Wacky Teacher Speak

So, I've concluded that one of the elements in keeping my students interested in what I have to say is through the constant development of idiosyncrasies that they find amusing. I've known some teachers who swear (and a few with mouths like sailors). I don't know, high school coaches seem to get away with it, but it seems risky and it definitely isn't my style (most of the time, it lacks imagination.) In fact, I don't wear much in my regular life... I don't really feel the need to swear in front of my students. Much.

To this end, I've developed a few of my own "Maestro-isms" that seem to work.

Evil Minions - I've taken to referring to my classes in general as "my evil minions." This is an obvious nod to classic comic book villains who, curiously enough, acknowledge their own evil nature. The kids seem mildly amused by this. This can manifest in a number of ways:

"Listen to me now, my evil minions..."

"Come my evil minions, it is time for the C Concert scale... and then we shall complete the Death Ray"

Comic Book Exclamations - This is actually a page taken out of the likes of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and their ilk . Whether or not the kids recognize them, these have been around for decades.

"Great Caesar's Ghost!"

"It's Clobberin' Time!"

"I'm just your Friendly Neighboorhood *Music Teacher*"

"Wagon Traaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain Ho!" - Useful for putting a large number of bodies on the move. You need a big, deep, loud voice to pull this one off.

Movie Quotes
This is a well that can never run dry. The creative part is linking the correct phrase with the right situation. Here are my favorites -

"That's no moon, it's a space station!"

"It's more of a guideline." (Needs a pirate accent)

"You know Vizini, you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means" (Needs Spanish accent)

"You do not know pain, you do not know fear... you will taste MANFLESH" (Saruman's inspirational speech from The Two Towers. Works great just before a concert or a competition.)

"..... the problems of one little music teacher don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world"

and on that note -

"Of all the classrooms in all the schools in all the world... you had to walk into mine"

One of my favorite movie quotes is Bill Murray's "Mother Puss-Bucket!" from Ghostbusters, but I stopped using it when a 7th grader heard me say it and instinctively followed up with "Yeah, Mutherf***er!"

Channeling Elvis - Actually, it doesn't have to be Elvis. It can be anyone... just put on your favorite accent and go. You get wonderfully confused looks when you pull it out at random.
My favorites (besides Elvis):

Jack Nicholson (clean version)

Mitch Hedberg (clean version)

Boris (from Rocky & Bullwinkle)

Bullwinkle (From Rocky & Bullwinkle)

Rocky (the boxer, not from Rocky & Bullwinkle)

Yoda (The class favorite)

More as I am inspired...