Thursday, June 20, 2013
Things I have found out about my new job in the past 24 hours:
1.) I am teaching 4th and 5th grade trumpet and trombone as the "brass specialist".....maybe I also need to find a way to fit my Bach trumpet on this plane?......also, good thing I've been keeping my brass chops up/have had trumpet students for the past few months/spent all that time in college playing brass in CBII and summer band.
2.) I will be directing the Senior Wind Orchestra and the Senior Flute Ensemble. I have no idea what that actually means/looks like.
3.) Apparently, I'll be going on some form of a 5 day away trip with the entire Year 8 (I think this means 7th grade) cohort (I don't know what that means.....but it kind of sounds like a lot of middle schoolers)
4.) They want me to play piano as a rehearsal accompanist for the fall musical (I'm trying to convince them that they REALLY don't want me to do this)
5.) "FOBISSEA – Federation of British International School South East Asia. Our international school "group"…about 40 schools from around the region. Hold a Music festival every year; this year's is in Thailand…will discuss later…"......... Maybe I get to go to Thailand for a conference???? Because that would be REALLY sweet.
6.) I will be teaching Year 13 (I think that means Seniors) in the IB curriculum, something about the two "set pieces" (which I've never heard): "The Classical Symphony" (Prokofiev) and "the Yellow River Symphony" (Xian)......
7.) Something about the Democratic Constructivist Approach.....
8.) Something about a gospel/acapella choir I might be helping with? Remember that time I was in the University of Illinois Black Chorus......I got this. Thanks Dr. Davis!
9.) A calender of performances and such through December, with things scarily highlighted in RED to show pressing importance (performances of DOOM!), YELLOW to show kind of pressing, and GREEN to show NBD.
This is what I understand so far.
It makes me way less apprehensive to have at least an idea of what my job is......and in some ways, more apprehensive, because.....well....just because.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
About the job and how it came to me
So, you may know that I've spent the past few months job searching, spending hours filling out applications that involved tests, essay questions, etc etc.....
A few weeks back one of my professors sent me an email saying a colleague had an open position at an awesome school in Beijing....so I emailed my resume. After a few emails back and forth, I got an interview, and then a second....and then a job offer. I like to believe that life is a mix of working hard, and going with the flow....and when things fall into place easily, it's usually a good sign.
Anyway, about the job:
I will be teaching 6-12 (7-13 in the British system) general music during the school day, following the British/IB curriculum, but with a lot of room for creative license and new ideas. I will also be directing extra-curricular ensembles, from jazz band/combos, to wind ensemble and chamber groups, to, and I quote: "Whatever you and the students want- we have the budget and we want to make great musical opportunities". Seriously? Do you even know how amazing that kind of creative freedom is? In Princeton I was ALWAYS hitting red tape and hearing NO! And now, for the next 2 years (it's a two year contract) it sounds as though I'll be in a supportive, creative musical community, where the sky is the limit. AMAZING.
AND, the head of music for all 7 Dulwich schools (because there are 7 in the network, and they are all over the world) also did his Master's at Northwestern (the 4 summer program) and has essentially the same musical and educational philosophy as I do.....which means I'm going into a network of teachers who will share my philosophy and are excited about promoting creativity and expression through the arts, in a student centered way. Boom! They are also very big into technology. Every student and teacher gets a MacBook and we are encouraged to use technology in instruction, and it seems, given the tools to implement as well. I have so many fun project ideas running through my head right now!
Honestly, it sounds like an amazing educational environment, and a supportive, creative community. The music director actually said: "All of those "best of" scenariors you talk about in classes at NU? A lot of that is happening here. Ask your professors, they came to visit, they'll tell you.". Um. What? I mean, I'm not sure what else to say. But I'm excited.
At the moment, I have to go to a dinner with said professors, and then I'm off to dance- but I will write more next time on the other parts of my contract.
A few weeks back one of my professors sent me an email saying a colleague had an open position at an awesome school in Beijing....so I emailed my resume. After a few emails back and forth, I got an interview, and then a second....and then a job offer. I like to believe that life is a mix of working hard, and going with the flow....and when things fall into place easily, it's usually a good sign.
Anyway, about the job:
I will be teaching 6-12 (7-13 in the British system) general music during the school day, following the British/IB curriculum, but with a lot of room for creative license and new ideas. I will also be directing extra-curricular ensembles, from jazz band/combos, to wind ensemble and chamber groups, to, and I quote: "Whatever you and the students want- we have the budget and we want to make great musical opportunities". Seriously? Do you even know how amazing that kind of creative freedom is? In Princeton I was ALWAYS hitting red tape and hearing NO! And now, for the next 2 years (it's a two year contract) it sounds as though I'll be in a supportive, creative musical community, where the sky is the limit. AMAZING.
AND, the head of music for all 7 Dulwich schools (because there are 7 in the network, and they are all over the world) also did his Master's at Northwestern (the 4 summer program) and has essentially the same musical and educational philosophy as I do.....which means I'm going into a network of teachers who will share my philosophy and are excited about promoting creativity and expression through the arts, in a student centered way. Boom! They are also very big into technology. Every student and teacher gets a MacBook and we are encouraged to use technology in instruction, and it seems, given the tools to implement as well. I have so many fun project ideas running through my head right now!
Honestly, it sounds like an amazing educational environment, and a supportive, creative community. The music director actually said: "All of those "best of" scenariors you talk about in classes at NU? A lot of that is happening here. Ask your professors, they came to visit, they'll tell you.". Um. What? I mean, I'm not sure what else to say. But I'm excited.
At the moment, I have to go to a dinner with said professors, and then I'm off to dance- but I will write more next time on the other parts of my contract.
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