Well… They didn’t actually come to blows over the grand pause… But they were close. There were words, that is for sure! Fighting words! And here’s the… Read more “And the Cellists Came to Blows Over a Grand Pause…”
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Spread the Love: Mother Knows Best
We are here to do exactly that… We will stir and push and prod… We are here to bring them love and love, it stirs, it churns, and it inspires and breathes life. Stir away!”
Say my Name Say my Name
In the past few weeks, I have been traveling around, conducting these special all county and all city orchestras. I love these events so much. What great… Read more “Say my Name Say my Name”
Turning Down my Dream Job: A Dissertation Death Story (Sort of)
Either way, after mulling it over and over and over and over, I ended up turning the job down in favor of my current position. I spent so much of the summer fearing what might come…. And when I said, “You did an incredible job today!” They said “We can still do better.”
Teaching Love, One Note at a Time
Today, in my classes, we will be playing music and sending love, as we always do. But today, we will be directing our love to the families and victims in Orlando. I urge you today to do what you can in your own lives to send love, to show your support to those who need it, and to fill the world with music, love, and pride.
The Power of Even a Drop of Critical Pedagogy
Ever since learning about Critical Pedagogy, I have done everything I could do put it into practice. Let me tell you… The results have been out of this world…
My Best Concert Ever!!! A Positive Shift in Culture
And it’s not really that we have perfected all of the notes and rhythms… Because there are definitely still some rough passages… But, there has been a culture shift in my program and it is really coming to light as we prepare for our concert.
Assessment: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly PART II
The third school that really struck me was the most frustrating. It was a group of students from a poor school. So many of their issues had to do with crummy instruments, an unfortunate lacking of a bass player, and just poor circumstances. This was really ugly and frustrating. And so… I decided to write about it…
Assessment: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly… Part I
I still dread Assessment and I still am not 100% sure where I stand on the entire process. But I would like to share some thoughts with you from the perspective of a student, a leader in front of an ensemble on the podium, as well as thoughts from behind the adjudication table.
Snow Day Strategies for Developing Musical Identities!
Posting on social media is so easy. And somehow, it seems to engage some of the students who are just sitting around on their computers. Even if they don’t touch their instruments, at least they are seeing the posts. Perhaps these posts will spark a “rabbit hole” effect in which they search for additional musical cartoons, stories, and pieces of randomness.
MusicEdLove 