Redemption

Well then,

This was much better - although I looked like an idiot for the grade 9s today instead. Twice a grade 9 corrected me with something I put on the board! Do you think I made that same mistake in the second grade 9 class? I often wonder how many time does one have to look like a complete tool before the achieve enlightenment? well that was two times for me today, and I don't feel any more enlightened...

As for the grade 11/12 class - redemption.
I had written out on staff paper what I had wanted and the improvisation exercise went off like a canon, no not like Pachabel whom I hate. Interestingly enough the students presented their voice fugues today, which is a form of canon... Even my associate teacher commented that the students really seemed to enjoy the improv! I just need to be more organized and in the 'zone' when I teach.

Hopefully I have more good news to report later in the week.

But I'm supposed to be perfect...

Practice teaching one again...

Because of what is called Musicfest I wasn't able to start practice teaching until yesterday. Musicfest is where all the high school bands in the area come to compete to get either a gold, silver or bronze (or thanks for comen' out) level. My school was practicing for it all last week so it was a slow integration for me. But yesterday the debacle began. It must have been a long time since I have been teaching because I was very nervous. Although, I must say that the day began on a very good note, literally. I got to run the senior band rehearsal. We rehearsed the March from the Second Suite in F Major by Holst. I must admit that I was very impressed. Some of the lesser experienced players had trouble but the will and capability to do it was there! And the students even seemed excited to be playing it. at the end of the rehearsal one of the students even thanked me.... I felt very good.

The two grade 9 classes I teach in period three were not so bad. My pacing was a little too fast for their level; ironically the pacing of my classes were too slow last semester =P So what I have to do is slow down for them and add some more technical exercises.

The place where I had my greatest difficulty was with the 11/12 music class.
Was it difficulty or was I just disorganized. I was having them use the first 5 notes of the G minor Scale. Then I was trying to have the play the G Minor I and V chords so we could use the notes to improv over the chord progression I-I-V-V-V-V-I-I and that failed miserably, I forgot how to transpose all of the sudden and sounded like a babbling idiot when I couldn't tell the bari sax what key she was supposed to be in! Then what else? I started the class with a great Buddy Rich video as a sort of hook into jazz... what brilliant questions did I have about the video? Lets see: how does this differ from the music you listen too?
Which music? I didn't even give them something good to talk about! What a waste of a great hook. I almost even gave them the wrong dates for Scott Joplin - can someone please hold my degree for me while I try and re-earn it, or at least try and deserve it?
These kids are smart and you have to keep on your toes... The only saving grace (no not that grace, remember the Richard Dawkins banner!) was the really good trumpet player from the senior band rehearsal was walking past me after that last class. She thanked me for the rehearsal that morning and said she had lots of fun. Talk about a pick me up right when you needed one. (Disclaimer: I am not fishing for sympathy, just venting - it's what blogs are for)

Practice Teaching Redux

Well here I am once again....
Matt the practice teacher returns. The students all find it so odd that someone is there to practice on them. They always seem to either be very happy or very sad that the current teacher they have may be leaving, which is the first impression. Then after it is explained that their current teacher is my supervisor one hears the appropriate either sigh of relief or moan of pain. I know that after a number of years when I have a practice teacher there will be both reactions so I best just get used to it.

You may say, "my those are weird clothes Matt wears to school" if you look at the picture. That is because I am not at school, rather I am at a cadet music clinic in Lanark I did a while back. Working with cadets is fun and interesting to me because it reminds me that there are still kids who sit and listen and do what their told and call you sir! Then again, teaching high school kids reminds you that there are still free spirits and thinkers. And there is always going to be those who don't care (they just don't last as long in the cadets).

My first two days have been very fun... seeing as how I haven't really done anything. This school really does not seem stressful at all... not that the last one was. I think that I am just a bit more relaxed this time around. I even got a full nights sleep before my first day this time...... something must have been wrong, perhaps St. John's has frozen over hahaha, just kidding.

The band here is good, the drummers are drummers.... although there is a "drum line" programme here. It looks pretty neat. A geography teacher who played in the Fort Henry/Fort George groups gets the students together for a real drum line practice. So she invited me to the one next Monday. It should be interesting. I will have to brush up on my rudimental playing - fun.

Lucky me, I get to do a 7 day unit on Jazz. I think I am going to have a lot of fun doing it. I have lots of resources and my friends have even more. This also gives me a chance to show off my Buddy Rich DVD that I bought. Perhaps I should get a couple more DVDs, they were pretty cheap at HMV when I was there last. But also, I should probably stop spending soooo much money.

I must say, I haven't yelled or been mean to anybody yet so yea me!

But tonight is cover letter night so I must be on my way. Once I get into the action I am sure I have have much to post about, but too little time to actually write anything.

Oh, BTW.
I posted the Richard Dawkins banner on here because I think more people have to hear what's being said there. He is a biologist and a world renown lecturer. Although he and his colleagues are a bit fanatical, reason and science must be heard and understood.