Time for a new post...

I have spent the last few days focused on technology, training, and all things Google. As I prepared for teaching a session, I was reminded that I have a blog. As is obvious by the most recent past post, I haven't been here in a while, so...

Right now I my thoughts seem to be focused in three areas:

MUSIC: As always, my life revolves around music. I spend the majority of every day attempting to inspire students to create and perform music. I also am involved in a big band jazz ensemble that performs regularly. And, there are always instruments around to play, musical ideas to put down, and new artists to listen to. Music is a constant in my life.

PHOTOGRAPHY: I have always loved cameras and making photos. I have become a bit obsessed with it lately. I have bought and traded several cameras recently, and I seem to spend a lot of time reading and learning, but not as much shooting photos as I should. I am working on a plan to change that, and trying to challenge myself with projects that will get me making photos every day.

TECHNOLOGY: I have also always been interested in gadgets, and trends in music and educational technology. I have a room full of music technology devices, and computer/iPad/iPhone with dozens of electronic music apps. I have also been given an opportunity to learn about and train others in the use of technology for teaching. It is an ever changing landscape demanding a lot of attention.


Add to these Family and Faith (and good food and coffee) and there is a lot to think about...

Time for a rest....

Spring Break is coming up next week, and it will be time for a rest. Sometimes situations force you into taking it slower than you really want, and that will be the case for me.

The Friday before Spring Break I will be having surgery on my shoulder to repair a torn rotator cuff. It is my right arm, which is my dominant side, so I will be learning to do a lot of things with my left hand. I am supposed to keep my shoulder immobilized for eight weeks...that seems like an eternity.

Luckily (I guess), I will have some time to slow down and evaluate, to re-organize areas of my life that need it, to think and plan for some future activities. And to sit in these chairs by the bayou and relax.....

I am being consumed...

I am coming to a realization about myself, and possibly a realization about the current culture. I find myself becoming more and more a consumer and less and less a creator. It seems to me that I spend the majority of my free time - which isn't much - online reading blogs, tweets, status updates, etc. I justify it by saying I am learning and becoming aware of new things, new techniques for creating music, new ways of teaching, new photography techniques, and yet I never seem to get around to using what I am learning. I purchase numerous apps and software for music creation but I never seem to get around to learning how to use them and, more importantly, using them to make music. I read about cooking, composing, photography, teaching, dieting, but I do none of those things on a regular basis. I wonder that our society is facing the same struggle. I see those who work hard all day long at a job they don't particularly enjoy, then go home and live vicariously through others' achievements. We follow people's activities and pass on the creativity of others, sharing it through our various social network avenues. I think it is time we put down the iPhone/iPad/computer and do something productive....wait, someone just tweeted me......

Mike Huckabee: Art and Music Education

As part of an interview with The Des Moines Register, Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and 2008 presidential candidate, discusses his views on the need for art and music education in the schools...

The Future of the Arts

The education world is in turmoil, and change is imminent. It is no secret that the current accepted methods of teaching are due for an update, and that truth is causing unrest and lively discussion among educators at all levels. Add to that the financial difficulties that local districts, states, and even countries are experiencing and it is evident that a crisis is at hand.

Unfortunately, as changes are being discussed and financial decisions are being made, the fine arts curriculum seems to be one of the first areas that is deemed expendable. As you might guess, this bothers me...a lot.

I understand and support learning in all areas. I think our citizens young and old should have an insatiable hunger for knowledge. I believe the more knowledge you have in different areas, the better you are at communicating with and relating to the world around you. However, to remove or limit opportunities to experience and study the fine arts cripples the individual's ability for self-expression, creativity, and aesthetic appreciation.

I just finished reading words by Bob Bryant, who is the Executive Director of Fine Arts for the Katy Independent School District. His writing, "The Importance of Fine Arts Education," is on the district web site, and is an excellent explanation of the necessity for continued education in the visual and performing arts.

Whether you are a student, parent, educator, or community member I encourage you to stand up for fine arts education. As John F. Kennedy said, "Above all, we are coming to understand that the arts incarnate the creativity of a free people." Let's not allow our creativity to be stifled.

The competitive edge....

This year, in preparation for our annual UIL marching contest, I decided to take the Mighty Roughneck Band to two Pre-UIL contests. I debated the value of doing this, but after one contest I see the advantages to them.

While the band did have some struggles at last week's Buccaneer Marching Festival in Brenham, I believe that the group learned some things. We received great comments to help in improving our marching and especially our music. We have begun to polish the musicality of our performance as a result. Learning how to make the music "come alive" is one of the most important lessons we can gain.

We also watched the performance of several bands in our 3A level and above. We saw some great performances, and some that were just average. We got to see the commitment and hard-work of other bands. Hopefully that was an inspiration and motivation to us, to continue to work hard toward our goals.

Another aspect of the festival that I thought was helpful is that the percussion section and color guard received comments and ratings from judges as well. It comes as no surprise that both groups received superior ratings from the judges. The recorded comments have already helped these hard-working groups improve.

I am looking forward to this weekend and the Edna Marching Festival. We will see how far we have moved forward in our rehearsals as we chase after our goal of marching in the Alamodome at the UIL State Marching Contest.

BTW...the picture at the top was taken by Mikayla...pretty cool!

The Escape

First day of Spring Break!!! Headed to San Antonio and of course had to have lunch at one of our favorite restaurants - Mi Tierra. The video above shows some of the musicians performing there.

Continued on to Boerne where we are staying. We plan to hangout in downtown Boerne and Fredricksburg, see my dad, and go to a couple of other of our favorite places. Should be a great week!


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Day 3 of TMEA

Day 3 is over...spent a lot of time listening to various performing groups. It is amazing to hear the level of musicianship from elementary through college age students. It is inspiring and it helps me to formulate a concept of sound that I can take back to our groups a imitate.

The conferences I attended reinforced what I heard in live performances. I have a better understanding of the teaching techniques that can be used to create the sounds I heard.

I won't be blogging day 4 because I will be coming home. But I am most excited to hear Sebastian's group perform. I listened to rehearsals today and they are amazing.

Have a great weekend...and I look forward to seeing you on Monday.

M


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Day 2 at TMEA

Long day and didn't get to write last night. There is so much to see and do here at the convention. In the picture you see an instrument I had not seen before...a contrabass flute! It really is an interesting instrument.

I was also in two interesting conferences. The first was about the teacher and how it is more than the teaching ability, it is who you are as a person that often communicates loudly. I want to teach well, but more importantly I want to be a good example and role model.

The other conference dealt with the inner game of music...www.theinnergameofmusic.com. It is about learning to ignore the critical voices that shout at you while you perform, and often make you perform poorly. One must learn to focus on aspects of the performance and not listen to the commentary going on inside one's head. This will help us as an ensemble and as individual performers to play more skillfully.

Well, it is time for another clinic......

M


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Day 1 of TMEA

I just finished the first day of my trip to the TMEA convention. Actually, the convention really doesn't start until tomorrow, with seminars and conferences, concerts and meetings, and lots of opportunities to talk to friends and colleagues.

Today I went to a conference on judging marching contests. I am on the judging list, but I mainly went to get a better idea of how I can help our band improve our marching show. I learned a lot of what to look for and work on, and how to design and execute a show that will be successful. I am excited about the possibilities for next year, and I am motivated to see us make it to the state level. In fact, looking out the window of my hotel, I see the Alamodome, and it is a reminder of that goal.

I also got the opportunity to judge the alto, bass, and contrabass clarinet All-State students for their chair placements. It helps me to hear how the students at this level perform so I can be a better teacher of those instruments. But honestly, our students are just as talented as these I heard tonight.

Finally, I am proud of Sebastian Guerra. He is a great example of the talent and hard-work that is a part of all the Roughneck Band members, and you should be proud to have him represent you here in the ATSSB All-State Symphonic Band.

Well, that's all for tonight...stay tuned for more insight into tomorrow's activities.

M

TMEA next week

This is the week for the annual Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA for short) convention in San Antonio. Each year music educators from around the state spend four days attending conferences, concerts, and exhibits. It is a time to sharpen teaching skills, gain new ideas, and catch up with friends.

This year I am going to try an experiment and provide updates during the day via Twitter and Facebook, and post a daily blog of my activities and insights. I want to do this so that my students might get an idea about what goes on during the convention. I plan to put pictures and maybe even video. Hopefully it will be both interesting and informative.


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Merry Christmas...

"For unto is a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas! May the peace and love of Jesus Christ fill your hearts and spill out of your life to others. I pray that the new year you face will be the best year of your life.

My Obsession...

I will admit it....I am obsessed with musical instruments. And you see in the picture my latest obsession...it is a 1970's Fender Rhodes 88-key suitcase piano. This will be the fifth Fender Rhodes I have owned in my lifetime. I bought my first one in 1975 when I started playing in a band. I have always loved the sound, and even though I have the same sounds in my laptop there is nothing like the real thing.

I guess the older I get, the more nostalgic I become. You know I love technology, but sometimes I long for life to be like it was when I was younger...more simple, with less things battling for my time. That is why music is so appealing...I can sit down at this piano and lose myself in old songs or compose new ones and the world seems to fade.

I guess I should stop...I am starting to sound like an old guy.....

A View from the backyard....

I am definitely enjoying relaxing during this Thanksgiving break. My wife, Cindy, and I always spend the time with her sister and husband in San Antonio, and I get to sit in this backyard and enjoy the view. No swimming, though; just a little cool this time of year.

I also get a chance to catch up on some of the hobbies I enjoy but have to postpone during the busy fall season. I spend some time on my music...well, actually I am still trying to learn how to use the software I have. I also get the camera out and take photos; one of these days I will learn how to use Photoshop, too.

I really have a hard time slowing down, but I know that this is important. You have to recharge or you will burn out. You also have to control your own use of your time or it will be decided for you. That is why I enjoy just relaxing, not doing much of anything, trying not to think about the next event coming up, or that I still need to plan for this or that.

I hope you have a blessed, relaxing, and enjoyable Thanksgiving break.

Patience....

I don't know that I would be characterized as a patient person, and that is very evident at this point in time. All the inconvenience caused by my recovery from shoulder surgery is pushing me over the edge. Here I am, at 2:00 in the morning, sitting at the computer because I can't sleep and I am uncomfortable, writing about my struggles in hopes that it will somehow cause me to find the patience to endure what seems to be an endless trek back to normalcy. (Speaking of endless, how about that previous sentence....)

Perhaps I am looking at this in the wrong way. It seems we are always waiting for something in our lives...waiting to finish school, waiting to retire, waiting for the weekend, on and on. Perhaps too often we forget that life is a journey and not a destination. As I am patiently working through daily life, I need to pay attention to what I can learn about myself and others each step of the way.

The Last Week...

This is the last week of school, and as it goes I really look forward to the break of summer. It gives me time to regroup, to evaluate, to make plans for the future. But, being the last week of school, it also means that I have to say goodbye to some people who have shared seven years of my life. I still remember sixth grade band...practicing on a stage in an old soon to be shut down school, or in the hallway of an old soon to be shut down school. I have watched them change and grow, attempt and accomplish, move forward and excel. I have been impressed with them, all of them, whether they finished out band in junior high and high school or not. So I just want to say to those who will walk across that stage this Saturday and out into the world...thank you for walking into my life and making it richer. I wish you all the success and happiness that is possible, even more than you can imagine. Congratulations!

The Beginning

Blogs....I have read those by my friends and others, so I thought I would try my hand at it. I always seem to have something to say, but often I just ramble on and on to whoever will listen. Perhaps this way I will better organize what I have to say, and therefore say it better.

While I am gathering my thoughts and coming up with topics this first entry will have to do. I know that I want to talk about things I observed at Disney, and there are always aspects of music to discuss, as well as spiritual topics. We will just see what happens...