Flying in to Denver last night was one of the most anxious hours and a half that I have had in a LONG time. I felt a little bad for the people on either side to me **Insert Ode to the Middle Seat here** but I couldn't keep my concentration on any one thing for very long. I started by arranging some music for horn quartet, then worked on the book of my blogs from the past summer, then read some music history, then listened to itunes, then played games on my ipod, then listened to my ipod, then started at the beginning of this list again. As soon as the pilot announced that we were getting in early and that we were preparing for landing already, I threw everything into my bag, grabbed my phone (still off, don't worry) and looked out the window for the first time since leaving Phoenix.
Boy, was I not prepared for all the lights.
Now I know that Denver looks like any big city, with lights sprawling out as far as you can see, but looking out at the glow of what to me were the most perfect Christmas lights you could ever imagine, my stomach started turning in knots and my eyes started tearing up. Nowhere has ever felt so much like home and that it was the exact place where I should be.
Before too long, the wheels of the plane begin to go down, and as soon as we touched the ground and I could feel the plane was in fact slowing down, my phone was out and I was texting Kristin. The snow dusting the runway just added to the magic and I don't think it's just because of what time of year it is. After waiting for what seemed like another hour to get off the plane, ride the train to the baggage claim, and take the escalator up, I finally saw Kristin waiting for me and we grabbed my suitcase (I cut it down from 60 to 50 lbs) and headed to the car.
In Greeley, I saw her house, met some friends, and then met others at a few bars downtown, one of which we got to watch some live jazz that I really dug! We headed back to her house and hung out with her brother and the friends from the bars for a little while before heading downstairs for the night.
Saturday morning we woke up and got ready to head to Loveland to carol with the sporchestra. This group is a special community orchestra, whose members have down syndrome, autism, or other special needs. Kristin's brother and their friend Katie help to teach this group weekly in Loveland, and this was just a gathering of whoever could make it to play the instruments while some of us (Kristin, Katie, Amy (the one who is taking over with Tom since Katie is student teaching in Philadelphia), and I) sang. All of their stringed instruments have each string tuned to open G, and they all play along while Tom and Justin (on keyboard) played the different carols.
This experience alone could have totally made my trip.
Tiffany, Taylor, Judy, and Andy all soloed at some point whether it was dancing or playing, and I almost busted into tears each time. The fact that music can touch each of these people so much completely astounds me. I haven't really ever told many people, but when I first went to college, I wanted to be a special ed music teacher. You can't really major in this, so I went with Music Ed instead. After this experience this weekend, I know I want to try and start something similar in Flagstaff. With Mrs. Stamer, we will be teaching completely special ed classes, but I'm wondering what the logistics would be of starting a group similar to this one. Tom owns all the string instruments they used here (he's a violin music ed major) so I don't know how I could do that, but this is definitely a possibility for when I get home...
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
End of the Semester Reflections
As my final semester at NAU before student teaching comes to a close, I have found myself swamped with the typical end-of-the-semester-cram-it-all-in-at-the-last-minute assignments, but I have also found myself reflecting on my time here at NAU.
As I walked to the Riles building this morning to turn in my graduation application, I had a flashback to the beginning of my classes here. I remembered walking towards the music building from the education building MWF, and passing Mandi Vacey on the way. She would always be dressed up on her way to teach a class in the building I just came from, and I remember being so impressed with how professional she looked and then scared to death that someday in the near future that was going to be me. I didn't see how it would ever happen and knew I would have a LOT to learn in the process. This morning, I realized on the way back that that is exactly where I am now. I was dressed up from teaching high school this morning with my black pea coat to top it off and the sound of my heels on the sidewalk brought back so many memories of looking up to different people who seemed to know what they were doing with their lives.
I've realized I'm at that point now.
I woke up this morning for my last assignment of the semester: teaching high school choir at 7:40 in the morning. Needless to say, choir puts me WAY outside of my comfort zone so I had lots of preparation time to put in before I felt comfortable enough to sing for and accompany the choir. One of my ISTEP teachers was scheduled to observe me for my last "grade" in the class, and I was expecting Dr. Sally Alcoze: the teacher I had felt the most comfortable communicating with. I was put even further out of my comfort zone when Dr. Joe Wegwert showed up instead.
The bell rang, pledge recited, moment of silence taken, announcements given, and then it was my turn. I was told last week to plan to do the warm ups as my lesson, so my challenge was to make them into more than just the regular routine so that I could actually teach something real. I stepped up to the piano and told the girls of the women's choir why I was standing up there today instead of Mrs. Hill. After that explanation along with telling them I wasn't a vocalist nor had I played piano any significant amount after high school, we started with body motions and breathing exercises. When it was time for vocal warm ups, I sang by myself at first and the girls immediately commented that I had a nice voice and I shouldn't worry about it. That was all I needed to not feel scared, and we went on with the lesson. I helped guide them towards discovering how to name intervals, and we ended by singing a new chorale they hadn't heard before, even turning it into a three-part round. The girls seemed to be genuinely intrigued and interested in what I was telling them which is exactly what a teacher wants.
After the warm ups, Dr. Wegwert and I went out into the hall to discuss it, and he started off by telling me how much he has appreciated having me in ISTEP this semester. I was surprised to hear this because I had never been able to read his thoughts of me in class. He told me how impressed he has been with all of my assignments and other contributions to the class and appreciates the spin I bring to things in discussions. Regarding the lesson I had just taught, he told me he couldn't think of a single remark that would be an improvement on what I did. He commented on the wonderful communication I have with the students and the influence I have on making such a positive environment for them. He then stated that if he had the choice, he would love to be in every one of my classes I go on to teach which was a HUGE compliment to me.
After twenty more minutes talking together, I returned to the choir room where the women's choir was still rehearsing. I gathered my stuff together so I could go rehearse with my accompanist, but Mrs. Hill told me to wait until they were done with the song they were working on. I listened to how far the girls have come over the past few weeks as they get ready for their concert next week and waited to see what she wanted to tell me. When they finished the piece, she came over and gave me a hug since I won't be back at all and told me how impressed she was with my lesson and the fact that I was able to play piano along with the girls. She said that was one of the best she's seen since she's been at Sinagua High School (fourteen years), that that was the first time anyone had ever felt comfortable enough to play piano while singing and conducting them, and that she's so excited for what will be coming from my teaching in the future. The girls all said goodbye and I left to rehearse for my jury.
So this is it. I am heading out the door to meet with the first teacher I am student teaching with, and this is just the beginning of the next stage in my life. My courses at NAU are officially done. I have my own horn studio with ten students in it. I am setting off to student teach and have more responsibilities with students of my own. I am gearing up to start filling out applications and taking tests to be certified. All this with graduation around the corner, a mere 156 days away, but I'm not scared anymore like I was five years ago. I feel like I am finally in the place where I need to be, with an idea of what I want to do. I am ready to take on what is sent my way, and hope that I can be that example to other people that the "Mandi"s were for me.
As I walked to the Riles building this morning to turn in my graduation application, I had a flashback to the beginning of my classes here. I remembered walking towards the music building from the education building MWF, and passing Mandi Vacey on the way. She would always be dressed up on her way to teach a class in the building I just came from, and I remember being so impressed with how professional she looked and then scared to death that someday in the near future that was going to be me. I didn't see how it would ever happen and knew I would have a LOT to learn in the process. This morning, I realized on the way back that that is exactly where I am now. I was dressed up from teaching high school this morning with my black pea coat to top it off and the sound of my heels on the sidewalk brought back so many memories of looking up to different people who seemed to know what they were doing with their lives.
I've realized I'm at that point now.
I woke up this morning for my last assignment of the semester: teaching high school choir at 7:40 in the morning. Needless to say, choir puts me WAY outside of my comfort zone so I had lots of preparation time to put in before I felt comfortable enough to sing for and accompany the choir. One of my ISTEP teachers was scheduled to observe me for my last "grade" in the class, and I was expecting Dr. Sally Alcoze: the teacher I had felt the most comfortable communicating with. I was put even further out of my comfort zone when Dr. Joe Wegwert showed up instead.
The bell rang, pledge recited, moment of silence taken, announcements given, and then it was my turn. I was told last week to plan to do the warm ups as my lesson, so my challenge was to make them into more than just the regular routine so that I could actually teach something real. I stepped up to the piano and told the girls of the women's choir why I was standing up there today instead of Mrs. Hill. After that explanation along with telling them I wasn't a vocalist nor had I played piano any significant amount after high school, we started with body motions and breathing exercises. When it was time for vocal warm ups, I sang by myself at first and the girls immediately commented that I had a nice voice and I shouldn't worry about it. That was all I needed to not feel scared, and we went on with the lesson. I helped guide them towards discovering how to name intervals, and we ended by singing a new chorale they hadn't heard before, even turning it into a three-part round. The girls seemed to be genuinely intrigued and interested in what I was telling them which is exactly what a teacher wants.
After the warm ups, Dr. Wegwert and I went out into the hall to discuss it, and he started off by telling me how much he has appreciated having me in ISTEP this semester. I was surprised to hear this because I had never been able to read his thoughts of me in class. He told me how impressed he has been with all of my assignments and other contributions to the class and appreciates the spin I bring to things in discussions. Regarding the lesson I had just taught, he told me he couldn't think of a single remark that would be an improvement on what I did. He commented on the wonderful communication I have with the students and the influence I have on making such a positive environment for them. He then stated that if he had the choice, he would love to be in every one of my classes I go on to teach which was a HUGE compliment to me.
After twenty more minutes talking together, I returned to the choir room where the women's choir was still rehearsing. I gathered my stuff together so I could go rehearse with my accompanist, but Mrs. Hill told me to wait until they were done with the song they were working on. I listened to how far the girls have come over the past few weeks as they get ready for their concert next week and waited to see what she wanted to tell me. When they finished the piece, she came over and gave me a hug since I won't be back at all and told me how impressed she was with my lesson and the fact that I was able to play piano along with the girls. She said that was one of the best she's seen since she's been at Sinagua High School (fourteen years), that that was the first time anyone had ever felt comfortable enough to play piano while singing and conducting them, and that she's so excited for what will be coming from my teaching in the future. The girls all said goodbye and I left to rehearse for my jury.
So this is it. I am heading out the door to meet with the first teacher I am student teaching with, and this is just the beginning of the next stage in my life. My courses at NAU are officially done. I have my own horn studio with ten students in it. I am setting off to student teach and have more responsibilities with students of my own. I am gearing up to start filling out applications and taking tests to be certified. All this with graduation around the corner, a mere 156 days away, but I'm not scared anymore like I was five years ago. I feel like I am finally in the place where I need to be, with an idea of what I want to do. I am ready to take on what is sent my way, and hope that I can be that example to other people that the "Mandi"s were for me.
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