Well good morning. I would have written most of this last night, but I had a rough night and fell asleep on the couch watching Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I'll tell you what, if you want some crazy dreams, fall asleep to that movie.
As many of you know (or don't know) I teach cymbals at a local high school here. I used to love teaching cymbals, but for some reason, as of lately, I'm starting to lose that passion. I'm not sure why, but it is happening. So unfortunately, I haven't been teaching very well and I haven't been pushing my kids very hard. Well at least not as hard as I could have. So now that its getting down to crunch time, I've been getting...frustrated...with their lack of memorization and ability to tell me what their drill sets are. Granted, these things aren't something that I can do to help them. These kids are in high school, I shouldn't have to hold their hands and help them memorize music. But alas, it seems like it is my fault that they are struggling. It also probably doesn't help that NONE of these kids are natural percussionists. They are all horn players, and one girl has never even marched before. So maybe I expected too much of them right away.
I was talking to my friend Leo who teaches the guard at the same high school I teach at. I told him that I have such a passion for teaching visual, and that one of the only things that is holding me back from going and teaching a colorguard is well, the actual knowledge of colorguard technique. Leo said that he could teach me the basics so I know what to look for and how to make it look good. I may take him up on this offer. I feel like teaching colorguard/visual is going to get me farther in this whole teaching situation. I don't want to make this a career by any means, but it is something I enjoy and something I am pretty good at. So I guess I just have a lot to think about.
On another note, there are three bands that I've been listening to nonstop for the past week or so. The first is Marianas Trench. I had never even heard of this band before I started talking to my boyfriend (who wasn't my boyfriend at the time of this amazing music discovery). There is something about their harmonizing that draws me in every time. I can't even listen to it when I do homework because I just end up paying attention to the music instead. The next band is Amely. I can almost guarantee that you have never heard of them. But again, their harmonizing and melodies just pull me in and really speak to me. I am a big sucker for singers that have a big range in their voice. And Amely is just another one to add to the list.
The last band deserves its own paragraph. If you've know me for a while you'll know how much I love the band Bayside. Most people have a band that they can say has saved their life. Bayside would be mine. While some of their music isn't exactly...motivational...it lets me know that I'm not alone. Anthony Raneri is a god in my mind. His lyrics and his voice have such meaning and he isn't afraid to throw curse words into a song to show how he really feels.
But anyway, enough about my music obsessions. I have a show this weekend. First one of the season. I'm excited and nervous. But mostly nervous. We'll see how this goes and I'll update my blog on Sunday or Monday.
-krh
