Student of a Student

Tonight was my school's Open House.  Things got pretty intense in the music shack for a while. It was great to have so many kids and parents come out to see the room (even though there may have been some bribery involved). 

A few years ago I had a former student show up at 5th Grade Band Night.  I still remember seeing him coming down the hall grinning at me.  He was there with his two 5th grade step sons.   He then continued to torment me for the rest of the year showing up at parent/teacher conferences and every concert.  While this made me feel slightly old,  I reminded myself that these were not HIS kids.

Tonight, in walks one of my former students with her kindergarten daughter.  Yikes!!!  I guess this is it, I am now one of those teachers.  Luckily, I am so tired that I don't really have the energy to think about it right now. 

All elementary teachers deserve a reserved spot in heaven.........to quote Mrs. Hays........just sayin'.

Pauline @ 99

Today was an absolutely great day!!  An entire community payed tribute to a special lady that has had such a huge influence on every who has ever played a note of music in Clay Center.  Happy Birthday Pauline!!!!!!!!

The Return of the Random Dozen!

1. When was the last time you laughed until you cried?
  While there have been some very amusing moments at band camp this week I about died on the golf course one night when my teammate Gayle started telling one of her stories.  I took a drink of water at the exact moment she was acting out part of her story and about choked.  It was wasn't funny at the time and I was maybe crying because of the choking more so than the actual story but I'm going to count it anyway.

2. If you found $10 today, what would you do with it?
Put it in my pocket........duh!

3. Do you volunteer anywhere?
Yep......

4. What is your favorite summertime veggie or fruit, and how do you eat it?
Not a huge fruit or veggie eater but I won't turn down good cantelope or honeydew.

5. Is your social sphere (circle of friends) small, medium or large?
I guess mine is mediumish, once you count all the folks I talk to at band practice in Con.

6. When was the last time you attended a family or school reunion? How did that go?
Actually have never attended a class reunion because I've always been too busy playing band director.  Haven't really been to any family things for a while either.......

7. When you're feeling blue, what is the best way someone can cheer you up?
Quoting the "Peter at the Perk" video from YouTube will usually always put a smile on my face........Peace and blessings, peace and blessings.

8. Have you taken a vacation this summer?
  Actually 2!!!  We went to Minneapolis and New Orleans.

9. What is the most unnecessary item you carry with you all the time?
What is the point of an unnecessary item??

10. What is the best summer flick you have seen so far?
I have not seen one movie released this summer.   

11. Describe a perfect summer day.
A COOL day kayaking on the lake or playing golf.  Not so much digging the triple digits at this point.

12. Please a share a favorite photo from the summer so far!

Amazing what you find........

While in the process of setting up a new room I have made some very cool discoveries.

Discovery #1 - a box of flutophones that were probably used in the early 1960s.  There were some cases in the box and one name in particular that I recognized.  After doing a little research I discovered this person graduated from HS around 1970.  Not sure why you keep these things around for so long, but hey, an interesting history lesson none the less.

Discovery #2 - light switches on the side of the room that I have a key for.  This may not seem like a big unless you have ever had to navigate through a band room in the dark.  The dance lights, the sound system, the water fountain, the music rack and tubas have all had choice words directed at them and know my shins and shoulders intimately.  Oh, how I love the ugly big red door!!

Discovery #3 - a phone jack!  For the first time ever, I will have a telephone in my classroom!!

Discovery #4 - four, count them four sets of resonator bells.  While this probably does not excite you in the least, it is fairly exciting for me.  I'm kind of a dork like that.

Randomness and a Heartfelt Tribute

I was perusing my iPhoto files and pulled a few random pictures.  Enjoy!

In honor of tomorrow's projected 100 degrees, remember when???

Ahh, Photo Booth, one of the greatest inventions ever, wouldn't you say?  I have not laughed as hard as the day we messed around with Photo Booth.  This is one of my particular favorites because the girls look like psycho squirrels (their words, not mine).




And finally, a shot with how I started my summer....... I got to spend a week working with the kids that made up the State FFA Band.  This is a picture of one of my students with a student from Peabody.

A Tribute to a Great Man.......

This week, music education in Kansas lost a great friend, colleague, and supporter with the death of Bob Marshall.  Bob was the band director at Peabody High School when I was in school.  He later went on to work at Senseney Music where he was the guru of everything band.  You could call Bob with your instrumentation and he could list 4 or 5 pieces that would work with your group right off the top of his head.  Bob was a huge help to me finding music for clinicians to play with our groups.  His wit, wisdom, and smiling face will be greatly missed.  RIP Bob, thy will be done.