General Music

So, I have spent the better part of my afternoon grading general music papers. This paper is by far my least favorite part of teaching general music. (We are actually revamping our general music curriculum this year and it looks like this paper is getting the boot. Thank goodness.) The reason I hate grading these papers is all the plagiarism. After grading ten papers two kids totally copied their papers and another two copied enough that they are losing serious points.

I go over what plagiarism is and the punishment for doing it. I teach them how to make note cards about their topic; I collect 15 note cards before the paper is due. I make them write it in first person. Still every specials rotation I have at least one kid think they will get away with it. Most are smart enough to change the He to I, to try and make it look like they wrote it. But when I read stuff like “In the mid 1920’s I began to formulate a concept I called Elementare Muzik, or elementary music, which was based on the ancient Greek Muses and involve tone, dance, poetry, image….” lets just say I smell a rat. If any students read this blog, do not plagiarize! You will get caught and then you have to do the paper again for next to no credit and your parents have to get involved.

Reminder

Let these pooches serve as a reminder to start thinking about your Halloween Costume! I personally have a great idea but, I am still working out the logistics.

Pet Peeve

As I was driving to work someone felt the need to turn out in front of me forcing me to slam on my breaks even though there was no one behind me on the road. This pisses me off, but then what really gets me going is they proceed to go 5 miles an hour under the speed limit!!!!! Ahhh, so you were in a big enough rush to cut me off and force me to slam on the breaks, but not enough to do the speed limit? I knew I should have stayed in bed today. It did not get a lot better at school either. We had a bad rehearsal and let’s just leave it at that.

Instant oatmeal

I have never been a fan of instant oatmeal. The texture has always been a bit too slimy for my taste. Texture is a big thing to me when it comes to food. Anyway, in the pursuit of healthier living I bought a new kind of instant oatmeal that Quaker came out with. To my surprise it was awesome and it didn’t have a slimy texture. I took some to work today, because I was too lazy to make a sandwich this morning. However to my utter dismay my oatmeal was slimy. How could this be? Well I microwaved it rather than boiling the water in my tea kettle. Apparently that is the key to good instant oatmeal; boil the water, do not microwave it.

In other news, student council elections were announced at my school and the band has taken over. One of my trumpet players is president and one of my percussionists is treasurer…the school might be in some real trouble! We also got our school pictures today. If anyone would like a wallet size of your favorite junior high band director, just let me know. The picture is not half bad for a school picture.

Weekend Update

After a week of battling illness and a grad school project, Nathan and I headed to St. Louis for his cousin Mellissa’s wedding. She looked wonderful and the wedding went off without a hitch.

I have been to more than my fair share of wedding these past few years. I guess it is just that time in our lives. After going to so many I have a little advice for the maid of honor and best man. Keep your toast funny and short, with an emphasis on short. Mellissa’s sister Kristin’s toast was a great example. She brought up a few funny memories that everyone could laugh at even if you were not there, expressed her heart felt love and congratulations to the couple, and then wrapped it all up. I have been to a few weddings were the toast goes on and on, they bring up inside jokes that no one else gets, and they make the toast about themselves not the couple. I get really aggravated when these things occur. Am I alone in this?

It was a fun evening and a great chance to get caught up with a lot of the extended family. I had a good chat with Nathan’s cousin Mike. We have always gotten along well in the big group gatherings, but it was nice to get to talk with him one on one. He is a good guy and single ladies if anyone is looking. I am sure he would be mortified if he new I just wrote that on my blog. I also got to get in a lot of hugs with my little niece Anna. She is a cutie with a very sweet disposition. So that is my weekend update.

Birthday

So, how did I spend my birthday? Well my birthday is always a mixed bag for starters it is September 11^th. Apparently Channel 9 did a story about 9/11 babies, but I missed it. Also I am usually sick on my birthday. It is a few weeks after school starts and just enough time to be surrounded by sick kids bombarding my immune system. My birthday also falls just after band recruitment which requires me to help tons of fifth graders play instrument… and germs are unavoidable. I thought I was going to be in the clear this year though, the day before my birthday came and I was felling pretty good. I even celebrated with friends. But by that evening I could feel my body getting sick.

The morning of my birthday brought a myriad of systems. Putting aside my failing immune system the day had some highlights. I received lots of cards, e mails and calls from family and friends. When I arrived at school a group of my girls were decorating my door. I have wonderful kids and I am sometimes surprised at how much they me to me and I guess I to them. One of my kids bought me the most thoughtful gift a book call “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” She included such a heart felt letter that I began to cry and had to pull myself together before first hour. I ended the day by going out to dinner with Nathan. I bought the hottest thing on the menu in an effort to clean out my sinuses. It did not work as well as I hoped. I went to bed early in an attempt to kick this bug, but alas the bug has kicked me and I am home sick today.

School stuff

Recruitment is finally over! It looks like we have just over 40% of the 5^th grade class in band, so we are pretty happy with our numbers. Our instrumentation looks fairly decent too. We do have a few too many trumpets and we could use a couple more percussionists. Normally band programs are trying to drive them away from the drums ,but we have a two year piano requirement in order to play percussion. This guarantees we get kids that will be able to play the mallet instruments and helps keep our numbers on percussion from sky rocketing.

I unfortunately have nothing to report from the home front because this week was all about recruitment and my Symphonic Band Auditions. Auditions went well and there were not too many surprises. I do have three kids who are mad at me. One of whom asked “Do you hate me? Why is so and so a higher chair than me, I sat in front of them last year. Well I did not practice for the audition anyway.” I am sure the kid earned the chair placement they did because I hate them rather than the fact they did not practice

Swing dancing with friends

We had a great time last night at the Willowbrook Ballroom. However their was not so much swing dancing as chit chatting going on in our group of friends. None the less, I had a great time. I wish we were all able to get together more often…I think we should all plan to move to the same town! Who is with me? Anyways last night was great fun and Rach got me a Kermit the Frog card for my birthday!

Grad school projects

Grrrrrr!