Selmer Series 10 and mouthpiece updates
“That was awful. I can’t tell if it was you or that crappy clarinet.”
Selmer Series 10 and mouthpiece updates Read More »
“That was awful. I can’t tell if it was you or that crappy clarinet.”
Selmer Series 10 and mouthpiece updates Read More »
A few years ago, probably the last time I played thru a top-tier piece, I was alone on the local hs stage using Smart-accompaniment on a laptop and audio recording via phone…. I was probably preparing to assign it as I had made cuts for solo festival limits. I did flub the final 38-note run up to that high Ab (couldn’t hold onto it)…. but the rest of the 7-pages went well and fast, phone audio microphone considered.
Anyway… I recently shared the online link for someone to listen for some of the things we’re working on … (scales, arpeggios, chromatics, articulation, ornaments, etc). Told the parental I was going to look for the music. FOUND IT, well Joan did. No, not going to assign (yet), but do intend to use it for the above-mentioned fundamentals.
Summer Band went along the schedule of Summer School; 8am-noon daily. There was a 15 minute break in the middle of the day that you could buy pop or snacks, or just rest up, or do something stupid and get in trouble.
The new Science Building (which also housed the gymnasium and the band room) had been opened only a couple years earlier. It had a new type of light switch throughout — that required a key, but would also work with a properly inserted fingernail file.
One one of those mid morning breaks, a small group of us were going through the building with a fingernail file. If the light was on, we turned it off. If off, we turned it on. Nothing damaging.
I even remember exactly where the light switch was that I was operating the file. It had become stuck and I was trying to get it out. Someone behind me said, “Copenhaver’s coming”. Yeah, sure, right?
I finally got it out and, as I turned around, standing completely inside my comfort zone, was Mr. Copenhaver. No one else in sight.
“Go wait for me in my office”, he said calmly.
I hadn’t spent much time in his office. I could see his large Phi Mu Alpha paddle hanging next to his desk. He did use that. Sometimes in inspection practice (inspection was part of some competitions), he would carry that paddle as he walked in front of the line. If your instrument didn’t pass the white glove test or if you moved, he would say, “That’s one.” That meant that an eternity later when he was on the next line behind, he would whack you with that left-handed paddle. And if the paddle made you move — he’d do it again. For the record, I never got the paddle in inspection.
Sitting in his office, I fully expected at least one of those whacks.
He left me there for an uncomfortably long time — on purpose, I’m sure.
Eventually, he came into the office, closed the door, and sat in his desk chair facing me.
He looked at me and calmly said,
“I’m disappointed, John. That’s all. You can go.”
The paddle would have hurt me less than that.
I spent the rest of my high school career trying to make him proud. I think I did.
It hurt worse than a paddle (I think) Read More »
I didn’t get in a lot of trouble in school, and never for anything disrespectful, hurtful or damaging. I was never “sent to the office” because of behavior in a classroom. But I did get at least three days of detention that I recall. I’m not sure detention straightened me out because I don’t think my mischievousness caused any long-term harm.
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Jr High Detention – twice + 1 extra day Read More »
The Worship Ensemble in son’s church this morning included one American, one American-born Armenian…. and the rest all Ukranian — from the church’s Russian-speaking Ukranian Growth Group. That is genuine outreach. btw…I couldn’t pick up on the Ukranian vocalist’s accent….but Joan did… Don’t say anything political, because this is not.
https://www.youtube.com/live/UDCtEk5hSDA?si=TgclxFyLqx2BmRMY&t=1002
https://www.youtube.com/live/UDCtEk5hSDA?si=1Pj0rgp3JbPhg5Tw&t=1248
Only one American in this worship ensemble, the rest – Ukranian Read More »
Cleaning some mouthpieces I used in college (@ 50 yrs ago). The Kaspar seems to be especially valuable on a selling site, but that is not my purpose in the cleanup.
Vintage or just Old Read More »
I was looking for this symbol when I found I had used it on a post from some years ago. Yes, it is not always the teacher who impacts a student.
I thrive on their youthful enthusiasm Read More »
Insurance rates are crazy Read More »
by John Gardner (via LinkedIn)
The starfish story (not my original) is about someone trying to make a difference and I think of it periodically when I find myself trying to balance that healthy, professional detachment from the lives of individual students with the reality and significance of those lives and my desire to make a difference by being more than “just” a classroom teacher.
Working with students is not a life or death proposition, of course, but some seem to get washed up on the beach. Here’s the story and 10 ways to make a difference. Those 10 ways represent my core beliefs in teaching and working with teens.
The man was out for a walk on the beach when he noticed a boy frantically picking things up and throwing them into the ocean. Curious, he approached the boy to discover that he was picking up starfish that had washed up on to the beach — and was throwing them back into the water.
“Son, what are you doing?” the man asked.
“The tide is going out and these starfish got left behind. I’m throwing them back into the water to save them.”
“But son, there are hundreds of miles of beach. You can’t possibly make a difference.”
As the boy picked up another starfish, he threw it into the water and then turned and said to the man,
“I made a difference to THAT one.”
———————————
Teen years can be trying times. Parents may be fighting, separating, dating and remarrying, which means the teen now has to not only deal with a break up of a foundation in his/her life, but often now has to live in multiple households. Some have to adjust to step-siblings, job losses, financial struggles and more. Then, there are the complexities of school with seemingly unending pressures to perform, trying to get through the dating games, often without an anchor or example to follow. Influenced by increasingly negative social standards, or lack of standards….. teens can get caught in the rise and falling tides. Most learn how to negotiate life’s trying currents, but can turn the wrong way, make a miscalculation or poor decision — and find themselves high and dry on the beach…..and they need help. Not every student needs, wants or will accept a teacher’s help. Sometimes the teacher’s effort is both unappreciated and unsuccessful.
But try we must…because we CAN make a difference “to THAT one”.
Students are not Starfish Read More »
By John Gardner
This time of year can be stressful for those romantically attached, hoping to become, casually dating, good plutonic friends or single not by preference. I understand widowed or divorced, too…. but this post targets mostly high schoolers. If you have it all figured out, STOP HERE!
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Valentine’s Day Stress and Teens Read More »