For the last 3 days I have been in a workshop with fellow music teachers in disctrict 11. What a HUGE change from Orff Level II class last week. There really isn't any way to possibly explain the experience of taking an Orff Schulwerk Level...but I will try. Imagine spending an entire day with a group of your closest friends creating, dancing, improvising, sharing, and making music for 2 weeks. It's an amazing, life changing expereince. Then I come to the ISD 11 workshop on Monday. Geeze what a change. Whenever these music teachers get together all they do is complain and bitch about everything that is wrong. I was getting pretty angry with these people. We were supposed to be there to talk about 1st grade teaching techniques (led by a master teacher who has really inspired me to do great things in 1st grade)...but it always digressed into a bitch session. One teacher was actually upset because her BRAND NEW MUSIC SPECIFIC CLASSROOM was not finished yet and she would have to move rooms twice this year!! I'm sorry perhaps you would like to come and teach in my portable classroom with the huge cracks in the wall and hollow floor. Sheesh.
I'm finally home and done with all my stuff for the summer...actually have a whole week to myself. Guess I'd better start planning my school year with my free time. This really has been a great summer: 3 handbell workshops/festivals, trip to DC, Orff level 2, and 1st grade literacy through music. Whew. I think I'm gonna be glad to get back to school and have a set schedule.
One more thing:
I have found an incredible new composer that everyone should go and listen to. His name is Karl Jenkins I just listened to some of his CD Adiemus. The music is a crazy mix of Arabic, African, and Celtic sounds. Listen to the song Chorale IV + Cantus - Song of Aeolus. It will change your life.
2 comments:
It was a great summer, wasn't it? I'm glad I got to spend a majority of it with you! ;o) Couldn't have asked for a better one!
Hey Paul, I listened to a 30 second clip of Karl Jenkins. Dig it! Thanks for sharing your find. Your description of "arabic+celtic" reminded me of an artist named Azam Ali. I have her Portals of Grace album; I think you'd like it. I find the genre mix very appealing--there's just something that catches me.
If you preview her music on iTunes, "Breton Medley" is a nice instrumental representation of this "mixed genre."
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