Teaching Music!

Contentment:

For the past week I have been working pretty steadily in Greenville, Mississippi helping out with a summer camp and a play production. In both instances I've realized how much I've learned since I walked into my classroom the first day and took the plunge into being a music educator.

This is kind of a "toot my own horn" post, but I think it's important for me to recognize some of the things I'm doing well this summer, reflect on them, and apply them to my class this coming year.

Probably the coolest factor is having kids there that want to be there and it's very crucial. The kids at these camps have the resources to come and their parents have the money to afford it, which unfortunately sets it apart from others kids (such as the demographic at Lakeside). So that's definately a factor. However, I've realized that I deal with behavioral things right away and calmly, that "teacher cool" that I didn't have earlier I have pretty well during this camp. The offenses are minor, but I've been able to alter behavior without being a jerk and, more importantly, without feeling like a jerk.

The program I've been using is called "Recorder Karate," a very self-motivating program that rewards students who master a particular song and get rewarded a belt in response. As they master more difficult songs, they get better belts with the ultimate belt being, of course, the black belt. The kids love it, and thus I do too.

In the evenings I've been directing the choir for a production of "School House Rocks Live Jr." at the Delta Center Stage (actually the same building that the camp is in..an old High School run by a local non-profit arts council). This has also been a great experience that left me a little overwhelmed after the first night. We had 70 kids and I had to teach them two songs. Crazy. Luckily, I think they learned them pretty well: we had a cd as an accompaniment track and I've learned that those are the way to go. Teaching rhythm and different harmonies has also worked out well, and really my methods were very similar to how I taught my high school classes, so I'm hoping that it goes just as well this coming year (again, the omega factor is having kids that want to be in the class. That's my next big challenge). The play will be in late July, and, unfortunately I won't be able to attend due to the choral school I'm attending in Minnesota.

The confidence factor I was talking about is coming to me, and I'm very glad I took the opportunity to teach for these two weeks in different environments than my classroom: I feel vindicated, like I have a talent to share with my kids and they learn as a result. I felt that on occasion in my classroom, but there was always so much fighting to get to that point. At least in this environment I know I can do it. Now the talent is to transfer it into a different environment. Wish me luck.

On a completely random note, I've become addicted to late 70s, early 80s post-Gabriel Genesis thanks to the re-releasing and re-mastering of said albums.

(T-Minus 5 days until I'm back in Washington)

Cheers,

-Nate

"Times were good. She never thought about the future, she just did what she would. Ah but she really cared, about her music. It all seemed so important then. And she dreamed that every time that she performed, everyone would cry for more. That all she had to do was step into the light, and everyone would start to roar."- Genesis (Duchess)

Family

Home again.

Well, no exactly Washington, but Northwestern Illinois.

I met up with my cousin Kaleb in Memphis after finishing up my school year and getting all checked out of my classroom (not as involved as I thought it would be, which is nice). I drove up and stayed in his aunt’s apartment in Memphis, and we embarked on our journey up north to Illinois. I had some iffy expectations: It had been about three years since I’d last seen Kaleb. After my experience with teenagers this year I thought I’d lost my touch, but it ended up being a great trip. We hit up Six Flags outside of St. Louis and then hung out in Bloomington with my cousins Jim and Laura and their kids.

This is where the familial pilgrimage started. Jim and Laura have three of the best behaved and nicest kids I’ve ever come across. Watching them get along made me reflect on how Anna, Collin, and I were terribly behaved when we were that age. Anna and I always knew exactly how to upset each other I think we made it our goal most of the time to piss each other off. Good thing we grew up. Maybe. Jim and Laura treated us to lunch at an awesome Chinese buffet and we enjoyed their hospitality. We also got a chance to head down to Springfield and check out the Lincoln Library. It was an amazing place with some great exhibits.

I feel like I’m writing a slide show without the slides. Sorry ;-).

Anyway, after Bloomington we made it up to Lanark, which is where all of the nostalgia and the deeper part of this blog occur. It had been six years since I’d last been in Lanark, and it was for Grandma’s funeral. Lanark has always been a place of images and memories for me. Memories of going into Grandma’s house and the smell of the place (it didn’t smell bad, just had a distinct smell to it) and all of the cows in her kitchen. I remember the yellow streets and scraping my knees on them, and walking from Grandma’s house to Uncle Dean and Aunt Michelle’s. I remember Grandma’s neighbor girl who I had the biggest crush on back in 1995 and ’96 (I mean, c’mon, a girl that talked to me at my most awkward, nerdiest phase. I had a Star Trek book by my side at all times during this age. Not that I do anymore. They’re just history books, which aren’t nerdy).

Coming back was neat because I got to see everything from a new perspective. I jogged by Grandma’s house a few times, noticed the changes, hung out with Dean and Michelle, and I even made a late-night jaunt to Mom’s old bar. It was about as exciting as the Harrington Haus on a Tuesday evening.

After Lanark, Kaleb and I took a trip with Uncle Tom and Aunt Nancy (thanks!) to Chicago, where we spent the evening and most of the day. Before that we got to hook up with Uncle Kenny’s side of the family, visiting with Denise and her husband Joe for a birthday party. I was really impressed with how all sides of each family got along and hung out. I also enjoyed the Italian delights that Joe’s dad, Dom, cooked up. I ate too well that night. Once in Chicago, we walked a lot down “the ave” and I realized why Chicago ranks on my list of favorite places: great food and really cool buildings. We ate at Geno's East, a great spot for pizza and it was some of the best pizza I've ever had. The next morning we took the train out to where Tom and Nancy used to live and went for some drinks no top of the John Hancock center, or as Aunt Annie calls it, the “Top of the Cock.” I find that amusing.

After Chicago, I spent a few more days in Lanark, (went to a biker bar called “Poopies,” which also amuses me), and hung out with Uncle Denny, Aunt May, my cousins Melissa, Jennifer, and her husband Brian. We went out for Mexican, which was very good, and Whitey’s the famous Quad Cities ice-cream joint.

After that I drove down to Springfield and hung out with Jerrod, an old high school friend, crashed there, left my toothbrush, and made it back to Lake Village. My 2 week pilgrimage was complete.

I had a great time, and I’d like to give a special shout out to my relatives! Thanks so much for all of your hospitality. It’s great to know that I have a loving family (which I had no doubt of).

Cheers,

-Nate

“I’ll be the one to show you the way, you’ll be the one to always refrain. Me and the money come-a bang bang bang.” -The Kings of Leon