Alright, folks. I know last week I kind of phoned it in and wrote a lack luster post. So, I will make up for it this week. Strap in, and get ready.
Time circuits, on!
Flux capacitor, fluxing!
Here we go!
As you may remember, I have been TAing (I know it isn't a real word, but I am using it anyway) for Teaching Instrumental Music. The students in the class play secondary instruments and take turns teaching each other. One of the students has been having trouble with clarinet tone production. As of yet, none of the teachers have addressed it. At the end of class, I just wanted to suggest to students that they can address specific issues of technique and to give them something to focus on, I suggested that they do some thinking and research about how to help this one student with his clarinet tone. But, what came out of my mouth ended up sounding more like, "this student is squeaking up a storm." I totally called him out by mistake!
Dr. B. did say at the end that my point was a valid one. I just wish I had been able to word it a little differently. I did take some time at the end of class to help him with his embouchure and we made some pretty good progress in only just a couple minutes. He didn't seem scarred by my comments, so I think all is good!
Also, on Monday, Wind Symphony has rehearsal in the performance space, which you might remember is not in the same building as the school of music. Well, on this upcoming concert, I am playing both the contrabassoon and baby bassoon. So, I had to lug both horns across campus for rehearsal... and then we only played the part of the show that I play contra on. At least I got some physical exercise carrying all that weight back and forth. That being said, it would have been so much easier if I had that contra-/ baby-bassoon double case with the backpack straps and wheels. I am still looking for a benefactor who wants to buy that case for me. It's only $3,500.00! Any takers?
In Dr. C.'s class this week, we talked about the identity of college music schools. She asked the class what our perception of the Temple University School of Music's identity is. It's funny, I have only ever earned music education degrees (I am working on my third one) and yet my mind went straight to the music performance side when I considered the school of music's identity. I wonder why I didn't think of music ed. first. I don't have any answers here, I just found it curious.
Night Owls this week went poorly. I tried some new things in my conducting because of Dr. C.'s comments last week. For some reason, the band and I just didn't connect. I don't know if it was because of the new things I did, or because we were in the performance space and not the rehearsal space, or some intangible factor. All I know is that it was the dress rehearsal and we get next to no rehearsal time before the concert this coming week. I hope it all lines up!
This week, we had a project due in Measurement and Evaluation in Music. We were tasked with creating an ePortfolio of our respective careers. I have managed to save so much stuff from my years of teaching that it became quite the herculean effort to compile it all into an easily digestible product. But, I think I did a pretty bang up job of it. And so did Dr. B.
On Wednesday, I was definitely riding the struggle bus for Wind Symphony rehearsal.
I was gathering up my stuff for rehearsal and couldn't find my music (the whole folder was missing). So, I had to go ask for extra copies of the music before rehearsal. The rehearsal started with a sectional, which was not in the normal rehearsal room. So, by the time I got down there from gathering up my instruments and collecting extra copies of the music, the room was quite full and it was difficult to maneuver my gigantic case into the space. Moreover, I still had to go back upstairs and get the bassoon stands. By the time I made it back down to the room with the stands, sectionals were already starting and I made more noise than I was comfortable with as I was getting unpacked and set up. Because I was the last one in, I got stuck with the broken music stand, which I did end up rigging so it didn't dump my music on the floor every time I put something on it. And then, halfway through the sectional, my phone decided to turn itself on and start making noise. Gaaaah! It was actually a good reminder to be understanding of students when stuff goes wrong. To be fair, some students are just irresponsible. But, other students are just having a bad day. And when one thing goes wrong, it has the tendency to snowball. Thanks, universe, for the slice of humble pie.
Well, it is official. My session has been scheduled for the NAfME conference.
http://inserviceconference.nafme.org/sessions/
Tuesday, October 27, 2015 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm.
Let the freak out commence!
Well, that is all for this week. Hope you enjoyed yourself!
Until next week,
Future Dr. Mitch, out!
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