I am so excited

Well, it's May, State Festivals are over, I've been to a Michigan Music Conference meeting, the ASBDA Convention appears to be pretty well in hand, and now I can focus on the things I like to do. I spent the day yesterday catching up on things I like to do: 1) I did my assignments for my Juliana Coles class - I'm completely caught up. It was fun, I am doing this class about an "Extreme Art Journal" - pics to come. 2) I did some work on the yard. Yup, yard work. Me. Don't like the work, LOVE the result. 3) Got to dream of when I don't have to work on someone else's clock.

Then today, I spent the better part of a day working at a Michigan Music Conference meeting. Love working on coming up with ideas, and implementing those ideas. Don't like a lot of the rest. I guess that's why I want to be in business for myself some time in the future. Maybe sooner rather than later - who knows.

I am so excited, however, with possibilities. I love the possibilities of new ideas. I think that's what I've always loved about being a band conductor - the possibilities of new ideas, new things - new problems to solve.

Perhaps it's time to have new problems to solve. Perhaps. Time will tell.

Juliana Coles online class

Hey, Kim - I see we're both in the Julianna Coles online class - I'm really enjoying it so far. I'm gong to have to hurry to finish before June 10th! HA! Just joined today, so now I have to pick out a book. I've missed taking classes from Julianna, and this is JUST what I remember. It will be a good time!

Don't forget to enjoy the moment.

My friend Lucy, the secretary at one of the schools where I teach, sent me an email last week to tell me that she had the list of kids who would be helping me on Thursday and Friday as we hosted our last evaluations of the year (with literally thousands of people coming - 24 groups, each group made up of between 30 - 80 kids and the additional parents/grandparents/well-wishers who follow each group - stress levels were high) with words that I've really thought about since then - she said "do great things, but don't forget to enjoy the moment."

Thanks, Lucy - I did enjoy the moment - it was sublime! One of the best concerts I can remember conducting.

And now, it's spring - don't forget to enjoy the moment!

Where the Heck Have You Been?

you might be asking? Well, band directors get really busy in February & March - especially if you're also a judge (like me...)

So, I've been judging solo & ensemble festivals and band & orchestra festivals, hosting a day of festival here at my school, taking my own bands to festival, getting kids ready for solo & ensemble, and on and on and on. I promise I'll get posting more often. But, probably not yet for a while - it's now State Festival season, plus I'm working on stuff for ASBDA.

Thanks for being patient with me - I promise I'll post soon.

Remains of the Day

Kim - I'm posting this so you can see my "Remains of the Day" journal. This is a wonderful on-line class by Mary Ann Moss - she does beautiful mixed media work, and has these wonderful journals that she makes. She just did an on-line class, and thankfully it was a "take it when you can" kind of class - during the school year, I'm not very good with a "this week to this week" kind of class with a definite beginning and ending and work that you have to keep up with. Well, like take this week, for example. Right now I'm home for about an hour and a half, then I have to go to the elementary school to have our 5th grade band beginner parent night.

(Wait, you might ask, why are you doing beginning band starting in FEBRUARY - don't most people usually do that in September or October??? Yes, that's true, but that's another entire post, and and I suppose I shall just leave it all unsaid -- but yes, I'm just now - in February - going to start beginning band ..........)

Then, tomorrow night is the Pre-Evaluations Concert in the evening, but first it's jazz band morning - so that means getting to school an entire hour early for jazz band. Plus it's Tuesday, which means it's Study Hall day, which means I get 20 minutes to end one class, pack up, lock up the room, drive to another building, unpack, eat lunch, and then start another class.

Then, it's Wednesday, and the first day of beginning band, in a classroom, with what appears to be 57 kids. Yup. Fifty-seven. (almost 50% of the entire grade) No chairs, no stands, but desks, and another teacher (did I mention that the classroom is, er, occupied?????)

Then, it's Thursday, just go back to tuesday, lather rinse & repeat, but this time without jazz band.

Now, some place in there, this week, I get a haircut, teach two lessons, maybe 3, and just do all the normal things of life.

That is why a normal online class doesn't work for me.

But, this one did. So, below, feast your eyes on the pictures of my Remains of the Day Journal, so far.

And now I'm off to the rest of my week! Have a great one!

Summer Dreamin'

Enjoy!

Swap stuff done

I just finished my chunky book pages for the swap for Art Unraveled's Technique book this year. I'm excited about the fact that I made little bitty "trashy clutches" like we made in Alissa Burke's class this past August at AU. 29 little clutches, stuffed with a business card & a "how I did it" information sheet. I think they should bind into a book pretty well. And imagine, all that from a grocery bag! Pretty cool, eh?