010: On to year two—teaching
36yearsago.com
Vienna 1971—A Student Journal
A year of music, study, travel, sightseeing & friends.
After Vienna
Two Years Later
010 — On to year two—teaching
Fall–Spring 1973–74
TRANSCRIPTION
Written April 28–29, 1974
Continuing after my last post about Anjali:
I guess that about covers the first year and parts of the second year.
During the summer, I had to teach summer school, which was ok. It was fun to teach the younger kids.
THE SECOND YEAR
The second year of teaching—of which I am currently finishing up—is quite a change.
There are virtually no discipline problems. Kids will still be kids though and sometimes this aspect will tire me out.
The band is much larger—about 90 kids. Again, they are very good.
REFLECTIONS
Year one is over. I didn’t realize it, but the first 9 posts mostly referred to year one After Vienna (Summer 1972–Spring 1973).
Summer school 1973. For Summer of 1973, I spend half of it teaching summer music school for one month. These are for young students, typically beginners and slightly older—usually, grades 4 to 6. A few of my students were enticed to join summer school to play in the ensembles. Picture a class of grade 4 beginning trumpet students. Getting them to “buzz,” then play something resembling musical tones into the trumpet (often loud). The job of the teacher—to mold those initial attempts into musical tones. Once, I took away one of the 4th grader’s mouthpiece (he wouldn’t stop buzzing). Yes, he was upset but then listened after that.
Teaching, year 2. The most important thing to remember is that your FIRST year of teaching is difficult, especially with discipline. Students know that you are new and they will take advantage. What a pleasant surprise to learn that year TWO suddenly becomes much easier. Certainly, you are always disciplining but it is less often and much easier. I remember that in year two, I had a 8th–9th grade band of over 90 students. They gave me an assistant band director for that one year. The band came in to the class after lunch—90 kids with loud instruments in their hands. It was not easy. Still, they played well.
This was the year I dressed up as Santa for the holiday concert.
John
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