So here we are at half-time.... I'm not sure how I feel. Well, that's not true. I have lots of little "feels" going on. I'm just not sure which one to focus on.
1) This week I went into a counselor's office with a list of kids that "need to be somewhere besides band." They were mostly culled from the 20-something yahoos in the drum section. I didn't really warn anyone I was going to do this... I just kind of did it. I'm waiting to see if any parents flip their lid.
2) Called one of the helper parents today. One of my seniors moms just took over the position of PTA president. I called her on business. Before we hung up, she said "Oh by the way... I think we should sit down and talk before the end of the year. When the Fall rolls around, the football parents on PTA will start belly-aching about marching band again. I just want to get some info from you so that I can stand up to them on your behalf." Oh but I do love having friends in high places.
3) My one competent cellist is leaving the orchestra class. She said she wants to go into art... that she wants to pursue art as a career. I'm not angry at her, but I am sad and a little self-concious. She's obviously not being particularly challenged in my class. The music is well below her ability. I can't help but think "Maybe I should have offered her a solo... maybe I should have given her individual practice time." Ahhhh well.
4) Department chair wants to develop career pathways in the arts department. Essentially it would involve encouraging students to enroll in arts courses at local colleges, and to pursue career-related activities. Yesterday she asked me to think of at least three separate pathways for music. She added that if this went through, we'd have more leverage against Principal Palpatine's marching band initiative. I jumped on board. The funny thing is, as much as I like my department chair, I've come to understand that she has her own vision of the arts department that, while devoid of any marching band element, was also quite different from what I wanted for the music students. (A technology-based concept. Not a bad thing, really, but not conducive to a program grounded in vocal and acoustic instrumental music). This career path thing looks pretty good, though. We're going to go see and example of it at another high school. If it's as slick as their website makes it look, I'm definitiely all for it.
5) Drama teacher came to me today to inform me that he used the arts money Palpatine asked him to forfeit in favor of "supporting the new marching band program" to buy new computers. I laughed myself silly.
6) Senior Alex (Tenor Sax) stayed after his finals yesterday to work on his senior project: the recording of a jazz album. He's been working on the arrangements himself. He's asked a few people to help him, including one of my students from last year, Kyle (my accompanist), and another kid on drums. I wasn't really doing anything, I just sat at my desk while they piped their jam session through the recording equipment. About half-way through the hour, I realized that what I was listening to sounded like an old Blue Note recording.... like some track Dexter Gordon cut at four in the morning. It sounded so... real... so legitimate. It was then I realized that Alex was probably the strongest saxophonist I've yet seen come through the music program. And the thing is.... he got there mostly on his own. Funny how the things students do that make you the most proud are the things you had very little to do with.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Hail To The Chief
So here I am on my prep period. I just got back from watching Obama's inauguration in another teacher's classroom. I have plenty of school stuff I should be doing, but somehow, this feels more important.
To say that it was a historic event is kind of an understatement. I know that, besides myself, this may have been the first time in a long time that so many people cared about the inaugural ceremony. Honestly, had it been anyone else, I probably wouldn't have given up my prep period.
It was also the first time in a long time that I heard a politician speak... and at least want to believe him. All politicians make promises. All newly installed presidents give "inspirational" speeches. But this was the one we needed to hear. It felt good.
But let me tell you my greatest joy... my victory as a musician and as a music teacher. The fact that main event just before Obama took his oath was a stunning performance by Itzhak Perlman and YoYo Ma (accompanied by a clarinettist and a pianist) of an arrangement of Simple Gifts. For a short time, the whole world stopped and listened... they listened to a soulful musical celebration of the American people. It was a declaration of our musical identity, presented without glamour or spectacle... just four performers weaving lines through each other like ballet dancers criss-crossing a stage. It was beautiful.
*Sigh* It's a brand new day, America.... It's a brand new day.
To say that it was a historic event is kind of an understatement. I know that, besides myself, this may have been the first time in a long time that so many people cared about the inaugural ceremony. Honestly, had it been anyone else, I probably wouldn't have given up my prep period.
It was also the first time in a long time that I heard a politician speak... and at least want to believe him. All politicians make promises. All newly installed presidents give "inspirational" speeches. But this was the one we needed to hear. It felt good.
But let me tell you my greatest joy... my victory as a musician and as a music teacher. The fact that main event just before Obama took his oath was a stunning performance by Itzhak Perlman and YoYo Ma (accompanied by a clarinettist and a pianist) of an arrangement of Simple Gifts. For a short time, the whole world stopped and listened... they listened to a soulful musical celebration of the American people. It was a declaration of our musical identity, presented without glamour or spectacle... just four performers weaving lines through each other like ballet dancers criss-crossing a stage. It was beautiful.
*Sigh* It's a brand new day, America.... It's a brand new day.
Monday, January 19, 2009
...and the chess match continues...
Dear readers, I know most of you are sick to death of listening to my whining about Principal Palpatine and her never-ending quest to start a marching band at Empire High. But you know, some people have that one itch they can't scratch. I suppose if the Joker were a real life blogger, one might imagine that his posts would read:
So anyway, as per usual, Palpatine is (once again) telling everyone that we're starting a marching band. She won't use those words in my presence... no of course not. She's very careful not to light my fuse. But apparently she's gathering funding to set one up nonetheless. I know this because the drama teacher came to me and told me that Palpatine wants him to willingly forfeit some money that should be coming to him from the district so that she can put it towards starting a marching band class.
Now, at this point I'm not freaking out as much as I had in the past. Apparently, part of Palpatine's evil scheme is to hire someone to come in and run the program (although I would still be the "supervisor") I think she believes that as long as I don't have to be the person to do it, I won't object.
The problem is, even if she sets up the class, finds staff and buys instruments and uniforms... she still has to find kids that will do it. It's the one part of the equation she hasn't thought through.
One rumor I heard was that she wants to make it a 0 period class. I will tell you right now it will be disasterous if she tries to enroll kids against their will into a program that a) requires an enormous amount of time outside of school b) requires a considerable amount of money, either out-of-pocket or through fund-raising c) requires an considerable amount of parent volunteers, d) requires enrolled students to show up to school an hour earlier on a dialy basis and e) requires students to give up part of Summer vacation for band training.
But you know what? It won't be MY problem! I will refuse to absorb or re-direct any heat that comes off of angry students or parents who get shoved into this program. I also refuse to shield her from having to explain to the district admin or the school support groups that provide funding as to why money was pumped into a program that no one wanted to participate in.
So... she's been moving her pieces behind my back. I think it's time I started moving mine. I've got parents in every school support organization, and plenty of friends in the counseling office. I'm not going to try aggresively prevent her from starting the "class," but at least I'm going to let it be known that student interest in a marching band has yet to be established, and that I am not endorsing the idea.
In other Palpatine related news: Earlier this year I was hearing rumors that she was planning on leaving at the end of this year. I know I know... I should know better than to put my faith in rumors. I wasn't going to open the champaigne until I heard an official announcement. But I was getting my hopes up, only because I hadn't heard anything to the contrary.
That is, until last week.
I was speaking to one of the counselors (about the whole marching band thing) when I said something about her not being around to even see "her band" come into being. The counselor asked "What do you mean?" I told him about the rumor that I had heard, to which he responded "I haven't heard that. In fact, she talked me into staying one more year myself. I was supposed to retire this year. But she said she wants one more year to finnish her PhD... and she wants me to stick around and help her finnish out her term."
Of course, this sounds a lot more substantial than the "I heard she told someone else that she's leaving" that was floating around the lunch table. Also, given the state of the economy and the fcat that she really hasn't produced the results she wanted from our school... yeah it seems likely that she's going to be here.
Oh my God... it just occured to me that if she does, I will have worked under her longer than any principal thus far in my teaching career.
Don't that just beat all.
Jan 3 - Beat up by Batman (again). Put in prison. It's okay, they still haven't found my secret tunnel. I'll be sleeping in my own bed tonight (ha ha!)Etc.. etc... etc...
Jan 6 - Beat up by Batman (again) but this time used laughing gas to escape. Never noticed what a funny giggle pointy-ears has. That guy punches really hard.
Jan 12 - I want to start a running tally of the number of times I've been clipped by the Batmobile. I'd sue him if I hadn't strangled my lawyer. Man, and the call ME crazy?
Jan 21 - Batman broke my giant clown nerve-gas dispenser. I hate that guy. I mean, I've always hated that guy... but today... well you know. Oh yeah, and he beat me up (again). I only got away because I stabbed him in the foot with my stiletto pez dispenser.
Feb 2 - Had lunch with Penguin and Riddler today. Talked about Batman. We always talk about Batman. This time we had a contest to see who's been beat up by Batman the most. (Riddler won, but I think he was lying... I know I did) Crap, can someone just kill they guy already?
So anyway, as per usual, Palpatine is (once again) telling everyone that we're starting a marching band. She won't use those words in my presence... no of course not. She's very careful not to light my fuse. But apparently she's gathering funding to set one up nonetheless. I know this because the drama teacher came to me and told me that Palpatine wants him to willingly forfeit some money that should be coming to him from the district so that she can put it towards starting a marching band class.
Now, at this point I'm not freaking out as much as I had in the past. Apparently, part of Palpatine's evil scheme is to hire someone to come in and run the program (although I would still be the "supervisor") I think she believes that as long as I don't have to be the person to do it, I won't object.
The problem is, even if she sets up the class, finds staff and buys instruments and uniforms... she still has to find kids that will do it. It's the one part of the equation she hasn't thought through.
One rumor I heard was that she wants to make it a 0 period class. I will tell you right now it will be disasterous if she tries to enroll kids against their will into a program that a) requires an enormous amount of time outside of school b) requires a considerable amount of money, either out-of-pocket or through fund-raising c) requires an considerable amount of parent volunteers, d) requires enrolled students to show up to school an hour earlier on a dialy basis and e) requires students to give up part of Summer vacation for band training.
But you know what? It won't be MY problem! I will refuse to absorb or re-direct any heat that comes off of angry students or parents who get shoved into this program. I also refuse to shield her from having to explain to the district admin or the school support groups that provide funding as to why money was pumped into a program that no one wanted to participate in.
So... she's been moving her pieces behind my back. I think it's time I started moving mine. I've got parents in every school support organization, and plenty of friends in the counseling office. I'm not going to try aggresively prevent her from starting the "class," but at least I'm going to let it be known that student interest in a marching band has yet to be established, and that I am not endorsing the idea.
In other Palpatine related news: Earlier this year I was hearing rumors that she was planning on leaving at the end of this year. I know I know... I should know better than to put my faith in rumors. I wasn't going to open the champaigne until I heard an official announcement. But I was getting my hopes up, only because I hadn't heard anything to the contrary.
That is, until last week.
I was speaking to one of the counselors (about the whole marching band thing) when I said something about her not being around to even see "her band" come into being. The counselor asked "What do you mean?" I told him about the rumor that I had heard, to which he responded "I haven't heard that. In fact, she talked me into staying one more year myself. I was supposed to retire this year. But she said she wants one more year to finnish her PhD... and she wants me to stick around and help her finnish out her term."
Of course, this sounds a lot more substantial than the "I heard she told someone else that she's leaving" that was floating around the lunch table. Also, given the state of the economy and the fcat that she really hasn't produced the results she wanted from our school... yeah it seems likely that she's going to be here.
Oh my God... it just occured to me that if she does, I will have worked under her longer than any principal thus far in my teaching career.
Don't that just beat all.
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