I Was A Band Director For A Day

That’s right. I got to be Band Director for a day at one of the local public Middle Schools where I substitute occasionally.

Now, I must say that I know next to nothing about music. I am more of a visual arts person… but, when in Rome…

I think the teacher was expecting a musically inclined sub when she wrote out her plans, because she included regular rehearsing and helping kids with fingering and toning. Yikes.

The kids were great. These were 7th and 6th graders. I told them I was an Arts person rather than music, and that I would do the best I can to help them get their practice in for the day. One of the kids would give me the beat and I did my best to keep it steady.

We did manage to practice scales a few times over, then get through several of the music pieces they were to review that day.

It was fun. I have a new found respect for music directors. I had no idea it would take so much concentration to keep a steady beat for them. Off course, that was all I was doing really, was keep the beat -no emphasis, no special clue for new cords or new instruments coming in, or any of all those subttle yet important signals the director communicates with his or her orchestra.

New experience for sure. I had fun, and like I said, the kids were great. They humored me through the pieces and we did all manage to get something out of it.

Movie Reviews

I write reviews of movies and books every once in a while.

I found a new site with all kinds of consumer reviews for just about everything and anything one might use through the course of our daily lives, and, they just so happen to have a movie section.

So, I am moving my reviews one at a time over.

I’ve got a couple over so far:

American Splendor with Paul Giamatti, and Flight Plan with Jodie Foster.

Check them out through this link:

http://www.ciao.com/Member__SunFish_10080533#reviews

Thanks for visiting.

Looking For A Job

I have been looking for a job this January and getting a little frustrated, if not somewhat concerned.

I’ve applied left and right from everything to temp job to retail in grocery stores and restaurant waitress… nothing, no calls, nada…

What gives?

Am I not qualified for anything?

I have excellent references, education, I am mature and stable, I am willing to work for low wages… what else do they want?

Yesterday I went for a substituting orientation for the local public school district, so at least I can do that. I called into the system and there were no positions available for today. I’ll keep calling everyday to try and pick up something… bills are due at the end of the month no matter what… those don’t stop, that’s for sure.

I figure if I can manage to sub 3 days a week, I can probably make due for a while, until I get hired as a teacher again.

Tough times. Never been unemployed before.