Evening jams #SOLC22

 

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My youngest daughter brought home a pet parakeet, Tiki, in 2018.  Over the years, I've become quite attached to this feathered friend.

Tiki starts each morning tweeting to the sparrows and nuthatches outside.  On weekends, she will sit for a long time on the window sill, checking out the birds in the yard.

In the evening when it's time to do dinner dishes, Tiki gets to pick the playlist.  I'll call out a variety of artists, genres or movie soundtracks (she especially likes Encanto).  When I hear Tiki "peep" that decides the evenings jams.

"Siri, play the Jonas Brothers!" I call out.  

(Yes, this 50-something likes her kids' childhood favorites hahahaha!)

As I scrub the pots and pans, we sing & chirp along to the music.

Nothing better than our evening jams.

Our pet parakeet, Tiki, enjoys the view from the windowsill.

Music and Lyrics #SOLC21

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I've always been a fan of music.  My parents graduated high school in the late 60's and were just 20 when I was born.  Dad started a garage band with his brother and other friends in his teenage years.  He had the latest hi-fi equipment, including 8-tracks and cassettes.  Our record collection wasn't huge, but had variety.

I grew up listening to songs by the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Neil Diamond, and Elton John.  On sunny summer Saturdays, we would take Dad's '67 Ford Mustang convertible to the store.  Mom would go into the store while my brother and I stayed with Dad in the car.  He would put the top down and let us sit on the boot, tunes blaring from the car stereo,

Lyrics were easy for me to pick up, especially in the 70s and 80s.  I learned to howl along to "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor as I roller skated up and down the sidewalk alongside my best friend.  My brother and I checked out Billy Joel's Glass Houses album from the public library so we could learn every line.  At that same time, my mom started buying Barry Manilow's albums.  She threatened to hide the record featuring "Copacabana" because we played it ad naseum.

 

My taste in music were definitely influenced by my parents.  High school was a different story.  My best friend connected me to English punk (Adam Ant) and pop (Duran Duran).  The guy I seriously crushed on was into heavy metal (Iron Maiden, Metallica).  I was also working on building my classical knowledge as I played violin in the high school orchestra and a local youth orchestra.

Music feeds my brain and my well-being.  Listening to old favorites transports me back in time.  Maybe I need to build a childhood playlist and search out some of my favorite songs!

Missing the Music #SOLC19

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On Sunday afternoon a text came through from my uncle, "Join us at the Prairie Center if you're not busy.  Hannah is part of a mixed-age orchestra performing the New World Symphony."

Have I played that?

I was excited to see my aunt and uncle to catch up.  A free symphony performance was just what I needed.  I was extra restless this weekend (just ask my husband how much laundry I did), so a Sunday night concert was welcome.

When is the last time I opened my violin case?

The concert was an effort by the local youth symphony to promote their program.  Private music instructors, alums of the symphony and young people combined force.  They were provided their parts earlier and were to play together for only one rehearsal before the concert.  

I wonder what playing will feel like now that I've repaired my shoulder.

Our concert-going group chatted for a bit in the lobby.  News of new jobs, spring break trips, health and loss were all covered.  We decided we should find seats for the concert.

Should I think about joining the community orchestra again?

The concert was introduced.  I noted the strong number of string players and scanned the players for familiar faces.  The piece was well-played, especially due to the balance of expert and novice musicians.  My cousin produced smooth, melodic lines from her flute, leading her section with poise and rhythm.

Do I have the stamina?  Will I appreciate the new conductor?  Will anyone remember me?

As the concert finished, we applauded the full orchestra, rising from our seats for a standing ovation.  We met up with Hannah afterwards, complimenting her on the performance.  We said our goodbyes.

I think I'm missing music.  Maybe I need to consider going back to playing 2nd violin in our community college orchestra.  

A Playlist for Flying #SOLC

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I am not a mellow flyer.  When I was younger, I helped co-workers find courage to fly on their first business trip.  Then when my girls were young, we took a flight home from Orlando with terrible turbulence, and my fear of flying kicked in.

I have worked hard to be a better flyer, and some cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety has helped, too.  Last year my best friend encouraged me to get noise canceling earbuds.  "Maybe the noise of the plane is making you more anxious?" she pondered.

The earbuds and a grand variety of music on my phone have become essential parts of my flight plan.

Yesterday I flew to Phoenix, AZ with my husband.  I weathered the turbulence pretty well, but I'm still working on managing my anxiety during the gradual descent before landing.  My music app was on shuffle, and some interesting titles kept popping up.  I decided to create a playlist focused on flying (and my mix of feelings) to distract me from feeling anxious.

Part of my playlist

My favorite on this first list was "Hold On!" I have to give a big shout out to Shawn Mendes for keeping my nerves calm with his sweet voice and acoustic guitar.  

I'm hoping to download some new music for our two flights home.  I'm glad I've found some coping strategies to deal with the ups and downs of flying.  Any other suggestions are welcome!

Homework soundtrack #SOLC18

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As I finish up my final LBS1 endorsement class (my masters is nearly complete!  Hooray!!)

I have turned to music for inspiration.

I find that I get WAY more done when there is a compelling melody.  I'm especially fond of string quartets, movie soundtracks and piano solos.

Yes, when I'm in my car, I screech along with all the latest pop hits, but nothing helps me get my homework done like my "classical for studying radio" on Pandora.

What is it about my brain that it needs so much input to be productive?  Maybe the tapping of the keyboard (especially the backspace key) isn't enough.  The music helps me keep my thoughts in order.  Maybe the teacher who told me that music = math was right?

If you have any musical suggestions for me, I'd appreciate them!  I'll be in classes until June.  My action research project is going to need an inspiring soundtrack for sure!!

Music-minded #SOLC17

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Michelle Haseltine's post, "What is your theme song?" took me down a wonderful path of music this week, and I'm so thankful for it!

I'm a huge music fan.  I will listen to nearly any type of music, but mostly pop, rock, hip hop, Disney soundtracks and Broadway musicals.  My daughters will sometimes tease me about my crushes on boy band music (there, I said it) but I don't care.  Even though I don't have a decent singing voice (my husband does!), I will sing along loudly to songs when the spirit moves me.

This week I've enjoyed entering some new genres into Pandora (like country) and blasting music through the house.  It's been fun to dance around and sing as I wash dishes, cook, and work on paperwork.

All this music fun makes me realize... I need to figure out a way to mesh music into my reading instruction.  I think some of my developing readers are driven by music as well:

• A good number of my younger students will randomly break into song (especially if they attend their music special before my class), and many of them like to dance.
• My fourth grade group figured out they could imbed YouTube music videos into a Google document.  They like told me they like to listen to music during centers.
• Sometimes my classroom is too quiet and needs some background music to fill the silence.

Perhaps song lyrics will be our poetry for April?  I'm excited to try something new in my classroom.

And by the way, Michelle, my theme song is "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield.

Drench yourself in words unspoken, live your life with arms wide open 

Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten

(Lyrics from Google play music)

Advice from the conductor

I've played second violin in the community college orchestra for 4-1/2 years. It's a mix of younger college students, music teachers, retirees, and a mix of other professionals who enjoy playing an instrument on the side (doctors, programmers, office workers).

Our conductor likes to "stretch our musical muscles," so he tends to pick pieces that fit a theme and challenge us (especially the string players).  We have four rehearsals, then it's concert time.  The short time period guarantees that you will not tire of the pieces, nor will you perfect your part.  There's just not enough time.

We are less than a week from performing Mendelssohn's 4th Symphony.  We missed rehearsal last week due to subzero temperatures and windchill warnings.  As we ran the piece tonight, I knew our conductor, Brian, would have to find a kind way of letting us know the piece (specifically the 4th movement) was not going well.

Brian can tell when we are stressed and need to regroup.  He will put the baton down, rub his forehead, and then share a short story.  It gives us a chance to lower our shoulders and relax.  Weekly, he reminds us to listen to each other (and not play like soloists!) and go with the flow of the music.  We had a few members tonight trying to play the correct rhythm loudly, as to prove they were right.  This wasn't working.

Brian's short story tonight was how a construction company was trying to relate the orchestra model to their business operations.  In orchestra, you perform, analyze, adjust.  Instantly.  There's no time to call meetings and delay projects for months.  Individuals need to adjust what they are doing (or not doing) to do their part to be in sync with their section, which helps the whole orchestra play in harmony.

AHA! Makes me think of school.

I wish that we teachers could adjust quickly to what our students need and to the changing standards.  I think many of teachers do this subconsciously.  They see a need, they fill it.  Others wait, complain, whine, and look for others to blame.  Each grade-level is a team, like a section in the orchestra.  You can tell when there is a weak section in the orchestra.  They stand out.

I'm hoping more teachers will see themselves as part of a bigger organization, like an orchestra.  They will learn their music (CCSS) and practice (apply CCSS).  They will listen to the other sections (grade levels).  They will analyze how they are harmonizing.  They will realize when they need to adjust... then quickly do it! They will realize this hard work is for their team, their students, and their parents.

Back to orchestra... I know I need to spend some more serious time working on my part so that the 2nd violins will blend harmoniously with the orchestra on Sunday.  I can't let my fellow musicians, my conductor, or my audience down.

(Pssst...here's a link to a YouTube video (another orchestra) of the 4th movement...yikes!  Wish me luck!)

Emotional day

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Sunday night
Busy mind, tired body
Wind howling through the yard
Little sleep

Monday morning
Testing, thinking
Teaching, lecturing
Students, staff
Long day

Monday afternoon
News
Distress
Concern
Disbelief
Helplessness

Monday evening
Questions, few answers
Discouraged
Processing with my children

Monday night
Brahms, Tschaikovsky,
Winds, brass, strings
Beethoven, Greig
Calm
Peaceful
Sleep

Second Violin

Slice of Life Tuesdays hosted by Two Writing Teachers

If you asked my family and friends to describe my personality, they would tell you that I L-O-V-E to talk.  My grandmother even bought me a shirt when I was a teen that labeled me "The Babbler."  I love to generate ideas, get people excited, and I tend to think "outside the box."

At school, do I see myself as a leader?  Nope.  I see myself as a solid second violin.

Classical music composers tend to write thousands of showy, shiny, high-pitched notes for the first violins.  They carry most of the melodies.  In contrast, the second violins have hundreds of solid, smooth, middle-range notes that support the first violins.  The first violins (in my opinion) need the anchor of the second violins to help their melodies sound better.

In teaching (and in the real world), I work best as a second violin.  I don't worry about being the first to try a new strategy.  I'm not great at leading everyone to the next best thing.  I'm much better at supporting everyone around me, helping them to be their best.  I ask questions that help others make decisions.  I nod, smile and think of more questions to guide them to success.

Sometimes I wish I was the rock-star teacher, but I think those shoes are too big for me right now.  I'm happy standing in the wings cheering on my friends, wiping their tears when they get overwhelmed, and always being here to listen.

Harmony can be more powerful than melody.

Orchestra practice mirrors literacy block - SOLC #17

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I was very late to community orchestra on Monday night.  I went to the auditorium and found a sign that directed me to the music classroom.  When I finally arrived, the orchestra was already running through the first movement of Beethoven's 5th symphony.  I quickly pulled out my violin, only to find two strings loose and the other two dreadfully out of tune.  I stayed in the hallway, trying to tune quickly and quietly.

I waited for a pause, then started to walk into the room.  I realized my seat was nearly impossible to get to without bothering many people, as the room was so crammed.  Our conductor is serious yet kind, but I could feel his eyes boring through my head as I tried to quickly and carefully get to my seat.

My stand partner smiled as I sat down, and we started playing the 2nd movement of the piece.  It was a bit of a rocky start, as this movement isn't as well-known as the first.  The conductor stopped.  He reminded us that, in this age of technology, there was no excuse for anyone in the room not to be familiar with the music in front of us.  Many recordings are available, and it was our job to be prepared when we sat down at rehearsal.  He wasn't pleased at our first attempt.

My mind instantly flashed to my developing readers.  How many times have they been the last one in the room, not prepared for class, trying to slide in without being seen?  How often have we told them, "You must practice reading when you're at home!"  How many times have they heard, "You should already know how to do this!"

I was thinking of how frustrated my conductor could be, on a weekly basis, with the variety of people in front of him.  Our ages range from 18 to 75, and we have varying levels of musical ability.  Some of the orchestra members are music teachers, some are full-time musicians, and the rest of us play as a hobby.  Does he become angry each week when we can't play the music at 100% perfection?  No.  He may express  frustration at times (especially when he's explained something and we don't try to fix it), but as a rule, he is an excellent instructor.  He's good at making jokes when there is tension, and when he wants a specific bowing technique to be used, he will name the technique (I don't know most of them!) and then he will demonstrate, giving specific feedback.

I wonder how may teachers could learn from a conductor, especially mine.