weekly practice sheets requiring five practice sessions of thirty minutes and music theory worksheets) like good sports. We made a bit of progress on the catchy method book blues rock song we are learning, but not enough. I informed them of their first playing test this Thursday and they seemed to take the news well. I am probably holding them to higher standards than they are ready for, but they are being very mature and they all thanked me before leaving the hall. I was stunned. This was the rehearsal I was dreading most, and it turned into the best. I think that the difference came when I asked them about their weekends. I've been so tuned in to "building the program" that I admittedly forgot that I am working with human beings. We shared a bit about our lives and it made all the difference. Lesson learned. I wish I could've showed more of my personal side during student teaching - again, I was so focused on improving lesson plans and rehearsal techniques and helping to prepare for a concert that it took me until the last week or so to realize that I can still have high standards and have a little fun. Maybe the chatting before rehearsal cuts into two or three minutes where we could be rehearsing more, but I honestly don't care - it's worth it.

Replaced my first broken violin string ALONE! It only took an hour. Success.

Identified a couple student leaders who voluntarily came into my room during their PE class because they wanted to run errands for me instead of participating in PE. I had to lol - it was pretty hilarious!

Worked successfully with beginning brass and beginning percussion. Tones are starting to improve and everyone can at least play two notes of a concert b-flat major triad. Woohoo! It is a very humble start, but we can play together, in time, and almost isolate pitches. Some of the students have really, really good sounds! I'm beginning to remember how fun and light you have to keep beginning band - they just want the chance to succeed and to shine - any concert we put on in December (this school hasn't had a standalone instrumental concert in several years, if ever) will be a success. It's not about how much you accomplish, but how well you do it and for what purpose.

Percussion is going great! Both the beginners and the advanced students are making excellent progress (one beginner just played a major scale with arpeggio after about four lessons on glock) and they're really receptive to learning new skills and being challenged. I'm thinking we will write a piece together in the spring and premiere it!

Breathe. It ended well. It was successful. There's no telling what tomorrow will bring, but for today, I interacted with human beings and we pushed forth toward a common goal. I must keep this in mind more. Also, I'm beginning to feel very protective of my students - my co-op teacher in student teaching always expressed to me how protective she felt of her kids, and that's why she would often jump in if a lesson I was teaching needed a little help - she just wanted the best for them. I thought I understood then, but now, I understand so much more - they are great, great kids, and it is my job to work with them and bring them to musical and personal heights.

Lesson learned. Here's to tomorrow! Maybe it will be great, maybe it will be challenging, or maybe it will be both. Let's find out!